STUDENTS IN BEIT SHEAN AND AFULA

First Mass and Meeting on 10 February 2024

Indeed, Saturday the 10^th of February 2024 was a joyful day for the Beit She’an Catholic students from Rwanda and Malawi. On this special day, we celebrated our first face-to-face holy mass since arriving in Israel in September 2023. The Beit She’an group has about 26 students who are doing their Agricultural internship with the Kineret College in Israel.

First of all, we would like to give thanks to our Almighty God, who helped us to celebrate that Holy Mass by sending us his servants to facilitate our spiritual nourishment as Catholic students together with our Christian friends. Our encounter began with the celebration of Holy mass at 16.00 hours. This mass was celebrated by Father Matthew COUTINHO (the Patriarchal Vicar for Migrants and Asylum Seekers), Fr. Steven OZOKOYE with Deacon Enrico DEL BEL BELLUZ. We were also with Br. Stephen CHIPAYA and Sr. Anna MANYONGA (the Coordinator for the Saint Paul’s Students Society – SPSS). SPSS is run by the Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers (VMAS). We really thank them all for coming to Beit She’an to be with us, pray with us, get to know us and our situation, and discuss how we can be connected with the SPSS Group.

The mass was followed by a meeting, in which we discussed how this group could be fostered in the future. We discussed different points including possibilities of having a regular mass, the sacraments, and other spiritual nourishment which the Vicariate could arrange for the group. We concluded our meeting with a project of looking at the group availability for visiting different holy sites with other students in different parts of the Holy Land through the SPSS Group. We also intend to encourage other Catholic and Christian students to join us.

Mass in Tabgha with the Benedictine Monks – 17 February 2024

A week later, Saturday the 17^th of February, was another great day for the students. Through the great kindness of the Benedictine Monks, a trip to Tabgha was organized for the Beit Shean students together with the Afula students. At 14.00 hours the bus arrived in Afula and picked 19 students (4 female and 15 male), then by 15.00 hours 21students (16 male and 5 female) were picked from Beit She’an. Upon arrival in Tabgha, the group of 40 students had mass celebrated by Fr. Josef (one of the Benedictine Monks in Tabgha), and we also receive the ashes during the mass. It was a great honour for us to visit this holy site of the Church of multiplication and celebrate mass there. Before mass, we were given an explanation regarding that holy site by Father Joseph. We really appreciate the generosity and kindness of the Benedictine Monks in Tabgha. After mass we were offered a light supper. I would like to give thanks to everyone who assisted in making this day so special for us. May our Almighty God bless you all. Thank you!

Submitted by Valens NZABONIMANA

Beit She’an Group