Date: 6.7.2005
Source: Custody of the Holy Land

From the 1st to the 6th of July 2005 the Discretorium of the Custody of the Holy Land met at St. Saviors Monastery to discuss and evaluate the first year of service of the governing body of the Custody, animated by the fraternity of the Custody engaged in various works of evangelization in the vast territory of our mission. This challenging time has had as its motto the words:
“ Together for the Fraternity of the Custody”. In spite of the scarcity of personnel, and thanks to the generosity and dedication of all the friars, we have been able to carry forward the tasks entrusted to the Custody from the Church.

To become acquainted with the complex reality of the activities of the Custody of the Holy Land, the Discretorium invited the responsible members of the three custodial secretaries: Formation Secretary (and study), Secretary for Evangelization, Secretary for the Holy Sites an also the person responsible from the Custody Technical Office. Their work has been evaluated, taking account of the difficulties, prospects and projects and taking into consideration the priority choices of the last chapter meeting, the first subject has been dedicated to formation.
There have been difficulties, but the desire on the part of the custody in this last year, to deal with them has been notable. Unanimously it has been emphasized that formation be it initial or permanent is the foundation of the personal life of the “men of the Church” and of their qualified service in sanctuaries, parishes, and schools.

Listening to those responsible to animate their fields of activity we could clearly see the great richness and variety that the structures of our mission offer and the enormous potential to announce the testimony of the Gospel in the middle of the peoples in which the custodial fraternity is immersed. Reflecting on our pastoral activity in the parishes, the Discretorium realized the necessity to prepare and involve the auxiliary lay personnel and to procure up-to-date statistics.
During the discussion on the schools emerged an urgent need to develop the personnel and the structures themselves. Finally, a review of the economic management of the diverse sectors has brought us to the observation that Divine Providence, also in this year, has not failed to supply the necessary means to carry out all the works and activities of the Custody of the Holy Land.
The generosity of many benefactors requires, never the less from everyone the duty to assume the attitude, not of employers, but of honest administrators of received property.

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