A miracle of peace and interreligious harmony in a region deeply wounded by struggle and violence, Bethlehem University, the only Catholic University in the city, offers more than a quality higher education to its students— about 80 percent of whom are Muslims. 

An audience at Ottawa’s St. Paul University learned recently that it is also an island of peace, mutual respect, and interfaith harmony in a region  too often in the news for the intensity of violent attacks and counter-attacks between warring factions.

Br. Hernan Santos and Br. Jack Curran, two Lasallian brothers—members of the religious lay congregation founded by Jean-Baptiste LaSalle in 1680— travelled from Bethlehem to Canada to explore ways in which Bethlehem University could collaborate at an institutional level with St. Paul University.  Br. Santos is the vice chancellor of Bethlehem University. Br. Curran is vice president for advancement.

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“A University built at the highest elevation of the city where God became incarnate,” Br. Santos said in his presentation. “It’s a beacon of hope for the future despite all the challenges we and our students face.” 

He highlighted one of these challenges that he said became particularly acute after the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, and subsequent retaliatory military action by Israel. Running the gauntlet of Israeli checkpoints each day as they travel from their homes to the campus is a particularly daunting and hazardous experience for students, he said. 

“Students from Hebron and the West Bank have to cross several checkpoints to get to the campus,” he said, adding soldiers guarding the checkpoints, who have the power of life of death over those who arrive there, are often brutal in their dealings with Palestinians, harassing, and humiliating them.

 “Our students are afraid they would become the next Israeli target,” Br. Curran said. “After October 7, the economic situation in Palestine and the occupied territories has become Halloween come true with 2000 work permits in Jerusalem cancelled, and Bethlehem, once the tourist hub of the region, now devoid of pilgrims. Gift shops are closed, and families once dependent on the tourist trade are selling their furniture to buy food.”

“This has obviously affected our students,” he added. “The young generation wants to leave Palestine as they see no future there.”

 Santos and Curran explained that despite these challenges, Bethlehem University survives and thrives, fostering hope and resilience, providing a space for interreligious dialogue and understanding, and supporting a culture of justice, peace and reconciliation.

Curran, an American citizen, and Santos, originally from Paraguay, reiterated their own commitment and that of their colleagues to stand by the University and its students.

“Two days after October 7, we received messages from our embassies warning us to leave,” Curran said. “But eight of us chose to remain with the Palestinian people.”

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 He added only education can kindle hope in a population that sees it as a way out of the darkness of their present plight.

That hope was recognized years ago when Pope Paul VI visited the Holy Land in 1964  and expressed a wish to help the Palestinian people. A committee of local educators and leaders explored ways of responding to the Pope’s wish. The idea of Bethlehem University was born.  The LaSalle brothers had already been active in education at the primary and secondary levels in the region, and they were now entrusted with opening a university for Palestinians. 

Despite years of military closures and disruptions, Bethlehem University has continued to honour the wishes of the Pope and the Palestinian people.

“I was in contact with Cardinal Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem,” Curran said. “They have destroyed our universities in Gaza, and our colleges and schools are targeted. People said they didn’t want food or clothes. They would rather have an education.”

Over the years, Bethlehem University has endured much adversity, including 12 closures, damage to its facilities, and students and graduates losing their lives in the military conflict 

 “But this year, despite all the challenges we have 800 new students, Curran said. “We are standing by the youth of Palestine.”

Asked how the university flourishes despite numerous setbacks , Curran said: “Through partnerships and financial support from international universities and other institutions. Two examples are the International Federation of Catholic Universities, and the Friends of Bethlehem University, Ireland.”

Another example of such cooperation was a project called “Generation to Generation.” Nine students from Bethlehem University received training in media skills with the help of the Holy Land Trust Foundation. The students conducted interviews, took photographs and produced a booklet of stories of several inspirational Palestinian women who had overcome great odds to achieve success in fields ranging from journalism to education.

The students also receive scholarships for further studies at international universities, and many return to join the faculty at Bethlehem University.

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 A highlight of the two Brothers’ visit to Ottawa was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Bethlehem University and St. Paul University for future cooperation.

“We are honoured to be in partnership with a university in Palestine,” said Michel Andraos, Dean of the faculty of Theology of St. Paul University.