Alfi Alex D Cruz

The war between Israel and Hamas which began on October 7, 2023 has resulted in many deaths and suffering of the innocents in Gaza. The brutal killing of children, women and men and taking civilians as hostages has created chaos till date. The Holy Family Parish in Gaza has become a refuge for the Christian Minorities in war-torn Gaza. The parish catered to 500 people mostly orthodox, protestant, and catholics but also some Muslim children and their families. It is interesting to know that Pope Francis, has remained in constant  touch with the suffering Holy Family Parish of Gaza.

The Holy Family Church of Gaza City is the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest and Fr. Youssef Assad, Vicar Priest from the Institute of the Incarnate Word are serving the community. The parish includes a school which provides a Christian education to children in Gaza, and it works closely with the nearby religious congregations of the Missionaries of Charity, servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara and the Rosary sisters. The Church’s school was bombed by the Israeli Air Force on 7 July 2024, killing four displaced  people sheltering on the school’s ground. In addition to the midday sniper attack on Nahida and Samar Anton, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said that a rocket  from Israel Defence  Force was hit the convent of the Sisters of Mother Teresa, a mission that was a home to more than 54 people with disabilities.

Fr. Gabriel Romanelli expresses his thoughts about his deseased parishioners in his write up on L’orsservatore Romano. According to him, Nahida and Samar were good people, they were civilians, like everyone in the church compound, more than 600 people. Nahida was the mother of 7 children, most of them married, she had more than 20 grandchildren. She was the mother of the largest Catholic family in the Gaza Strip. Some of her grandchildren were affected by Saturday’s attack. At the beginning of the war, there were 1,017 Christians in Gaza, 135 Catholics, now with their deaths we mourn the loss of 24 people. Samar was the daughter of Nahida and her husband Kamal, who is still in the church: she was the cook of the house for disabled children assisted by the nuns of Mother Teresa and, like her mother, she was always in the parish. Beside participating in the daily spiritual activities of the church Nahida was also part of the group of the Confraternity of women, the Sant’Anna group. They were always available and discreet, much loved by the community, like their entire family.

The last Christmas season 2024 was a terrible experience for the Christians of[MOU4]  Gaza. Just Amash, former Michigan representative who was the first Palestine- American to serve in Congress and whose relatives were killed in Gaza said, “For Christians in Gaza, whose family members have been killed or maimed, whose homes and churches have been destroyed or badly damaged, and who suffer through sleepless nights of bombimgs- this Christmas will be one of great sadness and mourning, please pray for peace and reprieve from the IDF siege that is devastating this ancient community.” During the Christmas Pope Francis formerly addressed the issue and called it as cruelty and non-just a war. The suffering of Gaza was the suffering of the entire church and the new year 2025 began with the continuing of prayers and support for the suffering in Gaza. This gave a hope for the people of Gaza and the Christians encountered this war with a ray of hope. Everyday interaction of Pope Francis with the Church of Gaza also established close bonding of the children and suffering people of Gaza with the Holy Father.

The ongoing violence has led to severe psychological and physical repercussion in the younger population of Gaza. The families has been displaced, there is a loss of education and without any doubt there is undeniable psychological trauma which is faced by the victims. Hence the Holy Family Church of Gaza continues to provide support to its community. It serves as a sanctuary for those seeking refuge from the violence. Providing food, medicine, medical assistance and psychological support to the affected families and particularly to children.

The suffering of the Holy Family Church and its congregation, especially the children, highlights the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The resilience of this community, amidst overwhelming adversity, underscore the urgent need for international attention and support to alleviate their plight.

Photo of Fr. Gabriel Romanelli with child published on website of Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation.