It is hard for Christians to think about Christmas without thinking about Bethlehem. And that is where we will be travelling for this year's television special to raise funds and awareness of the work of Christians in the Middle East, through the efforts of Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA).
Produced by the Salt + Light Media team in partnership with CNEWA Canada, this year’s television special will focus on stories of hope from the Holy Land, the very land and region where Jesus walked, preached, and ministered. The hour-long program will be hosted by Deacon Pedro Guevara-Mann and Mary Rose Bacani Valenti and will include musical performances in Aramaic and English from the Angels Choir of the Good Shepherd Chaldean Cathedral in Toronto, as well as reports and updates from Holy Land Christian communities. The program will also feature a panel discussion with Joseph Hazboun, Regional Director of CNEWA in Jerusalem; Tania Awwad, Executive Director of the Greek Catholic Annunciation Society Infant Welfare Center in Jerusalem; and Carl Hétu, National Director, CNEWA Canada, about the reality and challenges that these Christians are facing.
“Peace is not only possible but absolutely necessary if we truly want to build better relations within our families and with our neighbours of different languages, cultures, and religions. But we need to put the effort, time, and resources into it,” says Carl Hétu. “Canadians have a very passionate heart for those who are suffering and in need of help around the world. This is particularly true of our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land, who continue to witness to the greatest of all hopes – the salvation and promises of our Lord. This event, which started off so humbly in 2015, is picking up new supporters each year, and together, whether in person or through this program, there is no limit to the good that we can do. Thank you.”
Join us for
WITNESSES OF HOPE: The Greatest of Gifts
A CNEWA Christmas Special for Middle East Christians
Thursday, December 16
8 pm ET / 5 pm PT
About Catholic Near East Welfare Association:
An agency of the Holy See, CNEWA works for, through, and with the Eastern Catholic churches throughout the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India, and Ukraine. Founded by Pope Pius XI in 1926, CNEWA provides pastoral and humanitarian support to the churches and people of the East. CNEWA Canada was incorporated as a registered charity by Canada Revenue Agency in 2003.