January 2025 brought the best news for which we had been praying and yearning, for many months – a ceasefire in Gaza which brought the first nights of respite for the battered residents of the Strip for over a year. Prisoner exchanges by both sides brought joy and relief but also grief, and in some cases, anger. But at least it felt as if some positive progress was being made. But relief was all too short and the ceasefire failed to progress to stage two. To our deep distress the bombing and killing started again and the prisoner exchange halted.

Lent started with relief but ended in grief. Thus, we enter into the season of Easter in a state of fear and agony with the peace and the hope of justice still a distant prospect. While the peoples of Israel and Palestine continue in a state of war, the day-to-day situation in Jerusalem and in the Galilee is far less dangerous than it has been through most of the time since October 2023. As a result, some pilgrim groups are tentatively returning to the Holy Land. Pilgrimages cannot yet operate as they did before the war began but in the College we feel able to say that it is now a good time to begin to plan a pilgrimage with us for later in the year and for next year because the travel restrictions put in place by many countries such as the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand have been lifted.

The peoples of these lands desperately need the return of pilgrims. Those dependent on the pilgrim/tourist business have endured the deprivations of COVID, followed by the severe financial impact of eighteen months of war. Planning a pilgrimage now will give grounds for a little optimism for the beleaguered peoples of Israel/Palestine. A pilgrimage with St George’s College gives a chance to demonstrate Christian solidarity with Palestinian Christians and spending time with our communities throughout the land will be an important part of any pilgrimage in these days. At certain quiet periods while numbers are still low, a personally planned pilgrimage for a small group may be possible. Please contact me directly about this, if desired.

We have great hopes that our friends around the world who have supported us with prayers and funding through these days of suffering will now be able to show support by planning a return to pilgrimage with us. We can promise an experience which will be spiritually uplifting and informative about the current realities.

We have reissued the College courses schedules which have some alterations. Please see the list below. All booking can be made via the College website: www.saintgeorgescollegejerusalem.com.

With continuing thanks for our worldwide community of support, we send you Easter greetings of resurrection joy.

The Very Revd Canon Richard Sewell

Dean