As Christmas approaches, the Holy Family Latin Church in Gaza is bustling with activity.
“In these dark days, we wanted to offer a sign of hope, especially for our children. That is why, together with them, we have prepared the nativity scene and the Christmas tree,” the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, recently wrote on Facebook.
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In an interview with EWTN News’ CNA, Father Romanelli reflected on the unique challenges of celebrating Christmas in Gaza: a mix of pain and joy, fear and hope, and the longing for a truce that now seems closer than ever.
“The situation is terrible,” he said. “Humanly speaking, this is a place of death, where hope seems to have no place. The vast majority of the population lacks everything: food, water, medicine, electricity, shelter, beds, chairs, glasses, books, notebooks, toilet paper, soap… everything.”
Gaza’s small Christian community, made up of about 500 members, remains sheltered in the Latin parish of the Holy Family. Although resources are scarce, what little is available is due to the constant support of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Order of Malta and numerous benefactors, and is generously shared with others in need.
“When I ask children what they want for Christmas, they answer: ‘peace, the end of the war, coming home, going back to school and seeing their friends,’” Father Romanelli said. “What we need most is peace: that the injured can receive treatment, that schools can reopen, that people can walk freely and see the sea, and that we can start thinking about reconstruction. To have a glimmer of hope, this horrible war must end.”
Despite the difficulties, the Catholic community in Gaza strives to keep the light of hope burning.
“There is so much darkness,” Father Romanelli said. “But instead of cursing the darkness, we try to shine a light: the light of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, who, along with Saint Joseph, walked these same lands 2,000 years ago as they fled to Egypt. In the name of Jesus, we continue to go to the depths –’take it high‘– and casting our nets, so that his grace may reach all.’
Daily, the parish gathers for Eucharistic adoration, prays the Rosary, celebrates Mass, and provides care for children and people with disabilities who have taken refuge in the church.
This year, Father Romanelli saw to it that the nativity scene and Christmas tree were put back up.
“Jesus will also be born in Gaza, he will come to the altar and to our hearts,” he said. Children decorated the church’s Christmas tree, placed ornaments and offered prayers for peace. “It was incredibly moving to see the joy that came over them!”
“We had a lesson on the manger and the Christmas tree,” Father Romanelli explained. “We are in darkness, but Jesus is the light, that is why we ask for his light. We were born in sin, but the Lord brings us forgiveness. We are sad, but the Lord brings us joy.”
On Christmas Eve, the parish will celebrate midnight Mass followed by a special surprise for the children “to bring them a little joy.”
Despite living through more than a year of war, the children of the Gaza parish continue to smile, celebrate birthdays, play and laugh.
“It is truly extraordinary,” says Father Romanelli. “Because? Because we are truly protected by Jesus. You can hear the bombings, sometimes the whole building shakes, but the children remain calm. Of course, we have noticed changes in his behavior, more aggressiveness, when seeing the struggles and reactions of the adults. But the Lord is infinitely merciful: he allows these children to endure the insecurity of a life that is far from normal, while giving them a unique joy.”
Recently, rumors of a possible truce have grown louder, even as sounds of intensifying shelling and reports of casualties echo across Gaza.
“There is hope in God,” said Father Romanelli. “But not so much in humanity. We pray that the Lord Jesus grants us the grace of a truce – and, above all, lasting peace – before next Christmas.”
In the coming days the jubilee of the Catholic Church on the theme of hope will also begin.
“There is hope with a capital ‘H’, the theological virtue of hope in God, which makes us desire heaven and eternal life,” Father Romanelli said. “This hope gives us the certainty that the Lord will give us all the graces and strength we need to purify ourselves from sin and live a new life, renewed in the spirit. “This time of suffering, in the midst of war, reminds us of what is truly essential.”
Father Romanelli also spoke of “hope with a small ‘h’,” that is, what we expect from life and from others.
“Paradoxically, this is more difficult because one can expect something unattainable and fall into despair, or trust in people who cannot help but achieve their goals, leading to disappointment. But even this kind of hope must be lived in the light of God. In all cultures, nations, religions and social strata, there are good people. We must pray to God for them and support them, remind them that peace, justice, reconciliation and forgiveness are really possible.”
Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published in CNA.
Marinella Bandini
Born and raised in Italy, Marinella Bandini has been a professional journalist since 2008. She works for several Catholic news agencies and online newspapers. He currently lives in Jerusalem and collaborates with the Custody of the Holy Land.