The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is built atop Mount Calvary. The large church is constructed over the very sites of our Lord’s crucifixion and nearby tomb. Because of the way the church is constructed, upon entering one must climb a flight a stairs to reach a sanctuary atop Mount Calvary. There are a group of Franciscan priests who live at the Holy Sepulcher, assisting pilgrims and celebrating Mass. You might say they live on Calvary.
They are remembered each Good Friday as the whole world turns to Calvary. In a particular way, we turn our attention to Christians in the Holy Land next week with the Good Friday collection. Catholic parishes throughout the world will support Christians in the Holy Land next week with a special collection to support their efforts.
It is no secret that recent years have not been kind to our brothers and sisters in the faith in that part of the world. Violence and regime change have not provided the stability necessary for Christian communities to flourish. Instead, we have seen dramatic decline in the number of Christians in the Holy Land.
The Good Friday collection supports the work of Catholic parishes and schools in the Holy Land. Last year it provided emergency relief to Christians in Syria and Iraq as well. Holy Week offers a chance to turn attention to the holy sites of our salvation. In these days, Catholics in Rhode Island are given the opportunity to ensure the flourishing of the Catholic community there.
