JERUSALEM – On Sunday, 25 April, 2021, which coincided with Good Shepherd Sunday, H.E. Bishop Boulos Marcuzzo presided over a Holy Mass celebrating the anniversary of the Good Shepherd Filipino Catholic Community – under the responsibility of the Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers (VMAS) – which this year celebrates its 21 years of its foundation in the Holy Land, as well as celebrating 500 years since Christianity was introduced to the Philippines.
The Rosary Sisters welcomed the community at their convent in Mamilla, where a Holy Mass took place in the courtyard adjacent to the church. Other Filipino Communities in the Holy Land or their representatives were also present during this celebration, accompanied by priests who provide these Communities with pastoral services.
In his homily, Bishop Marcuzzo talked about the Good Shepherd, mentioned during the passage of last Sunday. The Bishop also touched on the subject of Saint Joseph and his dreams, to which His Holiness Pope Francis referred on the 58th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, because Saint Joseph had entrusted his command to the Lord and thus became an example for every vocation.
During the celebration, the Filipino Community presented an icon of the Good Shepherd to Bishop Marcuzzo, who celebrated his 76th birthday with the Jesuit priest Fr. David Neuhaus.
Concelebrating were Fr. Rafic Nahra, Patriarchal Vicar for the Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers, Fr. David Neuhaus, Fr. Samuel Obu, SDB, Chaplain of the Good Shepherd Community and a few Salesian priests, Passionists and Patricia Narajos, Vice Consul of the Philippines.
Source: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
