Shell-shocked Gaza parish prepares for Christmas

By CathNews New Zealand

December 9th, 2025

Damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza after it was hit in an attack on July 17, 2025 (CNS photo/courtesy Aid to the Church in Need, UK)

Gaza’s Christians are preparing for their first Christmas without conflict for two years – while still having to live with widespread damage and devastation. Source: Aid to the Church in Need UK.

Fr Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of Gaza City’s Holy Family Church, said members of the community are doing their best to get ready to celebrate the birth of Christ, but the situation is dire.

He said: “The world should know that there are over two million people here who have nothing and need everything.”

With the October 10 ceasefire between Israeli authorities and Hamas broadly holding, the parish has started planning for December 25. Preparations are underway despite isolated violations of the ceasefire.

Fr Romanelli said: “We are deciding what to organise and we have begun rehearsing choirs and dabkes – Palestinian group dances – and we may even hold a small show outside the walls of our compound, if conditions permit.”

The priest is hoping to organise seasonal visits to the sick and bring them small gifts – both those living in the church compound and those few who have returned to their homes.

He is trying to obtain chocolate “whatever the cost . . . [hoping] it will do everyone good”.

Since the ceasefire, emergency supplies have been arriving more regularly. Fr Romanelli said: “Since the fighting stopped, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has managed to send us important aid with which we have been able to help over 12,000 families.”

The church’s compound is currently home to around 450 people – mostly Catholic and Orthodox. Among them are more than 50 people living with disabilities who could not leave Gaza City during the conflict, including 30 Muslims.

About 60 people have managed to move out, with some returning to their homes even if they are damaged, but they rely on Holy Family for drinking water and power to charge their mobile phones.

“There is no sign of reconstruction, the lack of means causes suffering and the lack of prospects leaves people agitated,” Fr Romanelli said, while calling for the Christmas season to be one of prayer for peace.

FULL STORY

Shell-shocked parish prepares for Christmas (By John Newton/Aid to the Church in Need UK)