Gifts from Bethlehem A Traditional Art

and Livelihood for Holy Land Christians

Gifts from Bethlehem will be here at St. Mary’s on August 8^th & 9^th. The handicrafts trade evolved as a cultural tradition of Christians in the Holy Land for many centuries. This indigenous form of art has since become an industry of great importance to the local people of the Holy Land who rely on it for livelihood. The olive wood carving market is the major source of income in the Bethlehem area. More than 65 percent of the income of the community in Bethlehem comes from this work. In recent years, however, the holy crafts trade has suffered many hardships due to social and economic pressures. Because of a sharp fall in tourism and also as a result of diminishing numbers of craftsmen who leave their traditional trade and emigrate due to the difficult conditions in their homeland, the Holy Land handicraft market is endangered and so is the Christian community in the Land. Sixty-five years ago the Christians represented more than 28% of the total population in the Holy Land. Today they are less than 1.5%. The diminished number of Christians in the land of Christianity’s birth is a tragic irony for the billions of Christians worldwide.

Gifts from Bethlehem will be selling their beautiful olive wood carvings after the Masses during the weekend of August 8^th and 9^th. Please consider stopping by the Parish Center and checking out their works. Thank you for your vital support of this Christian tradition.