His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, will be making a pastoral visit to the Latin parish of Cana of Galilee from February 6th to February 9th, 2025. In light of this, we provide you with a brief overview of the parish's history and pastoral life. Daily pictures and updates of the visit will be published on our official Facebook page
Historical overview
According to studies by the Franciscan Fathers of Kafr Kanna, this location has been recognized since Byzantine times as the site of Jesus' first miracle. The Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land officially purchased the site in 1641, but it wasn’t until 1862 that they gained permanent ownership. In 1879, a new church and monastery were constructed on the remains of an older church. Between 1887 and 1888, a parish was established, focusing on pastoral care and local children's spiritual and educational needs. The Custody expanded this effort between 1897 and 1905.
The Church is part of God's eternal plan. It is the object of God's preoccupation in the present time as The Church will prevail in the ages to come (Ephesians 7:2). The first pastoral efforts by the Franciscan friars involved the establishment of a language school within the monastery of the parish during the early 19th century (1901-1950). For half a century, the school focused on basic education, offering three stages from first to third grade, while also providing pastoral care to the parishioners, helping them prepare for the sacraments, and offering catechism classes.
In the early days of the church's pastoral work in Cana of Galilee, it played a distinctive and important role within the local community. It was key in building a strong community valued for its focus on education and fraternal living, a legacy that persists today with the same spirit of service, establishing the Franciscan presence as a symbol of peace.
Pastoral life
Today, the Latin parish of Cana serves over 800 parishioners, equivalent to 200 families.
The parish carries out its activities in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church and the Apostolic Exhortation for Parishes, following a pastoral structure rooted in the Gospel and the responsibilities of the parish priest and pastoral committees. This structure fosters continuous and limitless giving.
The Pastoral Council is responsible for overseeing all pastoral activities and events in collaboration with the parish priest, developing and reviewing the pastoral plan each year based on the current circumstances. Additionally, the council works to strengthen the Franciscan spirituality within the local community by actively participating in local events and activities throughout the year.
Pastoral Groups
- Il Leggio del Mare
A group of women from the parish, numbering around 23. They play a distinct role in parish life, through their weekly meetings, praying the Rosary, and preparing and coordinating spiritual matters and liturgy of the parish. They also take care of pre-scheduled visits to the sick and those in need, in addition to participating with the parish priest in the Evangelical evenings for parish families.
- Youth of the Parish
The parish places special emphasis on the role of youth in pastoral activities as a foundation of the Church and their active role in building a better community. This is done through regular weekly meetings that empower the youth and focus on supporting their spiritual and academic lives to ensure their active participation in both the community and the parish.
- Youth of St. Francis includes two age groups, 11th - 12th grades, and those beginning their university studies. This youth group plays a key role, especially in the pastoral field, and is a fundamental part of the parish. They provide excellent and effective services in spiritual activities, following the yearly preparatory curriculum, and take part in all church celebrations, both spiritually and recreationally.
- Youth of Saint Bartholomew focuses on three preparatory stages (7th-9th grades), which are challenging years during adolescence. They encourage awareness of their roles within the family, their academic future, their religious commitment, and maintaining their connection with both the family and the parish in a unified message. They also have a significant role in serving the altar and liturgy and participate in all activities with the parish priest.
- The Choir
The role of the church choir is essential in fostering a spirit of worship and contemplation during Mass and liturgical celebrations, encouraging the faithful to participate in hymns and praises, which fosters a sense of community during worship. By delivering coordinated performances of spiritual hymns, the choir enhances the beauty of the liturgy and creates a more contemplative, spiritual atmosphere. Additionally, the choir participates in various celebrations, including celebratory holidays, weddings, and funerals, enriching these moments with deeper spiritual significance. Through their hymns and praises, the choir helps attendees feel a stronger connection to God and reflect on the profound meanings of prayer.
Catechism and the Sacraments
The parish’s role in administering the sacraments is crucial, especially as it is a foundational stage of formation. An annual course is held throughout the year, according to a specific curriculum for each sacrament, and children are taught the Latin liturgical rites. Additionally, during the course, emphasis is placed on instilling a spirit of commitment and encouraging Sunday Mass attendance. As a result, after each course, most parish families continue to commit and maintain regular attendance at Mass, participating with their children on all occasions.
Fr. Haitham Hanno, O.F.M., current parish priest of Cana, speaks of the Importance of receiving the Sacraments:
Receiving the Sacrament of Communion promotes stability in the Lord, as it enables a deep connection with Christ, as expressed in John 6:56: "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." It also serves as spiritual nourishment, offering eternal life, as stated in John 6:54: "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day." Furthermore, Communion acts as a process of grafting, similar to how trees are grafted, symbolizing a union with Christ, as described in Romans 11:17 and John 15:5. Through this sacrament, believers are drawn into a closer relationship with Christ, becoming one with Him. Receiving Communion is also a sign of forming a covenant with God, as we proclaim in the Divine Liturgy, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes." This sacred act strengthens the bond between the faithful and God, affirming their commitment to Him.
The Sacrament of Confirmation is the second sacramental stage in Christian formation. This stage completes the first (Baptism), and thus the term "Confirmation" is used. It naturally follows between Baptism, and First Communion, which is the culmination of participation in the sacraments. Just as through Baptism, we enter Christ’s fold, through Confirmation we continue our journey until we reach spiritual maturity with Christ.
In Conclusion
He shared saying: "Jesus Christ accomplished a great work when He came to save His people from their sins. His work was not limited to the salvation of individuals, but He also led them with His love into a spiritual community of His gathering. This community, which became His body, was meant to work and interact through gathering centers wherever the Gospel was preached. Local churches were not the ultimate end for the Lord in all circumstances; they were simply one of many things that the Lord Jesus arranged. Yet, they remained the central focus for the fulfillment of His purpose on Earth".
