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What is the ‘Status Quo’ that governs some of Jerusalem’s holiest sites?

The daily procession of the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher. Due to the restoration works inside the basilica, Franciscans, as well as other communities, had to change the route of their processions. These are all issues that need to be discussed, as they fall within the Status Quo. / Credit: Courtesy of Silvia Giuliano

Jerusalem, Mar 24, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

In 1852, the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Majid II issued a decree ordering the governor of Jerusalem and his council, as well as all the churches, to make no changes in the holy places of the city. The decree became known as the Status Quo.

Since that decree, members of the Christian communities with rights to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher live, celebrate, clean, enter, and exit according to the ancient rhythms. Even the change of time — from solar to daylight savings — does not take effect inside the basilica, leaving a gap of time for some months inside and outside of the famous church. 

Lent and Easter are typically times when the precision of timing in celebrations and various liturgies at holy sites like the Holy Sepulcher is essential to avoid unwanted overlaps and maintain priority over assigned spaces. 

“What we’re doing today has been observed since at least the 1880s,” said Father Athanasius Macora, an American Franciscan friar who has been the secretary for the Status Quo Commission of the Custody of the Holy Land for more than 25 years. “Usually, the difficulty is [with] the pilgrims, because you struggle to go from one place to the next and stay on time in all that. Without pilgrims, like this year, it should be easy, even if very sad.” 

Next year, he said, will be different: “We will have hard work, because Easter is the same day for Catholic and Orthodox churches. That means thousands of pilgrims all together.”

Father Athanasius Macora in front of the edicule of Holy Sepulchre, the shrine containing the tomb of Jesus Christ. Macora is an American Franciscan friar who has been the secretary for the Status Quo Commission of the Custody of the Holy Land for over 25 years. Credit: Marinella Bandini
Father Athanasius Macora in front of the edicule of Holy Sepulchre, the shrine containing the tomb of Jesus Christ. Macora is an American Franciscan friar who has been the secretary for the Status Quo Commission of the Custody of the Holy Land for over 25 years. Credit: Marinella Bandini

What does the Status Quo do?

The Status Quo concerns the possession and rights of Catholic and Orthodox Christian communities at important sanctuaries including the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Chapel of the Ascension (which is owned by Muslims), and the Tomb of the Virgin Mary in Jerusalem. Non-Christian holy places regulated by the Status Quo include the Tomb of Rachel in Bethlehem and the Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem. 

“Each church has its own commission and members who are always authorized to meet together,” Macora explained. “In any case, the heads of the churches are the ones in charge of the Status Quo.”

In his role, Macora takes part in agreements and negotiations among the three Christian churches responsible for the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher: The Catholic Church (represented by the Custody of the Holy Land), the Greek Orthodox Church, and the Apostolic Armenian Church. 

The main entrance to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher. Due to ongoing restoration work inside, the courtyard has become a space used in part for the storage of materials. Credit: Marinella Bandini
The main entrance to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher. Due to ongoing restoration work inside, the courtyard has become a space used in part for the storage of materials. Credit: Marinella Bandini

In actuality, there are five communities that can use space in the Holy Sepulcher basilica, including the Copts and Syrians, as well as the Ethiopians, who have possession rights in the roof and chapel area that opens into the courtyard. But only the Catholics, Greek Orthodox, and Armenians have the right to make decisions regarding repairs and changes in the basilica.

“The Ottoman mandate is not not a code, a rule book, as many believe, but a decree imposing on us that we can’t make any changes,” Macora told CNA. “We could compare it to a cease-fire agreement between the churches.”

The text is about 1,000 words long translated in English. “It doesn’t go into details so it doesn’t speak about a lot of things that we’re living today,” he said.

Years ago, Macora recalled, “there was the problem of which community was responsible for recollecting the votive candles from the iron supports placed around the edicule containing the tomb of Jesus at the end of the day. There’s no mention of this in the [decree].” 

