The Only Catholic University in the Holy Land
In 1964, Pope Paul VI visited the Holy Land. In his desire to support the Palestinian people, Bethlehem University was established in 1973 as a joint venture between the Vatican and the De La Salle (Christian) Brothers. From humble beginnings with just three Brothers, a small group of Palestinian educators, and 112 students, Bethlehem University became the first registered university in Palestine. 23,000 men and women have graduated from Bethlehem University since its founding, and today it remains the only Catholic University in the Holy Land.
Bethlehem University provides modern and effective learning resources to enable all staff and students to pursue their academic activities in accordance with its vision, mission, and values. The University intentionally fosters interfaith knowledge and exploration, giving students inter-faith competency and building their capacity to respect all life. Thirty-nine percent of undergraduate students study Nursing and Health Sciences, 19% Business Administration, and 17% The Arts (Arabic Language and Literature, English Language and Literature, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Religious Studies).
Join Our Mission
Bethlehem University Foundation is the U.S. philanthropic partner of Bethlehem University in the Holy Land. As an independent 501(c)(3), the Foundation mobilizes charitable support, stewards endowment and annual gifts, and provides grants that sustain the University’s mission and its students.
We invite you to be part of this mission.
Through your generosity, you can help open pathways to education for Palestinian students, strengthen Bethlehem University for the future, and invest in young men and women who will serve their families, communities, and the Holy Land.
Whether through an annual gift, a major gift, an endowment, or a legacy commitment, your support helps ensure that Bethlehem University can continue to educate, form, and prepare new generations for lives of leadership and service.
Together, we can help ensure that opportunity endures, and that Bethlehem University remains a place where young people can build a future.
EIN: 22-3600739
Support Our Students
Say Yes to What Comes Next
Ghassan’s Summer in DC
This summer, a Bethlehem University student spent a month at Georgetown University and came home more determined to build his future in Bethlehem. Palestinian students are finding a way to keep learning and serving. Your gift supports the education, resources, and opportunities that keep them moving forward.
Today, Palestinian students face growing challenges to continuing their education—and they need your support to keep opportunity within reach.
Walk with Them. Month After Month.
Become a member of the Shepherd’s Circle for convenient and secure monthly giving that provides reliable support to help young Palestinians continue their education and build brighter futures.
Just $1 a day—$30 a month—can make a meaningful difference.
2026 Fall Reception in Washington, D.C.
The Future of the Holy Land Is Being Shaped Today
Join us for an inspiring evening celebrating the achievements of students in the Holy Land and the community of partners united by a shared belief in their promise, potential, and future.
Thursday, November 19, 2026
Apostolic Nunciature in the United States of America
Washington, DC
Together we prepare the next generation for lives of leadership, service, and purpose.
For Parishes and Communities
To remain in Christ is not simply to believe; it is to be in relationship, staying present to one another, especially in times of difficulty. It is to accompany our brothers and sisters as Jesus accompanies us.
Our Ask is Simple
Can your parish commit to supporting One student for the coming year?
To do so is more than an act of generosity.
It is an act of solidarity.
The cost of a student’s education is $4,000 annually. By choosing to remain with a student in a moment when they might otherwise be forced to step away, you are ensuring that the Church’s presence continues in the Holy Land, not only in sacred places, but in the lives of young people preparing to lead, serve their communities, and build a hopeful future.
In the News
New Chancellor Archbishop Lingua to Bethlehem University Students
October 9, 2026
Seek the Truth Archbishop Giorgio Lingua, Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine and Chancellor of Bethlehem University, led the Mass of the Holy Spirit on his first official visit since Pope Leo XIV appointed him to both roles. “Seeking truth is what constitutes the very essence of the university,” he told students, urging them not…
Finding a Way Under Occupation
October 9, 2026
Bethlehem University’s Faculty on Education in Palestine A community breast-cancer awareness session was a classroom assignment for Bethlehem University midwifery students: a practice in outreach, communication, and clinical judgment. Four women who attended were referred for early detection. That outcome is one moment inside a much larger feature in This Week in Palestine, “When Education…
“You Will Make It”
October 9, 2026
Suhair Mohammad Ali, Bethlehem University Class of 2024 and Georgetown University graduate student, on why she crossed a checkpoint about ten times a week for four years, and what was waiting on the other side. I chose to cross the checkpoint for four years, around ten times a week. I had spent a year studying…
Bishop Denis Madden to Be Honored with Star of Bethlehem Award
October 7, 2026
At Pathways, hosted by Archbishop Gabriele Caccia at the Apostolic Nunciature, November 19 In nearly sixty years as a priest and bishop, Auxiliary Bishop Denis Madden has given much of his ministry to the Church in the Holy Land and the Archdiocese of Baltimore. On Thursday, November 19, at 6 p.m., Bethlehem University Foundation will…
NBA Coach Visits Bethlehem
September 16, 2026
Sharing Lessons Beyond Basketball Coach George Felton, NBA scout, Bethlehem University Foundation (BUFUSA) board member, and beloved mentor to many of Bethlehem’s students, is visiting Bethlehem University this week. Coach Felton’s visit comes around the first anniversary of the George Felton Court’s inauguration. We reflect on his words from that occasion: “From the first time…
Under the Spanish Skies
September 10, 2026
Bethlehem University Astronomy Club Represents Palestine Under Spanish Skies From July 20-25, under the night skies of Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, a delegation of five from Bethlehem University’s Astronomy Club found themselves sharing with the world, through Spanish and international media, what it means to study science in Palestine. The delegation of two lecturers…
Bethlehem University FAQs
Do you have questions about BU? Can you spot it on a map? Do you wonder how the occupation impacts students, faculty, and staff.
These answers and more are found on our FAQ page. Learn More . . .
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“You can perform miracles by touching the hearts of those entrusted to your care”