PRESS RELEASE
BURNING OF TENT USED FOR WORSHIP IN REHOVOT – 3 JANUARY 2024
In the early hours of 3 January 2024, a tent used for their weekly mass by the small Catholic community in Rehovot burnt to the ground. The possessions of this community went up in smoke with the tent – prayer books, benches, the sound system, the décor, etc. This is a heartbreaking tragedy for the Rehovot Catholic community, composed of Filipino, Indian, African and other migrant workers as well as Catholic research scholars from all over the world enrolled in the Weizmann Institute and Hebrew University’s Faculty of Agriculture. The tent was constructed in December 2016 with their personal contributions and help from some generous donors. Over the years it became a place of prayer, fellowship and a symbol of the fraternal spirit that marks this community.
The tent stood on an empty lot, situated off any throughfare. Its discrete location avoided creating any disturbance to the surrounding population. The community can only gather on Saturday evenings when the congregants have a few hours off work.
This blow comes during the Christmas festive season. It comes at the peak of winter. The community is left homeless and without the resources needed to recuperate what was lost.
Despite the fact that over the years, this location has attracted local extremists who have, on more than one occasion, attacked the congregation by throwing stones when the community was gathered in this place for Christian prayer, there was no evidence of arson.
While the final report from the fire department is awaited, considering the provisions in the agreement signed with the landlord which make it mandatory for the restoration of the property to the state it was when the lease was signed in July 2022; it was decided to restore the tent. The landlord gave verbal assurance that the community could continue to use the premises for at least another two years after the present lease agreement ends in July this year.
As one can imagine this will involve significant costs and hard work. Yet, this community of faith is determined and will continue to gather and to pray, to rebuild and to renew their place of worship. It is a place where so many migrant workers receive the strength to continue their service of the aged, the handicapped and the sick in the city of Rehovot and the surrounding vicinity.
Fr. Matthew Coutinho sdb,
Patriarchal Vicar for Migrants and Asylum Seekers
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers (VMAS)
P.O.Box 14152
9114101 Jerusalem
