The Pontifical Good Friday Collection



The Pontifical Good Friday Collection, also known as the "Collecta pro Locis Sanctis", is the result of the Pope's wishes for the bond between all Christians in the world and the Holy Places to remain strong.

Each Good Friday, the Collection is taken up in Catholic Churches around the world to support the work of the Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land. Christians there rely heavily on the assistance that comes to them from this Collection. The Franciscans of the Custody have the unique responsibility to care for the Holy Places as well the Christians there, known as the "Living Stones" of our faith. Supporting this collection helps maintain a Christian presence in the very land made holy by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This year - 2023 - is the sixth year of the Covington Section's initiative to help promote the Good Friday Collection in our Diocese, which has the blessing and appreciation of the Franciscan Custody. The goal of this initiative is to increase the awareness of our fellow Catholics about the deteriorating Christian situation in the Holy Land and to increase the monies given at the parish level on Good Friday. Our initiative to promote the Pontifical Good Friday Collection is truly an important work of mercy for the universal Church.

HOW THE COLLECTION IS USED

Faith, Memory & Culture - The Holy Places
Holy Land Franciscans staff and maintain the holy places and shrines. They enable those who live in the Holy Land and those who visit to deepen their faith and their spiritual and cultural connection to salvation history.

Social & Charitable Activities
In order to encourage Christians to remain in the Holy Land, including the poor and young couples, the Custody builds thousands of residential units. Additionally, they build senior care facilities with medical assistance provided for the needy.

Educational & Scientific Activities
The Franciscans operate and support schools open to all, regardless of religion or nationality. They provide scholarships for young men to answer the call to become Franciscan priests and brothers. Additionally, Franciscan archeologists pursue ongoing research at the Holy Places.

Pastoral Activities
The Franciscans provide pastoral care in 29 parishes in the Holy Land, offering worship, Christian formation, and necessary youth and family programs, especially in regions affected by war.

Liturgical, Ecumenical and Communications Programs
The Christian Media Center tells the story of the Holy Land through multimedia distributed throughout the world in more than seven languages, The friars organize liturgical celebrations for local Christians and pilgrims and share with other Christian communities in the Holy Land ongoing ecumenical cooperation.

Learn more: Background and History of the Collection

MEDIA MATERIALS & LENTEN REFLECTIONS

Media materials and Lenten Reflections are downloadable, printable, digital resources that are available to archdiocesan and diocesan contacts and to individual parishes. They are designed for inclusion in parish bulletins and diocesan communications media such as newspapers, magazines and websites. Parishes may also print them out for distribution in pews and posters for display in vestibules or narthexes. All files are in PDF format. Simply click on the desired media to open the file and download. Each link opens a new window.

Materials for Dioceses and Parishes: (coming soon)

- Poster 1 (11"x17" printable)
- Poster 2 (11"x17" printable)
- PGF Pulpit Announcement
- PGF Talking Points Paper
- How the Collection is Used
- Pastor's Sample Letter
- The PGF Collection is applied to these programs
- Weekly Bulletin Announcements

Lenten Reflections (coming soon):

- Reflections for the First Sunday of Lent - February 18, 2024
- Reflections for the Second Sunday of Lent - February 25, 2024
- Reflections for the Third Sunday of Lent - March 3, 2024
- Reflections for the Fourth Sunday of Lent - March 10, 2024
- Reflections for the Fifth Sunday of Lent - March 17, 2024
- Reflections for Palm Sunday - March 24, 2024
- Reflections for Easter Sunday - March 31, 2024

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