Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Indian migrants in Holy Land unite to celebrate Marian feast

Indian migrants in Holy Land unite to celebrate Marian feast

Last updated on: September 24, 2014 at 11:10 pm by CNA Daily News

Indian migrants in Holy Land unite to celebrate Marian feast 2014-09-24T23:10:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Jaffa, Israel, Sep 24, 2014 / 05:10 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Thousands of Indian migrants and other pilgrims in the Holy Land celebrated a special Marian feast day with displays of prayer, devotion and unity.

On the Sept. 13 feast of the Nativity of Mary – called “Monti Fest” – more than 2500 Indian Catholic migrants and pilgrims joined in a procession from St. Peter’s Church to St. Anthony’s Church in Jaffa. Mary is the protector and patroness of the Indian Chaplaincy in the Holy Land, and many the Indian migrant workers there have a special devotion to her.

The procession was led by Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal, accompanied by his vicars Bishop Gicianto Boulos Marcuzzo and Fr. David Neuhaus S.J.

“The migrant community was touched by the patriarch’s tangible presence and his fatherly concerns in his message that bolstered the spirit,” Fr. Tojy Jose, O.F.M., head of the Indian chaplaincy, told CNA Sept. 20.

Fr. Jose, organizer of the annual Marian feast, explained that “with Pope Francis calling for a special Synod on Family, the chaplaincy (this year) drew its meditations on family themes.”

Noting the migrant community’s vibrancy of faith and integration in fellowship with the local Christian communities in the Holy Land, Patriarch Twal observed, “Their presence is a treasure for the Church, a testament to the local Christians often too busy with politics.”

Thousands walked in a colorful procession, praying the rosary and singing in their native language hymns of praise to Blessed Virgin Mary.

“They are very loyal to their faith and traditions,” Patriarch Twal remarked, also acknowledging the challenges faced by the migrants and their trust in prayer.

“Though they are strangers in this land who face insecurity and injustice, they have found a refuge, a shelter and a place to come together in the Church.”

At the conclusion of the procession, a solemn Mass in the Konkani language was held at the Terra Santa School ground with the blessing of newly harvested grains and special prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the suffering Christians in Iraq and Syria.

Celebrant Fr. Santosh Rodrigues in his homily stressed the important role of Mary in making her children a “holy family.”

Many modern families face unhappiness and brokenness, Fr. Rodrigues observed, and “materialism and modernism is troubling many of our families.” But in the midst of this, “Mary invites each one of us to live a God-fearing family life.”

“Unless we bring back God in to our family, we will not be able to live a happy family life…like Mary we need to serve in the family and perform our responsibilities in the best way possible.”

Underlining the virtue of patience practiced by Mary despite the difficulties that she faced, Fr. Rodrigues encouraged the faithful to “learn and practice the values in our family to make our holy family just like the Holy Family of Nazareth.”

Fr. Jose noted that since the Sept. 8 feast of the Nativity of Mary fell this year on a Monday – a working day for the migrant laborers in Israel – it was observed locally on the Saturday within its octave, Sept. 13, so that more Indians could spiritually participate.

He pointed out that there are more than 2500 Konkani-speaking migrant workers from Goa, Mangalore, and Karwar, as well as other native speakers from various other parts of India.

Fr. Jose also explained that most of the migrant workers are based in Jerusalem, Jaffa, and Tel-Aviv. The Holy Mass, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, feast days and particularly their spirituality of popular piety unite them in faith and help them to become a family away from home.

Participants agreed, noting the special importance of the Marian feast day in particular.

“I always look forward to celebrating this feast because it is a time we all come together as one family…it binds our unity and fellowship in our community and an opportunity to witness our Christian faith and mission in the Holy Land,” migrant worker Michael Olivera told CNA.

“The celebration of this feast in the Holy Land brings nostalgia of my people and friends at home, and though I miss my family very much, this celebration gives me the feeling of being united in prayer with my family in India,” participant Charlotte Crasta added.

Processions were also held this year in Jerusalem in the morning, and hundreds gathered afterwards for Holy Mass in Saint Savior’s Church in the Old City. In the evening, a festive Mass was held in St. Joseph’s Latin Church in Haifa.

Middle East - Africa

Previous Post

September 24, 2014

Church-state separation allows rules on employee morality, lawyers say

Next Post

September 25, 2014 'Peace is possible,' say US bishops returning from Palestine, Israel

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does James say about friendship with the world?

Select your answer to see how you score.

It pulls you from God It is dangerous It is foolishness It creates emnity with God