Anniversary of 70 Years of St. James Vicariate

There is a particular way of being Church in Israel: speaking the language of everyday life and of the heart - Hebrew - without losing anything of the Catholic Church’s universality. This is the vocation of the St. James Vicariate, which on May 2 celebrated its 70th anniversary with 350 parishioners and guests at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center. The celebration included the Holy Mass for the Solemnity of Saint James the Apostle, presided over by His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

Click HERE and read the homily.

The celebration retraced the living history through faces, stories, and gratitude: for priests, religious, and lay faithful who have built this path; for the pioneers who remain; and for the younger generations who carry it forward today. Music, prayer, and the premiere of a documentary produced by the Christian Media Center accompany this moment of thanksgiving.

The anniversary celebration was enriched by the music of Fr. Benedetto Di Bitonto, whose compositions have long accompanied the life and prayer of the communities. The voices of the choir of Koinonia Giovanni Battista, as well as the unique singer Bitanya, gave the celebration a depth and beauty that resonated beyond words.

As Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Vicar of St. James Vicariate 2005-2008) underlined, it is essential “to understand [the people of Israel]… and to feel like it’s the responsibility of the communities to help the Church understand and look forward… a relationship that today is more important than ever.”

Seventy years, a span of fidelity and perseverance, “a time that recalls the seventh day of creation and opens onto the eighth day, the day of the Resurrection,” mark not only a jubilee, but an ecclesial path lived in the concrete realities of Jerusalem. Here, “every stone carries both a promise and a wound; here the history of salvation and the history of the Church are interwoven in a unique way.”

The Vicariate lives this calling daily: to translate, to accompany, to listen, and to serve. “Not in order to build ‘another’ Church, but to build from within the one Church of Jesus.” In a context where diversity is both gift and challenge, the reminder remains clear: “the Church is not a collection of islands, it is one body.”

Unity, however, is not without cost. “There is a cost to listening to the story of the other, when each community carries wounds, memories, and fears.” Yet it is precisely through this lived relationship that the Church becomes a true place of encounter.

A visual journey through photographs led the audience back to 1955, when the “Work of St. James” began, and traced its development into a unique ecclesial presence within the Church in the Holy Land. Today, the St. James Vicariate brings together Catholics living within Hebrew-speaking Israeli society: faithful of Jewish origin alongside believers “from the nations,” local Christians, migrants, and Russian-speaking communities. The kehillots are active in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv–Jaffa, Haifa, Beer Sheva, and Tiberias.

“Seventy years is a gift. It is also a responsibility,” said Fr. Piotr Zelazko (Vicar of the St. James Vicariate from 2021). “Our task is to remain faithful, attentive, and courageous - to listen to the signs of the times, to care for the next generation, and to continue building bridges of faith, dialogue, and compassion.”

At the heart of this mission lies a simple yet demanding vocation: to make Christ visible within society. Fr. David Neuhaus (Vicar of St. James Vicariate 2009-2017) expressed it clearly: “We must continue to grow not only in numbers but in depth so that we can be a face of Jesus Christ in our society.”

In a reality marked by fragility and tension, the Church in this land lives a particular calling. As Bishop Rafic Nahra (Vicar of St. James Vicariate 2017-2021) reflected, “these challenges did not come so that we would fail, but so that we would overcome them and grow in love.” His hope is that the communities “will always be an open and embracing home for everyone,” echoing the vision of a Church where each person can feel received as part of one family.

A sign of closeness came also from diplomacy: His Excellency Yaron Sideman, Israel’s Ambassador to the Holy See, unable to attend, sent a video message. In praising the community he said, in essence: “you represent everything good and beautiful - something worth being proud of”; and he recalled the value of “fraternity… unity… mutual respect.” He added: “You proudly raise two flags: the flag of faith and the national flag.”

As part of the 70th anniversary of the St. James Vicariate, a moment was dedicated to the young people of the communities who are serving or have served in the Israel Defense Forces. Their service was acknowledged, and prayers were expressed for their safety and for peace.

Those who did not return were also remembered. Among them was Shlomo Gurtovnik. His father, Mr. Alex Gurtovnik, was invited to address the assembly.

Following his words, a moment of remembrance was observed. Gratitude was expressed for those who have passed away - priests, religious, and lay people - who contributed to the life and development of the Vicariate since its beginnings. This was followed by a musical piece by an amazing singer, Bitania, followed, presented as a sign of remembrance and gratitude.

The premiere of a documentary created for the 70th anniversary of the St. James Vicariate was a highlight of the celebration. The film’s author, Ms. Tatiana Gomes de Macedo of the Christian Media Center, was welcomed and introduced to the audience.

The celebration also included a moment of recognition for those who have accompanied the Vicariate from its early years. Participants aged seventy and above were invited to come forward as a sign of appreciation for their role in the life of the communities.

A moment of gratitude was dedicated to the donors and partners whose support sustained the mission and pastoral life of the St. James Vicariate over the years. Several benefactors were invited to the stage and acknowledged by name, while others were greeted in their absence. Special recognition was given to Mrs. Elisabeth Moley of blessed memory for her longstanding generosity.

For many of the St. James Vicariate, the future remains open. Many young people grow up without stability, often marked by migration and fragile legal situations. In this context, the Vicariate continues to invest in catechesis, youth formation, and community life: ensuring that faith is not only preserved, but lived, shared, and embodied.

Looking back over seventy years, one truth became evident as Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa stated: “what enabled it to stand was not an ecclesial strategy, but one foundation: Jesus.” Only a Church that draws its life from Christ can remain united and become a sign of hope.