The Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land, representing the religious order that has had custody of the Holy Land shrines for nearly 700 years, has begun to address those concerns. Its fledgling college scholarship program to universities in the Holy Land has already financed the schooling of 60 Palestinian Christian students, totaling more than $1 million. All the money comes from annual donations. A committee decides who receives the scholarships among the applicants for them, said Father Abdel Masih F. Fahim, OFM, who oversees the scholarship program. He considers it a necessity for the Franciscans' goal of maintaining a Christian residential presence in the Holy Land. "The scholarship helps the students mature in society and helps their families economically," said Father Fahim. Some students who have received scholarships or are studying under one now agree. Student Michel Foteh, 21, and teachers Niveen Saleh, 22, and Doreen Ajrab, 22, all of Jerusalem, said the scholarships had helped their financially strapped families. It also boosted their confidence in being able to remain living in the Holy Land rather than having to seek opportunities in other countries, as have many people they know. Those receiving a scholarship are required to remain in Israel for three years after earning a degree, but students recently interviewed said they wanted to stay anyway. "Living around these holy sites encourages us to continue living here and to help other Christians," said Saleh. Both she and Ajrab said they'd studied in such places as London and Paris but couldn't wait to return to Israel. They said they would have had to go to work after high school in menial jobs had they not received the scholarships to Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Both teach at the Terra Sancta School in Jerusalem, operated by the Franciscans. It is a school from which the two women also graduated. In addition to the problems all Palestinians - both Christian and Muslim - have with the Israeli government's not granting them full citizenship, these Catholic and Greek Orthodox students mentioned the discrimination they experience at the hands of some of their fellow Arabs who practice Islam. "When we wear the symbols of our faith, like a necklace crucifix, they'll make fun of us," said Saleh. Yet these Palestinian young people - who speak English but were more comfortable in an interview expressing themselves in their native Arabic through interpreter Raffoul Rofa - maintain a high level of hope. They attribute this to their Christian faith. "I have faith things will get better. Not now, but they will be. I'm certain God is staying by our side," said Foteh, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Jordan. "We want to work to maintain a Christian presence," said Ajrab. "Jesus was born here. We belong here." Both young women said they thought their working at their high school alma mater gave them a special incentive to positively influence young students. Just getting an education, however, won't be enough, the young people pointed out. Ajrab said her two brothers, one with a degree in law and the other with a degree in engineering, still have not been able to find work in Israel. In addition to hoping for financial assistance from American Catholics, the students hope Americans will come to the Holy Land to see the shrines - and the people. "We used to see many Americans. Now we don't," said Ajrab. "You're not just giving money to the poor. The efforts are to maintain a Christian presence here." Foteh said American Catholics, by visiting the Holy Land, can help in an important way. "You'll be introduced to the fact that Christians are here," he said. For more information about the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land call (866) 905-3787 or visit its Web site
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NIVEEN SALEH - 'Living around these holy sites encourages us.'
DOREEN AJRAB - 'Jesus was born here. We belong here.'
MICHEL FOTEH - 'I have faith things will get better.'
