Supporting Bethlehem’s Students: The Holy Land Commissariat in Northern Italy Invests in Their Future

In the classrooms of Terra Sancta College in Bethlehem, girls and boys have recently returned to their desks at the beginning of the new academic year. Alongside them, teachers and school staff have resumed their daily routines, filled with learning, joy, and the desire to build a better future. These are essential elements in a land rich in humanity, yet wounded by divisions and conflicts.

In this context, the Custody of the Holy Land plays a central role. Through education, teaching, and standing alongside students, their families, teachers, and all school staff, the Franciscan family continues to maintain a presence on the front lines. It also supports those who face greater difficulties than others in this complex environment.

It was against this backdrop that Fr. Gianluigi Ameglio, Commissary of the Holy Land in Northern Italy, visited Bethlehem. He arrived in the city where Jesus was born to meet students, teachers, and friars involved in the educational institutions run by the Custody of the Holy Land.

His visit also brought a tangible sign of solidarity from many people in Italy who have chosen to support the Custody's educational institutions. He delivered a financial contribution that will be used to cover the salary of a learning support teacher at SIRA School, which helps children and young people facing learning difficulties integrate into the educational system and overcome cultural and social barriers that may limit their access to education.

Fr. Gianluigi explains:

“I came here specifically to bring a gift from many people—men, women, and children—who have worked over these past months to provide me with a sum of money that, over the coming year, will become an opportunity for these students to once again resume their lives in the right way.”

In a context marked by war and numerous obstacles, school becomes much more than simply a place of learning. The Commissary of the Holy Land in Northern Italy emphasizes:

“I believe that one of the places where humanity can be preserved and saved is precisely the school.”

He adds that schools are “our true treasure, and one of the most influential places through which we can believe in a future and in hope for this land.”

Fr. Ameglio's visit also highlights an important aspect of the role of the Commissariats of the Holy Land. They serve as bridges connecting local communities and the friars who safeguard the holy sites associated with the life of the Lord on earth with people around the world who support them through prayer and action.

Fr. Gianluigi explains that the commissaries are:

“True ambassadors of the Holy Land throughout the world.”

They share “a different narrative,” helping to show that signs of hope still remain—signs created by men and women who refuse to surrender to a narrative dominated by evil and instead continue to look toward the future.

According to Fr. Ameglio, the mission of a commissary is precisely:

“To simply tell people that goodness is still possible, and that it is possible to think about the future.”

In Bethlehem, this hope is also reflected in the faces of the children who have returned to their classrooms, expressing their gratitude to everyone who has chosen to support the Custody of the Holy Land in giving them a better present and the opportunity for a brighter future.