The matter was ultimately resolved when the iron supports were removed for the restoration works of the edicule in 2016-2017.

An iconic ladder outside the main facade also remains a symbol of a distant time.

“The ladder belongs to the Armenians and shows that this area of the façade is their possession, even if the reason why it is there is sort of lost in history,” Macora said. “I don’t think people know why it’s there today … I don’t think there’s any reason to be there anymore since it detracts from the central narrative of the Church, that is, the death and resurrection of the Lord. In order to move it the Armenians would have to agree. You can make a change if there’s an agreement among the three church communities.”

The iconic ladder outside the main facade in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. It remains a symbol of a distant time and the Status Quo. “The ladder belongs to the Armenians and shows that this area of the façade is their possession, even if the reason why is sort of lost in history,” Father Athanasius Macora said. It would be possible to move it with the agreement of the three Christian communities who "run" the basilica — Catholics, Greek-Orthodox, and Armenians. Credit: Marinella Bandini
The iconic ladder outside the main facade in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. It remains a symbol of a distant time and the Status Quo. “The ladder belongs to the Armenians and shows that this area of the façade is their possession, even if the reason why is sort of lost in history,” Father Athanasius Macora said. It would be possible to move it with the agreement of the three Christian communities who "run" the basilica — Catholics, Greek-Orthodox, and Armenians. Credit: Marinella Bandini

For every minor change or unexpected event, the three communities must not only look to the past (the decree and older traditions), but they are “obliged” to engage in dialogue to find solutions and agreements to move forward. An example is the various structural restoration works that have affected the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in recent decades, including those currently underway that involve the basilica’s entire floor.

The renovations have had repercussions on daily activities, such as processions. 

The entrance to a construction site area inside the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Flooring restoration work, which affects the entire basilica, has been underway for two years. Credit: Marinella Bandini
The entrance to a construction site area inside the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Flooring restoration work, which affects the entire basilica, has been underway for two years. Credit: Marinella Bandini

With respect to the movement of the Franciscans in the basilica, Macora shared: “We had to make some temporary changes, like entering or exiting in a way which normally we don’t, or using a different staircase. These are all things that need to be discussed. Under normal circumstances, changes in the route would not be allowed. I’ve spoken with the other superiors about that, but it’s not a problem. They understood… We are all together — you just have to pay attention, be careful not to do something when it’s the time for another community; we have to respect each other, that’s the basic principle.”

In his 25 years of service, Macora has seen ups and downs in the relationships among the three communities responsible for the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher and also with other Orthodox communities that have their own spaces and liturgical moments.

“Generally every community insists on its rights, so sometimes relations can be complex, and some issues are raised over time. But overall our relations are positive.” A lot “depends on personalities of the head of churches and their leadership,” he added.

A part of the deambulatory of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher (the corridor that goes all around) during floor restoration work. In the background, a panel closes the entrance to the area affected by the work. Credit: Marinella Bandini
A part of the deambulatory of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher (the corridor that goes all around) during floor restoration work. In the background, a panel closes the entrance to the area affected by the work. Credit: Marinella Bandini

Macora has experienced very difficult moments, such as “the siege of the Basilica of the Nativity” and other strange occurrences. 

“The weirdest situation was trying to get the toilets restored in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher because one of the communities tried to use it as leverage for something else they wanted, a sort of blackmail.” 

One of Macora’s most intense memories is the visit of Pope John Paul II.

“We had to do some special things — like close the church completely, allow entering people only with special permissions or tickets — and the security was heavy. In addition, it was on a Sunday, when the other communities have their liturgies, too. It was not easy, but the communities were very cooperative.”

The most popular questions about Palm Sunday — and their answers

A priest holds palms on Palm Sunday. / Grant Whitty via Unsplash.

CNA Staff, Mar 24, 2024 / 04:00 am (CNA).

When is Palm Sunday 2024? 

Palm Sunday is on March 24, 2024. 

