Holy Family Church, Gaza

The Holy Family Church (Arabic: كنيسة العائلة المقدسة) of Gaza City is the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, State of Palestine.[1][2] 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 Matará,[3] and the Rosary Sisters.[4] The Missionaries of Charity care for the elderly and disabled,[5] and the Rosary Sisters operate a school.[6] The community is served by priests from the Institute of the Incarnate Word.

Sanctuary and altar of the church

Holy Family Church
كنيسة العائلة المقدسة
Holy Family Church
31°31′26.70060″N 34°27′7.17494″E
LocationGaza City
CountryPalestine
DenominationCatholic Church (Latin Rite)
Administration
ArchdioceseLatin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Clergy
ArchbishopPierbattista Pizzaballa
Pastor(s)Gabriel Romanelli IVE

History

In 1974, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem founded the Holy Family school, which has over 1,200 students. In 2000, the Rosary Sisters founded another school (kindergarten and elementary) which has around 500 students. The schools provide education to children regardless of religion, and many local Muslims send their children to the schools.[7][8]

From 1995 to 2009, Manuel Musallam, a noted Palestinian peace activist, was parish priest of the Holy Family community.[9] In 2007, the Rosary Sisters' convent was looted and vandalized by unknown perpetrators. When asked about Islamic-Christian relations in Gaza after the attack, Msgr. Musallam claimed that relations were very positive, and that Muslims in the community had promised to help repair the damage.[8]

During the 2014 Gaza War, the parish school and the pastor's office were partially destroyed by an Israeli airstrike aimed at a nearby house.[10]

As of 2021, the tiny Catholic community in the Gaza Strip consisted of 133 people. The Rosary Sisters' school was damaged by an Israeli airstrike during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis.[11]

During the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, the church, school, and convents have sheltered several hundred refugees,[12] including four Christian families whose homes were destroyed.[13][14][15] On 9 October, Pope Francis called the parish priest, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli IVE, to offer prayer for the Christian community of Gaza. At the time, Fr. Romanelli was stranded in Bethlehem and unable to return to Gaza due to the war.[16] On 16 October, Pope Francis called Fr. Yusuf Asaad IVE and Sr. Nabila Saleh SSVM, both serving at Holy Family, to offer more support for the faithful of Gaza.[17][18]

See also

References
  1. "Patriarch Twal visits parishioners of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza". Abouna.org. 19 December 2015. Archived from the original on 28 December 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  2. "Holy Family Parish in Gaza 'small but strong in faith'". Vatican Radio Archive. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  3. "Palestine – Servants of the Lord the Virgin of Matará". Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  4. "Une visite à la paroisse de Gaza". Patriarcat latin de Jérusalem. 15 September 2009. Archived from the original on 30 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  5. "The strength of the Church in Gaza: living hope in the midst of chaos". Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  6. "The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Visits Rosary's Sisters School in Gaza (Photos)". Palestine Chronicle. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  7. "Gaza Parish - Holy Family Church". Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  8. "Gaza priest slams barbaric attack against Sisters of the Rosary". AsiaNews. 19 June 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  9. "Manoel Musallam". Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  10. "Bombing near the Catholic parish in Gaza. School devastated". Agenzia Fides. 29 July 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  11. Sudilovsky, Judith (12 May 2021). "In Gaza, tiny Catholic community tries to stay in touch during airstrikes". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  12. Robbins, Claire Porter (14 October 2023). "Inside Gaza's Last Catholic Parish". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  13. "The state of our parish in Gaza amidst the war". Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  14. "Gaza Strip Christians taking refuge in only Catholic church". Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  15. Villar, Julieta (10 October 2023). "Pastor of only Catholic church in Gaza: 'Never have we seen things like this time'". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  16. Brockhaus, Hannah (10 October 2023). "Pope Francis Calls Gaza Priest as Israel Announces Blockade". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  17. Wooden, Cindy (17 October 2023). "Pope Francis calls nuns and priest in Gaza's only Catholic Church as bombing continues". America Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  18. "Pope Francis calls Catholic faithful of parish in Gaza - Vatican News". Vatican News. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
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