January and February Updates 2025
Two days this week I spent in Jerusalem visiting the Patriarchate and the Pontifical Mission the first day and going to the Bank the following day. I just talked by phone to the Parish Priest to ask him to tell me the news from Gaza City.
Being that I continue to fundraise for them I was able to bring with me the funds that came in. When we as a team stopped helping in the south so did two of our major benefactors. Other sources have been found who want to help, so I do receive some financial help. We have had problems with using PayPal so I ask that any of you ready to help the poor of the south let me know and I will send you my account information which is used for helping them. My priority continues to be to feed people as long as it is needed to save lives this includes providing water and some medicines that are also life savers.
The Patriarchate has reached out to the many Lieutenancies of the Orders of the Holy Sepulcher around the world and they have been very generous. They have helped especially the Catholic/Latin Parish in Gaza City who houses 500 refugees. Among them are three priests and two sisters of the Word Incarnate and two Missionaries of Charity of Mother Theresa. Despite the hardships the people are courageous and intend to rebuild their city. The parish is able to reach out to many in need in their area of the city.
The Pontifical Mission is working in collaboration with the Patriarchate and they are reaching out to another group in need. They work with four other non-prophet organizations serving the two million and three thousand people left alive. They work with five local NGOs who serve both Muslim and Christian people. There are very few Christians and who live only in Gaza City.
Isha they have been working with for five years and know them well. They provide food packages for 1,120 families of the value of one hundred dollars. This is a non-Christian ONG. Their goal is to protect the rights of women and children with their headquarters in G. City. They also fled south when the people had to flee to the south of the strip. Their office were destroyed. It was in the El Amal building on El Wahad St. near where our bank was.
The Pontifical Mission also supports the Alaya Hospital that Ms. Suhiala directs. Medicines and medical supplies were provided them. This hospital was badly shelled several times during the war.
Spark who supports the Education of Children was also supported by Pontifical Mission. They provide psychosocial activities and also teach Arabic and English.
The Society of women Graduates gives psychosocial intervention for 100 children and for 500 families. They also supply food parcels to 500 families.
The Al Ahli Hospital who was also seriously damaged several times in the war. This is an Episcopal hospital. Pontifical Mission provides for their outpatients mainly for minor injuries and for inpatients serving 200,000 individuals for all kinds of medical services and medicines.
When the people from the south came to see how their homes were destroyed one third of these people returned to the South of the Strip.
Just recently we have heard from the media of President Trump’s plans for this strip of land.
Fr. Gabriel said this morning that prayer will help as a future is ahead for this one million and three thousand people.
