Vicariate

From 16 to 19 December 2025, the Christmas Kaytana took place in the peaceful setting of Beit Noah, overlooking the Sea of Galilee. In this quiet and inspiring environment, young adults were invited to step away from everyday demands and enter more deeply into the meaning of Christmas: the wonder of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, who chooses closeness and humility.

Watch with your children our movie about Nativity. It is in Hebrew and was published on our YouTube channel.

On December 19–20, 2025 families from our communities gathered in Tiberias for a special Weekend of Families, celebrating faith, unity, and the 70th anniversary of the Vicariate of St. James. It was a time of prayer, learning, and joy, strengthening the bonds that unite us as one family in Christ.

On December 13, about 35 members of the Jerusalem Community came together for a special day of study, prayer, and spiritual preparation for Christmas. The retreat took place at the German Hostel of the Sisters of Charles Borromeo in the German Colony.

Saturday, December 20th, the Catechism children from Tel Aviv, together with their parents, gathered to celebrate a joyful Christmas Party.

The members of Jaffa Kehila participated in their Advent retreat, on Friday, December 12th, in Tiberias. One of the members reports about this event.

On Thursday (December 11th) Fr. Benny and the Jerusalem Community hosted more than fifty guests at an extraordinary event of Hannukah lecture by Rabbi Oded Peles.

Saturday, December 6th – The Beer Sheva community set out on a joyful and faith-filled journey to northern Israel, embracing fellowship, prayer, and the beauty of creation.

On Friday, December 5th, our beloved community member Cécile Pilverdier passed away. Fr. Benny, responsible for the Jerusalem Kehilla, shares his reflections on Cécile’s life and legacy.

On December 6th, the Youth Ministry team of St. James was honored to be officially invited by the Arab-speaking Youth Ministry in the Galilee to celebrate the Feast of Christ the King in Nazareth. This first-time invitation to our Hebrew-speaking youth marked a meaningful step in building bridges between our youth ministries.

On December 5–6 our young adults came together to Nazareth for a weekend of prayer, reflection, and fellowship. It was a beautiful opportunity to grow in faith and community. 

On Sunday, November 30, 2025, a special meeting took place at the synagogue Moreshet Avraham in Jerusalem to mark the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the historic declaration of the Second Vatican Council that opened a new chapter in relations between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people.

Last Friday (November 14th) more than one hundred people gathered in the parish hall of Notre Dame of the Champs in Paris for a meeting with fr. Piotr, the Vicar of St. James.

Fr. Piotr Zelazko, the Vicar of St. James Vicariate for Hebrew-speaking Catholics published the following statement on the occasion of 60th Anniversary of the publication by the Second Vatican Council the Declaration on the Relation of the Catholics Church to Non-Christian Religions "Nostra Aetate".

Our exclusive anniversary t-shirt honors the groundbreaking declaration that transformed relations between the Catholic Church and other faiths. Featuring a modern design inspired by dialogue, unity, and mutual respect, this shirt is more than apparel - it’s a statement of commitment to friendship and understanding. Perfect for events, gatherings, or as a meaningful keepsake.

The monthly Newsletter of St. James Vicariate is available in five languages (English, German, Italian, French and Polish). It contains the news from the communities and connects the local, hebrew-speaking Church with all the Catholics of the world. In unity we are strong. Please, subscribe in order to stay in touch with us.

On November 6, 2025, scholars, religious leaders, and interfaith practitioners gathered at Notre Dame of Jerusalem to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the groundbreaking declaration of the Second Vatican Council that transformed Catholic relations with other religions. The event, titled “Reflecting on the Legacy and Contemporary Challenges of Dialogue Across Faiths,” explored both the historical significance and the future of interreligious engagement. The Vicariate of St. James was one of the organizers of the meeting.

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 Youth Festival of St. James Vicariate that took place on October 18th in Deir Rafat. As we informed On Saturday, October 18, nearly two hundred young people from across Israel, from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Nazareth, and the Galilee, gathered for the Youth Festival organized by the St. James Vicariate for Hebrew-Speaking Catholics.