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Inauguration of
the Sports
Center of
Bethlehem
.jpg) Today,
Saturday, June
9th, a new
sports center
was inaugurated
in Bethlehem in
the presence of
a numerous
crowd. It was
built through
the initiative
of the Custody
of the Holy Land
on a part of the
property of
Catholic Action,
which is the
first office in
the territories
of the
Palestinian
Authority to
correspond to
international
norms.
“For some
time we have had
this project” –
recounted Fr.
Amjad Sabbara,
O.F.M., pastor
of the parish –
“because of the
situation of
immobility that
the people of
Bethlehem know,
we have tried to
multiply
activities
available to the
faithful, and in
this way help
them to be more
active. The
Catholic Action
center (managed
by lay faithful
who are members
of the parish)
already
participates in
this effort. The
new building’s
principle
objective is to
encourage the
meeting of the
families and of
the youth around
sports and its
values, as a
place of growth
and
socialization…after
the visit to
Catholic Action
of Delfina Gomez
Perez, a Spanish
benefactress of
the Holy Land
enamored with
Bethlehem, I
suggested this
project.
Enthusiastically,
she decided to
finance 50% of
the project!
From then on,
encouraged by
this
providential
gift and helped
by other
benefactors, the
Custody did the
rest. Work began
in November of
2004, six months
after the visit
of Mrs. Gomez
Perez, and
finished this
past April 10th.
The inauguration
date was chosen
in order to
permit the
Franciscans of
the Holy Land,
gathered at the
Chapter in
Bethlehem since
June 3rd, to
take part in it.
It is an
occasion for the
faithful of the
city to discover
the solidarity,
closeness, and
solicitude of
all of the
Friars of the
Custody, which
is a part of
their mission
commitment,
regardless of
where they
reside in the
world. It is
also an
opportunity for
the Friars who
aren’t involved
in a direct
apostolate
towards the
local community
to see one of
the realizations
of the Custody,
and to unite
themselves with
the joy of those
to whom this
project is
dedicated.
.jpg) The
center is opened
to Christians of
all confessions
in the town, but
also to those of
nearby towns,
including Beit
Sahur and Beit
Jala. Currently
there are 280
members of the
gym and 350
members of other
sports
activities at
the center. For
the
inauguration,
the Father
Custos, after
uncovering the
traditional
plaque, blessed
the building by
walking
throughout the
center. For
those who
participated in
this it was a
splendid
occasion to
discover the
excellent sports
equipment, and
even to try some
of it out. Then,
in the gym there
was a speech of
thanksgiving, as
well as other
speeches, given
by the president
of Catholic
Action, by the
pastor, by the
Treasurer of the
Custody, and by
the Sports
Minister of the
Palestinian
Authority,
representing the
Bethlehem
government. Then
a basketball
game was played
between the “De
la Salle” team
of Jerusalem and
the Catholic
Action’s
Bethlehem team.
It was notable
that the
Bethlehem team
made the first
basket. The
youth remained
at the center
late into the
afternoon, and
even then wanted
to remain
longer. Catholic
Action is
already for them
a meeting place.
They say that
the sports
center is “A
dream that has
become reality.
Custody of the
Holy Land, thank
you.”
.jpg) The
new building,
which was
inaugurated
today on the
property that
has already been
dedicated to
Catholic Action
and to parish
activities, is a
three story
structure on
1,300 square
meters, where
several
different kinds
of sports are
played. This new
building comes
out of the
necessity to
reinforce the
Christian
presence in
Bethlehem, Beit
Jala, and Beit
Sahur,
especially as a
consequence of
the
uncertainties
resulting from
the construction
of the wall,
totally closing
the Territories. |
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