Easter 2023 in St. James Vicariate

Palm Sunday Procession

A joint group of the St. James Vicariate participated in the procession from Betfaghe to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Together with fr. Benny and fr. Tiago that moderated the music the group was singing Hebrew songs typical for our communities.

Beer Sheva

The celebrations of The Holy Week in Beer Sheva bring together two communities, one praying in Hebrew and one praying in English. For the Palm Sunday we still gathered separately since once we could pray on Saturday and once on Sunday. Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil on Saturday we celebrated as one community. In each celebration there participated a good number of believers, both those who every week frequent our chapel and those who can come only on special days. The mix of languages Hebrew and English was specially felt on Paschal Vigil. But thanks to the ability of musicians and their flexibility all proceeded in harmony. After the joyful celebration of the Resurrection in the chapel both communities continued to share their joy during a plentiful common meal

Tiberias

This year in our parish community of Tiberias, we had a blessed Triduum and a beautiful Easter, beginning with Mass on Holy Thursday which included the washing of the feet among families and friends.

On Good Friday, we started with the Stations of the Cross at 3:00pm. The first station was set in the garden near the church and with every station we got closer to the church, with the last 3 stations inside the church. At each station we read a passage of the gospel that was followed by a short prayer. Then we continued with the liturgy of Good Friday.

The most beautiful liturgy of the year, the Easter Vigil on Saturday night was presided by the parish priest Fr. Andrej Keller. It was accompanied by beautiful music and a creative entrance of the women proclaiming that the tomb is empty and an angel confirming that Jesus is risen! The homily of Fr. Giuseppe De Nardi, former Parish Priest and now Superior General of the Koinonia, encouraged us not to be afraid because Jesus has overcome and is alive! After the liturgy, we enjoyed a time of sharing, including the cutting of the magnificent Easter cake made by the Nimer family. About 120 faithful gathered from many parts of the world for this important celebration.

On the Easter Sunday, the celebration was enriched by the singing of a group of soldiers from the United Nations, coming from Fiji. The homily was given by Fr. Ricardo Argañaraz, Founder of Koinonia John the Baptist, who emphasized the joy that comes from the Resurrection of our Lord.

Yaffo

On Holy Thursday, a large number of people gathered for the solemn liturgy with foot washing. Even on Good Friday there was a very good attendance at the liturgy. On Saturday evening community members gathered for the liturgy of the Paschal Vigil. Fr. Alberto sang beautifully the Exultet hymn. After the prayer, we had a festive refreshment. In the beginning, we blessed traditional food for Easter breakfast. That night in the Church of St. Peter there were 5 more liturgies in different languages.

On Easter day, there were many people at the Lord's Supper. And like the day before, there was also a festive refreshment. It was a happy and blessed Easter holiday.

Jerusalem

In the Jerusalem community we were blessed with three very significant and profound big days. The chapel was fully occupied every day starting Thursday.

As it is the custom of Jerusalem, the Mass In Coena Domini was held on a table set around which the participants sat in expanding circles. After the Mass we had a break of half an hour with light refreshments and the members of the Congregation were given two options for the rest of the evening: walking to Gethsemani with a silent prayer among the olive trees, or a time of silent prayer in the chapel. Most of the people chose the first option and about 8 people stayed for the prayer instead.

On Good Friday, the liturgy began at 3:00 pm. led by Fr. Tiago, and about 70 people participated.

The Paschal Vigil started on Saturday night at 9.pm and lasted about two hours. Afterwards the community gathered in the moadon for refreshments. The next day, Easter Sunday, the prayer took place at 11.am and in addition to the joy of the resurrection, Jonathan and Raphael celebrated the First Communion. Following the Mass, there was a common lunch in the courtyard.

Haifa- Russian Speaking

Due to the lack of fr. Sergey who spent the Holy Triduum in a hospital, the Russian-speaking community of Haifa celebrated only the Eucharist of Easter. On Sunday morning fr. Piotr traditionally blessed the baskets with food and presided the Easter Mass. We continue to pray for fr. Sergey.

Latrun

Russian-speaking community of Latrun celebrated the entire Holy Triduum in the ruins of the ancient Basilica in Emmaus-Nicopolis. Fr. Piotr celebrated the evening liturgy of Holy Thursday, Friday and Paschal Vigil after which a common meal in the museum hall of the Community of Beatitudes. Big thanks to br. Anton that prepared the liturgy.

Haifa

We began with the celebration of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, and during the Lord's Supper Fr. Christian insisted on the great importance of this event for all the believers. On Holy Thursday, in the evening, during the Coena Domini Mass, Fr. Christian held the ceremony of washing the feet of the men of the community. The Good Friday began with complete silence of the believers that was followed by the reading of the Gospel about the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus. Fr. Christian preached about the meaning of crucifixion and death of Jesus for us humans and the infinity of God's love and the greatness of the fact that God gave his only son as a sacrifice for all of us. The believers left the church in silence as it is the custom on Holy Friday. On Saturday at 7.pm the community gathered again to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. After about five weeks of Lent a joyful "Glory" resounded as the lights were turned on and filled with joy of the Risen Lord. Hallelujah!

The Holy Week in the Haifa community was beautiful, exciting and above all brought us closer to our Lord. We are thankful for the time that God gave us to experience as a community and for walking with Jesus from His entry to Jerusalem till His death and resurrection.