by Roshan Martis
Nazareth, Israel, Mar 29: The Indian community in the holy land launched faith effort expressing by a prayerful procession at Nazareth. The pilgrimage was organized by the Indian Chaplaincy with the assistance of Fr Jayaseelan OFM.
The pilgrims numbering about 650 gathered at the Annunciation Church of the Greek Orthodox (well known as Mary’s Fountain), less than half a kilometer from the main Basilica of Annunciation. The statue of Our Blessed mother was blessed by Fr Silvio Rogelio de la Fuente OFM, the secretary of the Custody of the Holy Land, Rev Fr Pierbattista OFM. Holding the icon of our Lady, the flags of our nation India, the Vatican and the Terra sancta fluttering along with the gentle breeze the youngsters led a beautiful, prayerful procession towards the main Basilica.
The procession was marked with reciting the holy Rosary and singing hymns to our Lady. Soon the procession drew many other non-Indian pilgrims. The Faithful entered the basilica maintaining the prayerful tone and climbed up to the upper Basilica where the Guardian of the Basilica Fr Ricardo Boutros awaited the pilgrims. He received the pilgrims warm heartedly and blessed them. Fr Romeo Louis, the Parish priest of Parampally – who came all the way from India to assist the Indian community during the Holy Week was offered the statue of our Lady by Fr Ricardo Boutros OFM. The pilgrims offered 100Kg of Basmati Rice as a gift to the basilica. Soon after the procession made its way to the lower Basilica where Mary received the annunciation where she was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Thereafter the Pilgrims proceeded towards The picturesque Basilica of Jesus the Adolescent, situated on the top of the Hill at Nazareth. The faithful gathered there for the holy Mass, which was celebrated in Kannada, celebrated by Fr Romeo Louis, concelebrated by Fr Jayaseelan OFM, Fr Vincent Bosco SDB, and Fr John Kennedy. The choir was organized by Santhosh. After the Eucharist the pilgrims shared their lunch a blessed sight that recalls the multiplication of loaves. Short while later they left full of joy and tagging their pilgrim-spirit here in Nazareth.