Like shepherds, keeping vigil in the dark of night due to an electrical blackout, about 1,500 Indian migrants and asylum seekers attended Christmas Mass at St. Catherine's Church in Bethlehem at 4:30 a.m. Christmas morning. Valerio India "It is a dream for me to be in Bethlehem, many people around the world cannot visit this place. I am so happy to touch the birthplace of Jesus!" Maimore India "I received many blessings from the Son of God and came here to thank the Lord. I had three daughters, I asked God to give us a son, and God answered my prayer." Fr. Nikodemus Schnabel, vicar for migrants and asylum seekers of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, recounts that members of the Indian community face often very difficult circumstances in which their faith is tested, but in them the joy and strength of faith are stronger than any adversity. Fr NIKODEMUS SCHNABEL, osb Vicar for migrants and asylum seekers - Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem "These are people who struggle to have a liturgical celebration for their community. If we think that in Europe, the Church strives to attract people, here, with Indians it's different: how can I facilitate these people who have such a great desire to participate in the liturgy?" Their desire for prayer and the Lord is not only in the Church of the Nativity. Fr NIKODEMUS SCHNABEL, osb Vicar for migrants and asylum seekers - Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem "After a long day, I want to go to sleep. These people, who work so hard, at 11 p.m., while I go to sleep, they log on to pray the Rosary or read the Bible, one hour every night. It's 4:30 in the morning, ordinary people would complain about having Mass at this time. But they don't! You won't find any of them complaining about the time. They are really happy to be able to celebrate Christmas, here in Bethlehem." "It is the most original Christmas I have ever experienced." With these words Fr. Nikodemus described the celebration in the dark.