Albany Presentation on Life in the Holy Land

Brother Jack Curran, FSC, a Troy native who served for seven years as an administrator at Bethlehem University in the Holy Land, is returning to the Albany Diocese for a presentation on life in the Middle East. The talk will be at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 13, at the Albany Public Library, 161 Washington Avenue.

The Evangelist reports that Brother Curran “hopes to help clarify the complex and controversial situation in the Middle East, while explaining how life in the Holy Land differs from its portrayal in the media.”

He will also discuss the significant role played by Bethlehem University as “an oasis of peace in the midst of a difficult socio-political situation.”

Jointly founded in 1973 by the Vatican and the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Bethlehem University is the first university established in the West Bank and the only Catholic university in the Holy Land. Brother Curran has been vice president for development since 2003.

Brother Curran said the University works to attain peace in the Middle East by “advancing understanding, building respect for others, and promoting justice in all that we do.”

The student body, which is approximately two-thirds Muslim and one-third Christian, is encouraged to “build bridges and foster relationships through understanding and education.”

As an administrator, Brother Curran is involved in growth and development efforts, and often meets with religious and political leaders who visit the university.

However, he said his work and interaction with the students is “what keeps me going.”

You can read the entire article here.