The birth of Jesus is cause for hope, joy and celebration for Christians in the Holy Land, despite the struggles of violence and the devastation of war, says Joseph Hazboun, director of CNEWA’s regional office for Palestine and Israel in the latest episode of “Connections With Msgr. Peter,” recorded in the Holy Land on 22 December.
Msgr. Peter I. Vaccari traveled to the Holy Land this week, carrying on the yearslong tradition of the president of CNEWA-Pontifical Mission to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem.
The episode was recorded in Taybeh, the biblical town of Ephraim, where Jesus sought refuge for several days after raising Lazarus from the dead and before his Passion (cf. Jn 11:54). It is also the only all-Christian town that remains in the West Bank.
“We come here this Christmastime, once again in the midst of much suffering, no employment, for example, in Bethlehem, the struggles and the pain of the people in Gaza, and many of the challenges the church continues to face in the region,” Msgr. Vaccari said. “We are here to support them.”
He began the episode with a reading of the Lukan account of the birth of Jesus.
He then welcomed the Rev. Bashar Fawadleh, pastor of the Latin Church of Christ the Redeemer in Taybeh and a longtime collaborator with CNEWA-Pontifical Mission, to share the current challenges facing the people.
Father Fawadleh spoke of the ongoing settler attacks, which increased since the start of the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. Many Christians have left Palestine due to the violence and deteriorating economic situation, including 15 families from Taybeh and “tens of individuals,” he said.
Christians number less than 40,000 in the Holy Land, including in Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank, he said.
“We are facing a very difficult situation, but in the midst of these circumstances … we are still celebrating Christmas,” he said. “We still spread the joy of Christmas, we still spread the happiness.”
Hope is a virtue held by every Christian that is meant to be shared through the Word of God, the sacraments, and the good works of the church, including education, health care, culture, and job creation, Father Fawadleh said.
In Taybeh, the church employs 70 women and youth. The church is also working on a housing project for 20 families in need. He urged viewers to petition their respective governments to put pressure on the Israeli government to stop settler violence and give Palestinians safe access to their lands.
Father Fawadleh identified three pastoral priorities in Palestine: to be with the people, listening and speaking with them “as Jesus did”; to invite people to join the mission of the church and to love Jesus; and to “incarnate your spiritual discussions … in the land,” encouraging them to stay.
“We still have this hope to rebuild Gaza, to rebuild our mentality, to rebuild also our hope in our hearts,” he said.
Mr. Hazboun shared his reflections on the birth of Jesus, which, he said “brings hope, hope for peace and this hope we will never lose.”
“We also want to spread hope in Gaza because we know currently we cannot do much in Gaza beyond immediate relief, providing food, water, medicine, psychosocial support, clothes maybe for the children at Christmas, which we will be doing.”
CNEWA-Pontifical Mission recently conducted a study about Christian families in Gaza. He said the purpose was twofold: to give the people hope, despite the lack of “any serious efforts” toward reconstruction.
The surveys communicates to Gazans that “there are people who are thinking about them and involving them in planning for the future, a future we are certain will come, no matter how long it will be,” he said.
The second purpose was to collect sufficient data, so that CNEWA-Pontifical Mission can spring into action once the closure to non-emergency aid is lifted.
Mr. Hazboun said Father Fawadleh’s Advent concerts and activities have served to give hope to the community in Taybeh.
“Christ is coming and with Christ we celebrate joy and we celebrate hope, and these two will never be extinguished from our hearts,” Mr. Hazboun said.
He then appealed to viewers to remember to support the church of Jerusalem, “the little town of Bethlehem and the small community that continues to strive to call the Holy Land their home.”
Msgr. Vaccari concluded the episode with announcement of activities for CNEWA’s centennial in 2026, namely a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in July, a Mass to commemorate the centennial at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York on 13 December, and a centennial dinner in New York on 15 December.
He then invited viewers to support the mission of CNEWA by praying, learning about the social teachings of the church, and giving.
Msgr. Vaccari, Father Fawadleh and Mr. Hazboun were expected to join the Christmas procession in Bethlehem with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem.