Parishioners welcomed a Catholic from Bethlehem to the parish at Sunday Mass on 8 February 2026. Nicholas told us of the difficulties of life there, including how hard it is for Christian families to support themselves amid a drop in the number of pilgrims and widespread unemployment. Many are emigrating, leaving a dwindling Christian presence in the Holy Land.
Nicholas reminded us of the words of Pope Francis, who warned that without the presence of local Christians in the Holy Land, sacred sites risk becoming merely museums.
To help support Christians in Bethlehem, he brought for sale hand-crafted olive wood carvings. (These are also available from The Bethlehem Nativity Group.)
Nicholas kindly donated a cross to the parish, which at each point includes earth, rocks, flowers and frankincense.
(Photo: Nicholas and Fr Mark with the gift of the cross)
A thank you message from The Bethlehem Nativity Group
Christian greetings and the Peace of our Lord be with you always.
We would love to thank you by allowing our group to come to your church and sell the olive wood religious articles, the result of which was very beneficial and rewarding for our needy Christian families and raised £1858.00.
Your help is a great support for us, and for our Christian families in the Holy Land.
We don’t have enough words to thank you and your parishioners, but make sure that you are always in our prayers.
If anyone has missed the carvings display, you can place an order online directly from them at http://www.tbng.co.uk
God bless you all
Love and blessings from The Bethlehem Nativity Group
Our Lady of the Rosary, Hayes, Kent 