A young girl hangs an ornament on the Christmas tree inside the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Gabriel Romanelli

Jerusalem, Dec 22, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

As Christmas approaches, the Latin Church of the Holy Family in Gaza is alive with activity.

“In these dark days, we wanted to offer a sign of hope, especially for our children. That’s why, together with the kids, we prepared the Nativity scene and the Christmas tree,” Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest, wrote in a recent Facebook post.

In an interview with CNA, Romanelli reflected on the unique challenges of celebrating Christmas in Gaza — a blend of pain and joy, fear and hope, and the longing for a truce that now seems closer than ever.

“The situation is dire,” he said. “Humanly speaking, this is a place of death, where hope seems to have no place. The vast majority of the population lacks everything: food, water, medicine, electricity, shelter, beds, chairs, glasses, books, notebooks, toilet paper, soap… everything.”

Gaza’s small Christian community, numbering about 500, remains sheltered in the Latin Parish of the Holy Family. While resources are scarce, what little is available is thanks to the ongoing support of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Order of Malta, and numerous benefactors and is shared generously with others in need.

“When I ask the children what they want for Christmas, they answer ‘peace, an end to the war, to go back home, to return to school, and to see their friends,’” Romanelli said. “What we need most is peace — so the injured can be treated, schools can reopen, people can walk freely and see the sea, and we can begin to think about rebuilding. To have even a glimmer of hope, this horrific war must end.”

Despite the hardship, Gaza’s Catholic community strives to keep the light of hope burning.

“There is so much darkness,” Romanelli said. “But instead of cursing the darkness, we try to shine a light — the light of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, who, along with St. Joseph, walked these very lands 2,000 years ago as they fled to Egypt. In Jesus’ name, we continue to go out into the deep — ‘duc in altum’ — and cast our nets, so that his grace may reach everyone.”

Daily, the parish gathers for Eucharistic adoration, prays the rosary, celebrates Mass, and provides care for children and people with disabilities who have taken refuge in the church.

This year, Romanelli made sure the Nativity scene and Christmas tree were put up once again.

“Jesus will be born in Gaza too — he will come to the altar and into our hearts,” he said. The children decorated the church’s Christmas tree, placing ornaments while offering prayers for peace. “It was incredibly moving to see the joy that filled them!”

“We held a lesson on the Nativity scene and the Christmas tree,” Romanelli explained. “We are in darkness, but Jesus is the light, so we ask for his light. We are born in sin, but the Lord brings us forgiveness. We are sad, but the Lord brings us joy.” 

On Christmas Eve, the parish will celebrate midnight Mass followed by a special surprise for the children “to bring them a little joy.”

Despite living through more than a year of war, the children of Gaza’s parish continue to smile, celebrate birthdays, play, and laugh.

“It’s truly remarkable,” Romanelli said. “Why is this? Because we are truly protected by Jesus. The bombings can be heard; sometimes the entire building shakes, yet the children remain calm. Of course, we’ve noticed changes in their behavior — more aggression, as they witness the struggles and reactions of adults. But the Lord is infinitely merciful: He allows these children to endure the insecurity of a life far from normal, while at the same time gifting them with a unique joy.”

Recently, rumors of a potential truce have grown louder, even as the sounds of intensified bombings and reports of casualties echo through Gaza.

“There is hope in God,” Romanelli said. “But not much in humanity. We pray that the Lord Jesus will grant us the grace of a truce — and, above all, lasting peace — by next Christmas.”

The Catholic Church’s jubilee on the theme of hope will also begin in the coming days.

“There is hope with a capital ‘H’ — the theological virtue of hope in God that makes us long for heaven and eternal life,” Romanelli said. “This hope gives us the certainty that the Lord will provide all the graces and strength we need to purify ourselves of sin and live a new life, renewed in spirit. This time of suffering, in the midst of war, reminds us of what is truly essential.”

Romanelli also spoke of “hope with a lowercase ‘h’” — what we expect from life and others. 

“Paradoxically, this is more challenging because one might hope for something unattainable and fall into despair, or place trust in people who cannot help achieving their goals, leading to disappointment. But even this kind of hope must be lived in the light of God. Across all cultures, nations, religions, and social statuses, there are good people. We must pray to God for them and support them, remind them that peace, justice, reconciliation, and forgiveness are truly possible.”