The zonal Chapter of the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land in Syria concluded this week in the Orontes Valley, drawing attention not only to internal ecclesial matters but to a fragile rebirth unfolding in Knayeh, Yacoubieh, and Jidayde. For local Christians, the gathering signaled that the Church’s presence remains firm amid a country still struggling to recover from war, sanctions, and a devastating earthquake.
Over several days, the friars met for prayer, Eucharist, and discernment, focusing on the quality of their common life and the demands of their mission. Yet the most visible sign of renewal was not inside a meeting hall. It was found in reopened homes, cultivated fields, and children filling classrooms once more.
The Custody of the Holy Land
-Entrusted by the Holy See with safeguarding Catholic holy sites in the Middle East.
-Present in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Cyprus, and Rhodes.
-Supports parishes, schools, charitable works, and interreligious dialogue.
-The Custos serves as major superior of the friars in the region and as a key voice for local Christian communities.
In Syria, the Custody’s mission extends beyond shrines. It accompanies small Christian communities striving to remain in their ancestral towns — offering liturgy, education, humanitarian aid, and a sign that the universal Church walks with them.
In recent months, several families have begun returning to the three Christian villages of the Orontes Valley. Their decision follows years of displacement caused by conflict and economic collapse. Many credit the uninterrupted presence of the Franciscans for making that return possible. Even during the most dangerous periods, the friars remained, ensuring pastoral care and essential services. They recently opened the Terra Santa School, offering a concrete investment in the next generation.
During the Chapter, the friars visited local families, including relatives of a confrere originally from the valley. The gesture underscored a central theme of their discussions: fraternity as lived solidarity. Participants spoke candidly about balancing demanding pastoral service with a deep life of prayer, and about embracing declining numbers not as failure but as a call to Franciscan humility and closeness to the people.
A particularly emotional moment came with the return of the Custos of the Holy Land to Yacoubieh for the first time in fourteen years. The solemn Mass gathered faithful from across the valley. The Custos thanked Syrian Christians for their perseverance, recalling how, during his earlier service as commissary, he had shared news of their steadfast faith with Catholics worldwide.
The friars also traveled to Ghassanieh, now almost entirely destroyed. Standing among the remains of a convent and church, they expressed their intention to rehabilitate the structures. The visit signaled to displaced Christians that their villages are not forgotten.
As the Chapter closed, the friars outlined practical steps to strengthen their presence in Aleppo, Damascus, Lattakia, and the Orontes Valley, including greater use of social media to share the reality of Syrian Christians with the wider world. Communication, they noted, can become a form of communion.
