From 8th until 12th of May our home visited educators from Cometa home, from Como, Italy. Matteo, Tommaso and Alessandro lived 5 days in our home and our boys were extremely grateful for their visit and volonteering during 5 days where they exchanged their experience with us. We want to thank them for this special visit and we can’t wait to visit them in their home in Como, where they share the same mission as we are here in Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.

Yesterday, 11th of May, our dear Jiries Masri graduated in the Terra Santa college in the section of hotel management. We wish to our Jiries all the best and congratulate him for all the effort he put during his studying in Terra Santa college.

Yesterday, 28th of April Jerusalem Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa visited our home for the second time this last year in as part of his pastoral visit to our parish in Bethlehem for 3 days which will be concluded tommorow, 30th of April by celebrating the Holy Mass at 10 AM in the parish of St. Catherine. We want to thank our Patriarch for his closeness to our home during 15 years of our home and yesterday’s special visit together with his secretary and our parish priest.

27th of April our home visited a group from Italy, where they made a entertainment program for our boys. Clowns group with big experience over the years are entertaining children in Bethlehem for many years now, especially in the Caritas Baby hospital and all the institutions for boys in Bethlehem. We want to thank especially Federica and the group that went to visit with us our dear Jiries that had a accident 2 weeks ago. We celebrated his birthday, as well as Najib’s birthday in home of our Jiries.

27th of April, our boys visited the Croatian embassy in Tel Aviv. The ambassador Mrs. Vesela Mrđen Korać welcomed us with big joy, as well as all the staff of the embassy. After visiting the embassy, we took a break next to the sea and then returned to our home in Bethlehem. We want to thank all the embassy for receiving us and welcoming us with the heart open for our boys!

A special day for the family of the Franciscan Boys Home.
Within the activities of the Lent, the family of the Franciscan Boys Home participated in an activity that included a purposeful clown show and searching for eggs. Then, they had dinner together. Moreover, to children were distributed gifts. This special activity was organized by the Sabeel Center in co-operation with the Jerusalem Arab Catholic Scouts Group at Mary Doty Garden in Bethlehem.

Thanks a lot for everything

Saint Joseph, who is the patron saint of all the fathers and which feast is celebrating 19th of March, this year was celebrated the day after because of the liturgical calendar (the feast was supposed to be on Sunday, so it was transfered to day after). We thanked all fathers of our home for they example and effort they have for our home and our boys. Furthermore, in arabic culture Mothers day is celebrated 21st of March, so it was great opportunity to celebrate both of the feasts together. We with many blessings for our fathers and mothers!

The activities of lent took place in our home for children as well as for their parents. There were series of weekly meetings dedicated to the families of the children of the Franciscan Boys Home.
On Thursday 23rd of March 2023, the family of our home hosted a group of staff of the Bible College. The Meeting focused on the importance of women in the Bible and how to reflect the spiritual meanings in the daily life.
At the same, there was an activity for our children about the Lent and what is the meaning of it.
Moreover, there was another meeting, which was held on Friday the 24th, with the Palestinian Bible Society to discuss how to live the spiritual life.
Special thanks goes to the Bible College and to the Palestinian Bible Society!

Yesterday, 10th of March 2023 four of our boys, George Abu Hanaq, Andre Josh, Jad Hosh and Emil Ghawali participated on Freedom of Movement Palestine in Bethlehem on the part of 10 kilometers. Congratulations on the achievement with the hope that the next year more of our boys will compete and make good results.

Today our boys went to the educational trip to Herodion national park where they got to know a little more about King Herod and his life, as well as his burial place and the castle and the byzantine church that was in this place. The weather was very clear and all the surrounding cities and mountains were all around us.