HCEF President to address the New Hampshire KofC at their 111th Annual State Convention

HCEF
The Knights of Columbus (KofC) have invited HCEF President Rateb Rabie, KCHS to speak at their New Hampshire State Convention being held at the Radisson Hotel in Nashua, NH on April 30 – May 2, 2010.

Mr. Rabie’s address will highlight results from his recent trip to the Christian communities in the Holy Land. He will speak on the current situation there, the prospects of the peace initiatives and the challenges facing the Palestinian Christian communities. He will provide updates on the progress made by HCEF and American church partnerships to help these ‘Living Stones” of the Mother Church and share regarding the various ways in which the Knights of Columbus can continue, and strengthen, their support for the Christians of the Holy Land.

HCEF and the KofC enjoy a strong history of collaboration on behalf of the Mother Church. For nearly five years, the Knights have worked closely with HCEF and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to provide financial and moral support to the Holy Land Christian Community, and State Deputies and Councils have supported HCEF programs through outreach and networking with churches and Councils.

The New Hampshire State Deputy delegated a KofC State representative to work with HCEF in supporting its programs, and to be responsible for New Hampshire’s K of C Holy Land Outreach. The Maryland State Council K of C developed a Holy Land Outreach Committee which works closely with HCEF in support of the Child Sponsorship Program (CSP) and various other activities in support of the Mother Church.

These states serve as models of how the HCEF and KofC Councils throughout the United States can get involved and work together to help replace despair with hope, fear with security, and humiliation with human dignity for the living stones of the Mother Church.

Through American parish and church partnerships, educational initiatives, housing rehabilitation/job creation programs and economic support HCEF seeks to improve the lot of the Palestinian Christians, to foster reconciliation and peace among the peoples of the region and form bonds of solidarity with the Christian Holy Land communities.

Following the closing Mass on Sunday, May 2, officiated by the Very Rev. John McCormick, Bishop of Manchester, Mr. Rabie will address the KofC delegates, leaders and guests of 21 councils. William (Bill) Peecher III, Treasurer, HCEF Board of Directors will join Mr. Rabie in meetings to further develop relations with the KofC.

For more about HCEF and its programs visit our website at www.hcef.org