The parish priest of Gaza has said that the reopening of a Catholicschool in the devastated territory offers “a sign of hope” for people who have very little to be hopeful about. Holy Family School in the old city of Gaza reopened this morning forapproximately 1,000 students, serving the local Holy Family Catholic Parish, but …
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Christian schools in Jerusalem protest non-renewal of entry permits for teachers Christian schools in Jerusalem announced the suspension of classes on September 1, 2026, due to the non-renewal of entry permits into the city for dozens of members of their staff. The strike was supposed to be indefinite, but was called off after one day, …
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Israel’s municipal property tax, known as “Arnona,” has become the centre of a new standoff between the Churches and the municipality of Jerusalem. Christian leaders fear that challenging the exemptions enjoyed by certain ecclesiastical properties could compromise their religious, educational, and social activities. In a conversation with Aid to the Church in Need International (ACN), …
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“We dream of reaching even 5%, but we are far from that”. In an address to representatives of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Benedictine Abbot Nikodemus Schnabel offered a stark and personal account of the fragile and rapidly shrinking Christian presence in the Holy Land. The image of Jerusalem as a vibrant heart …
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Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) expresses concern over Palm Sunday restrictions in Jerusalem, Syria, and Gaza, and conveys its support for Christians in the Holy Land. The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) expresses deep concern over events that took place during Palm Sunday celebrations on March 29, 2026 …
Continue reading “Middle East: Holy Week begins under the sign of the cross”
Holy Week has begun against a backdrop of persistent war and shortages in the Catholic compound in Gaza. Despite everything, the community intends to celebrate Easter to the full, sustained by a prayer for peace throughout the Middle East, as Father Gabriel Romanelli explained to the Catholic charity, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). …
On March 10, 2026, the Israeli Ministry of Education announced that no work permits will be issued for the 2026-2027 academic year to Palestinian teachers residing in the occupied West Bank who hold a “green card” – an administrative document allowing certain Palestinians to work or travel within Israeli-controlled areas. Consequently, over 200 Christian teachers …
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“We have never faced anything like this,” says a Christian. With yet another blow to regional stability, many Christians in the Holy Land believe it is time to leave. Yet the Church’s mission remains unchanged: to bring hope and dignity to people in their daily lives. The director of the Development Office of the Latin …
The last entirely Christian village in the West Bank, Taybeh, east of Ramallah, has been enduring a wave of attacks and intimidation by Israeli settlers. Hostile acts include setting fire to agricultural lands, cars, and the walls of an ancient church, hateful and threatening graffiti, livestock released into the village, not to mention the numerous …
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The Cry of Gaza’s Parish Priest Although the media attention has died down since the ceasefire, the Gaza Strip continues to sink into an unprecedented humanitarian and health crisis. Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Gaza’s Catholic priest, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, described the “very serious” conditions marked by the daily suffering of …
Continue reading ““It is absolutely essential that the war stops””
