I want to leave you this weekend with a very special treat – a visit, in words and photos to Bethlehem University – Bethlehem as in “O Little Town of Bethlehem” - Bethlehem as in Palestine.

I have three very special guests this week on the interview segment of my weekend radio show, “Vatican Insider” – Christian Brothers Robert Smith, Peter Bray and Jack Curran who teach at and run Bethlehem University. They are in Rome as I speak for meetings in the Vatican and at the Christian Brothers generalate. I invited them to my home for our conversation, and offered dinner as well. From left to right: Brothers Robert Smith, vice president for academic affairs, Peter Bray from New Zealand, vice chancellor, and Jack Curran, vice president for development and public relations. Brothers Smith and Curran are from the U.S.

Before I go any further, I am sure you know “Vatican Insider” airs Saturday mornings at 9:30 (ET) and re-airs Sundays at 4:30 p.m. (ET). If you don’t get EWTN on local radio or Sirius satellite, you can listen via your computer. Go to www.ewtn.com, click on RADIO, then click LISTEN LIVE. and do so at the above times (check your local area for time difference).

I took the following photos at the university in late December during my Christmas trip to the Holy Land. I was amazed at the campus and the buildings and the facilities – by everything I saw, including the immensely beautiful chapel. The only sad part was that the students were on vacation so I did not get to meet any of the 3,000 wonderful, vibrant, intelligent, hopeful young people that bring this campus to life. But I’m not worried – I have every intention of returning!

This is a view of the wall of Bethlehem University's Library which is located at the main entrance of the University campus. If you look closely in the first photo - on the second floor, on the wall between the two rectangular windows - you can see what appears to be a small circular window. Bro. Jack told me that this "ciruclar window" is in fact a hole in the wall of the University's library that came about during the 40 day Israeli siege of the Nativity Church during March 2002 - and it is the spot where one of four missiles struck this Vatican sponsored Catholic university in the Holy Land. The University decided not to completely repair this missile hole, but to place a glass cover over it since the room inside the library where this missile hit is the Palestinian Cultural Heritage Center (Turathuna). Consequently, this missile hole is now an additional piece of the cultural heritage of the Palestinian people. The second photo shows a close-up. The shell/rocket did considerable damage, traveling through, if you will, 12 book stacks and metal shelving.

By the way, you have heard of and read the word “intifada” vis-à-vis Palestinians - a word that is most often translated as “uprising.” Bro. Robert told me that a more accurate translation of intifada (or intifadah)is “a shaking off,” as in the image of a wet dog shaking himself to get rid of the water on his body. The first intifada took place in the Palestinian territories from 1987 to 1993 against Israeli occupation of Palestine. The second one began in September 2000.

This is a view of the main building. The statue on top – and behind the main altar in the church - is of the Divine Child.

And here is what you see when you walk in the main entrance. The door in the middle leads to the chapel.

The chapel is dedicated to the Holy Innocents. Here are just a few of the pictures I took of the stunning interior. The numerous frescoes of the Holy Innocents were absolutely breathtaking – I only show one here.

It is Christmas and we are in Bethlehem so what else would you expect to find – especially in a church – but a beautiful Nativity scene! This one is hand-carved from the wood from Bethlehem’s olive trees. Such cribs abound in the region and are much sought after by residents and visitors.

Here is a photo of Brother Peter Bray (left) and Brother Robert Smith in the latter’s office. Because of time constraints we did not visit any classrooms – I’ll do that when I return and meet the students.

There was – naturally – a Nativity scene on the campus groups – just as you enter the premises. Perhaps you can also see in the background the flags that represent the homelands of some of the students. The yellow and white flag is the Vatican flag.

This is a monument in the main courtyard that commemorates four students killed by Israeli soldiers during the two Intifadas – students who were enrolled in and studying at the University. Brother Robert explained to me that the word “intifada” does not mean so much “uprising,” as is often used to translate it, but rather a “shaking off of” – much as a dog shakes himself after a bath to get all the water off! What a great image!

The university campus is, if I recall correctly, located on the highest point in Bethlehem which is just one of many towns in the Judean hills – and I mean hills, lots of them. Here, from a high point in the gardens, you see one of the numerous Israeli settlements that are such an immense source of frustration for Palestinians. The settlements are located within Palestine and, while Palestinian Territories are theoretically off-limits to Israel citizens, Israelis live in these settlements which they reach by private roads built just for this purpose.

I have said nothing here about the university - when it was founded, the courses offered, the student activities, or the joys and sufferings of staff, faculty and students in this part of the world. However, you can listen this weekend to the first part of my interview with Brothers Jack, Peter and Robert – and come back next weekend for the second part. I will, of course, give you a heads up about Part Two. You won’t want to miss a second!

If you ever go to the Holy Land on a pilgrimage, or perhaps just a personal visit, I urge you to include a visit to this amazing place of higher education. For now, you can visit the campus web site: www.bethlehem.edu

That’s it for this week! I hope your weekend is truly memorable in every way. Until we meet again – God sit on your shoulder!

Write to Joan at:
joansrome@ewtn.com