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Irish bishops call for prayers and support for Christians in the Holy Land


Children in Gaza as young as six have already lived through three wars

Children in Gaza as young as six have already lived through three wars

Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly and Bishop Ray Browne both participated in a delegation of European bishops which travelled to the Holy Land from 10 - 15 January. The purpose of the pilgrimage was to promote prayer and support for the Christian community in the Holy Land, and to encourage peace and the building of human dignity. The delegation also had an opportunity to visit Trócaire-partners in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.

On their return home from their recent visit, the two Irish bishops said: “We have all seen the images on the television news and read the column inches in newspapers and magazines but when you are there in person - meeting families whose lives have been devastated, who don’t have a roof to put over their heads, basic food to put on the table, and are witnessing children dying of exposure - you very quickly come to realise just how deeply distressing the situation is for the peopleof Gaza.

“The terrible conditions in which tens of thousands of families in Gaza are living are an assault on human dignity. The trauma and suffering of families are injustices that we must not ignore or forget – we must hear and respond to the cries of the people of Gaza.

“And yet in the midst of this devastation hope somehow remains. This is evident in the work of volunteers who are helping people to rebuild their lives in very trying circumstances and against a background of uncertainty about their futures. It is evident in the determination of families who are setting about the task of rebuilding their lives. It is very much evident in the faith of the people.

“We encourage Irish faithful to continue to pray for the suffering people of Gaza, specifically the diminishing Christian community which is caught in the crossfire of conflict. We take this opportunity to thank everyone for their on-going and generous support for Trócaire’s work in the Holy Land and, while acutely conscious of the challenges facing the budget of many Irish families, we humbly ask that this support would continue.”

To read the joint statement signed by all the bishops from the delegation to the Holy Land, see: www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=26481

Read more about Trócaire here: www.trocaire.org/

Source: Irish Catholic Bishops Conference/Trochaire

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