The Israeli authorities decide that churches and another places of worship stay closed for safety reasons. The Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre is not available, and Masses and Adorations of the Blessed Sacrament are held in shelters and cellars in many places.
The rhythm of life is determined by the alarming. There are no pilgrims on the streets of Jerusalem, and the streets of the Old Town are deserted, as during the pandemic. Life, too, is religious, moves for many hours a day to shelters and cellars.
In the Hebrew-speaking Catholic community of the Holy City, pastoral life continues despite alarms: among fears, solidarity and regular gestures of dialogue. – Masses and prayers moved from the church of Saint Simon and Anna to the underground serving as a rocket shelter, and besides utilized as a laundry room “Brother Francesco Ravaioli says. This Italian conventional Franciscan is simply a guest of the Jerusalem community and cannot leave Israel due to war.
Fr Benedetto Di Bitonto, the parish priest of the Jerusalem community, emphasizes that “as far as possible, he continues his pastoral activity so as not to leave this small flock to itself, even referred to by the diary ‘Haaretz’ as besides tiny to be called minorities”. The community of Hebrew Catholics has about a 1000 faithful in 5 communities specially formed for them the vicariate of St. James.
W Jerusalem has about a 100 believers, plus respective catechumens. – They are migrants of various origins, Russians and Ukrainians who have moved to Israel due to the fact that they are connected with the judaic people for household reasons, and Israelis who have accepted the Christian faith – says Ravaioli's brother. He confesses that the pastoral ministry did not change during those days, moved only to the underground serving as a rocket shelter, and besides utilized as a laundry. – This is the safest place – says Ravaioli's brother – We prepared them for Mass and Adoration.
Francisnin tells us that people are worried about their loved ones, who are affected by the blockade of flights and cannot return to Israel. peculiar care focuses on children, sick people and older people who have the top difficulty moving to shelters after alarms.
In the community of Hebrew-speaking Catholics, prayer is not only for peace in the Persian Gulf. They remember the people of Gaza. 1 Christian there was admitted to their community, seeking long - word treatment at the infirmary in Jerusalem. European conflicts are besides heard in the walls of the Holy City. – The Russians and Ukrainians pray here for each other. They besides pray for those who have been called into the army, they are vulnerable: frequently they are their own children or children of friends – notes the monk. He emphasizes that in regular prayers 1 intention prevails: “In a land plagued with injustice that touches the tiny and the weak, the Lord can sow seed of good.”
Source: KAI / Jol, Avvenire
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