Friary in Jerusalem

The presence of a Capuchin friary in Jerusalem was initiated in the early 1930�s in response to an invitation from the the Latin Patriarch, Archbishop Luigi Barlassina. The fact that our friars �went up to Jerusalem� and moved into the Talbiye neighborhood southwest of the Old City is noted explicitly at the end of a letter sent to the whole Order at Easter of 1933 by the Minister General, Father Vigilio da Valstagna. The original goals which motivated acceptance of this missions were multiple:

performing pastoral work among the several thousand Christians then residing in the vicinity. The original plans called for the construction of a church, but the outbreak of the Second World War and other subsequent challenges delayed the realization of this hope for approximately eight decades.�
establishing a residence for younger confreres from the Levant who would receive their initial formation in the City of David.�
providing hospitality and lodging for Capuchin friars coming to Jerusalem from various geographical areas of the Order in connection with pilgrimages to biblical sites in the Holy Land.