Recent media reports on the war in Gaza has highlighted the increasingly dire situation. On August 22 the United Nations declared a famine in Gaza. Pope Leo also called on all Catholics to pray and fast for an end to war on that day. The ongoing violent conflict in the Holy Land is impacting the most vulnerable people - children and the elderly. Thus far reports have stated that 273 people have died of starvation; 112 of them children.
As Catholics, how can we help? We can PRAY. We can FAST. And, if possible, we can GIVE.
Archbishop Dunn invites the faithful to prayerfully consider making a donation to reputable aid organizations that have people on the ground able to help those most in need in Gaza. Financial giving is an important and tangible way to help. Two well- known organizations that are accepting aid donations are:
On each of their websites you can read about what they are doing in the Holy Land and in other areas of conflict and war.
On Monday, August 25 the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) released a statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In part it reads:
While the situation in the Holy Land is complex and every human solution has its limitations, the power of prayer should never be underestimated. Praying and fasting for peace in the Holy Land is both urgent and necessary at this time; it is something to which all the Catholic faithful in Canada should feel called to do, prompted by the loss of life on all sides and knowing that God desires peace.
