Executive Director Message |
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Hi dear friend,
I am happy to share that due to the generosity of so many across the country, we had a very successful close to 2021 with our annual fund drive. We are grateful for your support!
In addition, we successfully raised $10,000 in the Giving Tuesday campaign to help cover the cost of translating Abuna Chacour’s recent book, The Sermon on the Mount. We hear that the process to select a translator has begun. Abuna sends his gratitude for your generosity in making this happen!
As a reminder to a note included in the last e-newsletter, Pilgrims is transitioning to a new database, resulting in a a delay of our ability to get end of year donation statements to our supporters. We anticipate that you’ll receive yours later this month. If you would like it before then, please reply to this email and we’ll make sure to get it to you.
Blessings to you and yours,
Essrea Cherin, Executive Director
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The Omicron variant has made life challenging for students and faculty alike. In a normal day there could be 2 or 3 teacher absences, but of late there are 12-14 teachers calling out every day! This causes a school-wide juggle to cover classes and keep students engaged. Currently, many classes have returned to remote learning.
Even so, the students during this COVID-era appreciate the value of school in a way that is qualitatively different than in previous years.
School-wide incredible dedication is present. For example, a beloved math teacher who is struggling with cancer and yet she continues to come to school and teach every day — it’s too important to her to not keep coming to work.
Mar Elias is very grateful for the funds we were able to send in 2021 thanks to your incredible generosity this year — scholarships are so very needed!
In 2022, we’d like to focus the attention of our support on continuing to offer scholarships to the many families in need and on the aging facilities in need of renovation.
Click on the link or photo to see the INCREDIBLE collection of awards and honors for MEEI student achievements over the years in this very short video:
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Come and See, Go and Tell: March Webinar
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Many visitors to Palestine hear these New Testament words of Jesus (John 1:39-41) from Christian Palestinians they meet. Those who travel to the Holy Land and spend time meeting Palestinians find both Christian and Muslim folks eager to share their lives and their work, tell their stories, and hear ours in return.
Very few who travel to Palestine on a pilgrimage or witness trip come home unchanged. In addition to powerful spiritual experiences, the people we have met stay with us. We cannot forget the difficult, unjust conditions under which the people we have come to know by name live their lives.
Most transformative, by the time we return home, we have met true peacemakers, and next discover that we, ourselves, are called to act as peacemakers as well.
For many years Pilgrims of Ibillin has brought Americans to Palestine and Israel to support the work of Archbishop Elias Chacour and the Mar Elias Educational Institutions. Trip leaders will ask a panel of former pilgrims what they learned and what they did upon their return. We’ll also hear from peacemakers in Israel and Palestine responding to “what would you like visitors to know and bring back?”
We hope you can join us
Saturday, March 26
12pm ET | 11am CT | 10am MT | 9am PT
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Maia Water Project Update |
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There is a water crisis in Palestine.
In Gaza, 97% of water is unfit for human consumption. Numerous military attacks on the Gaza Strip have devastated Gaza’s water infrastructure and the siege of Gaza has created a shortage of pipes, building materials, fuel and electricity. The water in Gaza is polluted with untreated sewage, agricultural chemicals, and it is brackish from seawater. Gaza’s water crisis poses grave health risks to children.
In September 2009, the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA) responded to this crisis by launching the Maia Project (Arabic for “water”) to provide Palestinian children with clean, safe drinking water by installing water purification and desalination units in schools throughout the Gaza Strip.
Pilgrims of Ibillin is proud to be part of the effort that has successfully provided over 90,000 children with safe and clean drinking water in Gaza.
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New Dates: Pilgrimage September - October 2022 |
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Due to current travel restrictions and spread of COVID variants, the Pilgrimage Leaders, Brenda Mehos and Rev. Dr. James Thomas, postponed the next Living Stones Pilgrimage until the fall.
Please let us know of
your interest in joining us!
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Living Stones Pilgrimage
to Israel & Palestine
September 29 - October 11, 2022
Pilgrimage Leaders:
Instructor, Rev. Dr. James Thomas
West Bank Tour Guide, Usama Nicola
Tour Coordinator, Brenda Mehos
“Living Stones” Pilgrimages are unique
tours of witness and pilgrimage in the
service of peace in the region
a third of humanity call “The Holy Land.”
Since 1995 Pilgrims of Ibillin has taken nearly 350 individuals on two-week pilgrimages to Israel and Palestine. Led by Pilgrims staff, board members, and local partners in the West Bank and the Galilee, we visit Christians, Muslims, and Jews who work to plant and nourish the seeds of a just peace. Our tours include visits to holy sites and conversations which connect our experiences with our faith.
You’ll get to meet and hear from those working for a just peace from organizations such as the Christian Peacemaker Team, Hebron Rehabilitation Committee, Hebron Defense Committee, Youth Against Settlements, Parents’ Circle, Wi’am: The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center, and more!
You’ll visit historic treasures such as the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque, Church of the Nativity, Manger Square, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the Sea of Galilee, amongst many many other heritage sites.
For prices, itinerary, and to indicate your interest, contact:
Brenda Mehos
+1-303-928-0923
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Your donations will support the ongoing work of
Pilgrims' Peace Partners in fostering peace
through education in Israel and Palestine.
Thank you.
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Essrea Cherin
Executive Director, Pilgrims of Ibillin
(303) 928-0923
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