Greetings from Jerusalem

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

April 7th, 2025 - Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center

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Dear Friends of the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center,

Greetings from Jerusalem! We are united in our prayers and intentions for peace.

It is easy to imagine the blessings that those of us who live in the Holy Land receive by experiencing and being influenced by the extended religious feasts we are celebrating these days. They are an integral part of the intersection of faith and culture at the individual, communal, and societal levels. Many of us feel drawn to better understand the customs, rituals, and beliefs of others. These feasts are not merely external religious celebrations but profound expressions of identity and culture for peoples whose faith is fundamental to their daily lives and relationships.

Here in the Holy Land, Muslims have just concluded their holy month of Ramadan with three days of feasting and celebrations. Soon, the Jewish people will begin their celebration of Passover, which this year coincides with Holy Week for Christians. Additionally, for the first time since 2017, the liturgical calendars of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches align for Easter.

These weeks present a wonderful opportunity for us to deepen our relationships with our neighbors. There is nothing quite like sharing an Iftar meal with my Muslim friends or a Seder meal with my Jewish friends to foster understanding of their faith and cultural traditions. These shared experiences provide unique insights into one another’s character and perspectives, serving as a foundation for mutual respect and empathy.

Reflecting on this, I found inspiration in a quote from Madeleine L’Engle’s beloved book A Wrinkle in Time regarding how to witness to my Christian faith among people of different beliefs and experiences:

“We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want to know the source of it.”

Many of us in the Holy Land, and indeed throughout the world, are experiencing deep moments of darkness. Yet, I hope this darkness leads us to seek the comfort and guidance of light. As the popular proverb says, “Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”

How do we do this? There is no single formula or method. But each of us can be a light to another—through an encouraging word, a smile, a prayer, or an act of kindness. The most important thing is that we strive to illuminate the path for others by discovering and sharing the light that God has placed in each of our hearts. This is my prayer for all of us.

I would like to conclude by warmly inviting you once again to join us for the Pentecost Room inauguration, which will take place on Saturday, June 7, during Pentecost Vespers, with the blessing of the Room by His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. This celebration will be preceded by a Pentecost Novena. We will also have the honor of welcoming the artist Daniel Cariola, creator of the central artwork of the room.

To make it easier for you to attend, we are pleased to offer a special inauguration package at $394 USD per person (based on double occupancy), available from June 6–9. The package includes half board, a special dinner at the Rooftop Restaurant, personalized assistance in planning your visit, and more.

If you are interested, we would be happy to assist you personally at: reservations@notredamecenter.org and you can find more information here

We warmly encourage you to take this opportunity not only to join us for the inauguration, but also to experience the Holy Land: walk in the footsteps of Christ, visit the sacred sites, and deepen your personal journey of faith.

If you are unable to join us in person, you are most welcome to unite with us spiritually through our livestreamed Pentecost Novena. We will be sharing more information about this soon.

Thank you once again for your support and prayers.

May the Holy Spirit inspire and renew each of your hearts during this blessed season of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter.

Sincerely in the Lord,

Fr. David Steffy, LC