A reminder is sent every year, because it's something that mustn't be forgotten – the collection from every Good Friday Mass is special because it benefits the Holy Land.
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri explains this day is not only meant to raise funds, but also to spread awareness to Christians worldwide, as it involves conserving places where Christ walked and, above all, ensuring the Christian presence in these areas.
CARD. LEONARDO SANDRI
Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches
“The collection for the Holy Land is for the Holy Places, but also for the living stones, who are all of our brothers and sisters, Christians or not. God's mercy is for everyone, and the Church's work is for all of our brothers and sisters. It does so through schools, hospitals and aid projects that are supported by this collection.”
These aid works for the Holy Sites population range from educational and health centers, scholarships, seminaries, jobs or even apartments for families or recently married couples at an affordable price. The goal is preventing a diaspora of Christians from the Holy Land.
CARD. LEONARDO SANDRI
Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches
“This collection will benefit all of those people, not just the sites. Why? To bring relief, stability and presence to those who safeguard the faith passed down by the Apostles and early Church.”
Violence in Iraq or the war in Syria have created a humanitarian crisis that spreads throughout the region, with Lebanon and Jordan also experiencing severe repercussions.
In the midst of the tragedy, however, exists a ray of hope, as the Nineveh Plains in Iraq have been liberated and are now being reconstructed.
These emergencies have provoked an imbalance between the aid needed and that which can be provided. Therefore, now more than ever, this effort will help those who need it most.
CARD. LEONARDO SANDRI
Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches
“It's very easy to talk about the war, about persecution, about hate, about division, about exile, about migration... but this Good Friday collection gives people the chance to say “enough talking” and make a concrete, effective effort for all of those who suffer through the hospitals and other institutions that assist our brothers and sisters in those countries.”
This collection will benefit Christians and non-Christians alike from the entire Holy Land, places where Christianity was forged, like Jerusalem, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Turkey, Iran and Iraq.