What is the meaning of Palm Sunday? 

Palm Sunday is the day we remember and honor Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem before his crucifixion. As Jesus entered the city on a donkey, people gathered and laid palm branches and their cloaks across Jesus’ path, shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” It is also significant because it fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. For example, Jesus rode into the city on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9. 

When was Palm Sunday first celebrated? 

According to Brittanica, the earliest evidence of Palm Sunday being celebrated dates back to the eighth century.

Why do we use palm branches on Palm Sunday? 

The palm symbolized victory in the ancient world. All four Gospels tell us that people cut branches from palm trees and laid them across Jesus’ path and waved them in the air as he entered Jerusalem triumphantly a week before his death. As the Church enters Holy Week, the faithful use palms to commemorate his victory and Jesus’ passion liturgically. 

What kind of palms are used for Palm Sunday? Where do they come from?

Palm harvesters can be found around the world. However, a certain kind of palm tree grown in Florida called cabbage palmetto makes up a large majority of the palms used in U.S. parishes. 

Where is Palm Sunday found in the Bible? 

The account of Palm Sunday can be found in Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, and John 12:12–19.

Who celebrates Palm Sunday?

Catholic and Protestant communities celebrate Palm Sunday. 

Is Palm Sunday a holy day of obligation in the Catholic Church? 

Yes. Since every Sunday is a holy day of obligation, Palm Sunday is also a holy day of obligation.

How do you make a cross out of palms?

Watch this video with step-by-step instructions.

Can you eat meat on Palm Sunday? 

Yes, you can eat meat on Palm Sunday. Sundays during Lent are still celebrations of the Resurrection. Abstinence from meat, the traditional form of Lenten penance, occurs on Fridays during Lent. Fasting, which involves abstaining from meat and eating only one meal with two smaller snacks that do not equal the size of the main meal, occurs on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Are Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday the same? 

Yes. Palm Sunday can also be referred to as Passion Sunday. Palm Sunday comes from the fact that it honors Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, where the people carried palm branches. It also is called Passion Sunday because the Gospel narrative of Jesus’ passion is read on this Sunday. 

What is the link between Palm Sunday and Ash Wednesday? 

The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are the burned palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. That means the palms used this year will be burned into ashes to be used during Ash Wednesday next year.

What are the Palm Sunday colors? 

Red is worn on Palm Sunday in honor of the Lord’s passion.

How long is Palm Sunday Mass? 

This will vary but it will most likely be over an hour long. In many parishes, Mass begins with a procession. The procession symbolizes those who went to meet the Lord as he entered Jerusalem. The Gospel reading is also much longer than usual. The Passion narrative is read and the faithful participate throughout the reading.

Can you say ‘Happy Palm Sunday’? 

Yes, of course!

This story was first published April 9, 2022, and was updated March 20, 2024.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit # 1: Prayer of the Day for Sunday, March 24, 2024

Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart with Your holy gifts. Let my weakness be penetrated with Your strength this very day that I may fulfill all the duties of my state conscientiously, that I may do what is right and just. Let my charity be such as to offend no one, and hurt no one's feelings; so generous as to pardon sincerely any wrong done to me. Assist me, O Holy Spirit, in all my trials of life, enlighten me in my ignorance, advise me in my doubts, strengthen me in my ...

Palm Sunday: Coming Face to Face with Jesus

When we encounter Jesus and the Gospel, we immediately sense that we are dealing with something that is not of this world. To be a Christian is not the same as being a member of an organization. When we join an organization, we make a commitment to the goals and objectives of the organization, but we still have our own private lives that we live outside of the meetings and activities of the organization.

Palm Sunday: Coming Face to Face with Jesus

When we encounter Jesus and the Gospel, we immediately sense that we are dealing with something that is not of this world. To be a Christian is not the same as being a member of an organization. When we join an organization, we make a commitment to the goals and objectives of the organization, but we still have our own private lives that we live outside of the meetings and activities of the organization.

