HCEF Committee Forms in Chicago

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

The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation is proud to announce that an HCEF Committee has been formed in Chicago as a result of a forum on the Christians of the Holy Land held on April 16, 2002 at the First Presbyterian Church of La Grange at 150 South Ashland Avenue in La Grange, Illinois. President Rateb Rabie, KHS and Don Kruse, Executive Vice President met with interested Chicagoans and presented a program that described the current events in the Holy Land and the impact that these events had on the Christian community in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Ramallah. President Rabie said, ” We had a large group of people who enthusiastically agreed to form a committee. Jolynn Ruggerio agreed to be the group’s chairperson.” Other members of the committee include: Ibtessam Asfour, Mara Devitt, Pam Devitt, Martina Shea and Bruce and Fahimeh Wilkins. HCEF Executive Vice President Don Kruse with his experience and support will increase the effectiveness of the Committee. The first meeting of the HCEF Committee will be held on April 20 at 2 P.M. at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 1220 S. 60th Court, Cicero, IL. For directions call Jolynn at (847) 729-7741.

Jolynn is a second generation Lebanese-American, born and raised in Spring Valley, IL and attended St. George Antiochian Church, Spring Valley. Most recently, she served as Religious Education Director for nine years at Sts. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Glenview IL and has served on the Religious Education Commission for the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago. As a member of Synergy, a Pan-Orthodox Clergy/Laity organization in the Chicago area, she serves as Chairman for the Committee for the Church in the Mid-East and a member of St. Haralambos in Niles.

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.

* The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation is a tax exempt, non-profit 501c3 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