JERUSALEM/ The Custody of the Holy Land sustains Christians in Bethlehem

The family of S. is very poor and large, composed of nine people: S., her husband G. and seven children. G. had a job as a mechanic, but his health has seriously deteriorated and he has become very weak over the years since he was in prison for political reasons. S. tries to earn some money for her family by working a few hours a day as a hairdresser, but it is not easy, especially since she has seven children to look after.

L., on the other hand, is 68 years old, a widow, and lives alone. She has three daughters, who are married but are unemployed. Since there is no pension system in Palestine, she is alone with no income and she cannot afford to go live in a nursing home.

These are just two of the many similar stories in the city of Bethlehem, located a few miles from Jerusalem and which has been home to a situation of constant social emergency for some time now, aggravated by the long conflict in progress and the growing tensions as a result of the armed conflict in the Gaza Strip. Many men and women have lost their jobs and are struggling to support their families, which are often large. The population most affected by this crisis is the Christian one, which, until 1965, was the majority, but is now reduced to about 12%. Poverty is aggravated by the fact that there is no medical insurance, so families in need and experiencing difficulties, turn to the Church, to the Franciscan custodians of the Holy Land who have the grace to perform their mission in the Holy Land by the will and mandate of the universal Church.

It is never more important than on the occasion of Christmas to support the Christian community of Bethlehem, to help the most vulnerable "living stones" in this very special place in the Holy Land, where God became a child. At Christmas, one returns to the origin. In fact, just in time for Christmas, ATS pro Terra Sancta, the non-profit NGO of the Custody of the Holy Land, is promoting the initiative “At Christmas Time a Return to the Beginning” a fundraiser designed to support the Christian community of Bethlehem, where the needs, especially of children and the elderly, continue to be urgent, through the parish of St. Catherine Nativitatem of Bethlehem and with the collaboration of volunteers, nuns and friars. The money that is raised will go in part to children and families and in part to the elderly of Bethlehem.