Preparations for Christmas in Bethlehem

Manger Square Bethlehem

Dear Friends in Christ:

You are all very busy preparing for Christmas, but I invite you to take a few moments to read about the preparations underway in Bethlehem.  Yes, the very place where Jesus was born!

I’d like to share with you some excerpts of a letter which arrived today from a dear friend, Sister Maria Grech, the director of the Franciscan Family Center, which is “around the corner” from the Church of the Nativity:

 

Dear Karen,

Wishing you and all your loved ones a Blessed Christmas Season!  Be sure of our love and prayers.

We are glad to update you with some encouraging news concerning our work here in Bethlehem. As you may be aware, Bethlehem has a new Mayor, and for the first time in history, our new mayor is a female.

 

This is a very busy week and a bit more than usual. Last week we had to go shopping and prepare all our gifts for all that will be going on this week, but because of the snow (which was just terrible and all the fields and gardens are still covered with snow) we were not able to go out.  All the shops, schools and even the banks were closed for 4 days.  Could you imagine that?  The whole country was paralyzed. It is still very cold.  Yesterday the buses and the trains in Jerusalem were all stopped at 8 pm as the roads were very slippery. Today we have the sun but it is still very cold.

The Women's Meeting is now a weekly feature in our program of work and their activities are steadily increasing. These women are now visiting old peoples' home regularly and are also organizing activities for them.  The older sector of society confess that they look forward to these encounters, which naturally uplift their morale and inject happiness in their daily lives. Today we have the party for the old people’s home; there are about 40 residents.  We bought a blanket and a big sack of different bars of chocolates for each one of them.  Then we ordered cakes, other sweets, and fruit for the party. 

 

Tomorrow in the afternoon we will have the Custos here to say Mass in our Chapel for the Boys’ Home.  Then he will distribute the Christmas presents to our 33 boys.

At 6 pm we have the last session for the Pre-Cana couples: they attended 10 sessions and tomorrow is the closing.  The young engaged couples are keen and enthusiastic to participate in these preparatory courses prior to their marriage vows. This conviction has led these couples to request us to extend these sessions also to the initial stages of their married life.  We are giving the matter serious thought.

 

On Friday there will be the big party, giving to more than 100 kids each a coupon to be able to buy new cloths for Christmas and a big hamper full of food and goodies to 30 families. We are giving also meat in the hampers.

The School Sponsor Project is growing steadily.  We are delighted that these sponsors are helping a large number of children to attend religious schools where they are able to receive adequate religious education.  This would not have been possible without the assistance of the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land (FFHL).

 

What remains daunting here is the ever-increasing rate of unemployment. Young, healthy, responsible parents, in large numbers, still approach us for work. Each and every one of them remains a pitiful sight as most are finding it difficult to raise a family and make ends meet.  The situation worsens when cases involve payment for urgent medical health.  In Bethlehem, the government does not cover any health insurance. As a result, many knock on our door requesting medical assistance they cannot afford. Sadly, this is becoming all too often and needless to say, our means are limited.

 The “Job Creation-House Renovation” remains an enormous challenge.  Although still thriving we assist families to improve their living conditions, renovate their meager dwellings with the intention to encourage them to remain in the country and resist the inevitable pressure to emigrate.

It is only thanks to our generous and unrelenting Benefactors that we are able to do as much. We remain motivated by God's grace and love and our longing to do good and assist the needy. Your contributions enable us to carry out our mission. Your assistance is crucial. We ask you not to forget us.

Our daily prayers go to all those who helped us throughout these years.  Rest assured, in particular, on our special thoughts at the Nativity Manger of Bethlehem.

 

Take care and have a blessed Christmas Season.

Sincerely yours,

Sister Maria Grech, F.M.M.

Sister Maria and children in Bethlehem
Christmas 2012

For more information, please visit the websites of the

Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land:
http://www.ffhl.org/newsmanagerdotnet2/templates/programs.aspx?articleid=362&zoneid=17

Custodia Terrae Sanctae:  http://custodia.org/

Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem:  http://en.lpj.org/

Franciscan Family Center in Bethlehem

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