When you meet Fra Ricardo Bustos, the new guardian of the Franciscan fraternity in Bethlehem, and Fra Nerwan Nasser Al-Bann, the new parish priest, two things strike you: their joy and the similarity of their words in describing the Christian community of Bethlehem as “welcoming”.
A town resident once joked: “We didn’t welcome the Holy Family two thousand years ago, so ever since we’ve been trying to make up for it!” In listening to the two newly arrived Franciscans, it seems that they are up to the challenge.
Having spent nine years as guardian of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth in Israel, Fra Ricardo Bustos knew that the chapter would post him elsewhere. The announcement of his transfer to Bethlehem was a surprise nevertheless. “I was not familiar with the reality of Bethlehem and its environment. I can say that everything is new. But I am struck by the climate of peace, serenity and welcome among the faithful. It is a climate of simplicity that brings me into the mystery of the shepherds who heard the angels’ announcement. The shepherds are the first people to be open to the newness of Christmas.”
“Coming to Nazareth is a transition for me. Knowing that I would leave Nazareth, I prepared myself as one prepares for a new way of life. When I learned that I would be here, I felt like the little donkey that carried the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. This is not only a “juridical” transfer, a change of post after the chapter, but a true spiritual passage. When Pope Francis invited us all to set out on the road, I felt as though I, too, was setting out on the road, leaving what I knew behind to go toward something new.”
Today the Bethlehem fraternity counts 17 friars from 13 countries. “The fraternity of Bethlehem is the Custody in miniature,” says the father guardian. “Here we find all the apostolates, the entire mission of the Custody to small scale. And the diversity of the fraternity is in the service of the people who come to Bethlehem from all over the world. This dimension of welcome is also spiritual wealth for the community.”
After managing to disengage from the faithful who surround him on all sides after Mass, Fra Nerwan is happy to talk about his new ministry.
“When I came here I presented the custos and the patriarch—the patriarchate coordinates the pastoral work of all the parishes in the diocese—an action plan to discover the parish in six months. The plan, which was accepted, provided for the pastoral team to be in the office during the morning, so that anyone who wants to can visit us there, where we want to hear everything they have to tell us. In the afternoons we visit the homes, not only for the benediction, but also to ask questions, to listen, to hear from the faithful what they expect from us. I visit three families a day, as does Fra Badie. We enter into this dialogue to make discoveries and move forward together. This work will take us into May.
“Before coming here I was vicar in Beit Hanina (a suburb of Jerusalem) and here I discovered an entirely different reality. The question of obtaining permits (to enter Israel, because of the security barriers – Ed.), of unemployment, the difficulties caused by the closure, especially within families, create an ambiance and a pastoral reality that are entirely different. At the same time, the population here and our faithful are truly good. (As are the parishioners in Jerusalem, Fra Nerwan emphasizes.) But here there is a different sense of welcome. Parish life in Bethlehem has the fragrance of tradition. The faithful are very respectful to priests, happily greeting them, inviting them to their homes. Entire families come to greet you after Mass. The relationship that is created between a parish and their pastor is very strong, and I tell you that for me, who comes from a small village in Iraq, it transports me back to my country, where we experience the same closeness in the heart of the Christian community. I have been here for two months and I am happy.”
According to Fra Nerwan, the Latin community counts 5,525 faithful in 1,400 families, making the Bethlehem parish rather large, and also quite active. In his parish activity, the pastor is assisted by Fra Badie (from the Galilee) and Fra Luai (from Jordan) who will soon be ordained deacon and whose activity is directed more particularly toward young people.
Catholic Action and its sports and community center is the nerve center of parish activity. Every Friday 420 children aged six to ten years come there for catechism. Many children come to prepare for First Communion and others for Confirmation. Another group brings together the 11 to 13 year olds, and yet another, the 14 to 18s. Post-secondary students are also followed. The parish also includes a Franciscan Third Order group and three Legion of Mary groups.
A town resident once joked: “We didn’t welcome the Holy Family two thousand years ago, so ever since we’ve been trying to make up for it!” In listening to the two newly arrived Franciscans, it seems that they are up to the challenge.
Having spent nine years as guardian of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth in Israel, Fra Ricardo Bustos knew that the chapter would post him elsewhere. The announcement of his transfer to Bethlehem was a surprise nevertheless. “I was not familiar with the reality of Bethlehem and its environment. I can say that everything is new. But I am struck by the climate of peace, serenity and welcome among the faithful. It is a climate of simplicity that brings me into the mystery of the shepherds who heard the angels’ announcement. The shepherds are the first people to be open to the newness of Christmas.”
“Coming to Nazareth is a transition for me. Knowing that I would leave Nazareth, I prepared myself as one prepares for a new way of life. When I learned that I would be here, I felt like the little donkey that carried the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. This is not only a “juridical” transfer, a change of post after the chapter, but a true spiritual passage. When Pope Francis invited us all to set out on the road, I felt as though I, too, was setting out on the road, leaving what I knew behind to go toward something new.”
Today the Bethlehem fraternity counts 17 friars from 13 countries. “The fraternity of Bethlehem is the Custody in miniature,” says the father guardian. “Here we find all the apostolates, the entire mission of the Custody to small scale. And the diversity of the fraternity is in the service of the people who come to Bethlehem from all over the world. This dimension of welcome is also spiritual wealth for the community.”
After managing to disengage from the faithful who surround him on all sides after Mass, Fra Nerwan is happy to talk about his new ministry.
“When I came here I presented the custos and the patriarch—the patriarchate coordinates the pastoral work of all the parishes in the diocese—an action plan to discover the parish in six months. The plan, which was accepted, provided for the pastoral team to be in the office during the morning, so that anyone who wants to can visit us there, where we want to hear everything they have to tell us. In the afternoons we visit the homes, not only for the benediction, but also to ask questions, to listen, to hear from the faithful what they expect from us. I visit three families a day, as does Fra Badie. We enter into this dialogue to make discoveries and move forward together. This work will take us into May.
“Before coming here I was vicar in Beit Hanina (a suburb of Jerusalem) and here I discovered an entirely different reality. The question of obtaining permits (to enter Israel, because of the security barriers – Ed.), of unemployment, the difficulties caused by the closure, especially within families, create an ambiance and a pastoral reality that are entirely different. At the same time, the population here and our faithful are truly good. (As are the parishioners in Jerusalem, Fra Nerwan emphasizes.) But here there is a different sense of welcome. Parish life in Bethlehem has the fragrance of tradition. The faithful are very respectful to priests, happily greeting them, inviting them to their homes. Entire families come to greet you after Mass. The relationship that is created between a parish and their pastor is very strong, and I tell you that for me, who comes from a small village in Iraq, it transports me back to my country, where we experience the same closeness in the heart of the Christian community. I have been here for two months and I am happy.”
According to Fra Nerwan, the Latin community counts 5,525 faithful in 1,400 families, making the Bethlehem parish rather large, and also quite active. In his parish activity, the pastor is assisted by Fra Badie (from the Galilee) and Fra Luai (from Jordan) who will soon be ordained deacon and whose activity is directed more particularly toward young people.
Catholic Action and its sports and community center is the nerve center of parish activity. Every Friday 420 children aged six to ten years come there for catechism. Many children come to prepare for First Communion and others for Confirmation. Another group brings together the 11 to 13 year olds, and yet another, the 14 to 18s. Post-secondary students are also followed. The parish also includes a Franciscan Third Order group and three Legion of Mary groups.