Category: Bethlehem

Virus weighs again on Christmas festivities in Bethlehem

by bcadmin | Dec 25, 2021 | Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Associated Press, Bethlehem, Christmas, Church in the Middle East, Church of the Nativity, COVID-19 coronavirus, France, Germany, Holy Land, News, Palestinian Christians, Spain | 0 |

In Bethlehem, there was a mix of conviviality and restraint reflected in celebrations around the world on a Christmas Eve dampened once again by the coronavirus.

Coronavirus dampens Christmas joy in biblical Bethlehem

by bcadmin | Dec 24, 2021 | Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Associated Press, Bethlehem, Church in the Middle East, Church of the Nativity, COVID-19 pandemic, Holy Land, Israel, Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, lead, News, Palestine, Palestinian Christians, West Bank | 0 |

The biblical town of Bethlehem is gearing up for its second straight Christmas Eve hit by the coronavirus — with small crowds and gray, gloomy weather dampening celebrations Friday in the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

Elizabeth: “God Has Sworn”

by bcadmin | Dec 11, 2021 | 2021, Bethlehem, blessed among women, Catholic Church, Catholicism, Columns, Elizabeth: “God Has Sworn”, full of grace, Gabriel's greeting of Mary, Heavenly Jerusalem, Magisterium, Magnificat, Mary's visitation to Elizabeth, News, Rev. Peter M.J. Stravinskas, Rom 8:35-39, Sacraments, Scriptures, St. Paul, The Catholic Thing, Zechariah | 0 |

Fr. Peter M.J. Stravinskas: God’s promise to Elizabeth, like the promise to Mary fulfilled in Bethlehem, is our hope for Heavenly Jerusalem.

The post Elizabeth: “God Has Sworn” appeared first on The Catholic Thing.

Christmas in Bethlehem: Gilded treasures, but few tourists

by bcadmin | Nov 19, 2021 | Associated Press, Bethlehem, Church in the Middle East, Church of the Nativity, Holy Land, Israel, News, Palestine, Palestinian Christians, West Bank | 0 |

Ahead of Christmas, a towering wooden screen — once blackened with soot from millions of worshippers’ candles — is being restored to its gilded glory in the Church of the Nativity. But few visitors are expected to see it.

Bethlehem is open for business, waiting for tourists

by bcadmin | Nov 6, 2021 | Bethlehem, Business, Catholic News Service, Christmas, Church in the Middle East, Church of the Nativity, COVID restrictions, COVID-19 pandemic, Israel, News, Palestinian Christians | 0 |

When Christy Zeidan, office manager of the Three Arches 2 souvenir shop, put the key in the door lock for the first time in nearly 20 months, she got goose bumps on her arms.

Start small like God loves to do

by bcadmin | May 24, 2021 | Bethlehem, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Embryo, Faith at Home, Maria Montessori, News, Start small | 0 |

How often do you think about how small you are?

Coronavirus dampens Christmas joy in Bethlehem and elsewhere

by bcadmin | Dec 26, 2020 | Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Associated Press, Bethlehem, Catholic Church, Church in the Middle East, Church of the Nativity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, COVID-19 pandemic, Holy Land, Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, News, Palestine, Palestinian Christians, West Bank | 0 |

Bethlehem on Thursday ushered in Christmas Eve with a stream of joyous marching bands and the triumphant arrival of the top Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land, but few people were there to greet them as the coronavirus pandemic and a strict lockdown dampened celebrations in the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

Making Room at the Inn

by bcadmin | Dec 23, 2020 | 2020, Benedict XVI, Bethlehem, Blessed Virgin, Catholic Church, Catholicism, Christ Child, Christmas lends itself to the imagination, Columns, God incarnate, Holy Family, Jesus Christ, Luke’s Gospel, Making Room at the Inn, News, Pope Francis, St. Joseph, Stephen P. White, The Catholic Thing | 0 |

Stephen P. White: Who was the Bethlehem innkeeper? Possibly a compassionate man, who was granted the grace to play host to God Himself.

The post Making Room at the Inn appeared first on The Catholic Thing.

Tough going at Christmas for the ‘Little Town of Bethlehem’

by bcadmin | Dec 21, 2020 | Bethlehem, Christian Aid, Christmas 2020, coronavirus emergency, COVID-19, Free Access, News | 0 |

Covid-19 restrictions are keeping pilgrims and holidaymakers away from the Holy Land. Business is “at a standstill” said relief agency Christian Aid in a December 21 press release.

The post Tough going at Christmas for the ‘Little Town of Bethlehem’ appeared first on Catholic Herald.

What child is this?

by bcadmin | Dec 18, 2020 | Bethlehem, Catholic Hotdish, Jesus, News, What child is this | 0 |

The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem on a dark night two thousand years ago was the arrival of a child like none other. To know the identity of the little baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in the manger is to know the spiritual meaning of Christmas.

Lockdown looms over Christmas in Bethlehem

by bcadmin | Dec 18, 2020 | Associated Press, Bethlehem, Christmas, Church in the Middle East, Church of the Nativity, Coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19, Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Lockdowns, Mahmoud Abbas, News | 0 |

The mayor of Bethlehem on Thursday said Christmas celebrations in the birthplace of Jesus will be limited to just a handful of people this year as Palestinian officials announced a strict new lockdown across the West Bank due to a soaring coronavirus outbreak.

Almost 7,000 people out of work in Bethlehem’s tourism sector

by bcadmin | Dec 6, 2020 | Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Bethlehem, Catholic Church, Catholic News Service, Christmas, Church in the Middle East, Church of the Nativity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, COVID-19 pandemic, Holy Land, Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, News, Palestine, Palestinian Christians, Palestinians, West Bank | 0 |

It will be a quiet and subdued Christmas this year in Bethlehem, with almost 7,000 people involved in the tourism sector out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Bethlehem Mayor Anton Salman.