The Old City of Jerusalem has eight gateways, each one offering a distinctive portal into the place where many generations of pilgrims remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. Not too far from the historic Damascus Gate in East Jerusalem, there is another gateway, used by thousands from around the world who seek spiritual renewal in the Land of the Holy One: St. George’s College Jerusalem.
The College is an integral part of the ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. It is nestled within the bustling St. George’s Cathedral Close, alongside the diocesan Cathedral, guest house, administrative offices and episcopal residence—and beside St. George’s School for children from kindergarten age to high school.
I first took a course at St George’s College Jerusalem in 2004—my first visit to Israel and Palestine. That was also when I met Archbishop Hosam Naoum, who was then the Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Nablus on the West Bank. I quickly discovered that the College provides a unique gateway to the Land of the Holy One and those who live there.
The College’s staff offer skilled guidance and information to enable pilgrims to see, feel, and understand the biblical and contemporary richness of the land and the Christians, Jews, and Muslims who live there. The College is wholly committed to building awareness and reconciliation through pilgrimage, education, and dialogue.
The College normally draws dozens of pilgrims from across the Anglican Communion to the Land of the Holy One each year, and many local Christians—a tiny and threatened minority—provide services and goods to pilgrims. Everyone benefits when pilgrims are on the land.
The warfare that has intensified in the Middle East since October 2023 has had a devastating impact on the ministry of the Diocese of Jerusalem. Archbishop Hosam Naoum has said “my diocese is bleeding at this time” and he has appealed to Anglicans from around the world to offer prayers and practical support.
Violence and uncertainty have created a major crisis for St. George’s College. While the College has strived to adapt with creativity and resilience, producing videos for virtual pilgrimages, developing curricula, and maintaining the facility, the situation is dire for the staff and their families.
The $2 million annual budget of the College is primarily supported through earned revenue from pilgrims’ fees, gift shop sales, and other lodging fees. This revenue stream has been totally disrupted. It is highly unlikely that pilgrimages will resume in 2025, and there are insufficient funds to provide regular salaries for the College’s staff and essential operations. While many of the Diocese of Jerusalem’s health and educational institutions have regular streams of revenue from donor networks, the College does not.
The North American Committee for St. George’s College Jerusalem provided some emergency funding in 2024, and is now appealing to all Anglicans and friends of the College to help provide essential support in 2025. I have been asked, as a member of the Committee, to chair a fundraising drive called Let Light Shine: The Canadian Campaign for St. George’s College Jerusalem.
The campaign will run until April 2025, and the objective is to raise $250,000 from Canadians who care about our sisters and brothers in the Diocese of Jerusalem. This amount will cover the now-reduced salaries of remaining staff at St. George’s College in 2025.
This campaign is very much part of our Diocese of Ottawa’s long partnership with the Diocese of Jerusalem. I maintain close contact with Archbishop Hosam and with the College’s Dean, the Very Reverend Canon Richard Sewell, who spoke at our Synod in 2023. They are deeply dedicated and committed to the College as a vital ministry of their diocese. Please join me in solidarity with them to help St. George’s College Jerusalem in its time of need.
We are asking all our friends around the world to come together to help St. George’s College and to walk with us during these dark times of war and distress. We ask you to be companions on the way so that we may continue to work and serve Christ in the ministry of pilgrimage and love and light. 
We thank all our friends and partners who have come through the doors of St. George’s College and for those who will come in the future. We ask you to join hands with us and to be so generous so that we can continue to celebrate St. George’s College as a beacon of life and love in Jerusalem and from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
The Most Reverend Hosam Naoum, Archbishop of Jerusalem and The Middle East
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Thoughts from our Bishop
An appeal from our partners in Jerusalem
The Old City of Jerusalem has eight gateways, each one offering a distinctive portal into the place where many generations of pilgrims remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. Not too far from the historic Damascus Gate in East Jerusalem, there is another gateway, used by thousands from around the world who seek spiritual renewal in the Land of the Holy One: St. George’s College Jerusalem.
The College is an integral part of the ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. It is nestled within the bustling St. George’s Cathedral Close, alongside the diocesan Cathedral, guest house, administrative offices and episcopal residence—and beside St. George’s School for children from kindergarten age to high school.
I first took a course at St George’s College Jerusalem in 2004—my first visit to Israel and Palestine. That was also when I met Archbishop Hosam Naoum, who was then the Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Nablus on the West Bank. I quickly discovered that the College provides a unique gateway to the Land of the Holy One and those who live there.
The College’s staff offer skilled guidance and information to enable pilgrims to see, feel, and understand the biblical and contemporary richness of the land and the Christians, Jews, and Muslims who live there. The College is wholly committed to building awareness and reconciliation through pilgrimage, education, and dialogue.
The College normally draws dozens of pilgrims from across the Anglican Communion to the Land of the Holy One each year, and many local Christians—a tiny and threatened minority—provide services and goods to pilgrims. Everyone benefits when pilgrims are on the land.
The warfare that has intensified in the Middle East since October 2023 has had a devastating impact on the ministry of the Diocese of Jerusalem. Archbishop Hosam Naoum has said “my diocese is bleeding at this time” and he has appealed to Anglicans from around the world to offer prayers and practical support.
Violence and uncertainty have created a major crisis for St. George’s College. While the College has strived to adapt with creativity and resilience, producing videos for virtual pilgrimages, developing curricula, and maintaining the facility, the situation is dire for the staff and their families.
The $2 million annual budget of the College is primarily supported through earned revenue from pilgrims’ fees, gift shop sales, and other lodging fees. This revenue stream has been totally disrupted. It is highly unlikely that pilgrimages will resume in 2025, and there are insufficient funds to provide regular salaries for the College’s staff and essential operations. While many of the Diocese of Jerusalem’s health and educational institutions have regular streams of revenue from donor networks, the College does not.
The North American Committee for St. George’s College Jerusalem provided some emergency funding in 2024, and is now appealing to all Anglicans and friends of the College to help provide essential support in 2025. I have been asked, as a member of the Committee, to chair a fundraising drive called Let Light Shine: The Canadian Campaign for St. George’s College Jerusalem.
The campaign will run until April 2025, and the objective is to raise $250,000 from Canadians who care about our sisters and brothers in the Diocese of Jerusalem. This amount will cover the now-reduced salaries of remaining staff at St. George’s College in 2025.
This campaign is very much part of our Diocese of Ottawa’s long partnership with the Diocese of Jerusalem. I maintain close contact with Archbishop Hosam and with the College’s Dean, the Very Reverend Canon Richard Sewell, who spoke at our Synod in 2023. They are deeply dedicated and committed to the College as a vital ministry of their diocese. Please join me in solidarity with them to help St. George’s College Jerusalem in its time of need.
We are asking all our friends around the world to come together to help St. George’s College and to walk with us during these dark times of war and distress. We ask you to be companions on the way so that we may continue to work and serve Christ in the ministry of pilgrimage and love and light.
We thank all our friends and partners who have come through the doors of St. George’s College and for those who will come in the future. We ask you to join hands with us and to be so generous so that we can continue to celebrate St. George’s College as a beacon of life and love in Jerusalem and from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
The Most Reverend Hosam Naoum, Archbishop of Jerusalem and The Middle East
Donate now: www.CanadaHelps.org/en/dn/124044
The Rt. Rev. Shane Parker is the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa.
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