Greetings from Jerusalem

By Fr. David Steffy, L.C., Chargé of the Holy See

December 5th, 2024 - Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center

Dear Friends of the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center,

Advent greetings from Jerusalem, united in our prayers and intentions for peace.

The Church offers us the seasons of Advent and Christmas to remind us that salvation comes from God—a loving Father, Son, and Spirit—who has revealed His presence throughout history, lived among us, and promises us a share in His glory. To live this Advent spirit is to open our hearts to the truth that we are made in His image. As His beloved and unique children, our lives are filled with meaning and purpose.

There is so much I love about this season. Besides the sacred religious ceremonies, I love beautifully decorated Christmas trees and the smell of logs burning in the fireplace while sipping eggnog made from Mom’s special recipe. I love watching football with my brothers and arguing about silly things that don’t matter. I love making cookies—and eating them too. I love skating on frozen lakes, skiing down snow-covered slopes, having snowball fights, and digging out cars from the snow. All these things make this season special and give me reasons to be thankful.

Yet, no matter how much I love those things, it is really about the love I have for those I do them with. For my family, it all started with the baby Jesus, who brought us together and melded our hearts into one. Those experiences have helped me find meaning, purpose, and love in whatever situation I find myself. Now, I live and serve in the Holy Land, far from family and old friends. This is the second year I am living Advent and Christmas in a place of conflict and war. People are suffering greatly. For many, the inner battle against a sense of despair and abandonment can be overwhelming. Under these circumstances, many of us ask: Can we truly celebrate Advent and Christmas when so many are suffering?

I will let you wrestle with that question from afar. But what I do believe is this: If we can make our time and seasons about making people’s lives better and strive to build relationships that create bonds rather than break them, then we can foster lasting peace. Dire circumstances should not keep us from celebrating but should instead remind us of the reason for our celebration.

Here at Notre Dame, we continue to intercede for those in need through prayer and the celebration of the Sacraments. We continue to open our doors to all men and women of goodwill to come together in peace to share and build positive relationships and memories. On December 9, the staff will have a special Christmas meal together to share our appreciation for each other and to be strengthened in our mission to offer loving hospitality to all our pilgrims and guests. We continue to pray that the recent ceasefire leads to an enduring end to conflict and war.

May this sacred season draw you closer to your family and the loving friends in your life. My prayer is that each of you will daily celebrate the gift of life and find creative ways to share that gift with everyone you know and meet, especially those in greatest need.

We continue to pray for peace here in the Holy Land and throughout the world. Have a blessed Advent and Christmas. Count on my prayers.

Sincerely in the Lord,

Fr. David Steffy, LC