Sunday, 18th April. The first anniversary of the El Shadday St. Anthony’s Parish chapter charismatic group was celebrated today. A joyful encounter on the theme of Follow me ( John 21,1-19), the last word of the Gospel of the third Sunday of Easter.
The members met in the assembly hall of the Holy Land Secondary School in Jaffa, coming from Haifa, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other places in Israel. The day before, until late in the night, they prepared the decorations, using their innate talent, with great imagination and above all, with so much Filipino heart.
The El Shadday charismatic group is very active in our parish of Jaffa. It is in this group that most of them find the force to carry on their lives as working mothers and fathers, far from their husbands and children. They are poor but rich in God and the joy of having encountered and followed Jesus brims over from their deep eyes, hiding their real age. They all look very young, and yet in their midst there are even some grandmothers!
The day began with a Holy Mass to give thanks, followed by charismatic songs, dances by different parish groups and many prayers and the sharing of religious experiences and the story of how Jesus has acted in their spirit.
There was plenty of lunch for all, shared in joy. It is interesting to note how the poor know how to pray without having gone to any school of prayer. They learn to pray beginning to pray. They do not need material structures or complicated liturgies. It is the Holy Spirit that organizes them and fills them with joy although they have nothing certain. And the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor.
Fr. Arturo Vasaturo ofm
The members met in the assembly hall of the Holy Land Secondary School in Jaffa, coming from Haifa, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other places in Israel. The day before, until late in the night, they prepared the decorations, using their innate talent, with great imagination and above all, with so much Filipino heart.
The El Shadday charismatic group is very active in our parish of Jaffa. It is in this group that most of them find the force to carry on their lives as working mothers and fathers, far from their husbands and children. They are poor but rich in God and the joy of having encountered and followed Jesus brims over from their deep eyes, hiding their real age. They all look very young, and yet in their midst there are even some grandmothers!
The day began with a Holy Mass to give thanks, followed by charismatic songs, dances by different parish groups and many prayers and the sharing of religious experiences and the story of how Jesus has acted in their spirit.
There was plenty of lunch for all, shared in joy. It is interesting to note how the poor know how to pray without having gone to any school of prayer. They learn to pray beginning to pray. They do not need material structures or complicated liturgies. It is the Holy Spirit that organizes them and fills them with joy although they have nothing certain. And the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor.
Fr. Arturo Vasaturo ofm