Articles from Bethlehem after Masses

Religious items such as Nativity sets, rosaries, statues, crucifixes, etc. will be for sale after all the Masses on the weekend of  November 16 & 17

About 180 Christian families from Bethlehem have been dependent upon sales of their hand-carved religious articles to tourists of the Holy Land.  Due to the conflict in the Middle East, tourism has been cut off.  In order to survive, they have turned to Christian communities in the United States to purchase their articles.

These hand-carved religious articles are carved from the wood of the sacred olive tree, this workmanship has been traditional for these families for hundreds of years. 

It is hoped that through the sale of these items these families have a little income and are able to stay living in the Holy Land.