The annual collection to support the missionary work of the Church in the Holy Land will be held on Sunday September 13.

Usually held on Good Friday, this year’s Holy Land Appeal was rescheduled by Pope Francis as churches were closed over Holy Week due to COVID restrictions.

The collection supports the Franciscan Friars’ custody of the Holy Land, with a donation making a difference in the lives of those who are caught up in war, violence and instability in the region. It promotes the missionary work of the Church by providing welfare assistance to local Christians in areas including health, education, employment and housing. Parishes, schools, orphanages and medical centres throughout the Holy Land rely on assistance from the appeal.

As in so many parts of the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown up enormous challenges for the people of the Holy Land, particularly in terms of health and the huge drop of income due to travel restrictions preventing pilgrims, and the closure of all shrines. More recently, the explosion and destruction in Beirut has placed even more strain on the humanitarian resources of the Custody of the Holy Land within Lebanon.