JERUSALEM, Holy Land
At mid-morning of Monday, July 28, 2014, the Teresian Association (TA) in the Holy Land celebrated the 78th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Pedro Poveda in the Pontifical Mission Library of Bethlehem.
In the midst of the turbulent context, due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, a group of about 20 friends came to join the celebration. The Director of the Sector, Nenita Tenefrancia, was there.
This significant event started with a communitarian prayer fitting to the occasion and to the turbulent context in which we find ourselves. The texts were taken from Fr. Poveda’s book "I believe therefore I spoke." Relevant lines from his writings translated in Arabic were presented through PowerPoint interspersed with related English spiritual and motivating songs in video. Imee Miranda and Mariam Jaraiseh Sleibi facilitated this prayer, in which a space was given to the participants to share inspirational and patriotic feelings evoked during the prayer. Many were moved to express their own sentiments in the spirit of faith and hope on the perplexing conflict surrounding them. We closed the prayer singing the Our Father in Arabic and St. Francis' Prayer "Make me a Channel of Your Peace."
Agnes Sleibi then read aloud a brief narrative of the martyrdom of St. Pedro Poveda, the events that took place from the morning of July 27th till the discovery of his body on the early hours of July 28th.
Nenita Tenefrancia presented the biographical sketch of Fr. Poveda. Interesting questions were raised by some participants, which were answered, explained and elaborated by the members present. The celebration concluded with a simple lunch and a prolonged get-together which everyone enjoyed.
“I am so happy to have known St. Pedro Poveda better and to identify with his values and ideals which are needed in this land,” said one of the participants. Mellie Brodeth, member of one of the associations of the from the TA said: "I think seeds of good news have been sown and there was such an atmosphere of contagious joy and enthusiasm... Let's pray for the 'harvest' even if we won't be the ones to reap!"
Indeed, this encounter with God in prayer and with St.Pedro Poveda was a moment of hope for those who are living in this disheartening situation, which has an uncertain future.
Text and Photos by Imee Miranda, Jerusalem