For all Italian volunteersnand workers who live in Bethlehem, Christmas also means “tombolata”. As usual in the rooms of the Hotel Casanova, after the Mass and a moment of reflection, we find ourselves for a dinner, rigorously of Italian cuisine, and immediately after one of the most awaited moments for adults and children: the game […]

Once more it’s Christmas time in Bethlehem, the whole city lights up for a party and it’s general cleaning. What once was a small town on the back of a hill looking towards the desert of Judah today is a large city that in its overall area welcomes, in the daily bustle, almost 200,000 inhabitants. […]

Placing the little houses, the sheep and the shepherd’s statues in the Crib, our imagination flies towards distant exotic landscapes, towards that ancient and rural village in the desert that was to be Bethlehem at the time of Jesus. Today, that which in the Gospel text is described as the last of the main cities […]

Thalathe…’ithnin… wahad…(three, two, one …) and magically the big Christmas tree in Manger square, Bethlehem, lights up; fireworks light up the starry sky and for five minutes all the faces of the people are turned upwards: many children climb on their parents’ shoulders to be able to see better, boys and adults with smartphones in […]

Being able to take a hot shower, do laundry, cook and wash dishes are actions that very often we do automatically without thinking about the fact that in many parts of the world all these are privileges that only few can enjoy: Bethlehem is one of these less fortunate places. Observing the expanse of houses […]

This Christmas we bring you to Bethlehem. But not only: we will bring you to the Bethlehem of 2000 years ago. Don’t you believe it? We will amaze you. We have just finished preparing “Bethlehem back in time“, an extraordinary product, the result of meticulous work that lasted years of research. We have already talked […]

A few steps from the headquarters of the University of Bethlehem, in the ICP (Institution Cooperative Partnership), every wednesday morning the mothers of Saint Joseph College return to school. Fortwo hours a week  about thirty ladies of all ages have the opportunity to take lessons held by professors and experts on various topics. Each topic […]

“We are a bit worried about the future, but we are fine”. The tone of voice is optimistic, the look is lively. The apostolic vicar of Aleppo, mgr. Abou Khazen, talk about the war in Syria and have the perception that it is almost a distant problem. “In Aleppo the situation is calmer. The services […]

With the beginning of November the academic year of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum (SBF) officially begun. The SBF is the scientific institution for research and academic teaching of the Holy Scriptures and archeology of the biblical Places of the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land. For several years now, precisely since 2013, […]

Friday, October 19, in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio in Iraq and Jordan Mons. Alberto Ortega, of Mons. Lalli, councilor of the Apostolic Nunciature of Amman, of the Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan, Mons. Shomali and dr. Marco Salaris representative of the Italian Embassy in Jordan, in Amman in the parish of San Joseph, the […]

At first glance, the small village nestled between hills of olive groves and almond trees does not seem to differentiate itself from the many villages of the Palestinian countryside. However, Sebastia, a small village in the heart of Samaria, hides among the houses and fields the remains of columns, capitals, structures of ancient buildings that […]

Thick dust envelops the city of Aleppo, the last leg of our trip to Syria, so much to cover the sun. Sand and dust that – according to some – come from the east, from the debris, and make the air unbreathable, almost to want to suffocate again this city so painfully tormented and that […]

Syria. We arrive in Latakia late at night. The trip from Beirut to here lasted almost seven hours, starting form the intense traffic of the Lebanese capital between huge buildings and immense avenues, then on the rough and dark country roads or along the Syrian coast. Latakia sleeps peacefully, cradled by the calm sea that […]

“The dream of a life that takes place in the city that inspired the Cribs painter: Bethlehem” Inauguration of Tonino Maurizi’s “A thousand times Christmas” exhibition at the Bab idDeir Gallery in Bethlehem On October 2, in the presence of the Italian Consul General, the Mayor of Bethlehem, the representatives of the Custody of the […]

Israel and Palestine: between land and community “A wonderful experience to better understand a land so complex through the eyes of its inhabitants” Sitting in a restaurant in the center of Jerusalem, enjoying the last hummus and felafel before returning home, the MECP (Middle East Community Program) students discuss with each other: it is time […]

Also in Bethlehem the school year has begun, with important news for two historic institutions of the Custody of the Holy Land thanks to the generous contribution of the ONLUS “Frate Allegra of the Friars Minor of Sicily” in collaboration with ATS pro Terra Sancta. The first –Terra Sancta Boys School– is a boys’ college […]

The army of Damascus, supported by Russia and Iran, is setting for a military action in the area of ​​Idlib, in the north of Syria, the last bag of resistance of rebel groups who say they are ready to resist until the last drop of blood. Military action could cause a carnage of civilians. This […]

“Dear children of the GREST Summer Camps in Aleppo, we have just seen the report that concerns you. THANK YOU! Your life is a point of reference for us that we are used to living easily … For you we have made this letter and we all hope to keep it with you as a […]

“New mosaicists for Bethlehem” is the name of the project promoted and supported by the Province of Trento and Association of Franciscan Missions Trento together with ATS pro Terra Sancta at the Mosaic Center of Jericho, the Association Amici di P. Kaswalder and Aca de Vita, led to the opening of a new production and […]

Meeting with the Exodus foundation of Don Antonio Mazzi “As educators, we must first of all bring hope. If educators have no hope, and therefore do not bring any into their work, all our work is useless “. From this intuition of Don Antonio Mazzi the association Educators Without Borders (ESF) and Exodus together with the Association […]