12th March. A few days early, we want to share the joy of the 60th anniversary of the presbyteral ordination of Father Pedro Tomé Merino, who presided the Eucharist, in front of the Holy Grotto of the Annunciation, in the presence of the Custodial Vicar, Fr. Artemio Vítores ofm, and many brothers who came from Judea and Galilee.
In his homily, Fr. Artemio underlined the joy, enthusiasm and the perspective of future in the priestly vocation of Fr. Pedro. He has been taken from men to serve the People of God and with the imposition of the hands, he became Alter Christus. Despite Fr. Pedro’s venerable age, the Vicar exhorted him to persevere in the exercise of his priestly ministry and to preach, first by example rather than with words, the grace he has received.
After communion, Fr. Pedro wanted to give an account of his priestly ministry, ever since his arrival in the Holy Land from Spain, in 1951. Sent to Damascus (Syria) in 1959, it was there that he met the world of the Oriental churches; he then went to Istanbul (Turkey), where he came into contact with Islam, in the pleasurable dialogue with the Turkish students who came to our convent to study Spanish. Lastly, he dwelled on the time spent in Jaffa (Tel Aviv) and his encounter with the Jewish world in the cultural field. With great emotion, he talked about his relations with Jews, religious and non-religious, who attended the concerts held in the church of St. Peter and who, in various Israeli choirs, performed famous pieces such as Ave Verum, or Sacrum Convivium, Ave Mari Stella, the Messa II Pontificalis by Perosi, etc. He also recalled his apostolate at St. Peter’s, in the midst of the immigrants, especially from Chile and Colombia, who arrived in Israel during the first Intifada.
The Mass was prepared especially by the person being fêted, in every single detail, including the songs, in Arabic, Italian and Spanish, performed by the Shalom and the New Life Communities, which accompany the various activities of the Sanctuary. After the celebration, all those present were invited to the fraternal Agape, served in the former Catholic Action, opposite the Casa Nova. Afterwards, we went to the convent, for the solemn dinner in honour of our Father Pedro. Ad multos Annos!
In his homily, Fr. Artemio underlined the joy, enthusiasm and the perspective of future in the priestly vocation of Fr. Pedro. He has been taken from men to serve the People of God and with the imposition of the hands, he became Alter Christus. Despite Fr. Pedro’s venerable age, the Vicar exhorted him to persevere in the exercise of his priestly ministry and to preach, first by example rather than with words, the grace he has received.
After communion, Fr. Pedro wanted to give an account of his priestly ministry, ever since his arrival in the Holy Land from Spain, in 1951. Sent to Damascus (Syria) in 1959, it was there that he met the world of the Oriental churches; he then went to Istanbul (Turkey), where he came into contact with Islam, in the pleasurable dialogue with the Turkish students who came to our convent to study Spanish. Lastly, he dwelled on the time spent in Jaffa (Tel Aviv) and his encounter with the Jewish world in the cultural field. With great emotion, he talked about his relations with Jews, religious and non-religious, who attended the concerts held in the church of St. Peter and who, in various Israeli choirs, performed famous pieces such as Ave Verum, or Sacrum Convivium, Ave Mari Stella, the Messa II Pontificalis by Perosi, etc. He also recalled his apostolate at St. Peter’s, in the midst of the immigrants, especially from Chile and Colombia, who arrived in Israel during the first Intifada.
The Mass was prepared especially by the person being fêted, in every single detail, including the songs, in Arabic, Italian and Spanish, performed by the Shalom and the New Life Communities, which accompany the various activities of the Sanctuary. After the celebration, all those present were invited to the fraternal Agape, served in the former Catholic Action, opposite the Casa Nova. Afterwards, we went to the convent, for the solemn dinner in honour of our Father Pedro. Ad multos Annos!