2025 Financial Report on emergency humanitarian aid, specific projects, and support for education

THE GAZA PARISH TRANSFORMED INTO A REFUGE 

The Gaza’s parishioners’ resilience was made possible thanks to the assistance provided by the many Knights and Dames who responded generously to the emergency appeal during the tragic context of a war that has caused the death of 72,134 Palestinians.

Since October 2023, the Church of the Holy Family has been transformed into an emergency shelter. This transformation demonstrates how compassion can prevail even in the midst of wartime devastation.

The situation in Gaza has presented a series of extremely serious challenges. These include the constant and unpredictable security threats; episodes of looting carried out by crowds attacking humanitarian convoys and seizing desperately needed supplies before they could reach those waiting for them; and, the closure of the border, which became a bottleneck of suffering that blocked aid while the population was left without resources.

When shipments finally did manage to arrive, the fresh fruit and vegetables were often spoiled by the heat, rendering these essential provisions unusable.

It is important to highlight the severe shortage of basic necessities, such as food, water, fuel, medicines, and construction materials, which has forced the population to be constantly inventive with what they had to hand and apply strict rationing with the insufficient resources available.

Added to this were the damaged infrastructure, which has turned daily life into an ongoing struggle against deterioration.

To maintain compassion, hope, and operational efficiency under relentless emotional pressure has required drawing on reserves of resilience that have seemed impossible to sustain. However, in one way or another, little by little, and day after day, parish leaders and members have succeeded thanks to the participation of each individual and the entire community as a whole.

Since the beginning of the war, October 7, when this tragedy began, the spaces of Gaza’s Holy Family Church have been reorganized to manage the emergency.

Some areas are being used as warehouses for storing and distributing food, blankets, and essential goods, while a specialized distribution center is extending aid well beyond the walls of the Holy Family Church, which is serving communities in the surrounding areas.

Meals are being prepared daily in an equipped kitchen, and in the adjacent bakery, which has been fitted out with wood-fired and gas ovens, where fresh bread is being baked every day. In addition, a small poultry farm is providing eggs for community residents.

A well has been dug near the church, and water storage tanks have been installed, which has allowed for the creation of laundry facilities with multiple washing stations.

Solar panels have ensured lighting and the operation of electrical equipment, which is essential especially for elderly residents and medical needs.

A medical clinic and pharmacy operated on site, providing doctor’s appointments, examinations, and medicines both to the shelter’s residents and to members of nearby communities. The church clinic has remained open even when the hospitals were overwhelmed or damaged, when travel to medical facilities became dangerous or impossible, and when medicine supplies dwindled.

Security cameras have stayed active to protect people and property, and internet network connections have continued functioning, which is allowing the community to remain in contact with distant family members.

Some improvised classrooms have been enabling children to continue attending school.

To support all these activities, six specialized emergency committees were established, with each one responsible for essential operational areas. These include: daily management and coordination; supply logistics and warehousing; meal planning and food preparation; electrical and energy systems; facility maintenance; and, external relations.

From 15 employees at the beginning of 2024, the Holy Family Church has gradually increased the number, and was employing 200 people by 2025. These positons include security personnel, water-system operators, laundry technicians, kitchen and bakery staff, agricultural workers, children’s activity coordinators, and maintenance teams. Each role has met operational needs while also providing income to families who had lost all other means of livelihood.

Employment opportunities have also offered to members of the Sisters of Charity shelter community, who assist children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

Looking ahead, the priorities of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem include rebuilding destroyed homes and infrastructure, as well as strengthening the Holy Family Church complex as a center of resilience.

The concrete goals for the coming months aim to help people regain control of their lives. These include providing housing, reopening at least one more school, and ensuring medical assistance. Investments in education, psychological support, and job-creation programs will continue, with the aim of restoring stability and dignity to traumatized families.

FOOD VOUCHERS, BABY SUPPLIES, AND WINTER ASSISTANCE
In Jerusalem and the West Bank, 5,600 food vouchers were distributed in 2025, which provided essential support to families in need. This initiative also helped sustain the activities of local shopkeepers affected by the economic downturn.

In addition, targeted assistance was provided to meet the specific needs of newborns and infants through the distribution of diapers, infant formula, clothing, and blankets. Over the course of 2025, more than 3,000 children in the West Bank and Jerusalem benefited from this help.

To this assistance, heavy clothing, shoes, blankets, and heaters were also distributed to more than 6,000 vulnerable people in 2025 to face harsh winter conditions.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES IN NEED
In the Holy Land, access to healthcare varies significantly depending on the region and the population group. The residents holding a Jerusalem identity card could benefit from full medical coverage through the Israeli healthcare system, which provides access to advanced medical facilities and subsidized care.

