Visit in Gaza feb 25-26, 2013

Three of us went down for two days: Roberto, Joe and I had great weather to visit the Gaza strip. Sabah met us as usual on the Gaza side. We had some books to give to the school near the border so we went there first. Fawyseh was there to meet us. Two classes of the children were out playing and two classes were inside studying. They were happy to see the new books. The teacher decided to read one right away to them.

Visit in Gaza feb 12, 2013 - video and photos

Andres was off from his studies and free so he came as our “camera man” and we were delighted to have him. We had a lovely day. We started with going to the Middle Camps area where two of our schools are located. Each School was having a free day with a party. It was great being with the children again and seeing them in action. One school was celebrating the birthdays for all the children who had birthdays that month. Both schools had had renovations during the summer and it was the first time for me to see the great changes. Roberto and others had seen them before. Musadder School now has five classrooms and the ability of taking many more students.

January 17, 2013 - three poor families

Roberto went down by himself and had a great day. He and Sabah visited three very poor families. These families have a child in one of the pre-schools which we help or are a family who has had a lot of sickness whom we have assisted. Home visits by our social worker and Sabah have brought to our attention how difficult it is for a family when their home is not protected from the cold and especially the rain.

Our brochure 2012

How Gaza prepares for Christmas

GAZA – Traditionally, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Fouad Twal, visits the parish of the Holy Family in Gaza before Christmas.  He did this year on the third Sunday of Advent and celebrated Christmas Mass for the faithful in Gaza.  The communications team of the Latin Patriarchate was in Gaza three days early and met with the parishioners in anticipation of this visit.

Poor families in Gaza city

December 15, 2012 - Lorenzo and Andres with the coworkers of Andrea's made a visit with the Patriarch just before Christmas and spent most of one day with Sabah visiting five poor families. Andres took these great pictures. You can see their poverty and at the same time the beauty of the children with their shy smiles. We are helping four families now with roof repairs as the winter rains soak the interior of their homes, it's hard to know how they have managed until now!

Post war Gaza - visit decembre 4, 2012

It was a cloudy but warm day to visit for the first time after the war in Gaza. Br. Joe and Fr. Roberto got in this time and I didn’t. They visited two of our schools in the middle camps area. These two villages didn’t receive the shelling like Gaza City received, yet was very affected by the rockets also. Many of the children stopped speaking after the trauma of the shelling.

Testimonials and letters from the parish of Gaza during the offensive "pillar of defense" - Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Gaza, Sunday, November 18, lives five days under the bombs. The priest of Gaza, Father Jorge Hernandez who was in Argentina for family reasons this morning rejoined his parish and his parishioners “not to leave them alone for one more day.” Testimony of Father Pablo De Santo, Institute of Incarnate Word. 

1. Gaza – The Latin Parish on the fifth day of the offensive

GAZA – On the sixth day of the military operation launched by Israel against the Gaza Strip, the pastor of the Latin Parish, Father Jorge Hernandez (IVE), now back among his parishioners, recounts the continuing and growing fear that everyone is living with.
November 20, 2012

2. Gaza – Update on the offensive: Day 6

 


GAZA – The pastor of Gaza continues to share with us the testimony of the day to day life of his parishioners. This story was written this morning (Tuesday, 20 November) but it did not reach us until this afternoon.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012

3. Gaza – The pastor continues to lift up his voice 

 


GAZA – Initially announced for midnight on Tuesday, November 21, it is being negotiated. Meanwhile, the intense bombardment lasted through the night until 2 in the morning. For now, the hostility and violence continue.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012

4. GAZA – The parish awaits the truce

 


GAZA – The truce is observed today Thursday, November 22 in the Gaza Strip one day after the agreement was reached between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas in power in Gaza, ending a week of armed confrontation that claimed the lives of 155 Palestinians and five Israelis. Father Jorge Hernandez celebrates with his parishioners. 
From Gaza, Holy Land! Thursday, November 22, 2012

5. "Let’s hope that this peace is really stable and sustainable"

 

 

Our team for Gaza met on October 27th

After a long summer break our team for Gaza met on October 27th. It was GREAT being together again. It was a long meetings yet a very important one as we saw where we are at and shared the news of the programs we are running. Some of the topics were:

Visit on october 10, 2012

October tenth Roberto and I went to Gaza only to find that his coordination had expired. He wasn’t able to entre so I tried not to delay my visit. Sabah met me as usual and we visited Fawyseh’s school first in the north. The children were busy in the large hall cutting and pasting learning their shapes. After they all received a sandwich of martadella. I will add the pictures of these activities.