Holy Land collection: communion and solidarity with the Church of Jerusalem
As in the past, the faithful are called upon during this year’s Lent to "think with greater intensity of our brothers and sisters who live the faith and [bear] witness to Christ who died and rose in the Holy Land”. And for this reason, “we express our solidarity with them through acts of charity.”
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – The Congregation for Oriental Churches issued a letter today exhorting the faithful to contribute to the Holy Land 2019 Communion and solidarity with the Church of Jerusalem collection.
The letter notes that Lent is a liturgical time in which the mysteries of our salvation are relived, a time to "think with greater intensity of our brothers and sisters who live the faith and [bear] witness to Christ who died and rose in the Holy Land”. And for this reason, “we express our solidarity with them through acts of charity.”
The “Middle East is witnessing a process that has torn apart the relations between the peoples of the region, creating a situation of such injustice that hoping for peace seems almost rash,” reads the letter signed by Card Leonardo Sandri and Mgr Cyril Vasil, SI, respectively prefect and secretary of the Congregation.
“The Church, as St. Paul VI recalled in Nobis in Animo, has long done more than simply watch: ‘From the second half of the last century there was an important increase in pastoral, social, charitable and cultural works, for the benefit of the local population without distinction and of the ecclesial communities in the Holy Land [...].”
“We notice, with hope, a certain recent resumption of pilgrimages, palpably sensing the joy of the faith in so many faithful who come to the Holy Land in ever-greater numbers from China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka”.
A financial report is attached to the letter detailing the spending items and initiatives undertaken with 8,633,099.88 euros collected last year and largely destined for the Custody of the Holy Land.
.png)
04/03/2020 17:32
