The way of life of the Christian population in Bethlehem

Terra Sancta School of Bethlehem
February 3, 2017
Yousef and Manal have been married for 13 years and have 4 children. They are Christian, they were all born and live in Bethlehem.
MANAL MOSALAM
Christian woman - Bethlehem
"I am proud to be from Bethlehem, where Jesus was born."
Children soon learn the value of what is sacred.
ALEXANDROS
Christian man - Bethlehem
"I like going to church and pray for peace because Jesus was born there."
LOREN
Christian woman - Bethlehem
"I would like to become a nun. I read the Bible every day and I like the Christian religion classes ".
The Mosalam family is part of the 20% of the city Christian population that includes all Christian denominations. Overall, Catholics represent 40% of the Christian population. The vast majority of the population is Muslim. Christians and Muslims are united by friendship.
YOUSEF MOSALAM
Christian man - Bethlehem
“We do not have that kind of problem: they come to our house to celebrate with us and we do the same thing during their festivities. So far, we have had no difficulty getting along with each other, but after reading the news about the rest of the world, we are afraid of the same problems happening here in Syria and Iraq, between fanatical Muslims and Christians.”
Although Christians in this city are not fiercely persecuted like in other areas of the Middle East, the difficulties faced by the people of Bethlehem are pushing especially young people to leave their native land.
The most popular destinations are the United States and the European countries. Father Marwan, a Franciscan who has been living in Bethlehem for 12 years, sheds light on what causes Christians to emigrate from Bethlehem.
Father MARWAN DI’DES, ofm
Principal - Terra Sancta School - Bethlehem
"To improve the quality of life, especially for a safer future with their children. Our life here is always unpredictable at the political level: you never know when war or an intifada will break out, when there will be aggression or violence. Those who have experienced these adversities want their children to have a peaceful, quiet and serene life.”
Yousef is a veterinarian. He says that the cost of living is high and that people have to work hard to support their family.
YOUSEF MOSALAM
Christian man - Bethlehem
"If you want to stay here, you have to work a lot and have more than one job to be able to make a living."
The Catholic Church in the Holy Land pursues the task of providing support to local Christians, so that they can stay in their city.
Father MARWAN DI’DES, ofm
Principal - Terra Sancta School - Bethlehem
"The Custody of the Holy Land, for example, faces the great challenge of trying to keep most of the Christian presence in the Holy Land, because we are afraid that one day our churches and our sanctuaries will become museums and we do not want this to happen. We do want to keep the archaeological and the religious sites, such as the Nativity Church and the Holy Sepulcher ... but we also want to keep the living stones that are the Christians in this country."
To support Christians' economic situation, the Franciscan Custody assists parishes and social projects, builds homes and schools and is also involved in college education.
Father MARWAN DI’DES, ofm
Principal - Terra Sancta School - Bethlehem
"We are doing everything we can, but we cannot stop emigration, simply because you must have a conscience to stay. If you are not convinced that you must stay to be a missionary in your native land, nothing we do will be enough."
Beyond all hardships, Christians of Bethlehem will always have the privilege to be Jesus' fellow countrymen. From the land where they were born, a light shone in the world bringing salvation to humanity. And no one can steal this joy from them.
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