On Saturday, June 25, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul was celebrated at St. Peter's Church in Jaffa. The Mass - attended by a large number of faithful - was celebrated in several languages. Several migrant communities were also present: Latin Americans, Filipinos, Hebrew-speaking faithful, Indians and Africans. EVELINE Philippines "We came here to celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, to pray and to be blessed." Br. Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land, presided over the Mass. Br. FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land "When we look at St. Peter, we look at the journey we are asked to walk. St. Peter is important for us because he shows us the need to connect with Jesus and build a personal and loving relationship with him." In his homily Br. Patton spoke about the figure of St. Peter: "This year, on the occasion of his feast, we want to ask St. Peter two questions: Who are you, Peter? And who is Jesus for you?" Peter, the Custos added, could answer, 'I am an authentic but impulsive person. When Jesus called me, I left my job and my family without thinking about it. When Jesus asked me: who am I to you? I immediately spoke in everyone's name. When Jesus spoke of the sufferings and the cross, I did not accept it and became the devil and the stumbling block for him. I did the same when I said three times, I don't know him! When I cried, I saw that the Lord did not judge me immediately, but gave me a chance to start over. I realized that God chose to take our life upon Himself and save it.' At the end of his homily, Br. Patton stressed that "Peter has the right to ask us, who are you? And who is Jesus for you? To what extent are you willing to follow him? And what will you answer whenever Jesus asks, 'Do you love me more than anyone else and more than anything else?'" YOSI SAADA Hebrew-speaking Catholic Community "St. Peter taught me to accept Jesus in spite of all the doubts, misunderstandings and not knowing about what lies ahead. He taught me that in spite of everything, Peter can be the rock of the Church, and that all of us, as part of the body of Christ, can be sharers in that." The celebration of St. Peter's feast had a special character in Jaffa, where Peter had the famous vision of the tablecloth being lowered from heaven and containing all kinds of animals, pure and impure, and a voice from above ordering him to eat. A vision that has many meanings. Br. FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land "The vision represents the liberation of Christians from Old Testament law and the opening of the door to the preaching of the Gospel to all nations." Read More