The Daughters of Charity “committed to helping the poorest of the poor in Gaza” received an early Christmas visit from His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. The Latin Patriarchate delegation was greeted in the courtyard of the parish to the rhythm of drums of the scout group of 60 members. About 300 people filled the church.
The children were at the heart of the Patriarch’s homily drawing the attention of the faithful to the Advent of Christmas. “A child, innocent and defenseless, was born in Bethlehem, in our beloved Holy Land. He brings peace and salvation to all men. We look up to him as a model and example, to be like him, to be witnesses of the love and mutual acceptance. In a world torn by conflict and hostility, the Child Jesus is an extraordinary sign of newness and hope. “The Patriarch continued by stating that “the children of the parish, who for the first time receive the Body and Blood of Christ, or marked by the Holy Spirit are for us the image of the nativity in Bethlehem.” He concluded by saying that, “Peace begins in our hearts and extends to our families, and then silently spreads to our cities and in our land.
After the celebration, His Beatitude gave interviews to the local press. He insisted that every Christian has the right to go to Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas. This year, Israeli authorities issued about 500 permits for Christians from Gaza to travel to the city where the Savior was born. However, excluded are those between 16 and 35. Families are not together, not for Christmas. Christians suffer like all Palestinian people who still do not enjoy the right to live in an independent free and peaceful state.
Tags: Daughters of Charity
