Missionaries of Africa

Special Easter 2010 in Jerusalem

by Gaetan Tiendrebeogo M.Afr.

One of my confreres, after 3 years in Jerusalem, evaluated the interaction between the religious communities in these words: "Here in Jerusalem, we have different religious communities but living like in ghettos. The French Churches with their entire liturgy in French no matter the congregation present; the German Church everything in German; The Franciscans in Arabic or only Italian…etc. These Churches or communities seem to be national Churches than representations of the Catholicity or universality of the Church."

His criticism seemed to have been heard as Easter 2010 brought a change. We did not witness a revolution whereby all the communities came together in a kind of forged Pentecost but the newness was that three communities took the initiative to celebrate together the Paschal Triduum. Three communities, 3 days, at three very important places (VIP) of our Christian Faith. The flames of the idea embraced quite fast the enthusiasms of the members of these communities: St Anne's (the Missionaries of Africa and the Sisters of the Work), St Peter in Gallicantu (the Assomptionnists and the Oblates Sisters) and Ecce Homo (The Sisters of Zion and the Members of the Chemin Neuf Community). For the occasion a liturgical and musical committee was set up for the organization and animation of the liturgy in these different places.

On Holy Thursday, the rendez-vous was at "St Pierre en Gallicante". Gallicante in Latin means "the cock crow". This is the famous Church which is believed to be built on the ruins of the palace of the High priest Caiaphas where Jesus was brought after being arrested in the garden of Gethsemane (Mk 14, 53). It's there that Peter denied Jesus three times (Mk 14, 66-72). At this shrine we commemorated the institution of the Eucharist and the washing of the feet. "Do you know what I have done for you? You who call me your Master and Lord, if I have washed your feet so you must do as I have done for you." (Jn 13, 12-15). The place reminds us of Peter's weakness yet a place of great humility of a heart that yearned to be fully at the service of its Master and Lord -an ideal image of priesthood! In fact, the first shrine was built in 457 AD in the byzantine period in remembrance of Peter's repentance. At the end of the mass, the different communities and the guests met for a fraternal agape as a continuation of the feast of the priesthood. All the three communities prepared something for the occasion instead of having their own supper.

Holy Thursday-at St Peter Gallicantu ( Photos Fr. Melchior)

The next day at 4 pm we were at Ecce Homo literally translated as "Behold the man". We find these words in the Gospel of John when Pilate condemned Jesus to death on the cross (Jn 19, 14). There at the Lithostrotos "the pavement" laid by Adrian in 135 AD gathered more than 400 people. Despite the natural darkness of the place which looks like a gigantesque burial cave under the wombs of the earth, one could spot Indian, Japanese, African, European faces. From the English too there was no doubt some were American, Australian, British or Irish natives and the rest, people for whom English is a second or even a third language. The universality of the Church was witnessed as experienced everyday in Jerusalem. From the four corners of the world, pilgrims and residents in Jerusalem, all came to commemorate the death of their Lord Jesus Christ. Christ has died for all and in his death he gathered all to himself and formed a new family of the Children of God, united in the one faith and love. Father Guy Theunis led the people in this commemoration centered on the reading of the passion of the Lord and the veneration of the Cross.

(Photo: Gaetan)

Early-morning mass at Ecce Homo (Photo: Gaetan) (Photo: Patrick Bataille)

Our Triduum Spiritual journey and anamnesis brought us next to St Anne's Basilica for the celebration of the Easter vigil. In the courtyard of St Anne's, the healing place of the paralytic ( Jn 5, 1-9) and the house of Anna and Joachim, according to tradition since the early centuries of Christianity; came together around the Easter candle about 450 people and probably some curious spectators to commemorate and actualize the events of our salvation history. Darkness still prevailed but the Easter Candle was the sign of the hope of victory of Light over darkness, Life over Death, Love over Hatred both in our salvation history and our personal lives. In the Spirit of this common celebration the liturgy was animated both in English and French. Fr. Paul Hannon, serving in the Sudan and fluent both in English and French, was the main celebrant. He finished his homily with "As salam Allekum wa rahmat Allah wa barikato" to the surprise and liking of all. One would have said "are we turning into Muslims!" but this meant literally: "May the peace, the mercy and blessing of the Lord be upon you". The celebration ended with a Spanish song "Resuscito" sung over and over again as people joined in with clapping of hands and exultation.

Though still recovering from the celebration of the Vigil, the participants of the session, at St Anne's, joined their counterpart of Ecce Homo and the community of the Chemin Neuf for the Easter early morning mass. The congregation followed the movement of Christ's kenosis (emptying of himself and glorification by the Father), moving from the Lithrostrotos where we had the Holy Friday celebration to the terrace of the building where the rising sun and the whole of the old city of Jerusalem, still asleep, could be contemplated. During the homily the beauty of the rising sun could be fully admired and its rays gave some warmth in this open place. Nature was there again to help us understand the symbolism the first Christians used to speak of the Pascal Mystery: Christ our rising Sun is risen and he gives us life. Alleluia, Alleluia! After the mass a festive breakfast with donuts and chocolate, to cite only a few, was offered by the community of the Chemin -Neuf.

St Pierre en Gallicante, Ecce Homo, and St Anne's; the Easter Triduum 2010 was praised by the participants both for the idea of celebrating together and for the liturgical animation in French and English, and as well as for the importance of the places of our Christian faith. Three communities came together to celebrate their faith as one family, united in Christ and love.

A work of collaboration is both enriching and challenging. This was the rich experience of those in the liturgical and musical committee for whom it took quite a commitment in flexibility and time to make the celebrations prayerful for the people. This makes the beauty of togetherness: challenging and fruitful.

(In this photo the leading choir composed of three of the SFG, Two sisters of the Chemin -Neuf,
one sister from the Oblates of Mary and a Little Sister of Jesus of Charles de Foucault.)

All in all, celebrating the Triduum together consolidated the bonds among us, created new relationships, and opened the door for the possibility of further collaborations between these communities in different fields. It came out from the evaluation that the organizing committee appreciated and wished to consolidate this initiative for the coming years. Rendez -vous next year again!!! In Sha Allah.

by Gaetan Tiendrebeogo M.Afr.