Israel: Church scrambling to help desperate Christian refugees and migrants

Children's summer camp, St James Vicariate for Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel 2021 © ACN

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

At a time of growing crisis in the Middle East, Christian migrants and asylum seekers struggling in Israel are receiving emergency help from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

With this Sunday (29th September) marking the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem revealed how it has been providing help - including humanitarian aid and educational support - to Christians from various parts of the world searching for safety and employment in the Holy Land.

There could be up to 85,000 people under the pastoral care of the Patriarchate's Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers (VMAS), which was established in 2021 to help Christian immigrants face the challenges in their daily lives.

Those living in Israel without being a citizen of the country often work in difficult jobs that no one else wants, according to Sister Gabriele Penka, administrator at VMAS.

Sister Penka told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that asylum seekers need to "show a payslip to obtain a visa, but at the same time, Israel will not officially declare that they have the right to work…. We went to all the ministries related to this, and no one was able to give us a straight answer about what the legal status of these people is."

She said that VMAS is offering practical support, which includes running kindergartens for migrant and refugee children who are not entitled to free pre-school education.

She added: "We have several daycare programmes. When migrants have children, if they don't have places where they can leave them, then they can't work anymore, and we have seen some very drastic situations. In Jerusalem we have the after-school programme for children in their teens to go to in the afternoon."

She told ACN: "We have Israeli volunteers to help with homework… And we also run a home for up to 10 or 11 young people in Jerusalem, from families that cannot provide a stable home. They stay with us during the week, and then return to their families."

The Patriarchate has also helped to find priests to celebrate the sacraments for these communities in their own languages - even arranging celebrations where there are no nearby churches.

Sister Penka said: "We have 60 communities throughout the country, in places that do not traditionally have a Christian presence, and they usually have to meet on Friday or Saturday - as that is the weekend in Israel - when there is no public transport.

"Most of the money we allocate to VMAS goes to rental of spaces where people can meet and pray, and this is a huge amount of money."

George Akroush, director at the Patriarchate's Project Development Office told ACN that, even though migrants and asylum seekers come to Israel hoping for a better life, their presence can show a positive view of Christianity to the local Jewish community.

Mr Akroush said: "Many of the migrants, mostly young ladies, work as caretakers for the elderly. Through their presence in the homes of local families, they provide the Jewish community with a different perspective of the Catholic Church, and with this they build bridges."

ACN is assisting the Patriarchate's projects helping Christians throughout the Holy Land - including the Palestinian territories - with emergency aid, food, housing, school fees and medical assistance, as well as supporting job creation programmes.

With thanks to Filipe d'Avillez

LINK

Aid to the Church in Need: https://acnuk.org/