News from the Vicariate

On November 1st the Feast of the Communities (Yom HaKehilot) took place in Jerusalem. The holy Mass was celebrated in the Auditorium of Notre dame of Jerusalem, meanwhile the picnic lunch was served by the students of the Collège des Frères (La Salle New Gate Jerusalem).

On the night of October 29, 2025, the streets of Tel Aviv glowed with movement, rhythm, and light as 42 participants from the St. James Vicariate joined the Night Run Tel Aviv among tens of thousands of runners.

The new Liturgical Calendar for the year 2025/26 is available. The digital version (pdf) may be found on our webpage. The printed edition may be purchased through the priests responsible for the communities.

"Today we are not only celebrating the release of the hostages but also the resurrection of hope": this is how Father Piotr Zelazko, Patriarchal Vicar of the Vicariate of St. James for Hebrew-speaking Catholics, commented to L’Agenzia S.I.R. (Servizio Informazione Religiosa) on the release of the 20 Israeli hostages, still alive, held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The annual retreat for priests of the Vicariate of St. James took place at the Monastery of Montserrat. All priests participated in the spiritual exercises from September 28 to October 3, 2025.

After yesterday's terrorist attack in Jerusalem, fr. Piotr, the Vicar of St. James spoke to the Italian News Agensy S.I.R. (Servizio Informazione Religiosa).

A weekend of prayer, friendship, and faith took place on September 04–06 at the Beit Noah Guesthouse by the Sea of Galilee.

Starting yesterday, a new video series titled Faith at a Glance is now available on our YouTube channel. Every Tuesday, a short video in Hebrew will be released, offering a clear and concise explanation of a topic related to the Catholic faith.

A Special Opportunity to Support and Celebrate: The Pilgrimage to Rome was an extraordinary event for St. James Vicariate, marking a meaningful step in our journey toward the Year of Jubilee. All participants received specially designed commemorative gadgets connected to this sacred celebration. Now, we are pleased to offer these exclusive products to everyone through our website. The quantity is limited, and all proceeds will go directly to support the charity initiatives of the Vicariate.

From August 11th to 19th, 2025, a group of pilgrims from St. James Vicariate embarked on a spiritually enriching journey to Rome, the heart of the Catholic Church. The pilgrimage was not only a time of prayer and reflection but also a profound encounter with the living Church, its history, and its present mission under Pope Leo XIV.

In the heart of Jerusalem, where faith and history intertwine, the life of Sr. Regine Canetti, NDS, stood as a quiet beacon of reconciliation, memory, and hope. A Holocaust survivor, a convert, and a devoted Sister of Sion, Sr. Regine’s journey from tragedy to testimony left a lasting imprint on the Church and the people of the Holy Land. Her passing at the age of 104 marks the end of an era, but her legacy continues to inspire.

We are deeply grateful to share that a ceasefire has been declared, bringing a much-needed moment of peace to our region. This is a time to give thanks—for the safety of our communities, for the power of prayer, and for the unwavering support we have received from friends near and far.

Today (23.06.25) marks the 20th anniversary of the passing of Bishop Jean-Baptiste Gourion, a revered figure in the Hebrew-speaking Catholic community in Israel. His legacy continues to inspire and guide the faithful.

On Friday (30.05.25) the members of the Pastoral Council celebrated the Jubilee. The meeting took place in Tiberias.

This year's liturgical Solemnity of St. James, Apostle, Bishop of Jerusalem, Main Patron of the Vicariate was celebrated in the monastery of Deir Rafat, on Saturday (03.05).

We present the homily of fr. Piotr Zelazko, Patriarchal Vicar, on the Solemnity of St. James Apostle, Bishop of Jerusalem, Main Patron of the Vicariate that he preached on Saturday (03.05) in Deir Rafat.

The Requiem Mass of the late Pope Francis on Saturday (26.04) brought the attention of millions of people all over the world. This event was followed carefully also by non-Catholics. Israeli TV covered the funeral inviting Hebrew-speaking priests.

This year, our communities in Jaffa, Jerusalem, Haifa, Beer Sheva, Tiberias, and the Russian-speaking communities celebrated Easter in a festive way. Despite the challenges of finding joy amidst the violence and destruction around us, we remain strong in our belief that peace will come soon, and that the hostages, soldiers, and all those displaced will return home. We present short summaries sent by the members of various communities and their priests.

We remind that on our official YouTube channel there is a short (3:30 min.) movie for children about Easter. Consider watching it with your child in order to explain the meaning of this Feast.

Every Monday during the period of Lent, we presented a lecture on Zoom. All the meetings were recorded and are available on our official YouTube channel. We hope they helped the participants and viewers to better prepare for the celebration of Easter. Do not forget to like and subscribe.