When the proposal to host the two young people was presented, the availability to participate in the second stage was also requested to create a deep contact and friendship between the young people and the association of which they are for an exchange to give continuity even beyond the initiative.
This condition was accepted and at the end of November the young people who had met in Holy Land met in their countries, all together in Bethlehem and then in the families and parishes of Nazareth, Jerusalem and Beit Jala.
In Bethlehem for the organization we were able to count on the collaboration of Vincenzo Bellomo, who coordinates the social projects of the Custody of Holy Land and manages a small hospitality house where the participants lived this experience, fostering an atmosphere of family and sharing.
We organized this project in collaboration with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The Apostolic Vicar for Jerusalem and Palestine, Mgr. Giacinto Marcuzzo, followed the various moments and various problems of the preparation and Mgr. Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator has directly participated.
GOAL:
To promote an international youth exchange between the Youth Jesus Homeland YJHL (from some parishes) and the CA youth of Europe – Mediterranean and of other continents (from some dioceses).
Countries involved:
HOLY LAND: Palestine and Israel
EUROPE – Mediterranean: Malta, Spain, Romania, Italy
Report
Arrival in Bethlehem between Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 November in Dar Al Majus Guest House where in the evening the participants met from the 4 countries and from various villages and parishes of Holy Land. For the Welcome was requested the preparation of a short presentation of the reality of Holy Land and of the country and church of the participants who presented themselves (where and who we are) during a typical dinner on the terrace of the house overlooking Bethlehem.
FRIDAY Nov. 29
The day began with the Holy Mass at the Grotto of the Nativity. Then the transfer to the Latin
Patriarchate Seminary in Beit Jala for the meeting with Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa about the Synod on young people and the Apostolic Exhortation Christus Vivit: What does the word of God have to say about young people? And what do the young people have to say to the Church (Chapter 2).
The Archbishop told about his experience at the Synod in Rome. A dialogue about the Synod and Christians in Holy Land followed with many questions. The rector of the Seminary, Br. Yacoub Rafidi, welcomed the participants who had lunch with the Seminarians.
After lunch they return to Bethlehem at University College Dar Al Kalima to participate in the KAIROS Conference, in the 10 anniversary of Kairos, a Palestinian Document to show how the Christian live in Holy Land that means Palestine and Israel, what is the real situation and what is the contribution of Christian for justice and peace.
They had dinner in the parish of Beit Sahour with the young people of the parish.
SATURDAY Nov. 30
On Saturday morning pilgrimage to Jerusalem, leaving Bethlehem very early. Holy Mass at the Holy Sepulchre, breakfast in the parish of St. Saviour prepared by the parish priest and the young people of the parish then meeting at the Terra Sancta Museum with an exceptional guide, the archaeologist Br. Eugenio Alliata, director of the Museum.
Guided by the young people of Jerusalem the group visited the holy places and walked praying along the Via Dolorosa. They came back to Bethlehem to participate in the solemn First Vespers of the first Sunday of Advent in the parish of St. Catherine.
After Vespers work session on young people in the Church, stressing the importance of the associative commitment in the various countries through Catholic Action. In the Holy Land Young people are very active and gather in the association Youth of Jesus’s Homeland Palestine YJHP.
At 7 p.m. they participated in an special event that each year involves all the people in Bethlehem, Christians and Muslims: the lighting of the Christmas Tree in the Manger Square, in front of the Basilica and the Town Hall: very exciting!
After the feast in the square, the international dinner on the terrace of Dar Al Majus with typical products of the various countries.
SUNDAY DEC 01
In the morning final session all together, then they participated in the solemn Holy Mass – First Advent Sunday – presided over by the Custos of the Holy Land, Br Francesco Patton, with the entire Christian community of Bethlehem.
After the Holy Mass greetings and departures especially for the participants who continued on to Nazareth from Spain and Romania. For the others participants, departures either to their own country or to Jerusalem, to continue the pilgrimage before leaving on Monday or on Tuesday.
We know that many of the participants came to Holy Land from the four countries for the first time and we organized the meeting also as a short pilgrimage, it was more significant because the young people from Holy Land participated actively as guides, representatives of the local Christian community. We can define them, the “living stones” of Holy Land that over the centuries has guarded and still guard the holy places today. The participation in ordinary moments in the life of the Christian community in Bethlehem has enabled this awareness and emiched the experience and the young people ofHoly Land discovered the joy of sharing this richeness.
