The end of this year’s carnival was rich in various activities in the school in Haifa.  In the Greek-Catholic rite, Lent starts 2 days earlier than in the Latin rite. That is why the first weekend of March (4-5) was a weekend full of carnival celebrations, including activities for both ‘body and soul’. 

On Friday, some of our oldest students from the high school set off early in the morning to Mount Tabor. There ‘on the mountain top and in tranquility’ they had a time of prayer in preparation for the coming  of Lent.  Our Sister Magdalena had an opportunity to join them in common prayer.

In the meantime, pupils from the primary school after a prayer and short meditation on the significance of the 40 days of Lent began their carnival festival. In a very short time the school yard was filled with children in fancy dresses, of various ‘shapes and colors’. It has to be said that the group of 600 pupils dancing and playing together with their teachers made quite an impression on everyone who was watching. It turned out that it was the first fancy dress party for this primary school, so the joy was even greater! 

After Friday’s dances and fun with the older students, it was the younger children’s turn.  All of Saturday morning was devoted to the kindergarten children. It was ’their day’. Dressed up as fruits, vegetables, butterflies…and other of ‘‘God’s creatures’’J, they enjoyed dancing and playing with their parents and teachers in the pleasant, spring sunshine. Of course, everybody had a chance to taste some Arabic “cuisine” in dishes prepared by the parents. 

After the festivities, all the participants of the party joined in a procession from our school, through the streets of Haifa, to the nearby Greek-Catholic church. There they participated in a special liturgy preparing for the Lenten season. Each of the 9 groups of children received a candle which they will use for prayer in the kindergarten during the Lent.

What about us? How did we end carnival?  Also with spiritual activities. Just before the beginning of Lent we had a day of retreat. We invited Fr. Lukasz Popko, a Polish Dominican doing Biblical studies in Jerusalem. He was our spiritual guide for the retreat. Our Sr.Felicyta and two other Polish Brothers from Nazareth also joined us. We are grateful to God for gathering us together on that day in order to ’stop for a while’ and meditate upon His Word.

Dear Sisters thank you for all your ‘signs’ of kindness and communion with us. We still entrust our school  and the mission in Israel to your prayers.

Your  Sisters  from  Haifa