With heavy hearts, our team was devastated to hear of the July 17 bombing of Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City. This community is known for being Gaza’s only Catholic parish and one CNEWA has long supported.
Sadly, lives have been lost, and many more have been shaken to their core. Without a doubt, this attack will continue causing deep suffering within an already broken community.
This sacred place has served not only as a powerful place of prayer and refuge for so many, but as a last resort for families seeking care, love, hope and compassion amidst unimaginable hardship.
In a statement from the Holy See Press Office, Pope Leo XIV, again expressed his concern about the tragic humanitarian situation of the population in Gaza, whose children, elderly, and sick are paying an agonizing price.” Do you remember? Our late Holy Father Pope Francis was known to phone the Pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church from Vatican City regularly – pledging his prayer and solidarity with the parish community.
As we begin to grieve with the faithful in Gaza and understand the magnitude of this incident, know we remain steadfast in our mission.Â
As we await news from our CNEWA-Pontifical Mission colleagues in Jerusalem, we will provide further information as it becomes available. We anticipate offering some form of emergency relief to our partners there in the very near future.
In the meantime, we ask that you join us in praying fervently for healing, peace and the protection of all those caught up in this unspeakable violence. We will do everything we can, with God’s grace, to provide emergency relief while accompanying the wounded.