Dear Friends,
In these days we are beginning a new year of the Seminary: the academic year has begun, just as the pastoral activity was resumed, both of which are at the service of the new evangelization for our beloved church of the Holy Land.
It is with renewed enthusiasm that our seminarians have already recommenced the study of philosophy, theology and the languages. Actually, their commitment went uninterrupted during summertime. Many have in fact spent the majority of the months of July and August studying languages. A group of eleven seminarians attended an intensive language course in Arabic at Cairo in Egypt, while some studied Hebrew in Jerusalem, and others took part in learning Greek in Cyprus.
Some seminarians have been preparing themselves in these past days to leave for a time of mission. As you know, this is something characteristic of the Redemptoris Mater Seminaries that like ours in Galilee, are both diocesan and missionary. Because of this, not only have the seminarians, that come from different nations, accepted to go all over the world; these same young men also receive a formation to be missionary. Indeed, they will present their disposition to their bishops to be sent to any place the Church may be in need of them. Therefore, before the ordination they live a time of evangelization that is fundamental, so that the missionarity may be more than something simply theoretical confined to book-learning.
From our seminary many will go to various parts of the Middle East: to Bahrein (in the Arab-Emirates), to Israel in the city of Eilat (located at the far end of Israel at the border with Egypt) in Haifa (where there is a community of emigrated Christians from Russian origin), to Cyprus, in Palestine, in Jordan, and even one in Ivory Coast.
Moreover, we have had the grace of welcoming six new seminarians: Three Italians (Giovanni from Padova, Marco from Firenze, Giovanni from Foligno), Francisco from Spain, Nidal from Israel, and Pedro from Argentina.
An important news that makes us glad is the insertion of Fr. Paolo Alfieri in the team of formators. He is in fact a priest who was formed in our seminary and after two years of serving in a Parish, first at Shefar’am in Galilee, and afterwards at Zababde in Palestine, has been appointed by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to carry out his ministry in our seminary. He will also help us to improve upon the formation as he will hold the introductory course in Arabic, which is also the more delicate of the language courses.
Notwithstanding all that has been mentioned, we will have to sorrowfully relinquish the presence of our vice rector Fr. Diego, who has been asked to continue his mission as parish-priest in Paris after having generously spent many years in Israel.
In this letter we also take the opportunity along your side, to thank the Lord for the gift that he has given us with the presence of Fr. Diego in our midst. He has been a precious support, an important testimony for the seminarians and the brothers, not to mention an example even in this last circumstance, of obedience and docility to the will of God.
We are sure, our dearest, that also in this year of mission, the risen Lord will precede us in Galilee to instruct us the way and show us his providential care as he has always done through your help. From our part, we remember each one of you in our prayers.
“He has risen from the dead and is precedes you in Galilee; There you will see him.” (Mt 28,7)
With brotherly affection,
The formators of the Seminary,
Fr. Francesco Giosuè Voltaggio
Fr. Diego Sanchez Alcolea
Fr. Germano Lori
Fr. Antonio Martin Carrasco
Fr. Paolo Alfieri