At the end of three years of work, the Custody of the Holy Land has inaugurated the new service center Dar Al-Majus, "House of the Magi," a few meters from the Basilica of the Nativity, in Bethlehem. The center will be managed by the "Pro Terra Sancta" Association. Br FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land "The Magi are the symbol of wisdom, of those who set out on a quest, so this should be a center where you have the courage also to do culture, to recover the value of the local Palestinian and Bethlehem culture, all of it and in all its history. Then the magi are also the symbol of those who know how to give." The Center's inauguration event began with a Mass of Thanksgiving in St. Catherine's Church, presided over by Brother Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land, with the participation of numerous faithful. In his homily, the Custos spoke of Dar Al-Majus as an expression of Christian love, hoping that this work will become a place where people, especially young people, can learn the new righteousness of Jesus, which is love, reconciliation and peace. This was followed by a meeting with the authorities outside Dar Al-Majus. Here Br. Patton stressed that the Magi teach us that wealth, power, knowledge and culture, when combined with wisdom create a mentality of giving, while without wisdom, they become dangerous. For his part, the mayor of Bethlehem expressed his appreciation for this "national, social and cultural achievement" and stressed that the local community needs institutions like this. Donors and supporters of this work received a gift in gratitude. Br. Patton then cut the ribbon and blessed the building. NAILA NASSER Social worker - Association "pro Terra Sancta" "There is a store on the second floor, where products from various organizations dealing with underprivileged or special needs people are displayed and available for purchase. We are a direct means of creating a market for these products, so that the profit goes back to these organizations." There are also meeting rooms that will allow many artists to exhibit their work. The building also contains a room that offers visitors an immersive experience. Through a video, which in a weaving of cosmic history and historical events, it takes visitors to Jesus, "the center of the cosmos and history," and the centerpiece of the Basilica of the Nativity. On the top floor is the kitchen, for professional courses. NAILA NASSER Social worker - Association "pro Terra Sancta" "We selected eight women interested in this activity, who have suffered from coronavirus, and offered them a cooking class." Rula Bandak Bethlehem "We thank 'pro Terra Sancta' for giving us the opportunity to learn cooking and the art of hospitality and for supporting us in finding jobs for our future as well." Br FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land "Bethlehem suffered the most during the pandemic. The Christian community in Bethlehem lives mainly from the pilgrimage industry. Without pilgrims and tourists, the Christians of Bethlehem have suffered greatly. The return of pilgrims should - again inspired by the Magi - also trigger a virtuous circle." Dar Al-Majus is also the new headquarters of the Association "pro Terra Sancta," which works not only to support the local community but also to enrich pilgrimages. Vincenzo Bellomo Association pro Terra Sancta - Bethlehem "We build a 'social' bridge. When pilgrims and tourists come to visit the holy places, they usually don't have enough time to talk to the local people, to the 'living stones'. So we do our part to organize visits for them to Bethlehem and Jerusalem to learn about their lives, in addition to visiting the holy places." Br FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land "I imagine the pilgrims like the Magi, coming and visiting this place, visiting the basilica, visiting the many other beautiful things that are in Bethlehem-the Shepherds' Field, the Milk Grotto-and then going back to their countries, kind of like the Magi, and encouraging others to come here and have this kind of experience."