Collection preserves Holy Land

On Good Friday, April 6, Catholics will be asked to remember not only Jesus' passion, but also the places where He lived and preached, the people who live there today, and the ministries that support them.

A collection taken up during Good Friday services will be sent to the Church in the Holy Land to support churches, cultural institutions, hospitals, clinics, and centers for social assistance.

The collection is also a prime source of support for the preservation of shrines, churches and holy sites that chronicle the life of Jesus and tell the story of the birth of Christianity.

"The annual Good Friday Collection aims to provide among the Christian faithful a love for the land of the Lord," Bishop Howard J. Hubbard wrote in a pulpit letter read in parishes last weekend. "For the Church to survive there, it must rely on a loving and nurturing solidarity on the part of each Christian, a solidarity which bears witness to faith in Him who was born in that land, who preached the Gospel there, and who also died and was resurrected there."

The funds also educate young men preparing to serve in missions in the area, as well as such neighboring countries as Syria, Jordan and Egypt.

The collection also supports efforts to feed refugee children, house pilgrims and underwrite homes for the handicapped.

"From the daily news, we all know of the challenges in the Middle East," the Bishop wrote. "Christians in the Holy Land urgently need your help. You can help fellow Catholics in the cradle of Christianity through your generosity during this year's special Good Friday Collection. I thank you for your continued support in this effort to assist our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land."

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