The Sion Studies in Jerusalem Team , SSJT, was set up by the General Leadership Team (GLT) in November 2008. The GLT invite our newer and younger members to come to Jerusalem for a period of Study in the Land. A team was set up to be responsible for this period of formation: to meet, plan, organize, advise and mentor those Sisters and Brothers who will come to Jerusalem for a time of study and formation.  Elio and Anne Catherine were asked to be responsible for the study programs, and Trudy to co-ordinate the group and accompany the Sisters who participate. Elio would accompany the brothers.

Since 2008 we have had Sisters from Brazil, Costa Rica, the Philippines and Europe with Brothers from Brazil. They have come to be immersed in the land, to study the Bible in the land, to learn some Modern Hebrew, to follow some lectures at the Biblical programs, or to participate in the full one month program in the Centre for Biblical Formation at Ecce homo, in English, French or Spanish.  Some have also participated in the one month program offered by Bat Kol. There has been the possibility to learn Biblical Hebrew and to have a Sister as tutor for this. Some of the Jewish communities offer classes in Jewish Studies in English and these too have been a wonderful opportunity both to learn and to meet Jewish people. One very important aspect of being in the land and of the program is to study Judaism: the feasts, prayer, and liturgy. This has been enhanced through sharing a Seder or a Shabbat meal with a Jewish family as well as regular participation in the synagogue services on Shabbat. All these experiences contribute to an ever deeper understanding of the Jewishness of Jesus and of our Charism at Sion. They facilitate an experience of the Jewish people as a living and very diverse people. Jerusalem isa vitally important focus for us as a congregation. To live in Jerusalem enables us at a very practical level to respond to our special vocation in the Church. Contact with the land of israel, relationship with the jewish people and their language, celebrating the feasts, greatly facilitates our awareness and clear recognitions of our Christian roots. At the same time, we must, brothers and sisters of Sion, put this richness at the service of the whole Congregation.

Living in the land and experiencing the religious and cultural diversity the Sisters and Brothers learn something of the reality and consequences of the political situation and how it affects both Israelis and Palestinians. We continue to encourage the Congregation of both Sisters and Brothers to enable all the newer members to come to live in the Holy Land at some stage in their formation.  It is indeed life changing for many. Due to the fact that most programs, lectures and sessions are offered in English we strongly urge our newer members to have sufficient grasp of the English, in order to be able to profit well from the time in the Holy land.

It is a joy to welcome Sisters and Brothers as they become pilgrims and not only walk through the land but also allow the land and its peoples to enter into their own being.

“For out of Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”     Is 2:3b

Team

• Sr. Anne Catherine Avril - anavril@yahoo.com
• Br. Élio Passeto - eliop@netvision.net.il
• Sr. Dianne Willey (Coordinator) - dianewilley@hotmail.com
• Sr. Maureen Cusick - cusicksion@gmail.com