SUAD HABASH Elderly resident of the Anthonian Society "I am very sad. The sisters always stayed with us and helped us daily, now they are infected with Covid 19. I ask God to grant them healing and I wish peace and well to all because we are very tired." With the spread of the Pandemic in the governorate of Bethlehem and despite all the precautionary measures taken during this year by the Anthonian Society to protect the elderly, Sister Catherine Tashman, of the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Most Holy of the Garden, did not survive the infection. A wonderful example of generosity in the service of the poorest of the poor, she carried out her humanitarian mission with sacrifice, patience and loyalty. SUZY HAZINE Coordinator Anthonian Society "We declared a state of emergency and closed the house to visitors. The entrance was only for emergency cases, and the situation seemed to be quite good. We found the first case of the new variant among the elderly and in a few days, it spread. Today we have twelve employees and fifteen elderly infected. There are three serious cases, and there is no place for them in hospitals. Here we give them the necessary oxygen and medicine, and the doctor comes twice a day to check on them." SAMIRA JACOUB Nurse of Beit Jala "During this time the staff and nurses were also infected. I am a nurse and in addition to my job I volunteered in the kitchen to help prepare food for the elderly. We need to support them and I hope they all get well soon." The Pro Terra Sancta Association has always supported the Anthonian Society so that it could be a home for the poor elderly but also for families in need. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Pro Terra Sancta has renovated fifteen rooms, providing them with the necessary medical equipment, such as oxygen machines. Some of these machines have also served nearly forty families outside the Anthonian Society. VINCENZO BELLOMO Responsible Pro Terra Sancta – Bethlehem "With this new wave, the Anthonian Society found itself in great difficulty because not only the elderly, but also the employees and the Sisters were affected by the Virus and this created a great need. We don't do our work because it's a project, but because it's a vocation and when there was a need to help, we didn't think twice about it. It's kind of like our home, the place where we take care of the poorest people in Bethlehem. Putting ourselves at their service could only be a normal thing in this time of need." This new variant of Covid 19 has hit the city of Bethlehem. The Coronavirus has managed to overcome the strict preventive measures and infect the most fragile age group right inside the home for the elderly of the Anthonian Society. Operators, volunteers and the Giannelline nuns are trying to resist, silently and courageously, unfortunately sometimes even at the cost of their lives. Read More