Christmas 2011: Main Catholic Celebrations in Bethlehem
Monday, 05 December 2011 | 
Author: Catholics for Israel | 
Christmas 2011: Main Catholic Celebrations in Bethlehem
This table shows only the celebrations in Bethlehem.
See also: Full Schedule of the Catholic Celebrations in Bethlehem and Jerusalem
| Day | Timetable | Events |
| DECEMBER 15 – 23 | 4.30 pm | Novena of Christmas in St Catherine |
| DECEMBER 24 (Saturday) | 1.00 pm at the Tomb of Rachel | His Beatitude, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, is welcomed by the Latin Parish Priest of Bethlehem and representatives of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour. |
| 2.30 pm at the Manger Square | Solemn Entry of His Beatitude into the Basilica of the Nativity and St. Catherine Church followed by Pontifical Vespers. | |
| 4.00 pm at St. Catherine | Daily Procession to the Nativity Grotto. | |
| 9.00 pm at St. Catherine | The Church opens (Tickets required). | |
| 11.10 pm at St. Catherine | SOLEMN "OFFICE OF READINGS". | |
| DECEMBER 25 (Sunday) | 0.00 am at St. Catherine | PONTIFICAL EUCHARISTIC CONCELEBRATION (Tickets required) |
| 0.00 am at the Manger Grotto | Low Masses till 1.30 am in Arabic (Tickets required) | |
| 1.30 am at St. Catherine | Solemn traditional Procession to the Grotto until 2.30am. | |
| 2.30 am at the Manger Grotto | Low Masses till 5.15 pm (no tickets required), Interruption at 5.30 am till 7.00 am approximately. |
|
| 7.30 am at St. Catherine | PARISH MASS IN ARABIC. | |
| 10.00 am at St. Catherine | PONTIFICAL CHRISTMAS MASS IN ARABIC AND LATIN. | |
| 2.00 pm | Pilgrimage to the Greek and then to the Latin Shepherd’s Field. | |
| DECEMBER 26 (Monday) – Feast of St. Stephen | In the Manger Grotto at 5.00 am and 7.30 | Holy Masses |
| At St. Catherine at 6.30 am (Italian), 7.00 am (Arabic) | Holy Masses | |
| 12.00 pm | Daily Procession to the Grotto | |
| DECEMBER 27 (Tuesday) – Feast of St. John Evangelist | In the Manger Grotto at 5.00 am and 7.30 | Holy Masses |
| At St. Catherine at 6.30 am (Italian) and 7.00 am (Arabic) | Holy Masses | |
| 12.00 pm | Daily Procession to the Grotto | |
| DECEMBER 28 (Wednesday) – Feast of the Holy Innocents | At St. Catherine at 6.30 am (Italian) and 7.00 am (Arabic) | Holy Masses |
| 10.00 am | SUNG MASS (Latin) IN THE GROTTO OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS. | |
| 12.00 pm | Daily Procession to the Grotto. | |
| 2.00 pm | Vespers in the Grotto of the Holy Innocents. | |
| DECEMBER 29 (Thursday) | In the Manger Grotto at 5.00 am and 7.30 am | Holy Masses |
| 12.00 pm | Daily Procession to the Grotto | |
| 3.00 pm | Shepherd’s Field, Solemn Mass at in commemoration of the Shepherds. | |
| DECEMBER 31 (Saturday) | In the Manger Grotto at 5.00 am and 7.30 am | Holy Masses |
| 2.00 pm | SOLEMN VESPERS WITH PROCESSION TO THE GROTTO. | |
| 4.30 pm | Holy Mass of Thanksgiving (Arabic) with TE DEUM. | |
| 2012, JANUARY 1 (Sunday) | In the Manger Grotto at 5.00 am and 7.30 | Holy Masses |
| At St. Catherine at 6.30 am (Italian), 7.30 am (Arabic), 9.00 am (Arabic) | Holy Masses | |
| 11.00 am (Arabic) | SOLEMN MASS followed by Procession to the Milk Grotto with the Icon of Virgin Mary. | |
| JANUARY 5 (Tuesday) – Eve of Epiphany | In the Manger Grotto at 5.00 am and 7.30 | Holy Masses |
| 11.00 am at the Tomb of Rachel | His Paternity the Custos of the Holy Land is welcomed by Latin Parish Priest and other representatives of Bethlehem. |
|
| 1.45 pm at St. Catherine | PONTIFICAL VESPERS AND PROCESSION TO THE GROTTO. | |
| 3.30 pm at St. Catherine | OFFICE OF READINGS AND PROCESSION TO THE GROTTO. | |
| JANUARY 6 (Wednesday) – Epiphany | Midnight at the Grotto | Holy Masses till 9.00 am with an interruption between 1.00 am and 2.30 am approximately. |
| 7.00 am at St. Catherine | Holy Mass. | |
| 10.00 am at St. Catherine | PONTIFICAL MASS (Latin and Arabic). | |
| 3.30 pm at St. Catherine | SOLEMN VESPERS AND SOLEMN TRADITIONAL PROCESSION TO THE GROTTO: VENERATION OF THE INFANT JESUS WITH THE GIFTS OF GOLD, INCENSE AND MYRRH. |
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