The Canção Nova Community in Nazareth
In one of his visits to the Holy Land, Monsignor Jonas received a proposal from the former Maronite Bishop,
Paul Saiah, to take charge of the area of the old Maronite Church in the city of Nazareth in order to develop
a media evangelization project and to send a priest to help in the local Church. Nazareth would thus have
a more pastoral character. On March 12, 2013, the Canção Nova Community joyfully began its activities in Nazareth.
Msgr. Jonas Abib and Bishop Paul Saiah, 2005
On March 12, 2013, the Canção Nova Community joyfully began its activities in Nazareth.
That same year, Msgr. Bruno Varriano, a Franciscan priest and then the Guardian of the Basilica of the Annunciation, and the Discretorium of the Custody of the Holy Land, proposed a partnership with the Sanctuary to broadcast its main celebrations and activities.
The proposal was accepted and these works began with the program Na Escola de Nazaré. With the development and expansion of this mission, the office was relocated to the one of the buildings in the compound of the Basilica, and later on was incorporated to the Christian Media Center, and in mid 2014 – 2015 the Nazareth regional office of the CMC was created.
Institution of two Front Missions: Nazareth and Jerusalem
Members (2026)
On 15 August 2019, the General Council of the Canção Nova Community expanded the potential of the
Holy Land Mission, transforming it into two Mission Fronts – that is, establishing Nazareth as a new
Mission Front – so that Jerusalem and Nazareth continue to operate in a spirit of communion, but
independently.
Spiritual Assistance
Support in the area of pastoral evangelization and meeting the needs of local people, following the directives of the bishop and the parish priest of Nazareth (Masses, confessions, spiritual direction, home visits, etc.).