St. Aldemar: Saint of the Day for Sunday, March 24, 2024

Abbot and miracle worker, called "the Wise." Born in Capua, Italy, he became a monk in Monte Cassino and was called to the attention of a Princess Aloara of the region. When she built a new convent in Capua, Alder became the director of the religious in the established house. He performed many miracles in this capacity. Aldemar was reassigned by his abbot to Monte Cassino, a move that angered the princess. As a result, Aldemar went to Boiana, Italy, where a companion involved in the ...

Renaissance in Jesus

We know Leonardo da Vinci as the renaissance man. His intellectual prowess led to tremendous advances across multiple fields of study and the arts. Yet Leonardo journaled of “these miserable days of ours” and lamented that we die “without leaving behind any memory of ourselves in the mind of men.”

“While I thought I was learning how to live,” said Leonardo, “I was learning how to die.” In this, he was closer to the truth than he may have realized. Learning how to die is the way to life. After Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (what we now celebrate as Palm Sunday, see John 12:12–19), He said, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24). He spoke this about His own death but expanded it to include us all: “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (v. 25).

The apostle Paul wrote of being “buried” with Christ “through baptism into death.” In this, Paul anticipated our resurrected life. “Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life,” he said (Romans 6:4). “If we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also certainly be united with him in a resurrection like this” (v. 5).

Through His death, Jesus offers us rebirth—the very meaning of renaissance. He has forged the way to eternal life with His Father.

Pope Francis implores public broadcasters to serve the common good and combat ‘fake news’

Pope Francis greets staff and families of RAI, Italy’s national public broadcasting company, March 23, 2024. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Mar 23, 2024 / 13:53 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis on Saturday spoke on the important role public broadcasting plays in the transmission of information, serving the common good, and as an instrument to fight the spread of “fake news.”

“Your work is intended above all to be a response to the needs of the citizens, in a spirit of universal openness, with action capable of extending throughout the territory without becoming localist, respecting and promoting the dignity of each person,” the pope said in a Saturday morning address to the managers, journalists, and staff of RAI, Italy’s national public broadcasting company.

The 87-year-old pontiff seemed to be in good spirits as he delivered the nearly 10-minute-long address. In the last month, the pope has relied on aides to deliver his Wednesday general audience and speeches as he recovered from lingering flu symptoms.

“Once upon a time the popes used the gestatorial chair,” he said, alluding to the ceremonial throne on which a pope would be borne aloft. “Today things have moved on and I use this, which is very practical,” the pope quipped, pointing to the wheelchair that he has used since 2022 to move around.

During this address, the pope emphasized that the media’s mission of service to the public good is underscored by “seeking and promoting the truth.” Francis pointed to the imperative of combating the spread of viral misinformation, or “fake news,” and “the devious plans of those who seek to influence public opinion in an ideological manner, lying and disintegrating the social fabric.”

“It means serving the right of citizens to correct information, transmitted without prejudice, without rushing to conclusions but taking the necessary time to understand and to reflect, countering cognitive pollution, cognitive pollution, because information too must be ‘ecological,’ that is, human,” the pope continued.

For the pope this duty also requires broadcasters to let a plurality of voices be heard, to foster dialogue, and to be “an instrument for growth in knowledge, to cause people to reflect and not alienate.”

“The entire media system,” the pope continued, “at a global level, needs to be provoked and stimulated to come out of itself and to question itself, to look farther, beyond.”

The pope also made a general appeal to all public broadcasters, calling on them to not chase ratings but to create high-quality content that “may help each and every person to be uplifted, to reflect, to be moved, to smile and even to weep with emotion, to find meaning in life, a prospect of good, a meaning that is not that of yielding to the worst.”

Catholic medical school at Benedictine College seeks accreditation, eyes 2027 opening

Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. Courtesy photo. / null

CNA Staff, Mar 23, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

A new Catholic, osteopathic medical school that will be housed on the campus of Benedictine College hopes to open in the fall of 2027, the project’s founding president told CNA this week. 

