This year 29 March, 2024
The Pontifical Good Friday Collection is the result of the Pope’s wishes for the bond between all Christians in the world and the Holy Places to remain strong. The collection is taken up on Good Friday, in all Catholic Churches around the world, to support the work of the Franciscans of the Holy Land.
Christians there rely heavily on the assistance that comes to them from this collection. The Franciscans of the Custody (usually termed “a province”) have the unique responsibility to care for the Holy Places as well the Christians, known as the “Living Stones” of our faith.
Supporting this collection helps maintain a Christian presence in the very land made holy by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
How the Collection is Used
Faith, Memory & Culture – The Holy Places
Holy Land Franciscans staff and maintain the holy places and shrines. They enable those who live in the Holy Land and those who visit to deepen their faith and their spiritual and cultural connection to salvation history.
Social & Charitable Activities
In order to encourage Christians to remain in the Holy Land, including the poor and young couples, the Custody builds thousands of residential units. Additionally, they build senior care facilities with medical assistance provided for the needy.
Educational & Scientific Activities
The Franciscans operate and support schools open to all, regardless of religion or nationality. They provide scholarships for young men to answer the call to become Franciscan priests and brothers. Additionally, Franciscan archaeologists pursue ongoing research at the Holy Places.
Pastoral Activities
The Franciscans provide pastoral care in 29 parishes in the Holy Land, offering worship, Christian formation, and necessary youth and family programs, especially in regions affected by war.
Liturgical, Ecumenical and Communications Programs
The Christian Media Center tells the story of the Holy Land through multimedia distributed throughout the world in more than seven languages, The friars organize liturgical celebrations for local Christians and pilgrims and share with other Christian communities in the Holy Land ongoing ecumenical cooperation.
Learn more: Background and History of the Collection
https://www.custodia.org/en/pro-terra-sancta-collection
Related Article: Good Friday: A day of universal solidarity with the Church in Jerusalem.