McLean, Virginia, June 6, 2003 - Father Amjad Sabbara spoke yesterday at Bishop Dennis J. O’Connell Catholic High School before a crowd of 600 enthusiastic students. The event was organized by Mrs. Mary Kay Turner, a teacher at the high school and a member of the Board of Directors of Holy Land Christians Society.

Father Sabbara began his speech by talking about the current situation of the Christian Palestinian community in the Holy Land.  The Palestinian population dwindled in numbers to a less than 1.8% during the recent political and economic situation in the Holy Land from being around 30% 20 years ago.. 

The Franciscan priest, talked about his 5,000 parish community members and the current programs that his parish, the Church of the Nativity, currently provides for the people of Bethlehem.  These programs include food vouchers and help to the orphans.

Father Sabbara also talked about the Job Creation Program, which is to promote the work of the community in the Holy Land by selling their work in the United States.  Through this program, “we preserve the dignity of the people, because the people are not asking for donations. They work hard and depend on their work for living.”

Finally, Fr. Sabbara introduced the newly formed “Youth Committee” which is to mobilize American Christian youths to become more involved in the plight of the Holy Land Christians. The Youth Committee goals is to engaged a direct dialogue between Christian youths in the Holy Land with other Christian youths in the United States. Dozens of students signed up for this committee to begin this work of dialogue for the purpose of enlightenment and peace.

To learn more about the Youth Committee or the Holy Land Christians Society, please contact us.