By Kielce Gussie
As Holy Week begins, the Good Friday Collection remains at the forefront of people’s minds in the Holy Land. Fr Francesco Ielpo, Custos of the Holy Land, made an appeal to Christians all around the world ahead of Good Friday in just a few days.
On that day, “as we contemplate the Crucified, we ask you to remember in your prayers and in concrete acts of charity those who continue to bear witness to the Gospel in the places of our redemption. Your closeness, dear brothers and sisters, is a tangible sign of hope and peace.”
At the request of a Pope
The Good Friday Collection—which commemorates the Passion of the Lord—is a concrete way to help those living in the Holy Land. Pope St Paul VI requested the establishment of the Collection in his apostolic exhortation Nobis Animo (March 1974) addressed to the bishops, clergy, and the faithful around the world.
Its goal is to deepen the bond between Christians across the globe and the Holy Places. Today, it continues to be one of the official collections of the Catholic Church.
The Good Friday Collection—this year held on Apr 3—is the main resource for supporting the activities and daily life tied to the Holy Places in the Holy Land. The Franciscan friars who serve as the Commissaries of the Holy Land transfer offerings collected by parish communities and bishops to the Custody of the Holy Land.
These donations are then dedicated to preserving the sacred sites and sustaining the local Christian communities, often referred to as the “living stones” of the region.
Thinking of the future
Need is great in the region. But the Collection is more than just providing aid. It goes beyond emergency response. The funds plant the seeds for future generations through a commitment to education.
The Good Friday Collection supports about 630 homes for families in need; 15 schools with 12,000 students; 1,100 jobs; 270 missionaries; 55 shrines; 6 pilgrim houses; 5 homes for the sick and for orphans; 3 academic institutions.
People all over Jerusalem, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq benefit from the generous donations of Christians around the world.
The Custody of the Holy Land highlighted that this Collection is a reminder that we can “support hope by giving support hope by fostering peace.” – Vatican News
