[From Custodia.org] The Custody of the Holy Land is present in Lebanon. Being active in several towns and villages, it has recently been requested by a number of Iraqi families from Qaraqosh, refugees in the country of the Cedar. Towards the Franciscan parish of Deir Mimas, at the extreme south of Lebanon; this is the […]

As is the case each year, a delegation from the Hlc, the Coordinating Group of the Bishops’ Conferences in support of the Church in the Holy Land, is visiting the Holy Land: the objective is to meet those most in need and helpless, to learn first-hand about the problems experienced by the local Christian communities, […]

Thanks to your solidarity and your support to the Campaign Emergency Gaza launched by the Association pro Terra Sancta, for some young Christians living in Gaza, the new year has started with something new, a positive change: a job. “They mainly work is about translating, recording and digitalization of texts” explains the vice-parish priest of […]

Ten months have passed since the beginning of their Civilian Service experience for six young Italians, employed in various manners in the projects of Association pro Terra Sancta, thanks to an agreement with the University of Bari. The youths are putting to good use their skills and knowledge, but above all they are learning a […]

“Advanced Heritage Conservation on job training in East Jerusalem’’ The Mosaic Centre Jericho – Committee for the Promotion of Tourism in the Governorate of Jericho has received a Grant from the Italian Government, through The Palestinian Municipalities Support Programme (PMSP), in partnership with the Custody of the Holy Land, ATS Pro Terra Sancta and Municipality […]

[From Terrasanta.net] With Christmas approaching, Pope Francis has expressed his heartfelt prayers that Christians in the Middle East will have a Christmas full of the love and peace of Christ. In a letter the Holy Father addressed to the Christians Sunday that the Vatican released yesterday, the Pope not only imparted his blessing, but also […]

Christmas is approaching and the town of Bethlehem is celebrating. During these days, Association pro Terra Sancta’s involvement in serving the people, above all the children who are the real “stars” of Christmas, is more intense than ever. Accepting Jesus’ invitation to become like children, the volunteers have chosen to share this special moment with […]

With Christmas just around the corner, in Bethlehem the festive atmosphere is readily apparent in the crowded streets lit up for the Christmas markets and concerts. Unfortunately, not all is well. During holidays there is a risk that the weakest and excluded elements of society, such as the elderly, will feel an even more acute […]

This is the speech announced by Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Custos of the Holy Land and President of Association pro Terra Sancta, for this  Holy Christmas 2014. Even the staff of the Association pro Terra Sancta joins with joy to the words of the Custos, wishing you a Merry Christmas. Lk 3:15: A feeling of expectancy had grown among the […]

It has been ten months since the beginning of the experience of Civil Service for six Italian young people, who are engaged in many different ways in the projects by the Association pro Terra Sancta thanks to an agreement with the University of Bari. The young people are putting into practice their skills and knowledge, but above all […]

“The crib is made ready, hay is brought, the ox and the donkey are led in. Simplicity is honored there, poverty is exalted, humility is commended, and the town of Greccio almost becomes a new Bethlehem”, with these words the biographer of St. Francis, Thomas of Celano, described the first Christmas Nativity Scene created by […]

As this Advent begins, in Bethlehem the sun is once again shining, after the intense cold and continuous rain of recent days. Following the traditional entrance of Custos Pierbattista Pizzaballa accompanied by scouts, the town prepares for Christmas: a group of workers is busy working on the lights that will illuminate Star Street. On Manger […]

Valerio, a young Sicilian who is 32, spent more than a month aiding youngsters in Bethlehem: in the morning helping out as a cook for the sisters of the Home of Peace, and in the afternoon taking care of disabled children at the Hogar Niño Dios. A few days following his transfer to Jerusalem, where […]

In a land where drought is persistent for several months a year, most families —and particularly those in the poorest and most vulnerable communities— do not have enough drinking water. This is a problem that affects dramatically the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the whole of the West Bank. In fact, […]

In the 1960s Fathers Stanislao Loffreda and Virgilio Corbo excavated in Capernaum  the remains of a Byzantine church with a mosaic floor. Very similar to mosaics found in nearby Tabgha, this 55 m² mosaic has geometric and decorative patterns with a peacock, symbol of immortality, at its center. The two archaeologists decided to remove the […]

The Christmas campaign for Bethlehem kicks off: Association pro Terra Sancta needs your help to assist the children and the poorest of the town where Jesus was born. OBJECTIVE FOR CHRISTMAS 2014: €225,000 to help 350 Palestinian families and 2000 children of Bethlehem Child Jesus was born in a grotto in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. […]

On Saturday 11th October, friars and pilgrims descended on Capernaum for the annual blessing of first fruits. It was a day of celebration for a number of reasons: a reconstruction of the Byzantine mosaic found in the house of Peter was installed for the occasion, produced by the young mosaicists of the Mosaic Centre Jericho. The […]

[From Custodia.org] “The exhibition MFH Manuscripta Franciscana Hierosolymitana took place on Thursday, October 23th at the Library of the Custody of St. Saviour’s Monastery. The program: blessing of the new stained glass window,guided tour of the 35 exhibited manuscripts, conference in the afternoon. Before an attentive audience, the former director of the Library, Fr. Marcello […]

The renovation project, which started in March 2012, has been carried out for more than two years by workers from the Custody’s Technical office as part of the project “Jerusalem, Stones of Memory” of Association pro Terra Sancta. The first stage of the renovation involved the restoration of the monastery and areas belonging to the […]

On 23 October at 09:oo am, in the presence of the Custos of the Holy Land, the Very Rev. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the inauguration of “MFH Manuscripta Franciscana Hierosolymitana. Selected Exhibition” took place at St. Saviour’s Monastery. Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to see 36 precious manuscripts in the Arabic, Armenian, Hebrew, Ethiopian, […]