The Feast of Saint Catherine, patroness of the Bethlehem parish, put on an international appearance this year. The feast is first of all that of the parishioners of the City of the Nativity. On this occasion they welcome the Custos of the Holy Land, representing the Franciscans who have been serving the parish since the thirteenth century. Like ever year, they went to meet him at Mar Elias (Saint Elijah) Monastery, the age-old entrance to the Bethlehem area. But the surprise when the motor cortege reached Nativity Square was to find more than 150 Franciscans who had come to join the thanksgiving chant of Te Deum.
The Franciscans, of course, are of all nationalities, but this year they were joined by 80 of the Holy Land Commissioners. The Holy Land Commissioners are the representatives of the Custody throughout the world. Working in their own countries, they provide information about the vocation and activities of the Custody, encourage pilgrimage, and draw the attention of Christians all over the world to the situation of the Christians of the Middle East, coordinating the annual collection of funds on Good Friday. Since November 19th, the 80 Commissioners have been assembled in Jerusalem to attend an international conference called for by the Custos and organized by the Custodial Vicar, Father Artemio Vitores. The goal of the conference was to share experiences and to consider the best ways to optimize their work, the better to serve the Holy Places and the local Christians who are the Living Stones of the Holy Land.
It was a particularly large crowd, then, that squeezed into the forecourt of the Basilica. In accordance with tradition, the Custos entered through the small door of the Basilica, where he greeted the representatives of the other Christian denominations who join the Franciscans in protecting the site of Christ’s birth. Then, to the strains of the Te Deum, he entered Saint Catherine’s Parish Church, where he addressed the Palestinian parishioners, encouraging them, in their still difficult situation, to hold on firmly to faith and hope. He spoke in Italian and with translation by the parish priest, Father Amjad Sabbara, ofm.
But the Feast of Saint Catherine did not end there for the Franciscans or for the parishioners. First of all, the Franciscans had the joy of celebrating the Liturgy of the Hours together in a church that they filled to capacity almost single handedly. Then the parishioners and the Commissioners rejoiced together for the blessing of the buildings and the residents of the new Saint Catherine’s Residence, a two-building complex built by the Custody of the Holy Land. Construction was finished in November, and twenty-four Bethlehem families were able to move in. They had been since been waiting for this moment, their chance to thank the Custody, which they did by offering gifts to the master-builders of the complex. For the Holy Land Commissioners, this was a chance to see the realization of one of the projects to which their work contributes, to see the joy of the Palestinian Christians they serve around the world.
On Sunday morning, the Commissioners having left for the Galilee, the parish Mass, with the Custos presiding, mixed the joy of celebrating the feast of Christ the King as well as the parish’s feast day.
The Solemn Entry of the Custos to Bethlehem is filled with weighty traditions, but this did not detract in the least from the lightness of hearts this year: the joy of Christians who are still in Bethlehem in spite everything.
MAB
The Franciscans, of course, are of all nationalities, but this year they were joined by 80 of the Holy Land Commissioners. The Holy Land Commissioners are the representatives of the Custody throughout the world. Working in their own countries, they provide information about the vocation and activities of the Custody, encourage pilgrimage, and draw the attention of Christians all over the world to the situation of the Christians of the Middle East, coordinating the annual collection of funds on Good Friday. Since November 19th, the 80 Commissioners have been assembled in Jerusalem to attend an international conference called for by the Custos and organized by the Custodial Vicar, Father Artemio Vitores. The goal of the conference was to share experiences and to consider the best ways to optimize their work, the better to serve the Holy Places and the local Christians who are the Living Stones of the Holy Land.
It was a particularly large crowd, then, that squeezed into the forecourt of the Basilica. In accordance with tradition, the Custos entered through the small door of the Basilica, where he greeted the representatives of the other Christian denominations who join the Franciscans in protecting the site of Christ’s birth. Then, to the strains of the Te Deum, he entered Saint Catherine’s Parish Church, where he addressed the Palestinian parishioners, encouraging them, in their still difficult situation, to hold on firmly to faith and hope. He spoke in Italian and with translation by the parish priest, Father Amjad Sabbara, ofm.
But the Feast of Saint Catherine did not end there for the Franciscans or for the parishioners. First of all, the Franciscans had the joy of celebrating the Liturgy of the Hours together in a church that they filled to capacity almost single handedly. Then the parishioners and the Commissioners rejoiced together for the blessing of the buildings and the residents of the new Saint Catherine’s Residence, a two-building complex built by the Custody of the Holy Land. Construction was finished in November, and twenty-four Bethlehem families were able to move in. They had been since been waiting for this moment, their chance to thank the Custody, which they did by offering gifts to the master-builders of the complex. For the Holy Land Commissioners, this was a chance to see the realization of one of the projects to which their work contributes, to see the joy of the Palestinian Christians they serve around the world.
On Sunday morning, the Commissioners having left for the Galilee, the parish Mass, with the Custos presiding, mixed the joy of celebrating the feast of Christ the King as well as the parish’s feast day.
The Solemn Entry of the Custos to Bethlehem is filled with weighty traditions, but this did not detract in the least from the lightness of hearts this year: the joy of Christians who are still in Bethlehem in spite everything.
MAB