Dr. George Mychaskiw, an osteopath and a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist, told CNA that the school in February completed its application to the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, the body designated by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit programs that grant the doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) degree. 

The planned school, first announced last September and dubbed the St. Padre Pio Institute for the Relief of Suffering, will adhere to Ex Corde Ecclesiae, St. John Paul II’s 1990 apostolic constitution on the mission of Catholic colleges and universities. 

It will be housed on the campus of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, but as a separate institution. The school aims for “candidate status” by December 2025, with classes beginning during fall 2027. (Legally, because of the accreditation process, the school cannot yet advertise for or accept prospective students, Mychaskiw noted.)

The Catholic medical school will aim to “emphasize that all life is equal and equally worthy and equally precious from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death,” the DO said. The school aims to train new doctors — who will, upon graduation, practice in a world replete with moral challenges — in Catholic bioethics, morality, and theology.

“We’ll be the only medical school in the world that is under the apostolic doctrine of Ex Corde Ecclesiae, which will make it the most faithful Catholic medical school, we believe, in the world, certainly in the United States … the most pro-life, the most pro-family medical school in the country,” he said.

There are several dozen osteopathic medical schools in the U.S., which teach almost one-third of U.S. medical students. There are a handful of Catholic osteopathic schools. The first opened in 2013 at the Indianapolis-based Marian University, a Franciscan institution.

The training process for osteopathic doctors is rigorous, and about 11% of practicing physicians in the U.S. are DOs and a quarter of all medical students are studying to become DOs, the accrediting body says.

Mychaskiw has founded several secular medical schools across the country. He said the osteopathic profession’s emphasis on treating the whole person rather than the specific disease or symptoms at hand make it a good fit for a Catholic medical school. 

“Osteopathic physicians believe that a person is a mind, body, and spirit, and you can’t treat one without affecting everything else. And our job is not so much to treat disease as to find health and wellness,” he explained. 

Beyond that, Mychaskiw said, the faithful environment of Benedictine College, where spiritual support from the monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey is readily available, will be a boon for medical students, who frequently suffer high rates of stress and burnout on the path toward their degree. 

“We know a lot of stories of young students that come in and get broken by the system. They suffer from stress and anxiety and depression,” he noted. 

“We believe a supportive, faithful environment in a joyful and loving atmosphere of faith will provide a better learning experience and make these people better physicians and more comfortable and joyful in their work.”

The school will accept all students, regardless of their religion, but the school will have “a Catholic-based code of conduct by which they will have to adhere.” The school plans to participate in federally guaranteed student loan programs, at least under current guidelines.

“If in the future, criteria change and the federal government put mandates on the school that would be in contrast or contrary to its Catholic orientation, then we’re ready to forgo federal student loans,” Mychaskiw noted, adding that it is “very easy for medical students to get private loans outside of the federal Title IV system.”

The involvement of Catholic bishops — including Cardinal Raymond Burke, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, and Archbishop Joseph Naumann — and clergy on the board of trustees underscores the school’s commitment to maintaining its Catholic identity, Mychaskiw said, while at the same time the school plans to welcome students of diverse backgrounds and faiths.

Mychaskiw said they have explored the possibility of building a new, 100,000-square-foot building on Benedictine’s campus as well as the repurposing of existing buildings. Collaboration with Benedictine College’s school of architecture is planned, he said, to ensure the new building’s design aligns with the college’s architectural style and functional requirements.

“It’s very hard to overstate the importance of the project. It’s just a matter of the practicalities of getting the money together,” he said, noting that it is “about a $120 million project.”

‘It’s a minor miracle’: Parishioners purchase historic church from Pennsylvania diocese 

The exterior of St. Joseph's in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. / Credit: Paula Kydoniefs

CNA Staff, Mar 23, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

A group of parishioners in the Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania, is celebrating this month after acquiring a historic church from the diocese and preserving it as a chapel and place of worship.

The Society of St. Joseph of Bethlehem (SSJB) in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, announced earlier this month that the society had purchased St. Joseph’s Church, which opened more than a century ago, from the Allentown Diocese.

“The desire to preserve the church by former parishioners has been steadfast since the church was closed in 2008,” the society’s board said in a letter announcing the purchase. “It has taken time and energy over the years to enter into an agreement with the Diocese of Allentown.”

On its Facebook page, the SSJB says its mission is “to restore and preserve St. Joseph’s Church as a sacred place of worship and a testament to the history and cultural heritage” of the area.

Lina Tavarez, a spokeswoman for the diocese, said the parish ”was closed in 2008 because of a merger of several local parishes.”

“It hosted only one regular Mass per year — on the feast day of St. Joseph — and was available for funerals for former parishioners,” she said.

The Mass of the solemnity of St. Joseph at St. Joseph's Parish in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Credit: Susan Vitez
The Mass of the solemnity of St. Joseph at St. Joseph's Parish in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Credit: Susan Vitez

Paula Kydoniefs, the president of the board of directors of SSJB, told CNA that the group was established “solely for the purpose of buying this church, taking care of it, and sponsoring events.” The church, historically attended by the local Slovenian/Windish community, had its cornerstone laid in 1914 and fully opened in 1917.

Kydoniefs explained that the decision to purchase the property originated several years ago, during a period when the diocese was in the process of merging local parishes.

“In 2008 they were consolidating, and this was one of five churches that was being closed as a parish,” she said. “St. Joseph’s parishioners fought that and appealed it and ended up taking it to the Vatican.”

The Vatican eventually ordered that the parish remain open for use, Kydoniefs said. In 2011 then-Bishop John Barres “gave the parish the ability to have an annual Mass and have funerals of former parishioners.”

The cornerstone at St. Joseph's Parish in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Credit: Dimitri Kydoniefs
The cornerstone at St. Joseph's Parish in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Credit: Dimitri Kydoniefs

The church was used “only occasionally” in this capacity, Tavarez told CNA. In 2023 the diocese moved again to sell the church.

“We went back to the diocese,” Kydoniefs said. “It’s a minor miracle. It was last-minute.”

“They had already announced they were going to sell it. They could have just told us no,” she said. “But, credit to them, they said: ‘If you can come up with $175,000 quickly, you can purchase it.’”

Kydoniefs said “several minor miracles and maybe major miracles” followed, with a benefactor — the James Stocklas Family Trust — quickly coming forward to donate “the whole $175,000.”

“Financially we’re independent, and we’re totally responsible for the care and upkeep and maintenance of the church,” Kyondiefs said.

“According to canon law, it’s a chapel,” she said. “It’s still a Catholic church, it’s still affiliated with the diocese in that way. The diocese has the jurisdiction over what public worship services we can do there.” 

“They’ve told us that we must have two Masses a year, one on the feast day of St. Joseph [March 19] and one on Oct. 28, the anniversary of the consecration of the church,” she added. 

Presently the church is not suited for occupancy, Kydoniefs said, with inspectors finding several code deficiencies in need of updating. Regulators did work with the community to develop a stopgap mitigation plan that allowed the church to celebrate St. Joseph’s feast day on March 19. 

The church “does need a lot of work,” she admitted, but she said the SSJB is prepared to see the building restored and utilized for regular community and religious events “at least monthly.” 

“We’ve got a lot of ideas,” she said. “We really want to see this church being used again.” 

In a letter issued upon the church’s reopening, meanwhile, the SSJB wrote that “as heartbreaking as it was a year ago, to hear that our cherished St. Joseph’s Church was to be permanently closed and sold on the open market, we now experience the opposite — hearts filled with joy and thanksgiving!”

“To the St. Joseph’s Church community,” the letter said, “welcome home!”