Tuesday, December 25th, the Birth of the Lord: It is 9:15 in the courtyard of Holy Land School. In a simple but extremely meaningful ceremony, we bless the House of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Extensive restoration work has just been completed. It was directed by Walid Haj, engineer. The house is intended for the volunteers who come to serve in the Sanctuary of the Annunciation.
The Father Custos, after cutting the ribbon at the entrance to the house, mounted to the third floor where a brief liturgy to bless the building took place. Several representatives of Nazareth religious communities and some of the local faithful participated in this prayer, thus joining in the prayer of the Shalom Catholic Community, the House’s first guests, who have already been serving in the Sanctuary for a year.
Brother Dobromir Jasztal, the custodial bursar, who has been following the project, thanked everyone who cooperated in bringing it to fruition. At the end of the ceremony, the engineer and his co-workers hosted a little reception for the speakers as a sign of the friendship and welcome in this new reality, born under the caring gaze of the Family of Nazareth.
The Franciscan fraternity of Nazareth hopes that people wishing to make themselves available for a period of voluntary service and who receive the hospitality of this House, will have even greater benefit from the graces of the Sanctuary and grow “in age, wisdom and grace before God and mankind” just as Jesus himself did in the bosom of the Holy Family.
Brother Ricardo Bustos ofm, Guardian
The Father Custos, after cutting the ribbon at the entrance to the house, mounted to the third floor where a brief liturgy to bless the building took place. Several representatives of Nazareth religious communities and some of the local faithful participated in this prayer, thus joining in the prayer of the Shalom Catholic Community, the House’s first guests, who have already been serving in the Sanctuary for a year.
Brother Dobromir Jasztal, the custodial bursar, who has been following the project, thanked everyone who cooperated in bringing it to fruition. At the end of the ceremony, the engineer and his co-workers hosted a little reception for the speakers as a sign of the friendship and welcome in this new reality, born under the caring gaze of the Family of Nazareth.
The Franciscan fraternity of Nazareth hopes that people wishing to make themselves available for a period of voluntary service and who receive the hospitality of this House, will have even greater benefit from the graces of the Sanctuary and grow “in age, wisdom and grace before God and mankind” just as Jesus himself did in the bosom of the Holy Family.
Brother Ricardo Bustos ofm, Guardian