Newsletter January 2023

Back to the Holy Land

Last year saw the gradual return of pilgrims to the Holy Land, a welcome and much needed sight for the many Christians in the Holy Land who rely upon the pilgrim trade. The complete absence of tourists and pilgrims over the course of the pandemic has had a devastating impact. Many of the 44,000 Christians in the West Bank, as well as those in key pilgrimage destinations in Israel, such as Nazareth, are dependent on visitors for their income. So we have great joy in being able to share with you three recent pilgrimages from UK and the Channel Islands to the Holy Land.

A pilgrimage is a vital way of supporting Christians in the Holy Land - but it is also a wonderful way to encounter those sites so sacred to our faith. Meeting the people who are keeping the Christian faith alive in the Holy Land is sure to build up your own faith.

London, February 16th – hear the London Welsh Male Voice Choir in concert (page 11)

You granted an amazing of Christmas wishes, thank you! (Page 5)

Also this issue:

+ How you raised funds in 2022 (page 2)

+ The story of the Nazareth Scouts (page 8)

+ Virginie finds St Martha’s House (page 10)

We hope these stories and pictures inspire you to take a pilgrimage of your own!

Back to the Holy Land

Westminster pilgrimage

The 10th Diocese of Westminster Holy Land Pilgrimage took place from 21st to 29th November, led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Director Fr Paul McDermott with Fr John Farrell OP. During the trip, the pilgrims walked in the footsteps of Christ and offered hope to the Christian communities they visited as part of their itinerary in Nazareth and Galilee, Jordan Valley, Jericho, Jerusalem and Bethlehem. They met 40 family members and Friends of the Holy Land beneficiaries at a reception organised by FHL committee members, with the opportunity to chat to people and really experience the Living Stones of the Holy Land. They were also able to visit St. Martha’s House and School of Joy.

A couple who were a part of the Westminster pilgrimage said:

“This was our fifth visit and each time we have learned something new about this place, but two things have really hit us; firstly actually to see and walk the places you hear about on Sunday and for us that was walking down the Palm Sunday route to Dominus Flevit and walking from Jerusalem across the Kedron Valley to the Garden of Gethsemane.

“The second was to see the situation of Christians in Palestine today, especially at the School of Joy for children with learning difficulties – the only school of its kind in Palestine – and at St Martha’s House Day Care Centre for widowed ladies. Both are places of joy, happiness and love but both rely utterly on our support. Go and see for yourself! We have found the people most welcoming and the food highly enjoyable. We guarantee that you’ll need to go back.”

Below, part of the Westminster pilgrimage group Right, celebrating birthdays with Cardinal Vincent Nichols

Jersey pilgrimage

The pilgrim group from Jersey was an ecumenical group. They were able to meet some of the Holy Land Committee who shared with them the work Friends of the Holy Land do. The pilgrims were able to visit St. Martha’s House and School of Joy as well as Nazareth and Galilee. One pilgrim sister shared:

“The visits to the School of Joy and St Martha’s House were very successful and moving. It is only when people experience first-hand what really goes on in the Holy Land that it is understood – so far some of the pilgrims have provided sponsorship for up to 6 children at the School of Joy and there have been donations made to St Martha’s House. Every day was full and busy, but every moment was worthwhile. It was most rewarding and the pilgrims were so pleased that they travelled and experienced the places where Jesus worked and walked.”

Clifton pilgrimage

The Clifton Pilgrimage took place at the end of September and included pilgrims from the Clifton Diocese (West of England) led by Bishop Declan. One pilgrim told us

“I think we have all felt deeply touched by what we have seen and experienced here” (in reference to the School of Joy).

If you’ve been inspired by these accounts of recent pilgrimages, could you speak with your parish or church about journeying to the Holy Land yourself? Wouldn’t you love the opportunity to visit the sites where Jesus lived, walked and taught, to meet the people who are keeping Christianity alive in the Holy Land?

If you’d like to look into pilgrimage or ask more questions, feel free to get in touch with us. Visit www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/contact or call the office on 01926 512980.

Giving hope to vulnerable Christians

Friends raising funds

We are constantly inspired and humbled by the hard work of our supporters. You really are friends of the vulnerable Christians in the Holy Land – your fundraising goes a long way in providing the support that families need. Here are some highlights from the last few months:

Walking the Camino

One man took on the Camino walk for the third time last year. It’s the second time he’s raised sponsorship for Friends of the Holy Land on the way. Francis O'Brien followed the traditional 800km Camino pilgrimage path which passes through such famous cities as Pamplona, Burgos, Leon and Ponferrada. It starts in the French Pyrenees and ends up at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

Francis was joined en route by his wife, Jane, and they traversed the final 160km into Santiago de Compostela together. A few years earlier on a Catenian pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Francis and Jane had the good fortune to visit the School of Joy and St Martha's House in the Bethlehem area, where they found out about Friends of the Holy Land and determined to support our work from then on. We are honoured and humbled by their creative endeavour. Well done!

