As war continues in Gaza, Father Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of Holy Family Catholic Church, has chosen to remain with his congregation, caring for the sick, the elderly, and the displaced.
Holy Family is the only Catholic church in Gaza and has become a refuge for hundreds of people during the conflict. Despite Israeli evacuation orders, Father Romanelli and a small group of priests and nuns have stayed, saying that leaving would be a “death sentence” for those too weak to move. “Faced with the reality of the elderly, the sick, the exhausted and the children, the Lord is asking us to stay and continue to serve those who suffer,” he said.
The church itself has suffered tragic losses. In December 2023, two parishioners were killed by alleged sniper fire, and in July this year, an Israeli shell hit the compound, killing three people and injuring Father Romanelli and others. Today, around 450 people, including Catholics, Orthodox, Muslims, and those with disabilities, find shelter within its walls.
George Akroush of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that the civilian population continues to endure bombings, displacement, hunger, and lack of medicine. He praised the decision of the clergy to remain, saying, “Nowhere in Gaza can truly be considered safe. Those who left are suffering even more, living in tents on the streets with no basic necessities.”
Amid deep suffering and uncertainty, the church’s presence has become a beacon of hope for many.
Adapted from Christian Today UK.
