Christmas in Bethlehem

I want to tell you about Christmas in Bethlehem. Firstly, I am sorry that it took me so long to get back online. In any case, Christmas is marked with much solemnity in Bethlehem, which is one of the major Christian cities in the West Bank. We had our Sunday celebration at the Greek Catholic Melkite Church on the 24th. Yet throughout much of the Mass, we could hear the beating of drums in march. We all went down to Star St, which leads to manger square, to see many ranks of Palestinian Boy and Girl Scouts. Amongst the Christians, scouting is very popular, and is not only limited to children. For Christmas, Christians from all over the region come to Bethlehem to welcome the Latin Patriarch.

So these scouts where marching a drumming, and it was quite a spectacle. I really haven't seen a parade consisting only of scouts. But yes, now I remember one that I was a part of many years ago, when we lived in Maine. What a sight! You could imagine how proud I was to have been a scout. So, they line themselves up at the terminal, the point where Israel and Palestine can cross the wall, near Rachael's tomb. The Patriarch, the leader of Catholics for the Holy Land, Jordan, and Cyprus, comes by car from Jerusalem, passes by Rachael's tomb and continues in procession all the way until the Church of the Nativity. There he has Evening Prayer and his famous midnight Mass, the one attended by diplomats and the president of the PLO and others.

We had our midnight celebration, however, at Bethlehem University. Bethlehem University was founded by the initiative of Pope Paul VI. The LaSalle Christian Brothers run the university which serves both Muslim and Christian Palestinians. The often consider it an oasis, because within its walls, they are free for friendships and dialogue in a way that seems impossible between Muslims and Chistians.

Anyway, I was filled with energy because we mixed our choir in with theirs for the Mass. I was reminded how energetic university students are. We have celebrated in many special ways, and I hope you have too. We have been tying up many loose ends before we leave Bethlehem for good. Next week we are in Galilee, and then on to Jerusalem. Merry Christmas!