A quiz night in Kenilworth

The Kenilworth FHL Group held their annual quiz in November, with Maria McCaffery back as Quizmaster - whom some of you will recognise as our previous Chief Executive. The quiz provided questions for all ages, with delicious fish and chips as always! The UK Friends of the Holy Land Office made up a team and came a respectable third! The Group raised a fabulous £800 through ticket sales and a raffle at the quiz. Thank you!

Inspired to fundraise?

Lichfield Gospel Choir raise the roof

The Lichfield Gospel Choir performed in November with a live band – an evening of uplifting, joyful singing, including a gorgeous new Zambian song. This choir was shortlisted for a 2021 Royal Philharmonic Society Inspiration award. The evening raised over £1,500, which was split between Friends of the Holy Land and another charity. Thanks so much. Note: the choir’s schedule for 2023 is not yet set so if you live near Lichfield and could potentially host them for a fundraising event of your own, get in touch!

Skittles in Worcester

The Worcester St George’s FHL Group held a skittles night in October, which raised £600 from tickets and sales of olive wood carvings from Bethlehem. The Group also held an Autumn Fair later that month and raised a magnificent £850 on top.

These are just a few of the many ways that our supporters creatively fundraise for us throughout the year. We can’t forget the many folks who raise funds through tea and coffee mornings each month as well! Each and every one of you makes a big difference to the lives of Christians across the Holy Land.

See www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/fundraising-ideas for some more ideas.

Would you like to join or start an FHL supporter group in your church or neighbourhood? It’s a lot of fun to meet up and fundraise together. Get in touch to find out more.

One lottery

Have you heard about OneLottery? It’s a lottery platform which gives players the chance to support good causes close to their heart, small or large, as well as the chance to win a weekly £25,000 jackpot. Friends of the Holy Land has a page on OneLottery where you can purchase tickets! Buying a ticket through OneLottery will help us continue to grow and provide sustainable support to vulnerable Christians in the Holy Land. Visit onelottery.co.uk or scan the QR code.

Thank you for supporting our Christmas Appeal

We’re thrilled to have received over £100,000 in donations to our ‘All I want for Christmas’ appeal. Thank you so much if you gave. The hopes and wishes of Christians in the Holy Land are really so simple compared to the things that we might wish for at Christmas – this amazing sum of money will see many wishes granted for children and families who just need running water, educational opportunities, access to healthcare or a boost into employment to have a secure future in the Holy Land.

Giving hope to vulnerable Christians

Glasgow and Bethlehem come together for a live Advent service

On December 3rd 2022, we were delighted to host a joint Advent service between Glasgow Cathedral and St Catherine's in Bethlehem thanks to a live link! The Christian communities in the two cities of Bethlehem and Glasgow have enjoyed a Municipal Twinning Agreement since 2007. Local Church and Municipal Leaders in both locations helped to lead the linked service, which was broadcast simultaneously in the two churches.

Both churches led readings and carols, with their own choirs taking part. This special service was a great success and enjoyed by all those who attended at the churches or watched online. Here are a few quotes from some of the attendees:

“Amazing that modern technology allows us to do something like this; just to be a part of something as meaningful as this was fantastic. Really, really enjoyed it!”

Rev. Dr. Ian Greenshields, Moderator of the Church of Scotland

“It was very moving, especially the people singing in Bethlehem. It was so simple and so beautiful. It reminds me of the very simple and humble origins of Christianity.”

Fr Mark Mitchell, Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Luke’s Glasgow

“I’ve been involved with Friends of the Holy Land for the last seven years… they’re a great charity and do a lot of good work there (the Holy Land). It’s good to see people who are helping the Christians in the Holy Land because it’s a hard job, being a Christian there. Life is difficult at the best of times, they suffer from so many restrictions and they suffer financially as well because they depend so much upon the pilgrim trade to support themselves and of course that has been devastated the last few years because of Covid. I really appreciate the work that they do. It’s important that we keep the Christian presence alive in the Holy Land.”

The Most Rev William Nolan, Archbishop of Glasgow

“It’s very good that we can build links with Bethlehem, especially today. The Holy Land is very troubled and always has been, but I see great hope in the work being done there by organisations like Friends of the Holy Land. It’s incredibly important that above all else we pray and that we pray together. This interdenominational service this afternoon has been a great opportunity to facilitate that - and that is the first move towards peace and reconciliation in a city that is, after all, dedicated to hope.”

Bishop Kevin Pearson, Scottish Episcopal Church

New committee members

We are delighted to introduce to you some of the newer committee members on our team in the Holy Land. These members play a key role in the development of our efforts in the Holy Land and we are grateful for their support.

