Israel: New migrants' Mass centre opens in Tel Aviv

Standing room only at new Mass centre

The first Sunday Masses were celebrated at Our Lady Woman of Valor Centre in south Tel Aviv over the weekend amidst great jubilation. This has been an exciting time for Catholic migrants in the district. They left tomporary premises they had used in Levanda Street for the past two and a half years. The bomb shelter had become home for hundreds of migrants who regularly attended prayers in the chapel there.

A new home has been found and the hope is that the new premises will be permanent. Our Lady Woman of Valor at 33 Shivat Zion Street is slowly taking shape. Most parishioners are Filipinos, who follow the Divine Mercy devotions. At the four Sunday Masses celebrated in the new premises, more than a thousand migrants, mostly Filipinos but many Indians and Sri Lankans too, attended.

The organisers say: "There is still much work to be done on the centre and yet we can already thank the Lord for this new home and for all our benefactors who have so generously supported us."

Source : Saint James Vicariate for Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel