News Page 27

In 2016, Christmas in Aleppo was marked by the liberation of a city that has suffered much during the endless Syrian conflict. The hope brought by the liberation of the city, grew timidly in 2017: some activities have resumed and some destroyed apartments have been rebuilt, thanks to your valuable support through the Association pro […]

At Christmas the nativity scene is set up and reproduced in the cribs, all over the world. The Grotto of the Baby Jesus represents the heart of this sacred and popular representation. In our days there are still people living in Bethlehem, that every year rush towards the manger as it happened more than 2.000 […]

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 […]