Capernaum, Saturday, October 13, 2012
On Saturday, October 13, 2012, the first pilgrimage commemorating the entrance of Jesus into Capernaum, against the spectacular natural setting of the Sea of Galilee. Capernaum is the most significant among the shrines of the lake, the capital of the preaching and public life of Jesus, where the Messiah taught the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and where he healed the sick and forgave sins.
As the sun set, the celebrants and faithful, led by the Custos, gathered along the shore of the lake t commemorate the event of the coming of Jesus from Nazareth to Capernaum, as told by the Evangelist Matthew, immediately after the arrest of John. Here he preached conversion , met the first disciples and invited them to become “fishers of men”.
From the shore, the long procession passed through the ruins of the city, passing by the house-sanctuary of the Apostle Peter, arriving at the white synagogue.
The celebration of the Eucharist followed, presided by Fr.PierbattistaPizzaballa, Custos of the Holy Land, joined by Most Rev. Elias Chacour, Melkite Catholic Archbishop, Franciscan priests and other Catholic communities from all over the Holy Land. There was a large representation from the Latin parishes of Galilee, who participated in the experience with great interest. At the center of the Liturgy of the Word was the passage from Mark’s Gospel of the healing of the paralytic who had been lowered through the roof, and the subsequent invitation of Christ to Levi.
During his homily, Archbishop Chacour drew attention to the importance of the work done by the Custody of the Holy land, which has always fought to maintain the properties of the Holy Places through different historical periods, to guard them and make them available for all the faithful.
Afterwards, Fr. AmjadSabbara, Pastor of Nazareth, shed importance on the day lived as a moment of communion.
At the end of the celebration, the young people of the “Tao Band” from Akko added to the already festive atmosphere.
This celebration combined traditional pilgrimages undertaken in recent years: the Annunciation of the Eucharist celebrated the 3rd Friday of Lent, and St. Peter the Apostle, celebrated June 29th on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.
On Saturday, October 13, 2012, the first pilgrimage commemorating the entrance of Jesus into Capernaum, against the spectacular natural setting of the Sea of Galilee. Capernaum is the most significant among the shrines of the lake, the capital of the preaching and public life of Jesus, where the Messiah taught the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and where he healed the sick and forgave sins.
As the sun set, the celebrants and faithful, led by the Custos, gathered along the shore of the lake t commemorate the event of the coming of Jesus from Nazareth to Capernaum, as told by the Evangelist Matthew, immediately after the arrest of John. Here he preached conversion , met the first disciples and invited them to become “fishers of men”.
From the shore, the long procession passed through the ruins of the city, passing by the house-sanctuary of the Apostle Peter, arriving at the white synagogue.
The celebration of the Eucharist followed, presided by Fr.PierbattistaPizzaballa, Custos of the Holy Land, joined by Most Rev. Elias Chacour, Melkite Catholic Archbishop, Franciscan priests and other Catholic communities from all over the Holy Land. There was a large representation from the Latin parishes of Galilee, who participated in the experience with great interest. At the center of the Liturgy of the Word was the passage from Mark’s Gospel of the healing of the paralytic who had been lowered through the roof, and the subsequent invitation of Christ to Levi.
During his homily, Archbishop Chacour drew attention to the importance of the work done by the Custody of the Holy land, which has always fought to maintain the properties of the Holy Places through different historical periods, to guard them and make them available for all the faithful.
Afterwards, Fr. AmjadSabbara, Pastor of Nazareth, shed importance on the day lived as a moment of communion.
At the end of the celebration, the young people of the “Tao Band” from Akko added to the already festive atmosphere.
This celebration combined traditional pilgrimages undertaken in recent years: the Annunciation of the Eucharist celebrated the 3rd Friday of Lent, and St. Peter the Apostle, celebrated June 29th on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.