Last Sunday at the Iskenderun Annunciation Latin Catholic Church, Jesus’ Entry to Jerusalem: ‘Olive Branches-Palm Sunday’ was celebrated with a ceremony with limited participation of congregation members. The Holy Mass was led by the church priest, Dariusz Dogondke (Daryush Dogonke).
In the ceremony that started in the garden of the church, the olive branches prepared first were blessed and then distributed to the members of the congregation. Father Dogondke and the congregation members entered the church, holding olive branches and flowers, singing hymns.
In the continuation of the ritual, the process of the capture, trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ were read by the Father and two members of the congregation, in parts from the Bible. The members of the congregation, who participated in the ritual, also participated in the hymns sung by the church choir and shared the great enthusiasm.
Anatolian Apostolic Vicar and Bishop Monsignor Paolo Bizzeti, who was in Italy for treatment, also celebrated the feast of the Iskenderun community with a letter he sent.
In the letter read during the service, Monsignor Bizzeti made the following statements;
“Dear Christian believers, dear Catechumens, Easter is now near, and like the Lord, I would love to have this Easter dinner with you (Luke 22:15). However, I should stay in Italy to take care of many affairs of the Anatolian Apostolic Region and hopefully regain my physical form after the difficult experience of Covid-19. Therefore – contrary to what I had planned – I will not be able to return for the Easter holidays. I am looking for financial resources for the Anatolian Apostolic Region and trying to find officials who can serve our Christian communities and especially Arabic speaking refugees. Also, if God permits, there seems to be a good chance that a monastery of secluded nuns who can pray intensely for all of us will finally open in Turkey as well. However, I also perform various clinical tests that Turkish doctors have prescribed for me. Fortunately my general condition is good but my vertical spine, shoulders and neck are forcing me to stay here until after Easter for some special treatments. In the pandemic conditions, which is still going strong in Italy, everything works in slow motion. Christ Jesus is the faithful Ally who remains a Friend to us even when we reject Him, and his love covers all our sins; opens the doors of New Life for us. Therefore, I wish you to experience the mysteries of the Suffering, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ with His Mother Mary, the Saints, and faithful Christians around the world. Many people feel the Suffering of Christ with grief in their bodies! Let’s pray for them. Let us also thank God for being able to perform our precious liturgical rites in Turkey. As I remember each of you in my heart and prayers, I bless you.”
The Catholic Community, which entered the Holy Week after Palm Sunday, will celebrate Easter this weekend (Saturday). (SAT-7 TURK/İlyas Edip TERBİYELİ/İskenderun)
