The Church facing Covid-19
Virtual Meeting of Holy Land Coordination 2021: COVID-19, Gaza, Education
HOLY LAND - From January 16- 21, 2021, the bishops of the Holy Land Coordination (HLC) held their virtual meeting with the local Church and Christians. This year, a particular attention was drawn to the effects of COVID-19 on the population of the Holy Land and the steps that were taken by the different solidarity and Christian institutions to combat and adapt to the reality that the virus created.
The first session was delivered by Mr. Sami El-Yousef, Chief Executive Officer of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. He spoke about the health, economical and spiritual situation of the Christian institutions in the Holy Land amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect of the high unemployment on the livelihoods of thousands of faithful. The financial problems faced by Latin Patriarchate schools and many other Catholic institutions were highlighted, and the possibility that some might be forced to close, was also a topic that was largely discussed.
Mr. Sami also reminded the bishops of the grave political challenges that are still facing the local population as a result of the Israeli occupation, at a time when the world is occupied with a life-threatening virus and news about normalization accords between Israel and the Arab countries. He reminded them that their continued solidarity and support is still needed to end the injustice and arrive at a durable and just peace. During the second day, briefings and analysis of the situation were given by His Beatitude Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Archbishop Girelli, Nuncio to Israel and Apostolic Delegate to Palestine.
Another session was dedicated to the work and projects of the Latin Patriarchate parish and some Church institutions in the Gaza Strip; Thomas Aquinas Training Centre, Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem’s run Ahli Arab Hospital, Caritas Jerusalem and the Catholic Relief Services.
In a video presentation, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, Parish priest of the Holy Family, deplored the lack of prospects and possibilities for the youth in Gaza. The inability to leave the Strip is another problem that people face there. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has exacerbated the already adverse life of Palestinian Christians in Gaza, who for more than a year now have not been allowed to visit their families and friends in the West Bank and Jerusalem. In normal circumstances, the Church fights tooth and nail to obtain permits for Gazan Christians to celebrate Christmas and Easter in Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
Fr. Gabriel made a plea to the bishops to help preserve the Palestinian Christian presence that is dwindling daily, not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank: “It’s not an easy task! It’s our responsibility to …
This article was originally published by Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Please click here to read the full text.