The English-language letter, which also bears the signature of Archbishop Cyril Vasil S.J., secretary of the same congregation, explains how "the Holy Land expects the brotherhood of the universal Church and desires to reciprocate it in sharing the experience of grace and suffering that marks her journey. She wishes to recognise, first of all, the grace of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, and that of the papal vist to Cyprus. These events have increased the interest of the world and the return of a great number of pilgrims in the historical footsteps of the Lord Jesus. Yet also tangible is sorrow at the escalating violence to Christians in Eastern regions whose consequences are felt acutely in the Holy Land. The Christians of the East are experiencing the actuality of martyrdom and are suffering because of the instability or absence of peace. The most disturbing sign of this is their inexorable exodus. Indeed a few positive signs in some situations do not suffice to invert the sorrowful tendency of Christian emigration which impoverishes the entire area, draining it of the most vital forces constituted by the young generations".
"This appeal for the collection is inherent in the cause of peace, of which the brothers and sisters of the Holy Land desire to be effective instruments in the hands of the Lord for the good of the whole of the East".
"It takes place at the beginning of the Lenten journey towards Easter and can culminate on Good Friday or on the occasions considered most favourable in each local context. However, the collection everywhere remains the ordinary and indispensable means of promoting the life of Christians in that beloved Land".
After highlighting how "the Congregation for the Eastern Churches acts as spokesperson for these Churches' needs for pastoral care, education, social assistance and charity", the prefect and secretary of the dicastery note that "Pope Benedict invites us, however, to go beyond the gesture, although it is praiseworthy, of concrete help. The relationship must become more intense in order to attain a 'true spirituality anchored to the Land of Jesus'".
An attachment to the letter of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches explains how, in the period 2009-2010, the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land - the mission of which is to "to keep alive the liturgy in the places of worship, to take care of pilgrims, to enhance apostolic works, and support the Christian community" - dedicated particular attention to the planning and execution of such projects as: the Sanctuary of St. John the Baptist at Ain Karem, the Sanctuary of the Transfiguration at Mount Tabor, scholarships for university students, and building homes for the poor and for young married couples.
22/04/2011
Where does the Good Friday Collection go?
Ever wonder what happens to the money you place in the church collection basket on Good Friday? Well, if you didn’t know already, you really should. The small donations we give every Good Friday traditionally go to the Franciscan friars in the Holy Land. Their work helps ensure the survival of Christians in the land where Christianity was born.
Pope Benedict has recalled how it was St. Paul who some 2000 years ago initiated the first collection for struggling Christians in Jerusalem.
"The collection” he said, “expressed the community's debt to the mother church of Palestine, from which they had received the ineffable gift of the Gospel."
In a land sorely troubled by conflict and hatred, Christians can be instruments of peace and offer solidarity with the poor – something the Franciscans have been doing since they started caring for the local Christian flock and maintaining the holy sites in the Holy Land in 1209.
With the Good Friday collection, they have been able to restore and build shrines, construct homes for underprivileged families and young couples, assist pilgrims and care for the elderly. They run summer camps and offer skills training to help young people find jobs.
Though the collection provides much needed financial support for these projects, the Custos of the Franciscan Custody, Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa says the task ahead can seem daunting. So, the Franciscans place a lot of attention on helping local Christians to help themselves.
While Fr. Pizzaballa says the Franciscans can’t be expected to respond to all the needs all the time, the Franciscans have made a major, long-standing commitment to education, offering some 300 scholarships alone. Thousands of Christian and Muslim children and young people attend their schools in the Holy Land. Tracey McClure recently visited one of them in Jerusalem and talked to the principle about how they are forming the peace-builders of tomorrow...
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