“We were welcomed by families whose focus is now day-to-day survival and whose aspirations have been reduced to bare essentials such as electricity and clean water.”
Bishop Treanor said that while he was always wary of drawing over simplified conclusions, religions and churches had a role in promoting peace and understanding in Northern Ireland in the recent past and in particular during the past year when the political institutions were not functioning there.
The bishops are determined to go to Gaza to help remind the small Christian community that they are not forgotten as Christians.
“We can all play our part to support a movement that puts the furthest behind first,” says Caoimhe de Barra.
"The Holy Land Coordination stands in solidarity with all Christians in Israel and Palestine."
“This is life in Gaza. No food. No money. No health care. Living in fear. The situation is reaching crisis level and is close to becoming unliveable.” – Sr Bridget Tighe
"This latest move is further evidence of the disregard the US administration has for the lives of vulnerable people." – Éamonn Meehan
Sr Bridget Tighe offers care and support to Palestinian communities in Jordan, Gaza and Jerusalem.
We Christians believe and know that Christ’s resurrection is the true hope of the world, the hope that does not disappoint.
Twenty ecumenical accompaniers from Britain and Ireland are currently being recruited to serve in Palestine and Israel next year.
A seven-year-old in Syria has never known peace; a seven-year-old in Gaza has survived two separate wars; a seven-year-old in South Sudan has experienced both famine and civil war in their short life.
“Our first purpose is to give support and encouragement to the increasingly small Catholic community in the Holy Land,” says Bishop Donal McKeown.
“It is our faith in God that gives us hope. It is the witness of Christians in the Holy Land and especially the young people we met that inspires us.”
Representatives of the three Abrahamic Faiths in Ireland sign Joint Declaration on Holy Land and present it to Archbishop Suheil Dawani in Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation.
President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales praises “witness and strength” of small Catholic community of 170 people out of a total population of 1.8 million.
Holy Land Coordination group will celebrate Mass in Bethlehem and visit the Christian community of Beit Jala which has suffered the loss of land and livelihood.
Not a single destroyed house has been rebuilt and at least 100,000 people remain displaced.
Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly and Bishop Ray Browne appeal to Irish people to hear and respond to the cries of the people of Gaza.
Tens of thousands of families lack adequate shelter while the blockade "dramatically impedes rebuilding" and contributes to desperation, bishops warn.
Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly of Cashel & Emly and Bishop Raymond Browne of Kerry will join the bishops of the Holy Land Co-ordination in solidarity visit.
Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Fouad Twal, appeals on behalf of the people of Gaza.
Parishioners invited to take a packet of chamomile seeds for their home and one for someone they would like to reach out to.
Families urged to donate the cost of a meal for an imaginary Gazan guest in a bid to raise €150,000 for the Al Ahli Hospital.
Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Michael Jackson, to launch Advent Appeal for Al Ahli Hospital on Tuesday.
77-year-old Sr Christine Frost warns social deprivation and sense of grievance pushing Muslim youth into arms of extremists.
"Everyone is thanking God that a durable ceasefire agreement has been reached."
Bishop Shomali makes urgent appeal for medical treatments and fuel for generators that supply hospitals.
Memorialising must consider violence, carnage, and suffering of the innocent in Gaza, Israel, Syria, Ukraine and Iraq today, Church of Ireland Primate suggests.
“As this conflict shows, violence breeds violence" - Cardinal Nichols.
Prayers include the prayer of St Francis, a prayer by Cardinal Newman, and a prayer at bedtime.
