Our holy door

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Catholic Herald Dec. 17-23, 2015 | catholicherald.com

Gainesville holy trinity

O little town of Gainesville

Bethlehem Walk takes visitors to the well, the tax collector and the stable in a unique experience. By DAVE BOROWSKI

Catholic Herald Staff Writer

The Northern Virginia town of Gainesville and the occupied West Bank

Courtesy Photo

Tiny gold scrolls with Bible verses will be given out at the Bethlehem Walk Dec. 18.

city of Bethlehem in Israel could not be more different. To get to Gainesville, the most challenging part is navigating the traffic on Interstate 66. Bethlehem is a bit more complicated; you need to traverse Israeli and Palestinian checkpoints. Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago was even more challenging. For one day this Advent, Dec. 18, Holy Trinity Church in Gainesville will lift people out of their 21st century lives and take them to ancient Bethlehem at the time of the birth of Jesus. Margi Loesel, Lisa Gogal and Carrie Hall, all friends and parishioners of Holy Trinity, wanted to bring the real meaning of Christmas to Prince William County. “We are friends who had a vision,” said Loesel. “(The Bethlehem Walk) is an active meditation on the Nativity.” Loesel said she got the idea from the Parkwood Baptist Church in Annandale, which has been doing a Bethlehem Walk See bethlehem page 12

DAVE BOROWSKI | Catholic herald

Our holy door

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde opens the Holy Door at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington Dec. 13. See story and more photos on page 13 and at catholicherald.com.

Diocesan school superintendent to retire

Sr. Bernadette McManigal, diocesan superintendent of schools, will retire June 30 after eight years in that role. See story on page 11.