Revd Dr Fadi Diab

Father Fadi Diab was born and educated in the West Bank and is the Rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Ramallah and St Peter’s, Birzeit. He also provides leadership and pastoral support for St Andrew’s school, the Episcopal Vocation and Training Centre. His vision includes supporting the Christian community spiritually and socially, strengthening Christians in the Holy Land to enable them to stay in the area and to continue to witness to the Gospel of Christ. He is a Founder of the Youth Connection for Peace Programme, a member of the Palestine-Israeli Theologians Forum, a member of the Palestine Advisory Council of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship and co-author of the ‘Kairos Palestine’ document and board member on Kairos-Palestine. Fr. Fadi is the Chair of our Holy Land Committee and was recently able to spend some time visiting us here in the UK.

Fr Rami Asakrieh OFM

Fr. Rami is a Franciscan Brother, the parish priest of the Latin Church of St Catherine in Bethlehem and Director of the Social Services Department. Fr. Rami says,

“I believe that my work as a parish priest includes several aspects, not only that of administering the sacraments. Mine is work of welcoming and supporting the weakest.”

Gloria Nasser

Gloria is from Bethlehem and is a former catechist at Terra Sancta Girls' School and the Sisters of Saint Joseph. She is a part-time social assistant at the same school. She is also an active member in her Catholic parish in Bethlehem. Gloria has a B.A. Degree in Theology from Rome, and a diploma as a tour guide from Bethlehem University.

A building project for the Latin Scouts of Nazareth

This past year, we have been privileged to help the Latin Scouts of Nazareth to restore their premises. It’s been inspiring to get to know these scouts. They are a popular troop with 120 boys and girls under 18 and over 40 young adults in different supporting roles. The scouts come from different Christian denominations and backgrounds. They meet every Friday and Saturday afternoon and evening, and camp in the woods outside Nazareth for a week each year.

The Latin Scouts had two buildings they could use for their meetings and activities, but they were in a really bad state of repair. They have been fundraising over the last couple of years to cover the cost of the renovation. The first phase of the project was to repair building one at a cost of NIS 120,000 (roughly £30,000). Friends of the Holy Land chipped in with a grant of NIS 21,000, which we were able to do thanks to donations from our supporters.

The next phase is to repair the second building which needs a new roof, and the internal walls, ceiling and fittings renovated, as you can see from the pictures here. The cost is expected to be about the same as phase one. The scouts can then use their buildings, knowing they are safe and healthy places for young people to be in.

Marouf, Project Manager for the Scouts:

“We are currently renovating and have reached a good point in the restoration. We want to fix the other building because it is in bad condition. We are trying to intensify our efforts to repair the area as quickly as possible to make it safer for children because it is dangerous. Two years ago there was an incident where a brick fell in one of the rooms being used by the children, so it is important that the work is finished as quickly as possible.”

“I have been a member of the Scouts since I was a child. We are now taking care of the new generation of Scouts. The building we use as our headquarters had many problems, particularly the structure of it. We are now refurbishing and repairing the building. The repairs that have been done have made the building much safer, but we are still working towards making it 100% safe. We would also like to build classrooms for training - we want to train young people to serve our country.”

Watch Waseem’s video interview at: https://youtu.be/PO1wNOiwZj4 or scan the QR code.

“I love Scouts because it has the spirit of brotherhood. Despite everything we stay together, as friends and as brothers and sisters. We are like a small family, always together and supporting each other.”

Girl scout

Watch this video interview at https://youtu.be/A4-yOVfFdV4 or scan the QR code.

“I feel at home in the Scouts. I have many friends here and also I can learn to play many musical instruments. The spirit of the Scouts is beautiful. I feel that we strengthen our personalities here.” -

Boy scout

Watch this video interview at: https://youtu.be/_CnGHYgTj7I or scan the QR code.

Waseem, Scout Leader:

An update from St. Martha’s House

Since 2010 Friends of the Holy Land has supported St Martha’s House, the first day care centre for elderly women in Bethlehem. They are mainly widows living alone with no-one to care for them, either because their families have emigrated or they simply can't afford to help. Many of these elderly women live a lonely and isolated existence outside of St Martha’s. No welfare systems exist in Bethlehem such as state pensions, healthcare or social services to provide a safety net of support. St Martha’s provides a safe and caring environment where they can spend quality time with friends.

There are eight specialist staff and volunteers (all Christians) who provide support for ongoing healthcare checks, haircare, podiatry and assistance in crafts and cooking skills. The ladies enjoy various activities such as board games,

Virginie’s story

Virginie, a 78-year-old widow, is a newcomer to St. Martha’s House. She lives alone after her husband passed away 16 years ago. She has four children - two sons who are living outside the country and two married daughters. It has been 35 years since she has been able to see one of her sons and she rarely receives any financial help or visits from the others due to their own financial difficulties.

