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Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers

Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers
Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers
P.O.Box 14152
9114101 Jerusalem
E-mail[email protected] , [email protected]
Webwww.vmas.info

Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers

The work of the Latin Patriarchate with the Migrants and Asylum Seekers in Israel started to be structured and organized in 2011. It was in the wake of a visit to Jerusalem by Archbishop (subsequently Cardinal) Antonio Maria Vegliò, President of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People. In April 2011, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem formally established the Coordination for the Pastoral among Migrants (CPAM) to direct the Church’s efforts in serving, organizing and catechizing the extensive population of Roman Catholic migrants in Israel, particularly those who are not taken care of by other Church bodies or religious orders and congregations.

In April 2018, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate, transformed the CPAM into a Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers (VMAS) under the responsibility of a Patriarchal Vicar who works in communion and in agreement with the Patriarch. He also erected the “Holy Family” personal parish destined to care for the migrants and asylum seekers in all pastoral, sacramental and formative aspects, having all the faculties that universal law grants to parishes.

The Vicariate for Migrants is served by Pastoral Workers belonging to the local Catholic Church who, following the example of Jesus the Good Shepherd, and moved by the Holy Spirit, are committed to accompany the pastoral work among migrants. To realize this vision, the members of the VMAS strive to answer the call of Pope Francis, addressed to the local Churches, to welcome, protect, promote and integrate our brothers and sisters who are migrants, asylum seekers into the life of the Church and of the society at large.

The VMAS tries to circulate information among those concerned with the migrants in the Holy Land, raising consciousness about the concerns of the migrants, informing the Catholic bishops, circulating updates and input, coordinating with the NGOs within civil society that work for the rights of migrants and asylum seekers, representing the concerns of the migrants to the media, coordinating with the local Embassies of the migrants’ countries and dioceses of origin, etc. It also tries to raise funds from donors for projects.

From 1990 to 2013, four Chaplaincies were established in Israel: the Filipino, the Indian, the Sri Lankan and the Ge’ez rite chaplaincies, all of them being presently under the responsibility of the VMAS. In addition, there are individual chaplains or specific priests for the Rumanian, Polish, Latin American, English speaking African, French speaking African, Korean and other communities. We also are in touch with the priests who accompany the Lebanese-Maronite and the Ukrainian-Byzantine communities.

In addition to pastoral care provided by the chaplaincies (liturgical, sacramental, social, etc.), the VMAS gives special attention to the second generation, sons and daughters of migrants, through different activities, such as Infant care, Catechism, After school programs and Youth programs. In view of this ministry, a few Pastoral Centers were established: the Pastoral Center Our Lady Woman of Valor (Tel Aviv), the Saint Joseph Center (Tel Aviv), and the Saint Rachel Center (Jerusalem).

Matthew Marcel Coutinho - Patriarchal Vicar for Migrants and Asylum Seekers
  • 21/09/1961: Born in Ahmadi, Kuwait   
  • 1978: Entered the Salesians of Don Bosco   
  • 24/05/1979: Made his first religious profession as a Salesian of Don Bosco in Nashik (Maharashtra) 
  • 24/03/1990: Ordained a priest in Matunga (Mumbai) 
  • 1979-1982: B. A – North Bengal University 
  • 1982-1984: Master in Philosophy – Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune  
  • 1984-1990: Bachelor in Theology – Kristu Jyoti College, Bangalore  
  • 1990-1993: Formation Team of Novitiate of Salesians Mumbai province and lecturer in Philosophy, Religion and Psychology at Divyadaan – Salesian Institute of Philosophy, Nashik 
  • 1993-1996: Assistant Parish Priest at Blessed Arnold Parish, Bhopal. 
  • 1996-1997: Formation Team of Divyadaan and lecturer in Philosophy, Religion and Psychology. 
  • 1997-1999: Obtained his Licentiate in Moral Theology at the Alphonsian Academy, Rome  
  • 1999-2002: Formation Team of Don Bosco Youth Center, Pune [Salesian center for students of theology] and visiting professor at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune 
  • 2002-2006: Doctorate in Moral Theology at the Alphonsian Academy, Rome 
  • 2006-2009: Rector and Parish Priest at Don Bosco Bhavan, Nashik. Manager of Don Bosco School Nashik and and lecturer in Philosophy, Religion and Psychology at Divyadaan. 
  • 2009-2011: Formation Team of Sacred Heart Theological College – Shillong and Lecturer in Moral Theology. 
  • 2011-2015: Formation Team of Divyadaan; lecturer in Philosophy, Religion and Psychology; Librarian. 
  • 2015- : Professor of Moral Theology at Stadium Theologicum Salesian, Ratisbonne Monastery, Jerusalem; Member of the formation team coordinating the pastoral activities of the seminarians.   
  • 2016- : Priest-in-charge of St. Therese of the Child Jesus community – Rehovot; and various other ministries for the migrants in Israel.
  • May 2023: Patriarchal Vicar for the Migrants and Asylum Seekers