DIOCESAN—After last year’s pandemic-caused delay, the annual Pontifical Good Friday Collection is returning to Good Friday.

 

The collection is taken up in parishes during Good Friday services and forwarded to the Holy Land Franciscans to support a variety of efforts, including:

 

Faith, Memory and Culture — The Holy Places

Holy Land Franciscans and staff maintain the holy places and shrines. This enables 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 and Charitable Activities

In order to assist Christians to remain in the Holy Land, including the poor and young couples, the funds help build thousands of residential units and senior care facilities. Medical assistance is also provided for the needy.

 

Educational and 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 in ongoing ecumenical cooperation.

 

Info: https://myfranciscan.org/good-friday/