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1999 - online version
BETHLEHEM UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES SILVER JUBILEE |
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By Fr. James Heinsch ofm My first visit to Bethlehem was a bit of an eye-opener. One of the towns under Palestinian Authorities, I could only reach it by going through check-points well guarded by armed soldiers. I would soon discover that Bethlehem is a town surrounded by soldiers. At any time, the check-points could clamp shut, making the people of Bethlehem virtual prisoners. It reminded me so much of my visit to the refugee camps in Thailand, along the Cambodian border. There, in a desolate, waterless land, refugees lived under terrible conditions. The small children went to a make-shift classroom, injured adults and mothers were able to learn a trade, but the teenaged youth had nothing to occupy their days. I asked why they could not provide school for highschool students or older. The reply was understandable, but so sad. "We cannot make the refugee camps too inviting. Soon, everyone would come here from Cambodia." The suicide rate was the highest in this age bracket. Now I was in Bethlehem. It looked like a jailed-town. The Christian people forbidden to leave their town, or pilgrimage to the Holy Places in Jerusalem. I thought: what about the youth? Life without hope, breeds despair. Such were my concerns when, up on the highest hill of Bethlehem, I saw some buildings with a statue on the top. It was the University of Bethlehem. The statue: the Child-Jesus. Like light dispelling darkness, a ray of hope ‘midst the bleak-gray sky, stands a wonderful place. A place of hope. Somewhere where laughter, joy, and friendship meet ... even when there are no classes. A place where the young come because there is no other garden-place of peace. This hill, this University beckons the people of Bethlehem as surely as did the "bright star." But the star shines only for Bethlehem. Palestinian Christians can no longer come from Gaza, or other places of the West Bank, to study here. Travel is forbidden. You see, for Palestinians, Bethlehem, like Palestine, is a prison. In too short supply are the necessities of life: water. Employment, housing, human rights, justice and peace. Too many Palestinians have moved away, most of them Christians. Since 1948, about 40% of the indigenous Christian population of the Holy Land has emigrated to other countries. This is a great tragedy for the Church. Without local Christians, we will end up with empty churches, and hollow shrines. Bethlehem University was established to address the problem of Christian emigration from the Holy Land. It took a pilgrim to make the suggestion ... and the pilgrim was Pope Paul VI. He visited the Holy Land in 1964. (The first Holy Father to visit the holy places since the times of St. Peter.) He saw the terrible conditions of his people. When he returned to Rome, he expressed these concerns to the Congregation for Eastern Churches. What resulted was the beginning of Bethlehem University. After Pope Paul’s visit in 1965, the times got worse rather than better. 1967 brought the Six Day War, resulting in Israeli take over of all Palestinian land. Bethlehem was now controlled by Israeli military, making living conditions even worse for the Palestinians. |
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Still, the Vatican was determined to reach out to the needs of the people. It would be a Roman Catholic-sponsored institution serving both Christian and Muslin students. The community of De La Salle Christian Brothers were asked to administer the new university. (The Christian Brothers had been in Bethlehem educating Palestinian boys since 1893.) This was also the place where the Brothers had their Novitiate for the Near East region. Initial funding come from several places: the Vatican, the Catholic Near East Welfare Association in New York, the German Catholics of Misereor, and the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher. The Christian Brothers provided the land, and one nineteenth-century building that housed the Freres School for secondary students, who would, for the next three years, have to share their space with the new Bethlehem University. Bethlehem University opened officially on October 1, 1973. It would be administered by three American Christian Brothers and a staff of seven local teachers. Out of 180 applicants for 50 seats, 75 were accept. Soon, it became 100 students with a staff of 10, 200 donated books, 3 small classrooms, and ... a lot of wishes and prayers. Classes lasted for just one week when the "October War" began. It was the beginning of many more such set-backs and delays in the years to come. E.g. For three years, Oct. 1987 through October 2990, the University was closed due to the uprising known as the intifada which raged on the West Bank. There were times when they had to have semester exams in private homes because the University was "off limits" to everyone except the Brothers themselves. In fact, Brother Jerome mentioned that "this year of 1998 might just be the first time in the University’s history that they will finish the Fall semester "on time" before Christmas. (And I believe they actually succeeded.) Yet, throughout the years, despite the struggles, the University grew. Now there are more than 5,000 students. The curriculum has expanded to include faculties in the Arts, Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Nursing, and a certificate program in Hotel Management and Tourism for Peace. Unesco has helped in many ways. There are outreach programs, touching the lives of the people who live here in Bethlehem, that include a Business Development Center, an Education Center, a Biotechnology Education and Training Center, Water and Soil Environment Research Unity, and a Nutrition and Environment research Unit. The listing of faculty members is unusually large, and most of them are Palestinians who have earned their degrees and come back to serve their people. It is inspiring to see. There are also all kinds of links with Universities in the United States: Villanova University, the University of Maryland-College Park, George Mason University, Lewis University, University of Notre Dame, etc. The exchange programs benefit both Palestinian and American students. (A word to American students: Come!! Not only will you find that the semester fees are quite inexpensive, you experience both the Palestinian and Israeli cultures as a bonus.) Someday, if you are with a pilgrimage group, and wish to visit Bethlehem University, call in advance, and ask to have lunch prepared by the students studying in Hotel Management. The meal will be superb, the service first-class, and you could even ask some of the students to sit and talk with you. They would love it. Besides which, you will get a wonderful tour of the University Campus, and see a side of the Holy Land where harmony reigns. This last October 1st, the University began its year-long Silver Jubilee celebration with a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Pio Laghi, Prefect for the Congregation of Education. It was especially memorable because, 25 years ago, Cardinal Laghi was the Apostolic Delegate in Jerusalem who played a vital role in the establishment of Bethlehem University. Some weeks ago, I visited the University, and talked with Brother Vincent Malham, Vice Chancellor of the University, and Brother Jerome Sullivan, Vice President for Development. It was a great visit, and I want to thank all the Christian Brothers, the Faculty, and especially Brother Jerome and Sister Elaine Kelly, for giving me so much information to make this tribute to the University of Bethlehem. I mentioned that I would love to take some pictures of the students, but I wondered if they would object. Brother Vincent said: " On the contrary, they will love to have their pictures taken, and talk with you. They won’t mind it at all." Sure enough, the Campus was alive with students during their class-break. Wherever I went, I met friendly faces and welcomed smiles. Muslin and Christian, religious and lay, the Campus of Bethlehem University is a place of peace and goodwill. It sounds like a Christmas event happening all over again. But then, this is where the message was first heard among the shepherds. Now the students proclaimed the message for me to see. And high overhead, on the pinnacle of the University Dome, stands the familiar statue of the Christ-child. "And a little child shall lead them ..." Maybe someday, the peace and goodwill found and fostered on this Campus, will touch the lives of all peoples in this Land ... bringing peace and goodwill. And we will say "Thank God for these twenty-five years, for everyday, and everyone, of Bethlehem University! The only Catholic University in all of Palestine!" © copyright 1999 |
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