Month: April 2019

Holy Week 2019

Holy Week passed and many people celebrated the most important period of the Christian liturgical year. Nothing compares to experiencing Holy Week in Jerusalem. Celebrating the great events in the history of salvation and the life of Jesus in the same places where they have traditionally occurred is an exciting and unforgettable experience of faith for all believers. Holy Week officially began with the celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the procession gathered thousands of Christians from all over the world who joyfully walked from a place called Bethphage, praying and singing in every language, to the western slope from the Mount of Olives, through the Cedron/Kidron Valley and into the Old City. On Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Last Supper was celebrated with the Sisters of Sion at the Ecce Homo – Basilica in Jerusalem and it was a beautiful ceremony. Then we had dinner in the community and went, together with the participants of the Biblical program, to the Church of St. Peter in Gallicanto, traditionally believed to be …

Starting Holy Week 2019

Indeed, of Zion it will be said,“This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High Himself will establish her.”… As they make music they will sing, “All my fountains are in you.” Psalm 87 Undoubtedly the most visited place during these days is Jerusalem, since during Holy Week the spirituality on this land is palpable even for non-believers. Pilgrims from around the world come to the Holy City to prepare themselves for the most important date of the Christian liturgical calendar, Resurrection Sunday; this is why, right now, the number of visitors has increased considerably. How can this not be so? How can we not get excited over the next few days, in the very place where the great events of Salvation History took place? For our part, in the novitiate, we begin on Palm Sunday with the Mass at 8:00 am in the Church of San Juan Bautista, sharing with the community of the Franciscans and some other friends known here in Ein Karem. In the afternoon, we will first …

Ten days in the Holy Land

On Wednesday, April 3th, the novitiate community met a group of twelve people from Australia in Hadassah hospital. This group of four Christians, four Muslims and four Jews came to Jerusalem for ten days on a pilgrimage. They are all part of an association called JCMA (Jewish, Christian, Muslim Association of Australia) whose objective is to promote the prevention of emotional and physical abuse arising from religious intolerance and cultural discrimination. “The JCMA aims to create and provide a forum for interfaith dialogue and shared experience through meetings and discussions in a modern Australian and international context. Meeting and learning from Jews, Christians and Muslims together, leads to a fuller understanding of other faiths and perhaps in turn of our own. By fostering relationships between people of different faiths, JCMA aims to reduce racism, intolerance, bigotry and violence and the associated emotional harm.” (source:JCMA) For ten days they have visited Jewish, Christian and Muslim places in the Holy Land, sharing between their faith and traditions amongst themselves. This week they are going to celebrate together …

The joy of prayer

Purim is finished, but always leaves a message of joy, hope and faith in God. The exaggerated cry of Purim is the sound of triumph, the sound of the victory of God and his people! The Fast and the prayer of Esther and her people, makes me reflect on the power of prayer. Never, we must subsist this force, the gift that the Lord has left us. James 5: 16-18 declares, confess your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The prayer made by a righteous man can be greatly in its effects. Elijah is also an example that tells us the power of prayer. Praying, asking not to rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit. God definitely listens to prayers, and gives us answers through them. Jesus taught: For verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard …

Experience in San Andres Itzapa and Parramos (Guatemala)

We, Andrea and Clara,two Sisters of Sion went to Guatemala with a group of students and chaperones from Kansas City to share life and work with the aboriginal people. We stayed from March 8th to 14th and each day we had a special job to do – building stoves, chicken coops, concrete floors… etc. We also had an activity with the women who are part of the project called, ‘Sharing the Change’ program. Their aim is to guide the external assistance towards the construction of development and solidarity communities in San Andres Itzapa and Parramos. They served us traditional foods and drinks and the evening ended with dancing. Some of the participating women we had met before, since we had gone to build their stoves and chicken coops. All the preparation was beautiful and done with much love and affection. Also part of our program was a visit to a school called, ‘Valle del Durazno’ which supports handicapped children. We had different activities and games with them which were done with great joy and love. …