24th June. The feast day of St. John the Baptist was celebrated in the Church of St. John in the Mountain at Ain Karem, with the solemn Eucharist presided by the Custody’s Vicar, Fr. Artemio Vítores. Just before the traditional celebration, the Mass of the parish of Jerusalem was held in the crypt where the birth of St. John is commemorated
After the vicar’s homily, focused on the figure of the Precursor, three Franciscan friars received the ministry of the lectorate and eight others that of the acolytate. In addition, other friars are getting ready for their priestly ordination in Ain Karem at the moment with a spiritual retreat. They will be ordained next week in the Parish Church of St. Saviour in Jerusalem.
At the end of the celebration, an aperitif was offered in the shade of the mulberry trees in the garden, before the lunch that brought together the friars and many worshippers in the convent’s refectory.
In the afternoon, there was a pilgrimage to the sanctuary of St. John in the Desert. Solemn vespers, held in the small chapel, were followed by the procession of the friars to the font just below.
Afterwards, to alleviate the afternoon heat and to bring the day to an end in a festive mood, all the participants were offered cool drinks and a slice of cake in the garden of the sanctuary.
To read the homily of Father Artemio Vìtores, click here (in Italian).
MM
After the vicar’s homily, focused on the figure of the Precursor, three Franciscan friars received the ministry of the lectorate and eight others that of the acolytate. In addition, other friars are getting ready for their priestly ordination in Ain Karem at the moment with a spiritual retreat. They will be ordained next week in the Parish Church of St. Saviour in Jerusalem.
At the end of the celebration, an aperitif was offered in the shade of the mulberry trees in the garden, before the lunch that brought together the friars and many worshippers in the convent’s refectory.
In the afternoon, there was a pilgrimage to the sanctuary of St. John in the Desert. Solemn vespers, held in the small chapel, were followed by the procession of the friars to the font just below.
Afterwards, to alleviate the afternoon heat and to bring the day to an end in a festive mood, all the participants were offered cool drinks and a slice of cake in the garden of the sanctuary.
To read the homily of Father Artemio Vìtores, click here (in Italian).
MM