Celebrating Josefa Segovia’s birth anniversary in Bethlehem

Bethlehem, the city of peace, welcomed the Teresian Association (TA) members on Sunday, 11^th October, as we joined the 11:00 AM Family Mass at St. Catherine’s Parish under the pastoral ministry of the Franciscan priests, members of the Custody of the Holy Land.

The church was filled to capacity as it always is every Sunday when Christian families of Bethlehem flock to their parish to worship the Lord. It was a given scenario for us to commemorate and introduce the first President of the Teresian Association, Josefa Segovia and with her the Teresian Association present in missions opened to members by the Catholic institutions serving Christians in general and Catholics in particular.

Father George Haddad, the parish priest, aptly introduced the TA, brought by Josefa Segovia to the Holy Land as the members launched with gratitude the journey to 75 years of TA presence in 2027. The priest also continued to say the Founder St. Pedro Poveda described her as the person who epitomizes the Teresian charism, as he also invited everyone to pray for her beatification. She was a woman of great faith which impelled her to bring the Teresian Association to this place of redemption. Two members of the TA Youth in Bethlehem read the Prayers of the Faithful read two petitions, as follows:

- Saint Pedro Poveda offered his life, in martyrdom for the faith, may we learn from him how to witness to our being Christians especially in trying and difficult times;

- May Josefa Segovia, whose life was centered on Christ and professed a great love for the Blessed Mother Mary, one day be called blessed; and may her life inspire us to serve God without counting the cost.

After the solemn high Mass enlivened by the choir singing songs in Arabic, the group of TA youth distributed leaflets in Arabic about Josefa Segovia prepared by our ACIT members as well as some sweets for the celebration. Then the TA members along with the TA youth and close friends and supporters joined together for a festive lunch celebrating life, fellowship and the joy of witnessing to our Christian faith.

The following photos we are sharing below speak more than a thousand words…

Mellie Brodeth, Holy Land.