|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
A Christian Delegation brings solidarity to the people of Gaza |
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 10 February 2009 |
Gaza has suffered prior severe persecution in the recent war. Hundreds of people have been killed and many more injured in the previous Israeli invasion which started on December 27th 2008.
People of Gaza have endured bombing of their homes, the damage of their crops, other than the exposure to different types of phosphorus bombs which would cause many horrific damages and burns on the long run.The brutal siege on Gaza is so wide-spread that it goes beyond television screens. The War affected everyone, Christians and Muslims as well. Fr. Manuel Musallam, parish priest of the Holy Family Church in Gaza said:" The Moslems among us are our brothers and sisters. We share with them their joys and their sufferings. We are one people, the people of Palestine".Moreover, a 10th grader student at the Holy Family School, Christine Wadi' Al-Turk passed away on the morning of Saturday, January 2nd 2009 due to fear and cold.Also, the Church has lost a 26 year old Catholic man, Naseem Saba, who was killed in an Israeli air raid on January 7th 2009, a day before the Israeli jets destroyed his family home where he lived with his three uncles.Many families fled to have a shelter at the United Nations (UNRWA) schools where they thought they would be safe there, but the Israeli military forces bombed the UN buildings not distinguishing between women, medics, and even the children.Emergency aids are rare and clean water is scarce too. Hospitals are being overwhelmed by a steady influx of casualties, including more and more women and children.
January 13th 2009
A conference call was made with Fr. Manuel Musallam, the parish priest of the Holy Family Parish in the Gaza Strip on January 13th 2009 during the annual meeting held by the Coordination of the Catholic Episcopal Conferences, where Fr. Mosallam appealed the leaders of the world to interfere and do something in order to stop the unbearable bloodshed of innocent people.Fr. Musallam asked the National community to find a solution for the Palestinian people and also requested fervid prayers for it is the only salvation, as he said: "Peace is only possible if it embraces justice. If the world grants the Palestinian people their human rights, there will surely be peace in the Middle East".Fr. Musallem along with many priests raised the banner of hope, and lifted Gaza sufferings up to God to grant them the true Peace of Him. Fr. Musallam added: "The people of Gaza reject war as a way to achieve peace and insist that the road of peace is peace itself".Furthermore, many masses and prayers were held in different regions of Jerusalem and the West Bank in the memory of Gazian martyrs and asked the Lord Jesus to prevail peace and stability to the area.
January 21st 2009
"Destroyed homes, coffins, destruction and desperation: this is what I see in Gaza confirming once again that war is never a solution and that the use of weapons causes only death and rubble", this what Monsignor Antonio Franco, Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Apostolic delegate for Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories observed after having celebrated a mass in the local Catholic parish while being there for a several hours long visit to Gaza.
January 25th 2009
His Eminence Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington paid a visit to Gaza on January 25th 2009 after a week of a ceasefire. Accompanied him was Fr. Humam Khazouz, Chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate along with Fr. Shawki Baterian, General Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate as well as Matt Davis, the representative of the Catholic Relief Service of Jerusalem and the West Bank, together with David Austin, assistant to the Cardinal. The delegation's visit came after a time of intensified fighting and deepening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. His Eminence presided a mass in the Holy Family church assisted by Fr. Manuel Musallam, parish priest of the Latin Church in Gaza.The visit of the delegation was a sign to bring solidarity to the people of Gaza, especially to the small Christian community.
February 4th 2009
His Beatitude Patriarch Fouad Twal visited the Gaza Strip February 4th 2009. He launched an appeal for help towards the universal Church and the international community to help Gaza. His Beatitude was accompanied by a delegation consisting of leaders and representatives of Christian Churches of the Holy Land: Archbishop Aris Shirvanian, Armenian Orthodox Bishop, Bishop Abba Mattias, Ethiopian Orthodox Bishop, the Lutheran pastor Jonassane, Fr. Ibrahim Faltas, Custody of the Holy Land and Fr. Michael Sellors Anglican Church. His Beatitude was also accompanied by Fr. Humam Khzouz, Fr. Shawki Baterian, Fr. Ilario Antoniazzi and Michael O'Sullivan.It should be noted that the Israeli authorities refused to give Bishops Suheil Dawani, from the Episcopal Churchand and Mounib Younan, Lutheran Church of Jerusalem, permission to pass and join the delegation.After crossing the border of Erez, his Beatitude and the delegation were received by a committee composed of Muslim and Christian in Gaza who have accompanied them throughout their visit. They toured the neighborhoods heavily hit by the bombings, like Beit Lahiyya, Soudaniyya, and the American School. They also visited the wounded people in the Al-Shifa and the Anglican hospitals, and the bombed school run by the Rosary Sisters. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
