Dear Subscriber First Name

As you will know, ACN sadly had to cancel our pilgrimage to the Holy Land that had been scheduled for October.

It’s disappointing at two levels. Of course, for the Irish pilgrims hoping to deepen their faith and walk in the footsteps of Jesus. But, it is also hugely disappointing and dispiriting for our friends in the Holy Land who were so looking forward to welcoming us – the ‘living stones’ of that blessed land, the local Christians.

Aid to the Church in Need has worked to support the local Christian community in the Holy Land for decades. After the October 7 war, that support intensified in Gaza, but also in the West Bank where most people instantly lost their jobs and have had no means to put bread on the table for almost three years, without the support of generous people like the benefactors of ACN.

Every time I speak with Christians in the Holy Land, they always say to me: “don’t forget about us, and don’t forget to pray for us”.

Later this week, I will travel to the Holy Land to visit some of the communities that we are supporting with your vital generosity – and I will carry with me your prayers and wishes.

Fr Francesco Ielpo, the Franciscan friar with responsibility for the holy sites associated with the earthly life of Jesus in the Holy Land, recently said that “fear is not overcome with words; it is overcome with witness. Seeing Christians from all over the world come to the Holy Land to visit the holy places generates hope and strengthens the reason for coming here — not to see a museum, but to encounter a living Church”.

It is not now possible for us to travel as a group of pilgrims, but I hope my presence can be some small concrete sign of solidarity and spiritual closeness and an assurance to the local Christians that they are indeed not forgotten.

 If you would like to send a prayer request or an intention in absolute confidence, you can email it to prayers@acnireland.org – I will be happy to bring your intention before the site of the Lord’s birth in Bethlehem, and the site of his passion, death and resurrection in Jerusalem.

While I am in the Holy Land, I will also visit the Christian communities there and assure them of our prayers from Ireland. Today, there are only around 230,000 Christians left in the Holy Land – many have fled, and with your support, Aid to the Church in Need is working hard to ensure those who remain can stay.

Please also pray for me as I undertake this special pilgrimage and show our concrete solidarity with the Christians who call the Holy Land home.

God bless you,

Michael Kelly

ACN Ireland