At Good Friday services throughout the Rockford Diocese today, parishioners will have a chance to contribute to the preservation of the Holy Land sites.

The Holy Land Franciscans, who for 800 years have received from the Vatican money collected on Good Friday, use the funds to preserve the past and protect the future of Christian sites in the land where Jesus walked.

The Franciscans provide pastoral care for Christians in 29 parishes, assisting them in practicing their faith and in their struggles to remain in the beleaguered lands where the faith began.

The funds also support housing and health care for the poor and elderly, schools, and care for shrines and chapels.

In 2012, the last year for which figures are available, the Good Friday collection brought in nearly $19 million from the U.S., Canada and other English-speaking countries.

The collection, however, did not cover the costs of the programs and supporting services administered by the Franciscans. Costs exceeded expenses by about $5.5 million.

The collection this year comes ahead of Pope Francis’ first visit as pope to the Holy Land.

“His presence will be a great source of encouragement to all Christians there,” says a letter from the commissaries of the Holy Land in the U.S. “His pilgrimage will demonstrate that the Holy Land is a high priority of his pontificate. He has asked all Catholics to support Christians in the Holy Land.”

Learn more about the collection at www.MyFranciscan.org.