5 NEW MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY IN NAZARETH - CONTEMPLATIVE OF MOTHER TERESA'S ORDER IN HOLY LAND

Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem release:

NAZARETH – On Saturday, June 15, 2013, the men of the Contemplative Missionaries of Charity in Nazareth (founded by Blessed Teresa of Calcutta) had a memorable day. Five of their members made solemn profession, and their new chapel was officially blessed.

Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Israel, presided over the ceremony assisted by Fr. Sebastian Vazahkala, co-founder and superior general of the Institute, joined by Fr. Jean-Marie, the local superior; and other religious priests of Nazareth. Also present were the Missionary Sisters of Charity from Nablus, Jerusalem and Bethlehem, as well as many other religious and faithful of Nazareth.

The five newly professed are: François Marie Ntori; Michael Joseph Bidwell; Michael Barla; Joseph Vaz Pereira; Lucas Petrus Packel. They come from India, the USA and Ghana having spent a year in Nazareth preparing for the solemn profession ‘in the spirit of Nazareth’. Beyond the three traditional vows of obedience, poverty and chastity, they profess a fourth official vow:to serve freely and with all their heart the poorest of the poor. This is also what the Bishop highlighted in his homily: “to live, happily and freely, evangelical poverty and the study of Nazareth; to find the pure essence of our faith, beyond the dust of centuries and the layers of human mentality.”

The new chapel that was blessed is a small architectural gem. It is an old Arab family house consisting of two Turkish style arches, The old plaster covering the stone wall was removed and re-plastered to highlight the original stone. It has a very dignified, uncluttered, recollected and welcoming atmosphere. The chapel is dedicated to the Holy Family of Nazareth, as are all the chapels of the Contemplative Missionaries of Charity. It accommodates 60-70 people, but for some occasions, the internal courtyard of ‘Beit Assalam’ serves as a natural extension of the chapel. The altar, which rests on a beautiful olive trunk, which contains the relics of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified, Blessed Marie Alphonsine, and Blessed Charles de Foucauld, was also blessed.

Much of the work was done by volunteers from Nazareth and Jaffa, who were attracted by the witness of the poor life of the contemplative Missionaries of Charity. One volunteer attests publicly: “Having been edified by the example of the Missionaries of Charity of Mother Teresa, I freely and voluntarily did this work as penance for my past life, and in gratitude to the Lord for my new life.”

From our correspondent in Nazareth.

Photos of L.Z.

Shared from Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem