Monaco Diocese Launches Fundraising Campaign for Palestinian Christians
The initiative focuses on supporting the elderly at Beit Afram, the last entirely Christian village in Palestine amidst ongoing conflict.
The Diocese of Monaco has announced its fundraising campaign for Lent 2025, aimed at supporting the Christian community in Palestine, particularly elderly residents at Beit Afram, located in Taybeh, the last fully Christian village in the region.
The community faces significant challenges due to ongoing conflict, political instability, economic crisis, and forced exile, which have heightened the vulnerability of its Christian population.
Beit Afram serves as a critical refuge for elderly individuals often without resources or family.
Situated in Taybeh, a village isolated by military checkpoints between Ramallah and Jerusalem, the retirement home was established in 2005 with financial assistance from Monsignor Angelo Lefei of Florence.
Currently, Beit Afram accommodates 28 residents, providing essential medical care and spiritual support, backed by an operational team of fifty, including three religious sisters, dedicated to ensuring the well-being of its inhabitants.
The home first opened its doors on October 12, 2005, welcoming initial residents, including a priest.
With the increasing demand for care, it expanded its facilities in 2015 to include a kitchen and physiotherapy room.
Following renovations in 2021, Beit Afram was able to increase its capacity to 28 elderly residents by 2025. However, the institution faces a recurring financial deficit of €400,000 annually, jeopardizing its operations.
This shortfall adversely impacts essential staffing and medical provisions, with a lack of crucial medical equipment such as wheelchairs, specially adapted beds, and other necessary resources.
Furthermore, many families struggle to pay fees for the residency of their elderly relatives.
In response to these pressing challenges, the Diocese of Monaco has dedicated its 2025 Lent campaign to the elderly Christian population of Beit Afram.
Archbishop Dominique-Marie David has urged the community to demonstrate collective generosity.
He highlighted the unprecedented disturbances in the Holy Land since October 7, 2023, detailing the economic collapse that disproportionately affects Palestinian Christians, particularly those reliant on the tourism sector and pilgrimage activities.
The funding campaign is being coordinated in close collaboration with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, under Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa's jurisdiction.
Archbishop David stated, "I invite you to show generosity to support the elderly Christians of Taybeh, a village we know well from our numerous diocesan pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
Your contributions will help ensure a more secure future for elderly Christians in Palestine and demonstrate our solidarity with those practicing their faith amid adversity.
Together, let us support this retirement home and its residents, enabling them to age with dignity and peace."
To contribute to this initiative and assist the residents of Beit Afram, donations can be made to the Diocese of Monaco via cheque or bank transfer.
Cheques should be made out to "Charité-Solidarité diocèse" and sent to Agora – Maison diocésaine – 18 rue Bellevue – MC 98000 Monaco.
Bank transfers can be directed to IBAN MC58 1273 9000 7005 6794 0000 041 with the domicile at CFM ALBERT 1ER and SWIFT code CFMOMCMXXXX.
The community faces significant challenges due to ongoing conflict, political instability, economic crisis, and forced exile, which have heightened the vulnerability of its Christian population.
Beit Afram serves as a critical refuge for elderly individuals often without resources or family.
Situated in Taybeh, a village isolated by military checkpoints between Ramallah and Jerusalem, the retirement home was established in 2005 with financial assistance from Monsignor Angelo Lefei of Florence.
Currently, Beit Afram accommodates 28 residents, providing essential medical care and spiritual support, backed by an operational team of fifty, including three religious sisters, dedicated to ensuring the well-being of its inhabitants.
The home first opened its doors on October 12, 2005, welcoming initial residents, including a priest.
With the increasing demand for care, it expanded its facilities in 2015 to include a kitchen and physiotherapy room.
Following renovations in 2021, Beit Afram was able to increase its capacity to 28 elderly residents by 2025. However, the institution faces a recurring financial deficit of €400,000 annually, jeopardizing its operations.
This shortfall adversely impacts essential staffing and medical provisions, with a lack of crucial medical equipment such as wheelchairs, specially adapted beds, and other necessary resources.
Furthermore, many families struggle to pay fees for the residency of their elderly relatives.
In response to these pressing challenges, the Diocese of Monaco has dedicated its 2025 Lent campaign to the elderly Christian population of Beit Afram.
Archbishop Dominique-Marie David has urged the community to demonstrate collective generosity.
He highlighted the unprecedented disturbances in the Holy Land since October 7, 2023, detailing the economic collapse that disproportionately affects Palestinian Christians, particularly those reliant on the tourism sector and pilgrimage activities.
The funding campaign is being coordinated in close collaboration with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, under Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa's jurisdiction.
Archbishop David stated, "I invite you to show generosity to support the elderly Christians of Taybeh, a village we know well from our numerous diocesan pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
Your contributions will help ensure a more secure future for elderly Christians in Palestine and demonstrate our solidarity with those practicing their faith amid adversity.
Together, let us support this retirement home and its residents, enabling them to age with dignity and peace."
To contribute to this initiative and assist the residents of Beit Afram, donations can be made to the Diocese of Monaco via cheque or bank transfer.
Cheques should be made out to "Charité-Solidarité diocèse" and sent to Agora – Maison diocésaine – 18 rue Bellevue – MC 98000 Monaco.
Bank transfers can be directed to IBAN MC58 1273 9000 7005 6794 0000 041 with the domicile at CFM ALBERT 1ER and SWIFT code CFMOMCMXXXX.
