We expect in the next few weeks that at least 4000-5000 parishioners of all denominations will hear the important message that unless something is done, and quickly, Christians and other Palestinian faiths will no longer have the freedom live and worship in their ancestral homeland. Join us and lend your voice to our effort to reverse these trends.
The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation’s (HCEF) mission is to educate the American public about the real possibility that Christians will become extinct in the Holy Land, the birthplace of Christianity. The descendents of those who first heard the message of Jesus Christ and kept their faith for 2000 years are rapidly dwindling in number and will cease to exist altogether in the next half century unless the trends and causes are reversed. HCEF has dedicated itself to preserve the Christians in their ancient and historic homeland.
Not only are the Christians suffering under repressive Israeli policies but Palestinians of all denominations and faiths are suffering the consequences of these discriminatory policies. It is hard not toconclude that these policies are specifically designed to force all non-Jews from their ancestral homeland.
HCEF recently initiated a number of programs that will begin to reverse these unacceptable forces. The Church to Church program brings Father Emil Salayta, General Director of Education for the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem, to speak the homily and celebrate Masses and at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church (8:30 am and 10:30 am), Takoma Park, MD on January 30 and The Holy Transfiguration Melkite Church on February 6. Father Salayta will also speak at the National Presbyterian Church, Stone Hall, January 31, at 7 p.m. in Washington DC. Father Peter Ruggere will speak and celebrate Masses at the Shrine of St. Jude (Saturday 5 p.m., Sunday 7:30 am, 9 am, 10:30 am and 12 Noon) Rockville, MD. Father Ruggere will also celebrate Masses at Holy Face Church (7 am, 9 am, and 11:30 am) in Great Mills MD.
We extend a cordial invitation to you to attend these Masses and hear first hand the importance of acting now to assist those who suffer oppression in the Holy Land.
The thrust of this effort is to awaken the American public to the discriminatory Israeli policies that are designed to force Palestinian emigration from not only the Holy Places such as Bethlehem, Nazareth and Jerusalem but also from all sites where Israeli settlements have been established. With the loss of each Holy Place’s Christian population, these towns will become tourist curiosities and cease to be the inspiration and object of Christian pilgrimages. Christians will no longer be the custodians and tend to the needs of the very birthplace of Christianity! A 2000 year tradition will be broken and lost forever.
We expect in the next few weeks that at least 4000-5000 parishioners of all denominations will hear the important message that unless something is done, and quickly, Christians and other Palestinian faiths will no longer have the freedom live and worship in their ancestral homeland. Join us and lend your voice to our effort to reverse these trends.
Our goal for the first year of the Third Millenium is to reach several Christian congregations, regardless of denomination, every Sunday and spread the word that help and support is vitally needed in the Holy Land. If you would like more information or if, you would like to join our effort, please contact the HCEF at (301) 871-9222. You may also visit our web site www.hcef.org.
