A million rosaries from
Bethlehem Christians for World Youth Day
 |
| The Rosary. |
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has funded a million
rosaries made by the Christian artisans of the town of Jesus’ birth as a
support for the Christian community in the Holy Land.
By Robin Gomes
A million rosaries made by Christian artisans of
Bethlehem have been destined as gifts to the participants in the
Catholic Church’s World Youth Day (WYD) that kicks off on
Tuesday in Panama City.
The initiative of the Catholic charity, Aid to the
Church in Need (ACN), is to support the Christian community of the
town of Jesus’ birth, whose Christian presence has diminished considerably
because of economic hardships.
"This initiative is essential because on the one hand
it encourages prayer and on the other hand it helps support our brothers and
sisters in the Holy Land,” said Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa
Mendieta of Panama, commenting on the ACN project.
ACN has contributed 100,000 Euros for the million rosaries
destined for the young people attending the WYD, January 22-27, which Pope Francis
is joining on Wednesday.
The rosaries made by Bethlehem’s Christian craftsmen are in
tune with the Marian theme of the Panama WYD: “I am the servant of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38).
Hard-pressed Bethlehem Christians
“Already a precious gift in themselves, the WYD rosaries
have an added appeal because they are made by Christian craftsmen in Bethlehem,
who through this project have received the much-needed help to support the
Christian presence in the town where Jesus was born,” said Alessandro
Monteduro, the director of ACN-Italy.
Because of economic difficulties and high unemployment among
Christians who are mostly in the tourism sector that is hit by a growing
crisis, more than 350,000 Christians have abandoned Bethlehem in
the last 70 years. The production of sacred items appears to be the only
viable form of livelihood.
Monteduro explained that the art of making artefacts in
mother-of-pearl or olive wood that was brought to the Holy Land by the
Franciscan fathers in the fifteenth century is a very important economic
support for local Christians who also express their faith through their craft.
The approximately 200 families in Bethlehem who have worked
for months in making the million rosaries for WYD will be supported
for an entire year. "They are grateful for the support they have
received, but above all, they are happy to know that hundreds of thousands of
young people in Panama will use the rosaries to pray for peace,” Monteduro
said.
ACN and WYD
As in previous WYDs, this year too ACN has
supported a few projects for the Panama event. It has destined 430,000
Euros for the distribution of thousands of copies of the “Youth Catechism of
the Catholic Church” (Youcat) and the “Social teaching of the Catholic Church”
(Docat) in different languages and financed travel expenses for young people
from dioceses in difficulty.
Aid to the Church in Need is an international pontifical
Catholic charity and foundation that helps persecuted Christians worldwide.
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