Christmas time 1973 I was a newly-arrived seminarian in Japan. It was my first-ever Christmas away from home. The “economic miracle” of the country’s post-war recovery was in full swing. Before the end of the decade, a best-selling book would tout Japan as Number One. However, the miracle was not yet complete, even in the Read more
Many ancient cities have vanished. We read about them in history books without giving much thought to how the world could have been different had they stayed with us. In this instance, the subject is Bethlehem, a city that is vanishing in front of our eyes. Does it matter? This is the question I have Read more
Members of St Therese’s Catholic church in Bethlehem, in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, are grieving the loss of the church, which burnt down in suspicious circumstances. The blaze tore through the building late last Thursday night and police and the fire service are investigating its cause. Erana and Peter Bidois were watching a Read more
As visitors descend upon Bethlehem this holiday season, they will notice a different look for the Church of the Nativity. Wrapped in scaffolding, the basilica located at the traditional site of Jesus’ birth is undergoing a much-needed facelift after 600 years. Experts say that water is leaking from the rooftop and threatens to cause serious Read more
“Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem…” (Luke 2:4) As we remind ourselves each year, Joseph and Mary made their long journey, compelled by a census. It became a journey of joy as Mary gave birth to a baby whom we call the Read more
A Catholic monastery and convent in a secluded valley outside Bethlehem has lost a seven-year legal battle against the building of Israel’s separation wall on its land. The Society of St Yves, a Catholic human rights group which argued the case on the monastery’s behalf, said an Israeli appeals court had endorsed a plan to Read more
The United States Catholic bishops have joined the bishops of the Holy Land in condemning the Israeli government’s plans to re-route its separation wall through the Cremisan Valley, near Bethlehem, in a way that will cut 58 Christian families off from their agricultural and recreational lands. The proposed route of the Israeli wall will also Read more
The ancient basilica on the site of Jesus’ birth has been given world heritage status by Unesco, the educational, scientific and cultural agency of the United Nations. The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, built over the cave venerated as Christ’s birthplace, is the oldest complete church in the Christian world. It was dedicated in Read more