Yom HaShoah 2015 in the Vicariate

In all the Hebrew speaking, Catholic communities, the annual commemoration of the Shoah in Israel was solemnly marked with prayers. In the kehillot there are Holocaust survivors, Righteous among the Nations and their descendants.

In the Jerusalem kehilla, the special Shoah candelabrum was lit at mass on Wednesday evening and at morning prayer on Thursday. This candelabrum was given to Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini as a token of appreciation for his contribution to Jewish-Catholic dialogue by a Jewish organization. It was a copy of a candelabrum given to Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Martini of blessed memory gave the candelabrum to the Saint James Vicariate when he left Jerusalem.

On Thursday morning, a small delegation from the Saint James Vicariate, including Father David, Father Rafic, seminarian Benny and Daniele went to Yad VaShem to participate in the wreath laying ceremony. Father David and Daniele laid a wreath in the name of the Saint James Vicariate for Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel.