As you may know, His Beatitude, Cardinal Pizzaballa, was able to enter Gaza two weeks ago, on May 16, and was able to reach the parish of the Holy Family for a pastoral visit. The Patriarchate website indicates that His Beatitude, along with “His Excellency, Fra’ Alessandro de Franciscis, Grand Hospitaller of the Sovereign Order of Malta… met the suffering population to encourage them and to deliver a message of hope, solidarity, and support. His Beatitude presided the mass in the parish church with the local community.” See https://www.lpj.org/en/news/press-release-of-the-latin-patriarchate-of-jerusalem-1

If you have not seen it already, I would like to mention the “Holy Land Update of May 2, 2024” with Sami El-Yousef, CEO of the Latin Patriarchate, available on the North American website, at https://eohsjnorthamerica.org/

On Wednesday, I will be traveling to Quebec City for the 2024 North American Lieutenants meeting. 2024 marks the 350th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Quebec, and I and some of our members will be treating this event also as a special time of pilgrimage. This year, in addition to discussing the business of the Order, the work of the Holy Land Commission, and financials, the lieutenants will be discussing means of growing the Order in membership and in revenues. I will send a short summary of the meeting once I have returned.

I would ask that you keep me and all of the lieutenants in your prayers at this time. Best wishes for the summer season,

In Christ

Will Sweet