As Good Friday approaches, we are invited to take part in a tradition deeply rooted in the life of the Church: the annual collection for the Holy Land, channelling financial support directly to the Christian communities living in the places where Jesus Christ was born, ministered, suffered and rose from the dead. For the faithful who will never set foot in Jerusalem or Bethlehem, it remains among the most tangible expressions of solidarity available to them.

Where the Money Goes
The funds raised are intended for the direct support of the Church in the Holy Land. Approximately 65 per cent are entrusted to the Custody of the Holy Land, the Franciscan body charged with the care of the sacred sites and the pastoral support of Latin Catholic communities in Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and neighbouring countries. The remaining 35 per cent are directed to the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, which oversees the pastoral and humanitarian work of the Eastern Catholic Churches throughout the Middle East.

A Moment of Particular Urgency
The situation in the Holy Land is, by any measure, one of exceptional difficulty. The combined effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, renewed regional conflict and a prolonged collapse in pilgrimage numbers have left many Christian families facing serious economic hardship. The Christian presence in the Holy Land, already fragile, continues to face mounting pressure.

The annual collection helps fund the upkeep of the holy sites, the training of priests and pastoral workers, the operation of Catholic schools, and direct financial assistance to families in need. For Christian communities in the region, it can serve as a vital source of support, and in some cases, a genuine lifeline.

How We Participate
In our Archdiocese, donations gathered at the parish level are forwarded through the Corporation Archiépiscopale Catholique Romaine de Montréal (Roman Catholic Archdiocesan Corporation of Montreal), or CACRM, and transmitted directly to the Holy Land. No portion is retained locally. Every contribution, large or small, reaches the communities for which it is intended.

We encourage all parishioners to bring their offering to their parish this Good Friday, April 3, 2026.

A Tradition Rooted in Faith
As we commemorate the Lord's Passion this week, we are warmly encouraged to respond with generosity, standing in solidarity and hope with a community of believers who continue to witness the faith in the land of the Resurrection, and becoming, in doing so, instruments of peace.

United in prayer and charity, let us stand with our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land.