U.K. Pilgrim Group Visits Bethlehem University

On Friday, 28 May, Bethlehem University hosted 20 pilgrims involved in a “People to People” journey from the U.K. led by Reverend Timothy Biles, Anglican priest of the Diocese of Salisbury.

Concerned about people and deeply involved with the plight of Palestinians, the pilgrims met Bethlehem University faculty, staff, and students. In attendance were Father Jamal Khader, George Sahhar, Vera Baboun, and three students: Rawan Khatir, Rawan Bandak, and Ramzi Qumsiah, who engaged in dialogue about the socio-political situation.

The pilgrims from the U.K. visited the monument on campus for the students fallen in the violence plaguing the Holy Land and laid a wreath in honor of their memory.

The guests also visited the Palestinian Heritage Center, Turathuna, where the saw the historic artifacts and art depicting various aspects of Palestinian history, culture, and tradition.

Brother Vincent Malham, President-Vice Chancellor, welcomed the group and accepted on behalf of the University a copy of Reverend Bile’s book “A Puppy Dies and other Stories from the Holy Land.” Revered Biles read a selection from the book describing his visit with Brother Cyril Litecky in Bethlehem University during some of the most difficult days of the first Intifada. The book is a chronicle of Reverend Biles’s visits to the Holy Land.