This Sunday the Custody Chapter took a pause from its work. After days of very intense debates and work, the chapter members took a festive rest. In the morning, while the priests of the parish returned to their parishes for Sunday Masses, the other Friars participated in the parish Mass at the Church of St. Catherine at 9:00 a.m.
The Eucharist, concelebrated by 35 priests, was presided over by the Father Custos. The homily was given by the parish priest, Fr. Amjad Sabbara, O.F.M., who spoke of the greatness of the Eucharistic mystery and its centrality in the life of the Church. After the Mass, the Most Blessed Sacrament was carried solemnly in procession around the cloister of St. Catherine’s, with the active participation of the parish choir and a very large number of faithful. This liturgical encounter followed yesterday’s inauguration of the Sports Center of Bethlehem. With these two festive occasions, the Chapter wanted to give visible witness to the profound bond that links the Custody of the Holy Land to the local Church.
In the afternoon, a group of chapter members went on an archaeological excursion, guided by Fr. Eugenio Alliata, O.F.M., professor at the Flagellation in Jerusalem. The goal of the visit was the Herodion fortress, which is only a few kilometers from Bethlehem. This grand structure, built by King Herod (37 – 3 B.C.) was a summer palace, an oasis in the desert, a military stronghold, and also the burial site of this much discussed monarch. We visited the two parts into which the site is divided. In the superior part, one can visit the palace with its circular fortress, placed on a mountain in the form of a cone. In the inferior part, one can still admire the remains of a large pool, as well as three Byzantine Churches. Afterwards we had the possibility to also visit the remains of Tekoa, the homeland of the prophet Amos. The explanations and illustrations of Fr. Eugenio Alliata helped us to relive the archaeological memories, and permitted us to enter into contact with the past, complete with all of its fascination. By now the Chapter is winding down to its conclusion. Tomorrow morning the chapter members will resume their work, committing themselves to work on approving the capitular proposals, which were prepared by a special commission. The walk that the Custody of the Holy Land will face in the next three years will depend largely upon the proposals approved.
The Eucharist, concelebrated by 35 priests, was presided over by the Father Custos. The homily was given by the parish priest, Fr. Amjad Sabbara, O.F.M., who spoke of the greatness of the Eucharistic mystery and its centrality in the life of the Church. After the Mass, the Most Blessed Sacrament was carried solemnly in procession around the cloister of St. Catherine’s, with the active participation of the parish choir and a very large number of faithful. This liturgical encounter followed yesterday’s inauguration of the Sports Center of Bethlehem. With these two festive occasions, the Chapter wanted to give visible witness to the profound bond that links the Custody of the Holy Land to the local Church.
In the afternoon, a group of chapter members went on an archaeological excursion, guided by Fr. Eugenio Alliata, O.F.M., professor at the Flagellation in Jerusalem. The goal of the visit was the Herodion fortress, which is only a few kilometers from Bethlehem. This grand structure, built by King Herod (37 – 3 B.C.) was a summer palace, an oasis in the desert, a military stronghold, and also the burial site of this much discussed monarch. We visited the two parts into which the site is divided. In the superior part, one can visit the palace with its circular fortress, placed on a mountain in the form of a cone. In the inferior part, one can still admire the remains of a large pool, as well as three Byzantine Churches. Afterwards we had the possibility to also visit the remains of Tekoa, the homeland of the prophet Amos. The explanations and illustrations of Fr. Eugenio Alliata helped us to relive the archaeological memories, and permitted us to enter into contact with the past, complete with all of its fascination. By now the Chapter is winding down to its conclusion. Tomorrow morning the chapter members will resume their work, committing themselves to work on approving the capitular proposals, which were prepared by a special commission. The walk that the Custody of the Holy Land will face in the next three years will depend largely upon the proposals approved.