remodeling and upgrading works of the annunciation church beit jala - palestine

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1 LATIN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM PROJECT PROPOSAL remodeling and upgrading works of the annunciation church beit jala - palestine GA 024/15 General Administration Project Development Office october

2 remodeling and upgrading works of the annunciation church beit jala - palestine THE LATIN PATRIARCHATE The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (LPJ) was restored in 1847; its main goal is to promote the best interest of the local communities it serves in. Today, the Patriarchal Diocese oversees about 90,000 faithful in four countries, including the Galilee, The Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Cyprus, covering a rich tapestry of cultures, languages, religions and traditions. Serving all with special emphasis on the support and care of indigenous Holy Land Christians remains the enduring mission of the Mother Church, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem INTRODUCTION The town of Beit Jala lies only two kilometres from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus Christ. Its name comes from Aramaic, which means grass carpet. The city is considered to be one of oldest in Palestine, and together with Bethlehem and Beit Sahour, the three towns form a triangle where the largest Christian community currently live. The town used to be 100% Christian; however, Christians currently represent 80% of the population of Beit Jala. Many had immigrated due to the political conflict. Regardless of the unfortunate decline in the Christian population in the area, the town of Beit Jala still has the largest population of Christians. The Church of Annunciation, which was built in 1858, is an old historical church that was built during the Ottoman rule. It is located in the center of the town, and it is the only Catholic Church in Beit Jala. The capacity of the church seats 180 people, as when it was first established, the population was very small. The pastoral work was initiated in 1853, with Beit Jala as the first Latin Patriarchate parish in Palestine. The current number of parishioners who attend the Sunday mass each week is about 250. There are three masses held each Sunday, and the ten o clock mass is usually over crowded. People tend to stand on the side and near the main door. This is inconvenient, particularly during the summer, when the temperatures are very high and air condition is not available. LOCATION /DEMOGRAPHICS Total population of Beit Jala: 15,570 Christians: LPJ School students: 880 NEEDS The time has come to invest in our Church facility, as it is in need for renovation to address major maintenance issues, concerning seating capacity, space functionality, installing air-conditioning/ heating units and other electric works. 2

3 The engineering team is proposing improvements to the facility, in order to enhance the community presence in our Church. The key benefits of the proposed plan are: Increase the sanctuary seating capacity up to 350 people. Improve functionality by enhancing the view of the altar from all sides of the church. Create a convenient atmosphere during the summer and winter, through installing air conditioning/ heating units. (not contemplated in this budget - contribution by local donor). Promote safety and sustainability through proper plastering, electrical installations using quality materials. The scope of work will include creating passage ways between the vaulted sides and leveling of the tile space between the altar sides, so as to have one level. BENEFICIARIES The main beneficiaries of this project are the parishioners, the Christian community in Beit Jala and the surrounding areas. The number of beneficiaries will increase during religious occasions, events and celebrations. The project will promote the Church s presence in the community. EXECUTION / DURATION Our general contractor has prepared a plan estimating 3 months of work in order to complete the proposed work. Furthermore, the plan will phase the construction process to allow the parishioners to use the facility during the course of the project. PROPOSED BUDGET 3

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8 LATIN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM Rev. Fr. Imad Twal General Administrator General Administration Office Jaffa Gate, P.O. Box Jerusalem Tel ceo@lpj.org 8