Bringing hope in the place of Christ's birth -

The Salesians of Don Bosco in Bethlehem

Cremisan's wine production began in 1885, producing revenue for Don Belloni's Community of the Holy Family, which the Italian priest had established to provide care and education for orphan boys in Palestine. The three main aims of the winery were - and still are - to:

• help finance the work of the Community (now Salesian) in its apostolic and pastoral mission
• enable the Community at Cremisan to be self-sufficient
• support the local population by providing work

In Italy Don Belloni met Don Bosco (founder of the Salesian Congregation) several times. Their missions to poor young boys were similar, and Don Belloni asked the Salesians to take over the management of his orphanages and schools at Cremisan, Bethlehem, Beit Gemal and the land at Nazareth. When the Salesian congregation arrived in Palestine in 1891 Don Belloni joined his Community with theirs.

The Salesian Priests, Brothers and Sisters today work in the Holy Land supporting the poor, particularly in the social, intellectual and spiritual formation of young people. They run technical and professional schools and an artistic centre with olive wood, mother of pearl and ceramics workshops. The Salesian Youth Centre is one of the most popular institutions in Bethlehem, where young people gather every evening - and the Salesian bakery in Bethlehem continues to provide bread for the poorest families. Until recently there was a theological school at Cremisan, which has since moved to Jerusalem, allowing the Houses of Cremisan and Beit Gemal to be developed as retreat houses and havens of peace, open to everyone.