On Saturday11th December, about 400 Latin Catholic pilgrims of Indian origin made a pilgrimage from Jerusalem to Bethlehem in preparation for Christmas. There are more than 2000 Indian Catholics in the Holy Land.
Father Jayaseelan of the Order of Friars Minor has been the chaplain that looks after this large community for one year. “They came to Israel to look for work, they often have the humblest jobs and testify they are Christians in their toil and the simplicity of their everyday life, including with the brothers of other confessions they meet in their daily routine,” Father Jaya tells us.
With his spirit of enterprise, Father Jaya organized this pilgrimage in preparation for Christmas for his faithful.” It is a physical, mental and spiritual preparation. We will cover on foot the journey made by the Holy Family and by the Three Magi and we will try to relive the experience of the shepherds who were the first to move to go and adore the Saviour.
It is a visible expression of our faith and the faith of this community,” Father Jaya continued with enthusiasm. “These people come from different parts of Israel, with their families and children. They meet together to walk under the flag of the Church, the Holy Land and India, praying, ex pressing their hope and preparing for the birth of the Emmanuel”. A meditation at the Holy Sepulchre at 8.00 a.m. marked the start of the pilgrimage which then wound through the alleys of the Old City to reach the Latin Patriarchate where H.E. Mons William Shomali, Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem, welcomed the pilgrims with warm greetings and gave them his blessing.
After a short prayer at the Jaffa Gate, the long walk started, accompanied all the time by songs and recital of the rosary. Shortly after the checkpoint to enter Bethlehem, the rain, which had been long awaited, surprised the pilgrims just a few kilometres from their destination. However, this did not dampen the spirits of the group and continuing to sing and pray, they continued on their way until they reached the Basilica of the nativity, wet but full of joy.
A few of them, representing the whole group, took part in the procession in the Grotto of the Nativity with the Franciscan friars, whilst the others prepared Holy Mass. A joyful Celebration of the Eucharist concluded the pilgrimage of this living Christian community who will next meet on 24th December at the Terra Santa School Campus in Jaffa at 8.30 p.m. to celebrate Christmas together.
Marco Gavasso
Father Jayaseelan of the Order of Friars Minor has been the chaplain that looks after this large community for one year. “They came to Israel to look for work, they often have the humblest jobs and testify they are Christians in their toil and the simplicity of their everyday life, including with the brothers of other confessions they meet in their daily routine,” Father Jaya tells us.
With his spirit of enterprise, Father Jaya organized this pilgrimage in preparation for Christmas for his faithful.” It is a physical, mental and spiritual preparation. We will cover on foot the journey made by the Holy Family and by the Three Magi and we will try to relive the experience of the shepherds who were the first to move to go and adore the Saviour.
It is a visible expression of our faith and the faith of this community,” Father Jaya continued with enthusiasm. “These people come from different parts of Israel, with their families and children. They meet together to walk under the flag of the Church, the Holy Land and India, praying, ex pressing their hope and preparing for the birth of the Emmanuel”. A meditation at the Holy Sepulchre at 8.00 a.m. marked the start of the pilgrimage which then wound through the alleys of the Old City to reach the Latin Patriarchate where H.E. Mons William Shomali, Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem, welcomed the pilgrims with warm greetings and gave them his blessing.
After a short prayer at the Jaffa Gate, the long walk started, accompanied all the time by songs and recital of the rosary. Shortly after the checkpoint to enter Bethlehem, the rain, which had been long awaited, surprised the pilgrims just a few kilometres from their destination. However, this did not dampen the spirits of the group and continuing to sing and pray, they continued on their way until they reached the Basilica of the nativity, wet but full of joy.
A few of them, representing the whole group, took part in the procession in the Grotto of the Nativity with the Franciscan friars, whilst the others prepared Holy Mass. A joyful Celebration of the Eucharist concluded the pilgrimage of this living Christian community who will next meet on 24th December at the Terra Santa School Campus in Jaffa at 8.30 p.m. to celebrate Christmas together.
Marco Gavasso