Bethlehem

Since we were so late in arriving, we didn't check in to our hotel, but went immediately to hear Mass at the Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Beit Sahour (Shepherd's Field). Along the way, we had our first glimpse of the town where Jesus was born. Since Bethlehem is under Palestinian control, we had to pass a check point. All the buildings are made of the same stone material -- all white or off white. Rocks are everywhere -- stones and boulders pop up out of the ground like so many marshmallows on hot chocolate! Slim, pencil-shaped evergreens line the road. I noticed that driving was on the right side of the highway, not the left side as with the British.
Beit Sahour, of course, is where the shepherds are said to have heard the news of the Messiah's birth from the angels. Colorful paintings of this event are in three sections surrounding the altar. As we were to find out throughout our celebrations of the Eucharist, Bishop Taylor, Father Eric, Father Vince, Deacon Joe Bruick, and Deacon Richard officiated.
Beit Sahour is the largest Christian town in the Holy Land, and this church is the largest Catholic parish in the region. Christians are in the majority here. The Franciscans own the land here, and the church was built in 1863.
As part of the mission of this church, a Latin High School accommodates some 400 students from around the area. The school is in need of musical instruments for their students, so after Mass, we pilgrims donated money and musical instruments to the pastors. Then we went across the courtyard to hear the Christian Young Students Group play marches with drums and bag pipes! What a wonderful beginning to our trip!