The international Franciscan studentate of Jerusalem welcomes friars in formation from various Franciscan provinces around the world in addition to the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land.
In the Studentate of Saint Saviour there are 41 friars coming from entities other than the Order: Angola, Congo, Brazil, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Syria, East Timor, Togo. In the houses of formation in Jerusalem and Ain Karem there are a total of 61 friars in formation.
These young men enter the formative path offered by the Custody and prepare for solemn profession and then for ordained ministries (diaconate and priesthood).
From the love for the holy places that is born from the course of studies completed, some of the friars remain to serve the sanctuaries of the Holy Land, while others return to their religious Provinces of origin and often carry out the service of Commissioner of the Holy Land, promoting pilgrimages and knowledge of the land of Jesus.
There are two images that accompany such a variegated and multi-ethnic community of friars: that of the Tower of Babel and of Pentecost. Living in a multicultural and multilingual environment is a challenge, it is not always easy, there are completely different mentalities. The very conception of God can be different, that is, the way of conceiving divinity, of entering into a relationship with the Lord.
At the same time, the search for authentic relations, which help to live a Pentecost, an encounter, a sharing of paths of faith.
One of the barriers that could make communication less effective is the use of the common Italian language which is used in prayer, in study, in fraternal life. It is a very concrete obstacle because none of the young friars is a native Italian speaker.
Food can also be a great challenge and the ability to adapt is not always a given. Even living now, in this very particular moment in the Holy Land, influences the lives of the young friars, the school lessons themselves are, at times, held online.
For many, however, the situation is not very different from that of their countries of origin. For those, instead, who for the first time find themselves living in a war zone, with alarms and detonations during the day and night, it has been psychologically very impactful.
Fortunately, in recent times after the truce, the activities of apostolate have reactivated, in the parishes, in visiting the elderly and sick of the old city of Jerusalem. The service in the various sanctuaries has been reactivated, especially the Holy Sepulchre which was closed for several days.
Biblical-archaeological excursions have also resumed. In fact, during the years of study, in addition to theological subjects, the Jerusalem Theological Studio (Studium Theologicum Jerosolymitanum - STJ) offers experiences of knowledge of the Holy Land through excursions that every year make a part of the biblical land known.
In this air of rebirth to ordinary life, the excursion to Jordan took place. Twenty-two friars of solemn profession who are preparing for ordained ministries and two formators traveled the roads of Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum, Mount Nebo, Um Rasas, Ashlun, Gedara, Gerash. It was an intense moment of fraternity and spirituality. Above all, the holy places were visited and in a particular way the ancient churches where the first Christians lived and prayed.
It was a moment of sharing the lived experience, of what was experienced in this period of war, having the opportunity to relax and detach from the city of Jerusalem. A profound and enriching experience in which they returned to experience the freedom of movement and the necessary break in this time of tension.
