(Photo Credit: Jaclyn Lippelmann/Catholic Standard via CNS.)
The Holy Land Committee of the Archdiocese of Washington, chaired by Fr. Jim Gardiner, SA, held its Fourth Annual Holy Land Festival on Saturday, July 15th, on the grounds of the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in Washington, DC. The Festival, which included exhibits, seminars, demonstrations, and food, gave participants the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of a place that is so central to our Christian faith.
The event was covered by Catholic News Service, and the story then picked up by major newspapers across the country. The article interviews Fr. Jim who emphasized the unity of a diverse group of people as a highlight of the festival, “‘Nobody knows who is Christian, Muslim or Catholic’, Gardiner said.”
The Catholic News Service article continues:
The festival engaged visitors in an authentic atmosphere as the smells of Middle Eastern food lingered on the sunny Saturday afternoon and the traditional music and dancing took place in the center of the square. Visitors also went inside to tour the monastery’s church and catacombs which hold many replicas of Holy Land sites.
“This is a celebration of culture,” Gardiner said. “Religion and faith are the basis of culture, and what better place to have this festival than at the monastery.”
Read the entire article here.