Tag Archives: Christians in the Holy Land

Keep Walking

30 Sep

photo credit: Mark Bowen/HOPE

Nancy waited at the airport for the arrival of our guests from Jordan, Galilee and the West Bank. The “LPS” on the sign she held welcomed the educators from the Latin Patriarchate Schools (LPS), the Roman Catholic schools of the Holy Land.

By accident, coincidence or divine desire the Transportation Security Administration sign also greets them with, “Keep walking … Do not stop or turn back.”

All teachers and administrators can become discouraged, weary or disheartened. In their lands, in which Christians are in the minority, and where the presence of violence or the threat of violence or the tendency toward violence or the call for violence can distract or even appeal to their students, these teachers from the Holy Land can have additional challenges, with the accompanying additional opportunities, of course.

Dear friends from the Holy Land, keep walking, do not stop or turn back. Keep walking …  in hope. Do not stop … trusting. Do not turn back … from your dreams. Do not turn back … from your peaceful and non-violent ways. “Keep walking … Do not stop or turn back.”

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ahlan wa sahlan

29 Sep

It was a very good day.

While having lunch at “Melt” in Northside, my Celtic Woman’s “Amazing Grace” ringtone stole my attention from my good company and my Muffaletta sandwich. The number I did not recognize at all; the voice I did not recognize at first. It was Ranim, calling from Jordan. In her fourth year of medical school, eight years since her visit to us at St. Andrew, she lightened and brightened my day, as she does whenever we speak.

I told Ranim that it was a big day in Milford, with teachers from the Holy Land arriving this afternoon, two of whom are from her (former) school in Beit Jala. “Who is coming?” she asked. “He was my teacher! She is a very good teacher,” she said of Mr. Waseim and Ms. Iman.

The teachers have arrived safely in Cincinnati. Thanks, God! A gorgeous day has greeted them. They are settled in their rooms, have eaten their first meal in America, and are resting from a long trip.

Ahlan wa Sahlan. Welcome.

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Palestine and the U.N.

26 Sep

Everyone has an opinion on the Palestinians asking the United Nations for recognition as a state.

At the end of the day, which will it be: (a) full membership as a state, (b) non-member state observer, or (c) non-state entity observer?

All will agree on one thing: it has people talking.

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Message for Holy Land Visitors

26 Sep

From the cross

flows a message of 

a message of hope … a message for peace

in the school cafeteria

on the Seton campus

 of St. Andrew-St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School

Milford, Ohio

for our visitors from the Holy Land

who arrive on Thursday.

(Yes, it’s a rosary)

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Get ready. Get set. Welcome!

26 Sep

Twelve teachers and administrators from the Holy Land are visiting Cincinnati from September 29 until October 9: six from the Palestinian Territories, two from Galilee and four from Jordan.

The first public event for the educators from the Holy Land will be a “Welcome Mass” on Sunday, October 2 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Andrew, Milford. At a luncheon following Mass, the teachers from the Latin Patriarchate School in Beit Jala will give presentations about their school and about the situation in which they and their students live.

This visit from the schools of the Latin Patriarchate (Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jerusalem) is sponsored by H.O.P.E. (Holy Land Outreach to Palestinian Educators), and continues the interaction that began when teachers from various Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati traveled to Bethlehem during the summer of 2010.

Four of these Holy Land educators, as representatives of their school, will be entering into a permanent partnership with teachers and administrators from our St. Andrew-St. Elizabeth Ann Seton school. Teachers and children from our Catholic school in Milford will be joined in solidarity, learning and faith with teachers and children from the Catholic school in Beit Jala (Bethlehem). How exciting and mutually beneficial this relationship will be!

Another group of the teachers will be visiting Our Lady of Lourdes School to establish a relationship with them. Doubly blessed our Archdiocese will be!   

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One of the Saddest Sights

4 Aug

“One of the saddest sights for me during my visit to these lands was the wall. As I passed alongside it, I prayed for a future in which the peoples of the Holy Land can live together in peace and harmony without the need for such instruments of security and separation, but rather respecting and trusting one another, and renouncing all forms of violence and aggression.”

“I wish to put on record that I came to visit this country as a friend of the Israelis, just as I am a friend of the Palestinian people.”

“Let it be universally recognized that the State of Israel has the right to exist, and to enjoy peace and security within internationally agreed borders. Let it be likewise acknowledged that the Palestinian people have a right to a sovereign independent homeland, to live with dignity and to travel freely. Let the two-state solution become a reality, not remain a dream.”

Benedict XVI, May 15, 2009: Address at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv during His Departure

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Cannot Wait for Politicians

2 Aug

In late September a group of educators from the schools of the Latin Patriarchate (Roman Catholic Archdiocese) of Jerusalem will come to Cincinnati. The visit, sponsored by H.O.P.E. (Holy Land Outreach to Palestinian Educators), continues the interaction that began when teachers from Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati went to Bethlehem last summer. Twelve teachers from the Holy Land – six from the Palestinian Territories (the West Back), two from Galilee and four from Jordan – will drive to Columbus to attend the Ohio Catholic Education Association conference with the Ohio teachers, where together they will address school personnel from all over the state. In addition, the local teachers and the teachers from the Middle East will spend hours and days together, learning and laughing, sharing meals and skills, and making plans to continue their personal friendships and professional development long distance, when each has returned to his/her own school setting.

At the International Conference on Christians in the Holy Land convened in London by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Roman Catholic Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Archbishop Williams said, “We cannot wait for politicians to sort things out. We have got to make a difference ourselves.”

These teachers are making a difference now, not waiting for others to sort things out.

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Side by Side

1 Aug

Visitors to my house sometimes ask, “What’s the other flag?” I enjoy responding, “It’s the flag of Israel.” From them, “No, I know that one. The other one.” From me, “The American flag.” From them, “No, the other one!” 

Many people are not used to seeing or recognizing the Palestinian flag. Over the front door of my home the Palestinian, American and Israeli flags fly side by side. 

Pope Benedict XVI, January 11, 2010: “Once again I call for a universal recognition of the right of the State of Israel to exist and to enjoy peace and security within internationally recognized borders. Likewise, the right of the Palestinian people to a sovereign and independent homeland, to live in dignity and to enjoy freedom of movement, ought to be recognized. I would also like to request the support of everyone for the protection of the identity and sacred character of Jerusalem, and of its cultural and religious heritage, which is of universal value.”

Peace with justice for all who live in the Holy Land! 

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