CV NEWS FEED // Even though neighborhoods in Gaza are destroyed and unrecognizable, and water and food are scarce, there remains an unmistakable sense of hope, the pastor of the region’s one Catholic parish said in a Jan. 20 interview about life post-ceasefire.
“The community holds onto the possibility of returning to some kind of normalcy,” Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Gaza, shared in the interview published by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
For one thing, “the sound of explosions and drones has finally stopped,” Fr. Romanelli said.
The parish is praying that the ceasefire will lead to longstanding peace, he said. He expressed gratitude for the Latin Patriarchate and Malteser International for continued efforts to provide humanitarian aid to thousands of local families.
“People are desperately seeking aid to address severe shortages of essentials like water, fuel, and food,” Fr. Romanelli said.
In an interview with AsiaNews last week, Fr. Romanelli shared that the parish school has transformed many of its classrooms into living spaces, and currently houses 500 people.
The parish has also initiated men’s and women’s groups that encourage a deepening of faith, Fr. Romanelli said in the Jan. 20 interview. Additionally, the parish, with the help of Caritas and the religious Sisters of Mother Teresa, continues to provide medical support to those in need.
Ensuring the safety of those at the parish, continuing education, and keeping the pastoral life of the parish organized are also top priorities, he explained.
“Amid the turmoil, we’re committed to ensuring that children’s education continues, even if only partially, for those taking refuge at the parish,” he said. “Hence, specific time has been set aside for educational activities, aiming to keep students on track for their 2023 school year, with a particular focus on preparing them for the critical Tawjihi exams. This provides a much-needed sense of hope.”
