Friday the 21st of December,a feast in the House of the Child, located a few meters away from the Milk Grotto in Bethlehem, a great joy for the awaited annual meeting of the Custos with the youth of the House of the Child.
As now a tradition, the Christmas celebration day started with a Christmas Mass, celebrated in the Milk Grotto, presided by the Custos, Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, concelebrated by Fr. Peter Vasco (President of the Franciscan Foundation of the Holy Land), and Fr. Rami Asakrieh.
At the mass the youth of the House of the Child were there together with their director, the teacher staff and coworkers, the families and the donors, who all sustain this very special and important project.
During the homily, the Custos addressed the youth with a fatherly message, to encourage them to live the joy of Christmas. The Custos remembered the difficult situation in which,right here in Bethlehem, Jesus was born.; he was born amongst the poor, to be close to everyone: “Every day Jesus is born in our hearts and families” .
At the mass conclusion, the youth entertained the guests with a Christmas play and poetry also inspired by the Holy Christmas.
After a simple reception in the living room of the House, the awaited moment arrived: Santa Clause, who arrived slightly early, distributed the presents!
The expressions of joy and genuine surprise, impressed on the youngsters faces, were the reward to all the efforts of the people who daily contribute to the youth's growth, spreading a message of peace and hope; irreplaceable values in helping build a better future.
The center fosters thirty five youth from 5 to 17 years old, of whom fourteen are residents whilst the others go back to their families.
All of the youth attend the local Terra Santa School during the week and after the lessons return to their second home, which is only five minutes far from the school, where they can live in a healthy environment, have lunch, study and pray together.
The Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land, was founded in 1994, it is an international ecumenical organization, with its headquarters in the United States, and it is supported by the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. The Foundation's main objective is to contain the Holy Land Christian emigration, with projects and programs that will encourage Christians to stay in the Holy Land and defend minorities human rights.
Text: Ufficio Internet
Photo: Nadim Asfour
As now a tradition, the Christmas celebration day started with a Christmas Mass, celebrated in the Milk Grotto, presided by the Custos, Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, concelebrated by Fr. Peter Vasco (President of the Franciscan Foundation of the Holy Land), and Fr. Rami Asakrieh.
At the mass the youth of the House of the Child were there together with their director, the teacher staff and coworkers, the families and the donors, who all sustain this very special and important project.
During the homily, the Custos addressed the youth with a fatherly message, to encourage them to live the joy of Christmas. The Custos remembered the difficult situation in which,right here in Bethlehem, Jesus was born.; he was born amongst the poor, to be close to everyone: “Every day Jesus is born in our hearts and families” .
At the mass conclusion, the youth entertained the guests with a Christmas play and poetry also inspired by the Holy Christmas.
After a simple reception in the living room of the House, the awaited moment arrived: Santa Clause, who arrived slightly early, distributed the presents!
The expressions of joy and genuine surprise, impressed on the youngsters faces, were the reward to all the efforts of the people who daily contribute to the youth's growth, spreading a message of peace and hope; irreplaceable values in helping build a better future.
The center fosters thirty five youth from 5 to 17 years old, of whom fourteen are residents whilst the others go back to their families.
All of the youth attend the local Terra Santa School during the week and after the lessons return to their second home, which is only five minutes far from the school, where they can live in a healthy environment, have lunch, study and pray together.
The Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land, was founded in 1994, it is an international ecumenical organization, with its headquarters in the United States, and it is supported by the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. The Foundation's main objective is to contain the Holy Land Christian emigration, with projects and programs that will encourage Christians to stay in the Holy Land and defend minorities human rights.
Text: Ufficio Internet
Photo: Nadim Asfour