Birzeit and Ramallah

After warm showers from our afternoon swim at the Dead Sea, we slept soundly. We departed for Birzeit near Ramallah, a thoroughly Palestinian city. Ramallah could possibly be the capital of Palestine if it ever were to become a state. Yasser Arafat's memorial day was a few days ago and his tomb is kept in Ramallah.

On the way to Birzeit, we stopped at Al Rawabi, which is a planned shopping center and residential village for upper and middle class Palestinians. Nearly 30 percent of the village is occupied because the greater part of the construction has yet to be completed. It is extensive with many sports and entertainment venues for its residents. It is designed to be a shopping oasis for Palestinians who are often unable to make it into Jerusalem.

Birzeit is famous for its olive trees and it's jugs that hold the oils it produces. Many images are depicted of the oil jugs. It is certainly a picturesque rural town where live is less complicated for many Christians. We celebrated mass in the local church pastored by Fr. Louis Hazboun.

Mass was quite an experience because the priest taught us the Arabic responses to the mass settings. He is a powerhouse force of energy and an effective teacher. We responded with the Alleluia, Lamb of God, Kyrie, and the Lord's Prayer. Mass still had elements of the Tridentine rite and for communion, we used intinction, which is dipping the Body of Christ into his Blood and then placing it on the tongue of the communicant. Three schoolgirls joined us to help with the singing. They were 15 and 16 years of age. If we ever wanted to know what Mary looked like, all we had to do was to see her reflection in those girls.

Abouna Louis gave us a tour of the school, which was built by funds from the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre. The students sang and danced for us and spoke in English. Some of our guys played basketball with the boys, while a few others kicked the soccer ball around. We toured an archeological museum and had a brief conference.

Then we drove to the Birzeit Senior Center where we had a nice welcome from the director followed by a tasty lunch of chicken and rice almondine. The honey desert had a flaky crust that was our best yet. We brought gifts to the residents and broke bread with them. It was touching to speak with them and to hear something about their lives. After a full meal, the seniors were sleepy so we adjourned to the diwan where we could ask questions about the program.

We visited the Church of Hope in Ramallah and met with Fr. Jamal Khader, an ecumenist. He graciously received us for an hour's conversation about the situation of Christian life in the heart of Palestine. He also spoke of the ecumenical initiatives since the Pope's visit to Jerusalem in 2014. Abouna Jamal is certainly a brilliant man with a wealth of wisdom. After touring the church, we headed home to Bethlehem.

Tomorrow, we visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

br />

To see photos of Birzeit and Ramallah, click on the link below:

1. Al Rawadi Planned Village

2. Birzeit's Church and Parish School

            

3. Birzeit's Senior Cente

4. Church of Hope in Ramallah