Notre Dame Galilee
Since January 2005, the Catholic Church has entrusted the management of the Pontifical Institute of Notre Dame in Jerusalem to the Legionaries of Christ.  Situated adjacent to the Old City in central Jerusalem, this institute provides hospitality to pilgrims from every country and religious denomination, and strives to be a meeting-place of different cultures, religions and peoples, promoting peace and encouraging dialogue.
The institute wishes to extend its religious, cultural, charitable and educational objectives to Galilee in the North of Israel. For Christians, Galilee is the second most important area in the Holy Land, after the Holy City of Jerusalem. In this area are situated the towns and cities most dear to Christians, such as Nazareth, Cana, Capernaum, Bethsaida and Magdala, as well as Lake Tiberias itself, whose shores witnessed so much of Jesus' public life. Surprisingly, in this important region there are very few Christian guest-houses that are capable of offering accommodation to pilgrims.
The vision for Notre Dame of Galilee
Think of what we can build on such a site! We can build a center for retreats, conferences and programs for spiritual renewal, which will become a center of spirituality and worship, concerned specifically with the Christian message of mercy and forgiveness. We can propound the Catholic Church's teachings respecting the dignity of women, in an area so evocative of this theme as Magdala, the home-town of Mary Magdalene.
Progress
Fr. John Solana from the Holy Land was able to secure the full amount needed for the land and he is now raising funds to start the construction phase of the project. More details will be available in a few weeks.
To support the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center, click here.
More information is available at www.notredamecenter.org
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