Anyone who has visited us at Tabgha knows that another religious community lives on the premises: the community of the Benedictine Sisters from the Philippines. The Sisters contribute substantially to the character and spirit of Tabgha. Since 1994 the community of the Benedictine Sisters has been living in a former farm building in the middle of our plantations. The Sisters, who belong to the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of the Eucharistic King, combine the classic monastic life style with the sharing of the gospel. To this end, the Sisters are actively involved in providing pastoral care for numerous Philippine foreign workers in Israel. The Sisters meet them in their communities in Haifa or Tel Aviv, or at retreats at Tabgha.
At Tabgha the Sisters also support the Brothers in their work in the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes and share in their ministry to the pilgrims. One of the Sisters works in the pilgrims’ office in the atrium and is responsible for phone, fax, and “life“, always with a friendly smile. A second Sister works with Fr. Zacharias in the sacristy, tending to the church and the holy masses. – The Sisters also work at the neighboring Pilgrim’s Hostel which belongs to the German Association of the Holy Land. For many visitors it would be impossible to imagine the beautiful site of Tabgha without the Sisters.
However, not only do we share the workload with the Sisters, but we daily celebrate the Eucharist together in the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes, which is why we celebrate the Eucharist partially in English. The greater Tabgha family also celebrates Christmas and Easter together, as well as birthdays, jubilees, and Christ the King, which is the patronal feast day of the Sisters.