“Stella Maris” Monastery
Local Church
Restoration of the dome of Stella Maris
For some years the need for restoration of the internal paintings of the dome of Stella Maris had been seen. The construction project was supposed to start in 2020 but was delayed by 3 years due to the pandemic. Now, finally, the time has come. The restoration was carried out by Stefania who, having come […]
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem: Father Rafic Nahra Appointed Auxiliary Bishop
Father Rafic Nahra was appointed by Pope Francis as auxiliary bishop of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, this Friday, March 11, 2022, announces the Holy See. Ordained a priest in 1992 for the diocese of Paris, he was until now Patriarchal Vicar for Israel within the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Father Rafic Nahra was born […]
Stella Maris and Carmelite parish in Haifa: one family
We Carmelites celebrated on December 7, 2021 the 150th anniversary of the consecration of the parish church, ocd in the lower part of the city of Haifa near the sea. In the same act, we celebrate S. José patron of the parish, also celebrated in 2021 as patron of the universal Church. The Carmelite parish […]
Celebration of thanksgiving on the 150th anniversary of the old St. Joseph Church
Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph You who, in the company of the Divine Jesus and of your spouse Mary Most Holy, knew the bitterness of emigration in your flight to Egypt, accompany along the roads of the world our countless brothers and sisters who, far from their homeland, struggle to overcome the difficulties of a life […]
Saint Albert, author of the Rule of Carmel
Today, September 17, the Latin Diocese of Jerusalem celebrates the memory of its Patriarch Saint Albert (+1214). St. Albert is closely linked to the birth of the Order of Carmelites. He writes a Rule (way of life) for the Cenobite hermits who inhabited the caves of Mount Carmel, particularly those in the Siah Valley, about […]
Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Patriach of Jerusalem
Most Reverend Excellencies Your Excellencies the Consul Generals of Jerusalem Dear priests, religious and faithful, The Lord give you Peace! “Non est hic, surrexit enim sicut dixit” (Mt 28,6). Al Masih kam, haqan kam “He is not here! He is risen as He said” (Mt. 28:6) Here we are, again, in front of the Empty […]
A Carmelite interpretation of the Jewish holiday of Sukkoth
The word «sukkoth» is the plural of the Hebrew word sukah which means «hut». The term sukah in the common language indicates precisely the hut that is built for the celebration of the feast in memory of the period “in the desert” after the biblical Exodus of the Jewish people after having been in Egypt. […]
Current news
Saint Albert and the Rule of Carmel
Today, our reflection focuses on the figure of Saint Albert of Jerusalem, legislator of the Order of Carmel. He was born in Emilia (Italy). He entered a congregation of canons regular where he was elected prior. Three years later, he was appointed Bishop of Vercelli in Italy. He ruled this Church for twenty years. His […]
The cats of Muhraqa
Getting to Muhraka, the Carmelite monastery and shrine dedicated to the prophet Elijah, can be a significant experience of linguistic and cultural misunderstandings between different peoples. Meanwhile, a question: how important is it to know the language of the place you visit? My friends where I live in Haifa insist that you visit Mukhraqa absolutely. […]
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – 2022
We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him (Mt 2,2) For this Week of Prayer, the Christians of the Middle East chose the theme of the star that rose in the east for a number of reasons. While many Western Christians celebrate Christmas, the more ancient feast, and still the […]
Stones with a message. Father Kubrianus from Mount Carmel
For a few weeks, in the Latin parish of San Joseph of Haifa, from the top of Carmel, a nice initiative has emerged. Father Kubrianus, from Lebanon, who is helping the Delegation of Israel since November 2020, artist, painter, singer and many other things … has started to paint «stones with a message» that are […]
Regina Decor Carmeli
We, brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, joyfully celebrate her feast. Our heart is illuminated by her maternal presence, our life is inspired by what she lived in the simplicity of Nazareth, our spirit seeks her as Sister on the journey of life, Mother who touches us in her closeness and help, […]
Earth Day: “We have the means to face the challenge”
In a video message, the Pope warns: the movement to destroy nature is very difficult to curb, but “there is still time” if “we work together instead of doing it alone”. For a long time now, we have become more aware that nature deserves to be protected, and that human interactions with the biodiversity that […]
PATRIS CORDE, Apostolic Letter about Saint Joseph, patron of the Universal Church
On the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as patron of the universal church. WITH A FATHER’S HEART: that is how Joseph loved Jesus, whom all four Gospels refer to as “the son of Joseph”.[1] Matthew and Luke, the two Evangelists who speak most of Joseph, tell us very little, yet enough for […]
Spirituality
Three symbols and a project: Introduction to Saint John of the Cross
Saint John of the Cross was born in 1542 in Fontiveros (Avila), from a very poor family. He was orphaned of father, being very young. He lived through the economic crisis of the 2nd part of the 16th century. That poverty has forced his family into a rural exodus. His mother lived on public charity, […]
«Be in joy»
Fr Jesús Castellano, ocd wrotes about joy as an important element for our spiritual balance, for our communities, for our mission. He wrote an article with the title “The Decalogue of Joy”, where he explains why we should be joyful… not only because “a sad saint is a sad saint”, but because this has human, […]
Mary, contemplative woman: happy feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The Carmel that is born on this mountain blessed by the action of the prophet Elijah, in its origins and in its development in the world has always preserved this significant aspect of spirituality, proposing it also to all those who are thirsty for God. Contemplation is an action that goes beyond simply seeing and […]
Celebrating at grotto of Fr. Prospero with a group of parishioners
Today I celebrated (Fr. Paco ocd) the Holy Mass with a small group of parishioners in the convent where Fr. Prospero lived and died and in which the Carmelite friars lived from 1632 to 1762. The convent is located on the promontory of the mount, not far from the current Stella Maris monastery. The photos […]
Teresa of Jesus, divine and human together, founder of Discalced Carmel
To speak of Teresa of Jesus is to speak of the Mother who gave us life in the Church, inspired by the Lord who was the vital center of her experience. Each birth goes through suffering, the pain of difficulties, misunderstandings, hostilities, little revenge; Almost the entire local Catholic hierarchy has participated in this project, […]
26th August: Saint Mariam of Jesus Crucified
Big day for all the Carmel of the Holy Land: August 26, feast of Saint Mariam of Jesus Crucified. She was Born in Abellin, a small town near Nazareth and not far from Mount Carmel. Her memory guides the Carmel family in the right direction: towards the land where she was born. The Land of […]
Give your Spirit, prophet Elijah
This year, today, on the feast of Saint Elijah the Prophet, we want to remember the link there is between the Prophet Elijah and John the Baptist. We reaffirm with great force this truth of faith for us believers in Jesus Christ, namely that John Baptist, the forerunner of the Lord, worked with the spirit […]
