Bombs strike near Catholic parish in Gaza as ceasefire stalls

Fr Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Gaza, told Vatican News that the bombings happened just 300 or 400 metres from the parish church building. This led to a growing sense of insecurity throughout the community.

“The bombings woke us up; they were very close. Fortunately, no shrapnel [hit us] and we’re fine, but throughout the Strip there is already talk of more than 350 dead and more than a thousand injured,” Fr Romanelli said. 

At the outset of the war, the parish building, the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, was converted into an improvised shelter where 500 people now live. Most are Orthodox Christians, Protestants and Catholics, but it also serves as a shelter for more than 50 Muslim children with disabilities and their families.

The priest of the Institute of the Incarnate Word emphasised that, given the continued uncertainty, some of the families who had returned to their homes after the ceasefire was declared have decided to return to the parish, feeling safer “with Jesus”, despite the fact that no place in the region is completely safe.

“Here we are together with Mother Teresa’s sisters, the male religious of my congregation of the Incarnate Word, the sisters of the same congregation, the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará.

“We all try to do good, to serve; we pray, we assist the elderly, the children; we also have children with special needs, and we try to make sure they don’t suffer, because children are sponges – they realise if adults are anxious,” he added.

FULL STORY

Catholic priest in Gaza reports explosions near parish (By Victoria Cardiel, ACI Prensa via CNA)

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