Welcome to the Friends of the Holy Land

..... an introduction

Catenian AssociationWharfedale Circle

The Next Few Minutes

• Background to the Holy Land

• The challenges for the Christians in the Holy Land

• The FHL – background and objectives

• FHL projects & humanitarian aid

• How you can help

• Questions

The Holy Land

Jerusalem (Old City)

Jerusalem

Bethlehem –the Church of the Nativity

Bethlehem 2011

Christian Population

• 340,000 Christians in the region

• Less than 2%

• Bethlehem - reduced from 80% to 20%

• Jerusalem - 400,000 Jews

- 400,000 Muslims

- 10,000 Christians

• The Christian population is declining

What are the challenges for the Christians in the Holy Land?

• Restricted ability to travel• 28% unemployment• Financial plight – below the poverty line• Those remaining find it difficult to make a

living• Many are moving away• Lack of awareness of their difficulties

What needs to be done?

• Strengthen their position to keep Christianity in the Holy Land

• Create an environment where our Christian brothers & sisters can be self sufficient

• Give them a reason to stay in the Holy Land

What do they need?

• Support– Prayers– Visits (pilgrimages)– Financial support (Humanitarian aid, supporting

projects, facilitating the export of goods)

• Self Respect– Outlets for what they produce– To be self sufficient/able to work

• Greater Awareness– Of their problems

Hence ........ The Friends of the Holy Land

A Charity established in England & Wales

based on Parish Groups of Friends working

together to support the Christian

Community in the Holy Land

How did we get here?

• Concept started with pilgrimages to the Holy Land from 2000 onwards

• Consultation with, and involvement of, the Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales

• Registered as a Charity in 2009• Patrons

– The Most Rev. Vincent Nichols– The Most Rev. Patrick Kelly– The Most Rev. Bernard Longley

Objectives of the FHL

For the Christian Community in the Holy Land

• To raise awareness of the difficulties they are facing

• To encourage and to provide for prayers to be offered for their intentions

• To give financial support to aid their well-being

How do we achieve our objectives?

• Through FHL Parish Groups – Based on the SVP model

• Through a National Structure– Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England &

Wales– National FHL Office and National Committee– Supporting FHL Parish Groups– Parish Clergy– “Friends”

What FHL Parish Groups do

• Support objectives of awareness, prayer and providing financial support.

• Meet monthly with guideline agenda• Run fund raising events• Spread the word through pulpit presentations• Sell olive wood and other items made in the Holy

Land, providing income & employment• Support Projects & the “Widows Mite Fund”• Encourage pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Range of FHL Projects

• House repair, providing local employment

• Distribution of blankets, heaters, medicines, food parcels

• School projects

• Establishment & support of a Day Care Centre – St. Martha’s House

• “Care & Repair” programme for families

More FHL Projects

• Provision of transport for the elderly and infirm

• Sponsor students through their education at School or University

• Fund Parish/community activities ie. summer schools/youth clubs• Fund small self-help projects

Projects/Humanitarian Aid

Projects/Humanitarian Aid

Projects/Humanitarian Aid

• “I have never got a present on Christmas day and now I did. Thanks God after seventy years I have someone who cares for me”

• “I hope that God will increase the Christians all over the world and keep the Christians of the Holy Land in their Land forever”

• “Now that I feel there is a loving God in the sky”

• “My illness is gone in this moment, thank you so much”

• “May God help them as they helped us”

On the Ground Support and Contacts

• Centrally through the Latin Patriarchate

• Direct through Parish Priests

• Through the coordination of three Parishes

• Through personal contacts on the ground

• Support an FHL Group in your Parish• Request a pulpit presentation. Arrange a meeting• Read our brochure/newsletter. Visit our website

www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk • Complete a ‘friends’ registration form to keep you

informed of progress, locally and nationally• Become an “ambassador” for the FHL• Make your friends & family aware of the FHL• Consider joining the next Catenian Pilgrimage to the

Holy Land : 19 - 29 March 2012.• Pray and donate as much as you are able

How can you help ?

Opportunities to donate to the FHL

• Complete a donation form• Consider planned giving through a regular

standing order• Gift aid if you are a UK tax payer• Collect small change in your own olive

wood crib box• Request donations to the FHL in lieu of

presents at your next celebration!• Provide a legacy to the FHL in your Will

Your FHL Contacts

• National Chairman – Dr. Michael Whelan• National Vice Chairman – Peter Rand• Honorary Secretary – Peter Horgan• FHL General Manager – Sean Higgins• 2 Station Road, Kenilworth, Warks. CV8 1FP• Telephone 01926 512980• Email friendsoftheholyland@btconnect.com • Website www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk

Thank you Any questions?