March 1, 2012. (Romereports.com) Over the past year the Middle East has been rocked by the Arab Spring, protests, and regime change in many nations. The violence and unrest has also meant a large number of Christians have fled from the Holy Land.
Maintaining a Christian presence in the Holy Land is something the Catholic Church has worked over the years to preserve.
That's why the Supreme Pontiffs have called for a collection to be taken
on Good Friday. In a letter written by Cardinal Sandri, the prefect for
the Oriental Churches, he reminds all bishops of the need to support
the Church in the Holy Land.
The donations go to support parishes, student scholarships, help small
business, as well as building houses, schools and areas for children.
Today the Vatican has also published a report on where the proceeds from
2011 were used, among which was restoration and maintenance on shrines,
churches and convents in places like Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Mount Tabor,
and Gethsemane and the Shrine of the Flagellation.
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