HCEF Invited to Speak in Cincinnati

Speakers from the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation will be making appeals at three catholic churches in the Cincinnati area in the month of June. They will address the parishes on behalf of the diocese of Jerusalem and discuss the plight of Christians in the Holy Land. Collections will be taken at the three churches to support the Holy Land Christians. The invitation has been extended as part of the Diocese of Cincinnati Mission Office 2002 Missionary Cooperation Plan.

The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF)*
News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Robert Younes, M.D.
June 6, 2002 (301) 983 3022, younes@hcef.org

HCEF Invited to Speak in Cincinnati

Cincinnati recently formed a HCEF Committee chaired by Jan Phipps. “We are excited by the interest that the people of Cincinnati have shown to work to relieve the suffering of Christians living in the Holy Land,” HCEF president Sir Rateb Rabie said during a recent visit to the Cincinnati area.

Three presentations are planned during June 2002. The first will be held at St. Susanna Church on June 8 and 9, 2002. Father Alex Kratz will be making presentations at Saturday Mass at 5:15 PM and at Sunday Mass at 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and 12 Noon. Father Kratz is the HCEF Child Sponsorship Coordinator for the Detroit Archdiocese. The church is located at 305 Fourth Avenue, Mason, OH.

The next presentation will be made at St. Mark’s Church on June 16, 2002. Jan Phipps, the Cincinnati Committee Chairperson will be making the presentation at Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM and 11:00 Am. The church is located at 3500 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH.

The last presentation will be made at the St. Andrew Church located at 552 Main Street, Milford OH by Duane Burchick, Chair of the HCEF Child Sponsorship Committee on June 22, 23 2002.
Masses will be held at 5:15 on Saturday and on Sunday at 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM.

HCEF has two main missions: To inform American Christians about the suffering of Arab Christians living under Israeli military occupation and to raise funds to provide humanitarian assistance. For more information call toll free at 1 877 871 HCEF.

Arab Christian Palestinians are the “forgotten faithful” who have had a continuous presence in the Holy Land since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, 2000 years ago. HCEF is engaged in a number of projects that provide hope and support for the remaining Holy Land Christians. HCEF encourages Christians to remain in the Holy Land in order to continue the Christian legacy in the land where Christianity was born. HCEF provides funds received from donors to support education of Christian children. HCEF also encourages pilgrimage to the Holy Land and has thus far arranged two Christian pilgrimages during 2002. Military occupation and the Intifada have resulted in the collapse of the tourist and handicrafts industries in the Holy Land. HCEF creates markets in the United States for olive wood and mother of pearl handicrafts produced by the 40-50 family workshops in the Bethlehem district. Most importantly, HCEF is creating awareness of the plight of Holy Land Christians and informs Americans about the impact that military occupation has had on the spiritual, social and economic lives of all Palestinians living in the land where the Prince of Peace was born, taught and died.

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* The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation is a tax exempt, non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of Christians in the Holy Land by developing bonds of solidarity with Christians in the United States. HCEF, PO Box 6687, Silver Spring, MD 20906. (301) 951-9400 Fax (301) 951-9402. www.hcef.org. Email: news@hcef.org, Toll Free (866) 871-4233