Working for peace in the Holy Land

Tonight we  were delighted to welcome Dr. Jordan Lancaster, a respected linguist who is also renowned for her charity work with children and families in the Holy Land.

She spoke powerfully on the difficulties faced by Christians living in Israel and Palestine and also of the things which unite the three monotheistic faiths as well as those that divide them. One of the themes she used was bread, how sharing it is common to Christians, Jews and Muslims, how the breaking of bread is a symbol that flows through the Old Testament and into the New.

She founded her charity, Terra Sancta, in 2007 (after visiting the Holy Land on a Holy Week pilgrimage to celebrate her birthday the year before) to provide educational support for Christian children in the Middle East. Most Christians attend Catholic schools and there are fees to be paid each term which, on a stretched budget, can be very hard to meet. Her organisation relies totally on fundraising and volunteers so they can ensure that all of their resources go into helping families meet these costs and all children can receive the very best education available.

I hope you will join me in praying for Jordan and her work in the Middle East.

Most Holy Virgin Mary, Help of Christians,
How sweet it is to come to your feet,
to implore your help in all my necessities,
in every sorrow, and especially in all my temptations!

I ask for your unceasing help for all who are now suffering for their faith:
Help them to stay close to Christ and to live the Gospel.

Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians,
that having invoked you on earth,
we may love and eternally thank you in heaven.
Amen.