Children’s confirmation in Jerusalem – 2019

Four young women and eight young men, all Hebrew-speakers and born in Israel, all children of parents who came to Israel to find work and make a living here, stood in a line as they received the anointing with oil from the hands of Father Rafic Nahra, Latin Patriarchal Vicar, responsible for the Saint James Vicariate for Hebrew Speaking Catholics and the Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers. Excitement and emotion were etched on the faces of those receiving the sacrament after they had prepared for this moment for one entire year. The prayer took place in the Ratisbonne Monastery, where children of Filipino origin gather each Saturday for catechism classes and games. The Salesian seminarians run the center and organize the activities.

Father David Neuhaus SJ prepared the candidates for this event and celebrated the mass during which they received the sacrament. Preparation included not only studying the Bible and the tradition and looking into the roots of the Christian faith, but also an ongoing discussion about the identity of these children, an identity founded on their Christian faith lived within a daily life in Jewish, Hebrew-speaking Israeli society and their origins in Filipino migrant worker families.

In his homily, Father Rafic reminded the children of the role of the Holy spirit in their future lives and of their mission to be witnesses in the society in which they live. He expressed the hope that the Holy Spirit would fill them with all her gifts and that they would continue on their way with Christ. Afterall, confirmation is not the end of a journey but rather its very beginning. In his prayer before giving the sacrament, he was joined by the other priests who concelebrated, Father David, Father Roman, the responsible for the Jerusalem kehillah, Father Benny, responsible for the Saint Rachel Center, Fathers Matthew and Eric, Salesian priests and Father Sandro.

At the end of the ceremony, the youth, with their godparents, parents, members of their families, friends, members of the Filipino and Hebrew-speaking communities, made their way to the Saint Rachel Center where the mothers had laid out a sumptuous feast, they had prepared and the celebration of this special day in the lives of these young people continued.