Paul Calvert spoke with Sister Maria Grech about their counselling service, renovating homes and helping families with university tuition fees.

Maria: Yes, the relation between the Church and the Palestinians was always very good. The Church was always there to help them in their difficult times, because Bethlehem went through two uprisings and this brought a lot of poverty to Bethlehem. The Church was always there to help them to get back a bit on their feet and start again.

Paul: The sad thing is many Christians have left this community as well haven't they?

Maria: Yes many left in the year 2000 because of the situation. Many people who could leave, left, and unfortunately we have to continue now to encourage the few Christians that are left in Bethlehem to remain here. That's why this job creation was started, to encourage our living stones to remain in Bethlehem; trying to give them work and trying to make their homes look better.

Paul: What's your prayer for the Palestinian Christian community in Bethlehem?

Maria: What I would like is that we learn more of how to live together with our Muslim brothers and we live as a big family in Bethlehem. We have to encourage and learn how to live more positively together.