We finally made it…celebrating the eucharist a week after

This report comes to us from Jerusalem, where they tell us how they had to postpone a Mass scheduled for 28 February due to the outbreak of renewed hostilities in the area.

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again tomorrow’.”  ― Mary Anne Radmacher

With the migrants based in Shua’fat we planned a Marian celebration inviting other friends to gather on the 28^th February, at 1:00 PM at the Sede of Jerusalem of the Teresian Association. It was a day to honor Our Lady in the many events in Her life starting with the Presentation of Her Son Jesus, and Her own purification; on the same month, the 11^th of February was Our Lady of Lourdes as we remembered her apparitions and the healing miracles attached to this day. The Blessed Mother is undisputedly also present in the writings of our Founder St. Pedro Poveda whose love for Mary is an enduring legacy to the TA members.

With all the plans firmed up, little did we know that the memorable Saturday of the 28^th will challenge all our plans. An early morning siren, and successive explosions started to shaken our resolve. Another one followed, and then another, until consulting with each other including our Mass Presider brought all our plans to a halt. Prudence and knowing that we can have another chance to celebrate Mass was our guiding motivation. The turbulent days that followed proved us right in giving up, not because of weakness, but because we know “there is a time for everything” as Ecclesiastes reminds us.  Because preparations in terms of pot luck, an exchange of dishes usually shared, have been completed, one very gutsy member, in fact, the coordinator of the Bible Study group decided to gather and shared the food in abundance. That was definitely charity in action, specifically practiced in Lent!

Celebration of the Eucharist

And so, the days passed by, and today, the 7^th of March was “D-day”! Same time, same place but this time with some precautionary guidelines to follow the advisory issued: not more than 50 persons and close to a safe place to go in case of attacks. The Teresian chapel is on the 3^rd floor, so we converted the classroom, which is on the ground floor to a “makeshift-chapel” allowing for some 20 to 30 persons maximum, with easy access to a “safe place”.

The day started with a loud bang as early as 5AM and followed by another towards midday, but our gained experience gave us the resilience to navigate its coming and going! Our Mass Presider, Fr. Matthew Countinho, also Vicar of Migrant-workers and Asylum-seekers promptly arrived in high spirits buoying us all up in courage and joy! The photos we’re sharing below will now speak loudly of “the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow!”

The atmosphere was like that of a gathering of the “first Christians” who got together to break bread, to listen to the Word of God, and receive the Eucharist. A celebration of life of those born in February and March followed a surprisingly calm morning. In the face of the continued turbulence, we counted on each other’s support and prayers and believed that indeed, God, the Lord of history, is our shield and refuge, who is always there to protect us.

TA in Jerusalem.