By Sr. Clare Garcillano, SPC

The small Christian population living in Bethlehem and Jerusalem, and other parts pf the Holy Land is under great pressure. Thousands have emigrated leaving only a very small precarious presence. Sr. Clare, a Filipino Sister of St. Paul, tells us of a special apostolate which tries to help the beleaguered Christians and tries to bring peace to historic Bethlehem, the birthplace of our Savior.

Apostolate of Presence

We are three Sisters of St. Paul of Charters in Bethlehem, working at Bethlehem University, administered by the De Salle Brothers; we are an international group. Our congregation has been here since 1981. It was emphasized to us at the beginning of our stay that the presence of religious men and women in the Holy Land is mainly and apostolate of witnessing or an apostolate of presence.

Yasser Arafat

The town of Bethlehem was once an ‘occupied territory’, but is now under the Palestinian Authority of Yasser Arafat. Because of the complexities of the situation here, Bethlehem University exists as a result of the concern of Pope John Paul VI had for the future of the Christian in this Land of Christ.

65% Muslim 35% Christians

This year, the University is in its 24th year. We started with 75 students and 50 staff members in a small building of the Freres’ School. At present there are at least 2,000 students and 250 Academic and Non-Academic Staff members housed in three buildings now owned by Bethlehem University. Our students are all Palestinians of varied religions: Muslims and Christians of different denominations. We have 65% Muslim 35% Christians among our students.

Apprehensive

The University schedule is never definite. Our Academic Vice President (an Americans De Salle Brother) is continuously on the lookout to change the schedule when there are interruptions caused either by closure of borders, feast of Muslims, Christians and Jews or strikes of students. Every time we start the semester, we just pray hard that the semester will go smoothly, but in the back of our minds there are apprehensions of what day to day happenings will bring.

Retaliation

Every suicide bombing or attack against Israel results in Israeli retaliation with a ‘blockade’ policy that chokes the Palestinians population and causes roads blocks, uncertain food supplies, heavy unemployment that reaches crisis level, and disruptions in education, business and agriculture. Meanwhile the medical people and patients are unable to reach hospitals and clinics.

Suicide Bombing

Recent suicide bombings have changed greatly the lives of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Borders were closed and further travel restrictions were imposed. The University had to suspend classes for at least two weeks due to the difficulties of students professors and staff in traveling to and from Bethlehem University.

Graduation day has always been memorable. Knowing the situation of the people, you could sense how the parents and graduates value this moment of achievement, even if after their graduation they would ask, then what? The important thing is now they are considered knowledgeable and educated persons.

Peace

We missionaries long for the day when conditions for our Palestinian sisters and brother will improve and peace between the Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land will prevail.