Carmel in the Holy Land — The Carmelite Fathers

The Latin Parish

The Catholics in Haifa belong to different rites. If the Melkites (Greek Catholics) predominate, the "Latins", as the Roman Catholics are called in the Country, are not lacking. They have a fairly old parish in Haifa : the first baptism took place there on 15th July 1832, the vigil of the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This distant date in July is generally considered as the "birthday of the parish". Right from the beginning, the parish was entrusted to the Carmelite friars, who remain in charge to this day.

primitive church                                new parish

A good many things have happened in the country in the meantime, not the least of which was the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. This, evidently, had repercussions on the life of Christians. Today, more than a half century on, it can be said that the Arab population of the city has found its place in the heart of a Jewish society, and Haifa has become a model of coexistence. Moreover, because of immigration, principally from the ex Soviet Union, the number of Christians has considerable augmented. Another contributing factor to this is the increasing number of foreign workers, mainly from the Philippines and Roumania.

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The present parish church dates from 1961. As is well known, Masses are celebrated there in Arabic, but with the possibility of other languages (Russian, English…). Activities are provided for the young and the not so young. Latin Christians took a lively part in the Synod of Catholic Churches of the Holy Land, which continues its work over the years through various commissions. This has been a new development for the Christians of the Country. In response to the conclusions of the Synod, this year 2003 was declared "the Year of the Parish" for the Church in our Country.

One of the more important signs that this is a " Carmelite " parish is the Procession of the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, from the parish up to Stella Maris on the 2nd Sunday after Easter. (see Stella Maris).

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Also, in 1974, the Friars reopened, in the immediate vicinity of the church, a parish school for the Arab youth. Today it is one of the best schools in Israel : the pedagogical level is first class. The school opens its doors not only to the Latin Catholic community, but also to young Arabs of every confession including Muslims. This makes it a great school in tolerance : all beliefs are respected there, which is the reason a great many parents choose the school for their children. Nevertheless the care and the transmission of the Catholic faith to the young generations of Christian Arabs remains in the school a factor of great importance.

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