Virginie worked previously as a cleaner at Bethlehem University - it was a hard job which caused her problems with shoulder and leg pain; she also has osteoporosis. She lives in a small, old house with lots of water leakage through the walls in the winter. With no income or pension, Virginie pays the bills and buys her groceries through the money she gets occasionally from the church or by asking people for help.

Like many of the women who come to St. Martha’s House, Virginie’s life is difficult and full of hardship - but attending St Martha’s each day provides her with much-needed respite and social interaction.

embroidery and tending their garden as well as having a midday meal (using produce from their own garden where they can!). Overall, they have the benefit of companionship, good friends and the peace of mind that they are not forgotten.

The ladies love having visitors to St Martha's House and are always looking to welcome new friends into their midst. Recently the newly elected Mayor of Bethlehem even came to visit! If you are visiting Bethlehem, make sure your itinerary includes a chance to drop in and meet them. You will come away smiling!

Support the work

As other sources of funding have dried up over the last year, Friends of the Holy Land remains committed to this project. We know what a difference it makes to the lives of these ladies in terms of social, emotional and physical support.

To support the great work of St Martha’s House, you can give a gift at: friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/donate

Update on Nariman and her family

Many of you will remember Nariman, who had a Christmas baby boy in Bethlehem in 2021. We thought you might appreciate an update on her and her family.

Nariman recently started working as a cleaner at St. Joseph Hospital in Jerusalem. Her husband still does not have permission to travel to Jerusalem, where he aimed to be employed as a labourer, so he is currently staying home with toddler Christiano and the other children.

For people from the West Bank, getting a travel permit to access Israel or a neighbouring town can be a big hurdle, often preventing them taking on much-needed work. Please keep this Christian family in your prayers!

Books for Lent

We have two fantastic devotional books for you to read during Lent again this year.

Holy Week Voices from the Holy Land: poems and reflection for Lent and Easter

by Fr Richard Nesbitt, with 15 contributions from

Holy Land Christians

A unique perspective on the events of Easter –both ancient and modern, from the place where it all happened. It’s a great resource for your own contemplation or to read with a group.

Get your copy from friendsoftheholyland.org. uk/shop – all proceeds support our work in the Holy Land.

The People of the Passion

Reflections by the Revd Alison Askew

A series of evocative and thought-provoking meditations based on the events of Holy Week, seen through the eyes of those involved. They are followed by helpful questions for personal reflection or group discussion.

Available to buy on Amazon.co.uk – with all royalties donated to Friends of the Holy Land.

The London Welsh Male Voice Choir

At Westminster Cathedral: 16th February 2023

We are delighted to announce a stunning evening of virtuoso singing and entertainment in aid of Friends of the Holy Land, featuring The London Welsh Male Voice Choir with support from The Priests.

The London Welsh Male Voice Choir has sung at many of Britain’s most prestigious concert halls and cathedrals, and at two Royal Variety Command Performances. The Priests are a very popular classical musical group made up of three Roman Catholic priests from Northern Ireland.

Get your ticket and spread the word! See the enclosed flyer for details of how to buy a ticket. We’d also love you to help publicise this event by telling your parish, sharing the flyer with a friend or displaying it at your church! With proceeds supporting our work in the Holy Land, we’re excited about this opportunity to raise much-needed funds during a difficult economic time.

Leave a lasting legacy

Did you know that lots of people leave a gift to a charity in their Will? It’s a way to ensure that work you have supported during your lifetime will continue to flourish in the years ahead.

If the Holy Land has been an important part of your life’s story, and you want to know that its ancient Christian communities will not be forgotten, why not include a gift to Friends of the Holy Land in your Will?

A legacy of kindness and faith

Dr Ruth was a wonderful supporter of Friends of the Holy Land. Inspired by our vision and mission, she used her pioneering spirit to help build a strong support group in West Wirral that brought in funds and prayer. Our work in the Holy Land was so important to Dr Ruth that she did something incredibly kind and generous –remembered the Charity in her Will. Now her pioneering spirit and compassion live on, still providing support for the vulnerable people in the Holy Land that she cared about so much.

Legacy gifts enable us to change people’s futures. For instance…

£3,000 - could renovate a house in Bethlehem with new water tanks, solar panels and plumbing, making it a vastly improved and healthier place to live and raise a family.

£4,200 - could pay for a young Christian’s secondary school education in the West Bank

£7,200 - would give a child with disabilities a very different future through six years at the School of Joy

Take action for free!

Making a gift in your Will may seem like a difficult or complicated decision - we have taken a few steps to help with this. Friends of the Holy Land has joined the National Free Wills Network. This means you can now have a new simple Will written, or an existing Will updated, by a professional solicitor - completely free of charge!