On the occasion of the Festival of Saint Anthony, Friday 22 June was dedicated, for the first time, to the elderly ladies in the nursing home run by Bethlehem’s Antonian Charitable Society. The event, which involved 55 elderly and their family and friends, was organised by the Antonian Charitable Society in collaboration with the Franciscan Social Services Organisation (FSSO) and ATS pro Terra Sancta.
Ten or so friends and volunteers contributed by offering their services to decorate the room where the celebration took place, animate the compulsory tombola, serve the traditional local tasty buffet and organise the folklore-themed musical entertainment.
Mary Salameh, one of the elderly ladies in Bethlehem who took part in the event, comments, “I think these events are good for us, they lighten the heart - look at the others dancing and having a great time!”. Joy, happiness and the desire to share the experience with others were written all over the participants’ faces, even Sister Immacolata, the Mother Superior of the nursing home, was visibly moved.
It is small gestures like this which make the elderly people of Bethlehem happy and, with your help, ATS pro terra Sancta wants to continue to support them and those who take care of them.
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