The situation is different in the West Bank, where health insurance is reserved principally to those employed by government institutions or international organizations.

As a result, many Palestinians are left without adequate health coverage and are forced to bear prohibitive costs for essential medical services and medications.

In this context, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, with thanks to the Knights and Dames of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre’s support too, was able to launch once again in 2025, an initiative for Christians facing economic hardship, which assisted more than 2,000 people.

The beneficiaries included patients suffering from chronic illnesses (such as heart conditions, cancer, kidney diseases, etc.), visual or hearing impairments (requiring specific assistive devices), respiratory difficulties, and mobility issues (requiring wheelchairs or walkers).

Support was also provided to individuals needing daily medical care, as well as bedridden patients requiring medical mattresses. Priority was given to the elderly, families with children affected by chronic illnesses, and people with disabilities.

JOB CREATION FOR THE UNEMPLOYED
As is now well known, the consequences of the events that began in October 2023 created severe employment difficulties for Palestinian workers.
The war has led to mass layoffs of Palestinians employed in Israel, the suspension of work permits for laborers and residents of the West Bank, and significant restrictions on mobility. These factors combined have caused economic hardship for Christian families in the region.

A percentage of the contributions coming from the Lieutenancies of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem enabled the Latin Patriarchate to create immediate job opportunities and to alleviate the financial difficulties of families affected by the conflict and the resulting loss of their livelihoods.

More than 4,000 work opportunities were offered through cash-for-work programs and subsidized internships.

Thanks to this initiative, skilled workers from the West Bank were hired on daily contracts and were able to earn a salary. Among them, some specialized in infrastructure and maintenance were employed primarily for construction, electrical, and mechanical work, while others were assigned to support community services.

This initiative had a positive impact not only on the workers involved but also on their families and the wider community. It also helped preserve professional skills, prevented the loss of valuable talent and maintained a base of local know-how that is essential for building the future and development.

MIGRANTS AND ASYLUM SEEKERS

Due to the ongoing hostilities in the northern and southern regions of Israel, many Christian migrant families have been forced to relocate.

Aware of the profound difficulties faced by these vulnerable communities, the Latin Patriarchate has provided them with accommodation in safer areas as well as food security.

-BEIT SAHOUR-

RENOVATION WORKS IN THE PARISH
In Beit Sahour, where according to tradition the shepherds heard the angels on Christmas Eve, a project was initiated aimed at creating modern facilities capable of effectively responding to the diverse educational, social, and cultural needs of a rapidly growing community.

As part of this initiative, a photovoltaic system was installed on the roofs of the rectory, the parish hall, and the school. This has significantly reduced the buildings’ dependence on the conventional electrical grid and has made it possible, where feasible, to move toward sustainable energy solutions with the use of renewable sources.

The project, which was made possible thanks to a contribution of approximately US$44,000 from the Knights and Dames of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, is of great assistance to the parish priest, the 413 students of the Beit Sahour School, and the entire parish community. 

-TAYBEH-

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BEIT AFRAM HOME FOR THE ELDERLY
In 2019, the Beit Afram retirement home, located in the village of Taybeh, received a communication from the municipality requiring the management to comply with the safety standards established by the Palestinian Civil Defense. These standards included fire safety measures, appropriate evacuation procedures, a comprehensive nurse-call system, and adequate insurance coverage.

In response to this request, and thanks to a contribution of more than US$65,000 from the Knights and Dames of the Order, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem completed the project to enhance the home’s overall safety in 2025, complementing the renovation work that had begun in 2021.

Another intervention for the Beit Afram retirement home involved the complete replacement of the old air-conditioning systems throughout the facility. The project included major structural, mechanical, and electrical upgrades required to accommodate the new modern infrastructure, while ensuring minimal disruption to the home’s daily operations.

Thanks to a contribution of more than US$95,000 from the Knights and Dames of the Order, these interventions, which were completed in 2025, have made it possible to offer a better quality of life to the elderly residents and to the staff of the retirement home. 

RENOVATION OF THE SISTERS OF THE ROSARY RESIDENCE
The Sisters of the Rosary’s residence, which is also located in Taybeh, had fallen into poor state of repairs after years without proper maintenance. Before the intervention, the building suffered from an inadequate ceiling structure, an old and deteriorated bathroom, insufficient insulation that caused energy inefficiency, outdated electrical systems that requiring modernization, and degraded interior paintwork etc. that affected overall living conditions.

The project addressed these critical shortcomings, directed at modernizing the bathroom and improving the general habitability of the residence.

All renovation works were carried out in accordance with modern construction standards while preserving the architectural integrity of the religious house. With thanks to contributions from the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre, the restructuring work, which amounted to nearly US$20,000 begun in 2023 and completed in April 2025, transformed an outdated building into a comfortable, efficient, and modern living space, in complete conformity with its function as a religious residence.

The improvements, which include insulation, technical systems, and interior decoration, significantly enhanced the quality of life of the resident sisters while also reducing operating costs through improved efficiency of the spaces used there.

-IRBID-

INSULATION AND RESTORATION WORKS ON THE ROOF AND WALLS OF THE LATIN CHURCH 
In the Latin parish of St George the Martyr in Irbid, which is located near the Syrian border, the church roof had been deteriorating over the years. This poor state of repairs had caused water infiltration and significant damage to the interior of the building.

Restoration work therefore became necessary. Launched in November 2025 and completed in December of the same year, the works involved the complete replacement of the roof covering and the thermal insulation of the building.

Thanks to these interventions, which were made possible by a contribution of more than US$60,000 from the Members of the Order, the approximately 2,000 faithful of St George’s Church can continue to participate in pastoral, charitable, and educational activities in a safe environment.

-AMMAN-

INTERVENTIONS AT THE OUR LADY OF PEACE CENTER 
At the Our Lady of Peace Center (OLOPC), one of the two projects completed in 2025 involved replacing old prosthetic and orthotic devices with modern, high-performance ones; the introduction of silicone-based technologies; the promotion of hands-on training for university students in the field of prosthetics and orthotics; and a reduction in maintenance costs and resource consumption through upgraded equipment.

The project included the purchase of state-of-the-art machinery for the production of prostheses and orthoses, the acquisition of silicone tools and equipment, their installation and calibration, and staff training. Thanks to a donation of more than US$84,000 from the Knights and Dames of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, the project was carried out between September 2024 and July 2025.

These improvements benefited children with cerebral palsy (150 per year in Amman, zarqa, Anjara, and Mafraq) and those who have undergone amputations (due to congenital conditions, accidents, war injuries, diabetes, or cancer). The second project completed for the Center in 2025 focused on improving the facility’s safety.

The intervention aimed at strengthening the building’s overall safety through a range of upgrades and repairs. Thanks to a contribution of more than US$68,000 from the Knights and Dames of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, construction, plumbing, and electrical works commenced in 2023 and completed in March 2025.

This intervention has allowed the 644 children with disabilities who receive care at the Center, as well as the 20 staff members who work there, to benefit from a safer environment.

-BE’ER SHEVA-

THE CREATION OF A SPACE FOR PILGRIM GROUPS 
The parish house of the Catholic parish of Saint Abraham in Be’er Sheva, in southern Israel, had become too small to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims wishing to visit the church, attend Mass, or meet the local Christian community. While groups of fewer than 30 people could still be welcomed in the existing facilities, larger groups faced difficulties due to the limited available space.

Thanks to a contribution of more than US$67,000 from the Members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a project was hatched to transform the unused garden area next to the church entrance into a multi-level outdoor space designed for gatherings and meetings.

The project, which began in April 2022 and was completed in July 2025, allowed to create a welcoming area for pilgrims that is harmoniously integrated with the church’s existing architecture while offering modern facilities suitable for large groups.

Several concrete terraces connected by wide stone steps were built, to provide natural seating areas that can accommodate up to 65 people in an environment well suited for group presentations, Mass celebrations, and dialogue.

During the ongoing crisis, support for education has become a vital source of stability and hope for 5,000 students in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Jordan. Educational assistance has included the provision of scholarships, the coverage of school tuition fees, and the distribution of school supplies. 

* * *

In addition, following the break out of the war in October 2023, the North American Lieutenancies launched a Capital Campaign, approved by the Grand Magisterium and dedicated to supporting education in the 44 schools of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

This initiative, entitled Ensuring the Future, aims to provide support for school tuition fees and teachers’ salaries during the economic crisis caused by the military conflict, as well as to rebuild, renovate, and modernize all the schools in order to bring the buildings up to modern educational standards.

In practical terms, while awaiting the possibility of intervening in the schools of Gaza, 22 renovation projects were completed in 19 schools in Jordan and Palestine. These interventions improved the quality of the educational environment and strengthened essential infrastructure and resources, thereby creating safer and more conducive spaces for teaching and learning.