Christmas in Bethlehem During a War

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley interview Stephanie Saldaña, the author of What We Remember Will Be Saved: A Story of Refugees and The Things They Carry. Stephanie lives with her family in Bethlehem, where the economy has long relied on tourism around Christmas time as Christian pilgrims flock to the site of Jesus’ birth. But as one might imagine with the war raging in Gaza, Advent in Bethlehem looks different this year. Stephanie helps the “Jesuitical” team to enter into that reality.

They discuss:

• Stephanie’s experience on and after Oct. 7 as a Christian living in the West Bank
• The challenges Bethlehem residents are facing during the war and how that’s impacted Advent celebrations
• Stephanie’s spirituality and the importance of closeness amid these difficult times

In a funeral-focused Signs of the Times segment, Ashley and Zac get into Pope Francis’ recent announcement that he won’t be buried at the Vatican as well as recent Vatican guidelines about scattering ashes. They also talk about the recent lawsuit brought by a group of nuns against gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson. Plus, Zac shares his quibbles with this year’s liturgical calendar.

Links

• In war zones, hospitals are holy ground. The explosion of one in Gaza is a tragic turning point.
• When dancing turns to mourning: A wedding hall fire brings tragedy to Qaraqosh
• Pope Francis says he will not be buried at the Vatican, simplifies papal funeral rite
• Vatican says no to scattering ashes, but approves families keeping ‘minimal’ part of cremated remains in a ‘significant’ place
• Group of nuns sue gunmaker Smith & Wesson over assault weapons

What’s on tap? 

Arak

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