January | Custodia Terrae Sanctae
Good news for pilgrimages to the Holy Land: statistics from the Christian Information Center show a steady increase, with record-breaking numbers for January 2018
In January 2018, the temperature in Jerusalem varies between 9 and 17 degrees, but the number of pilgrims is constantly increasing.
Confirming the data of the Ministry of Tourism of Israel, Brother Tomasz Dubiel, director of the Christian Information Center, gives good news: in January 2016, 390 groups have booked a mass in the sanctuaries, with the participation of 11,000 pilgrims. In 2017, in the same time period, 16 thousand pilgrims arrived in 529 groups, but in January 2018, the number of groups increased to 770, for a total of 26 thousand pilgrims.
"The number of Catholics doubled in 2018" - says Fr. Tomasz, but groups of other Christian denominations asking to pray in the sanctuaries are also on the rise.
Data from the Christian Information Center do not include the thousands of Orthodox pilgrims who visited the Holy Land for the Christmas holidays celebrated in January.
The faithful arrive all bundled up and willing to see many places in a short time. (more)
+++
