For Immediate Release
McLean, Virginia
Holy Land Christians Society
Date: Septemeber 17, 2003

HLCS Renovates the Historical Church of St. Joseph in Bethlehem

“The church of S. Joseph in Bethlehem, which was abandoned for long period of time, has taken a new shape.”

The Holy Land Christians Society has secured funding to renovate the historical Church of St. Joseph through the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The project was funded in Memory of Rev. Eugene Joseph Sweeney and in Honor of Franciscan Foundation of the Holy Land, Comunita Francescana di Betlemme, and Parrocchia della Catedralle Crema-Italia.

The project was completed under the direction of Rev. Amjad Sabbara, OFM, Pastor of the Church of the Nativity Parish in Bethlehem on September 1, 2003.

Church of St. Joseph in Bethlehem presides over the historical place where St. Joseph rested with Virgin Mary during their flight to Egypt. It is of great importance to the Christian heritage and traditions of the Holy Land.  However, the church was abandoned and ignored for a long time due to the current political and economical situation. This project came as a great mean to revive this historical place. Father Amjad Sabbara states in a letter address to Mrs. Mary Kay Turner, Secretary of the Board of Directors of Holy Land Christians Society, and a family member of the late Rev. Eugene Sweeney: “The church of S. Joseph in Bethlehem, which was abandoned for long period of time, has taken a new shape.”

Renovating this Church also created an opportunity for many families to work in the construction project and generate daily income. Father Sabbara says: “With your appreciated support as well as that from other benefactors, we have managed to create working opportunities to needy families, and to rehabilitate and renovate the church.”

The duration of the project was eight weeks starting on June 26 and ending on August 31, 2003

Rev. Amjad Sabbara wanted this project to also benefit the needy families in the Bethlehem area. He defined a criteria for selection of contractors to implement this project. The selection Criteria is listed below:

1. Candidates who have lost their previous jobs totally and not partially
2. People who are supporting large families
3.  People who are responsible for many dependants, other than their own children
4. Married people who are renting a house
5. Married people who have children in schools
6. People who have certain skills and suitable experience to execute the needed work

The work and activities involved in renovating the Church of St. Joseph were:

1. Digging the basis for the new construction and removing all the debris and rubbish
2. Pouring the basis and the sidewalls
3.  Cleaning the inside walls of the Church  
4.  Plastering the needy walls
5. Tiling the floor of the Church

Images of the project are below: