During this past year, members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem sent almost €8 million ($10.7 million) in donations to the Holy Land.
Cardinal John Foley, grand master of the order, reported this Saturday in London at a lieutenancy meeting regarding the projects the organization is supporting.
He noted the commitment of the order “to the continued existence of a Christian presence in the Holy Land, defined as Israel, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories and Cyprus.”
Part of this funding went to support Benedict XVI’s visit to Cyprus earlier this year, and another is going to help in the construction of a Latin Catholic church in Aqaba, Jordan.
The cardinal spoke about plans for future projects, such as the construction of a church in modern-day Jordan at the site of the baptism of Jesus. A convent, monastery and a visitors’ center will be built near the church.
He also mentioned plans to build a university in Madaba, Jordan. The cornerstone for this institute was blessed by the Holy Father last year when he visited the Holy Land.
The cardinal noted that he was able to participate in the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops last October in Rome. There he underlined the need to support Catholic education in the Holy Land.
Cardinal Foley told the members of the equestrian order about one project in particular called “One Laptop Per Child,” which aims to help give students in Catholic schools the benefit of computer technology.
LONDON, DEC. 7, 2010 (Zenit.org)