Holy Land Collection


For 800 years, the Holy Land Franciscans have served in the land made holy by the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. The annual Holy Land Collection will be held on Good Friday 18 April 2025.

Pope Francis has asked our parishes to support the collection which helps Christians in the Holy Land.

Your support helps the church minister in parishes, provide Catholic schools and offer religious education. The Holy Land Collection also helps to preserve the sacred shrines. The current and past wars, unrest and instability have been especially hard on Christians. In these times of crisis, the Holy Land Collection provides humanitarian aid to refugees.

When you contribute to the Holy Land Collection, you become an instrument of peace and join with Catholics around the world in solidarity with the Church in the Holy Land.

LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA 2025

 

Why donate to the Holy Land Collection?

 

Our connection to the Holy Land

During Holy Week, the Gospel readings come to life in a special way as we gather to celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The readings remind us of our special connection to the land where this great story unfolded.

Supporting the Church in the Holy Land is an historic mission

Since the time of St Paul, who urged his missionary Churches not to forget the needs of the Church in Jerusalem, Christians worldwide have understood the responsibility to support the land where Jesus walked.

It has never been easy to be a Christian in the Holy Land

In these challenging times in the Middle East, Christians are experiencing unique hardships, made all the worse due to the pandemic and current war. We have an opportunity to help them through the Holy Land Collection.

Christians in the Holy Land face special challenges

Christians in the Holy Land face special challenges, many of which we hear about in the daily news. The political, religious and military challenges in the Holy Land are more complex than ever. The wars, unrest and instability have been especially hard on Christians. Supporting the Holy Land Collection offers hope to the Holy Land Christians. Over these past five years, their difficulties have been greatly magnified by the Covid-19 pandemic and the current war, not only in the health and safety of the people but through the severe economic consequences that have disproportionately affected the most vulnerable.

Who are these Christians?

Christians living in the Holy Land today are descendants of those who first believed and lived the Christian faith. It is important that Christians continue to live, work and pray in the Holy Land.

An opportunity to express solidarity

The Holy Land Collection offers all Catholics an opportunity to express their solidarity with Christians in the Holy Land. A donation to the Holy Father’s annual appeal is a direct way to make a difference in the lives of those caught up in war, violence and instability in this region, and of course the pandemic.

What has been accomplished?

The annual Holy Land Good Friday Collection is applied to these projects, programs and more:

Faith, memory and culture–the Holy Places

Holy Land Franciscans staff and 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. Due to the pandemic in 2019-2021, and now the war, over these past three years, there has been a dramatic loss of income due to the closure of the shrines and the lack of pilgrims. However, the maintenance and care of the shrines has had to continue as well as supporting the local people whom they employ.

Social and charitable activities

In order to assist Christians to remain in the Holy Land, including the poor and young couples, the Custody builds hundreds of residential units. Additionally, they build senior care facilities. Medical assistance is provided for the needy. Due to the pandemic, and now the war, there has been a significantly greater demand for assistance while at the same time, a dramatic loss of income.

Educational and scientific activities

The Franciscans operate and support schools open to all, regardless of religion or nationality. They provide scholarships for students to prepare them to get jobs and remain in the Holy Land to be part of living Catholic communities. Funds are distributed to young people studying to become priests or religious. Finally, Franciscan archaeologists pursue ongoing research at the Holy Places discovering historical artefacts.

Pastoral activities

The Franciscans provide pastoral care in 29 parishes in the Holy Land offering Worship, Christian Formation, youth and family programs, as well as guided tours for pilgrims attending the shrines and holy places. With the closure of churches and shrines and the loss of pilgrims due to the pandemic, and now the war, pastoral care has needed to continue but with fewer resources.

Liturgical, Ecumenical and Communications Programs

The Franciscan Media Centre tells the story of the Holy Land through multimedia distributed throughout the world in more than seven languages. The friars organise Liturgical Celebrations for the local Christians and Pilgrims and share with other Christian communities in the Holy Land in ongoing Ecumenical co-operation.

Ways to donate to the Holy Land Collection

The annual Holy Land Collection will be held on Good Friday 18 April 2025. You can make your donation* in a variety of ways below:

ONLINE—CREDIT CARD

The easiest way to donate is via our secure online credit card payment option at the following link.CREDIT CARD DONATION

PHONE

If you would prefer to donate over the phone, please call one of our friendly team members at the Office of the Bishop on (02) 4222 2446 from Monday to Friday: 9:00am–4.30pm, to make your donation.

AT CHURCH

Cash donations can also be made during Good Friday services (18 April 2025) at your parish.

* Donations made to the Holy Land Appeal are non tax-deductible.

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