Paul Calvert speaks to Father Eugene Aliatta from the Terra Sancta museum in Jerusalem, about the archaeology that uncovered the artefacts from Jesus' time and the early Church, as well as their connection with the Franciscans.

Paul: Is it important for the local community and local Christians to see this and be involved with this as well?

Father Eugene: Local people will be very interested. We saw them visiting the section we have already open, and local people there are Christian and non-Christian because our society is very mixed. All of them sometimes they visit and they can appreciate Christian life and the life in the time of Jesus, which is part of the life of the country where they live.

Paul: Phase two of the museum has opened and you will be doing a phase three also, what do you have in phase two and what are you going to be doing in phase three?

Father Eugene: Phase two of our museum we have archaeological collections.

There will be a next phase, very important, with excavations in many holy places like Capernaum, Mount of Olives, and Bethany. They are all very important places where Franciscan archaeologists did excavations and these will be shown in the third phase.

Paul: You have been here for 40 years, what is it like for you living here in Jerusalem?

Father Eugene: To be in Jerusalem I think is a special grace. So many people would like to have this experience and I am glad that I had this experience, from being young until today.

Paul: What is your prayer for the museum?

Father Eugene: My prayer is that the museum will be useful to people, because this will bring people more hope, more understanding of the teachings of Jesus.