There is no child in the world who does not wait for Christmas. But how do the children of Bethlehem live it, the city where Jesus was born? “Even today, an angel has arrived in this house. Thank you so much!”. Hana, 22, has just received from us a month’s voucher to buy milk for […]
“I wish you all to be touched not only in front of the baby boy of the crib, but in front of every child in flesh and blood”. The wish of Fr. Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land and our President, this year has pushed us to dedicate the Christmas campaign of the Association […]
Following a proposal made many years ago by the great Franciscan archaeologist, Fr. Michele Piccirillo, today Maurizio Enrico Villa has decided to export the art of the crib from Italy to the Holy Land. In 2016 Maurizio had already made a crib for the Christian community of Madaba, Jordan, but this time he accepted a […]
“We live in the hands of Providence”, with these words Father José Maria Falo Espés starts telling us about his life experience as the Guardian of the Franciscan shrine of the Sheperds’ Field in Beit Sahur. Fr. José is Spanish, from Saragoza, and has lived for a long time in Valencia from where he brought […]
The last stop of our trip to Syria is the most painful and surprising one. The wounds of war are still very visible. Yet Aleppo is trying to cure them, to become even more beautiful than before. The road to Damascus is still long, the interruption of the freeway leaves no other way to go […]
We arrive in Damascus after sunset and the show is amazing: that of an illuminated city. Only six months ago it seemed impossible, but electricity does not seem to be a big problem anymore. As we approach the Franciscan Monastery, the impression we had at the beginning is confirmed: the city has finally returned to […]
“This new house is a stroke of God to my life.” Mrs. Mayada kept on repeating it while she showed us her house. She told us when she welcomed us, clasping our hand with both hands, and bowing slightly; and she repeated it as she led us to her brand new white balcony, to show […]
“The museum will be a source of social development for the local population”: this is one of the goals set by the former Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa (currently the Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem) when the project of the Terra Sancta Museum was presented in Jerusalem in 2013. […]
Aleppo was a great city, then came death and blood, and destruction. But there are also many signs of a great hope. Monsignor Abou Khazen, Bishop of the Latin Church of Aleppo, met the staff of the Association pro Terra Sancta. He spoke about one of the most destroyed cities in the Syrian conflict, now […]
“In order to get to know a place, it is necessary to meet and speak with people who live in it”. This was the first impression of the students that participated to the Middle East Community Program. The third edition of the program was organized by Association pro Terra Sancta in collaboration with the Catholic […]
Among the various scourges that afflict the part of the world known as Holy Land, there is also the identity crisis. Among young people especially, the research for an identity often leads to violent deviations, or simply to resignation. For this reason, as an alternative, the activities aimed at educating children to a greater awareness […]
“You will find me in the sound”: you will find me, you will meet me through sound and music. This is the title of the Music Therapy course addressed to 27 participants from Bethlehem and the surrounding area, which ended a few days ago with the award of diplomas. “Yes! We will meet in sound, […]
“We heard that the Church assists, helps and encourages people; and so it’s ready to intervene in rebuilding a damaged house, it’s ready to help a father to find a job and to cover some of the expenses there might be. Or still it’s ready to donate at least a first-aid food package.” Speaking are some […]
“Nobody can imagine the devastation provoked by the 6,7 magnitude earthquake in the Island of Kos. It stroke at around 1.30 a.m. on Friday night, then other 20 shocks came during the rest of the night. I was in Rhodes when it happened and I could feel it.” Father Luke Gregory is writing us. He is […]
The Ceramic center in Nisf Jubeil is a great opportunity for women in the area. But what are their stories? What does it really mean for them? As a child, Ruwaida Jelal Khalil dreamed of becoming an artist. “Art,” she tells us, “has always given me energy, helping me in moments of deep sadness.” We […]
For about three months now, Christians in Gaza have been living in the dark. “Until recently, we had electricity for eight hours, then only for six hours a day, then for four … Today we only have electricity for two and a half hours in a whole day!” Fr. Mario Da Silva, Parish Priest of […]
(from Custodia.org) Christians and Muslims coming together to share the beauty of encountering each other: this is what happened in Bethany on the occasion of the iftar between the friars of the Custody and the locals. During the fasting month of Ramadan, in fact, every day after sunset, Muslims come together to eat the meal […]
“After the days of the olives I will finally be engaged and then, soon, I will get married.” Rami Awayes, is 28; it seemed impossible to him until a few years ago, but now he will finally get engaged and will get married in October, “after the olives”, which means after the harvest days. “All […]
“The heart of Syria in Damascus is still pulsating … It has never stopped, and now it needs to beat harder than ever, so we might start to rebuild our Country, although it will take a long time.” Speaking is Sister Iole from Syria, a Franciscan Missionary to Damascus. She is visiting Jerusalem for a […]
The General Assembly of the Association pro Terra Sancta met in Jerusalem to update its members on the great development of the Association in the past year, and to discuss further proposals for the future. On the agenda: the approval of the 2016 budget and the Report on the Management. A brief debate on future […]