Bethlehem: as Holy Christmas approaches Effeta Paul VI
December 6, 2023
Our 2023-24 school year began in mid-August. We were immersed in intense and creative activity in the various disciplines, but already there was a "polluted" atmosphere that grew, until it exploded in an unthinking dramatic and fatal way on October 7.
Since that day, almost all of the pupils attending our Institute have been locked up in their homes, villages and towns. With courage, we have tried to reopen the school, but very few children are able to attend. Online classes are very difficult for the hearing-impaired, because children who cannot hear us need to see the lip movement and mimicry of the speaker and manual dexterity to facilitate comprehension. Many have asked to sleep at school, even on the floor, as long as they do not miss the chance to learn and experience with their peers the serenity of a normal daily routine. This is tremendous for a child!
This is a really difficult and dramatic time: in addition to the closure in their villages, they have taken away people's work permits in Jerusalem; and it seems they can never get them back. For the poor people it adds suffering to suffering. Here in Bethlehem we are relatively quiet, but never before, after years of continuous clashes and divisions, have we seen so much violence and felt a sense of fear and bewilderment; and we feel powerless to help, although we try to support.
Every person's life is sacred; it has equal dignity before God, Pope Francis goes on to repeat to us! The only weapon we can use with true effectiveness is prayer: beseeching the Lord, "King of Peace and Mercy," to touch the hearts of the "great leaders." We are suffering and we are aware that THERE CAN BE NO PEACE WITHOUT GUILTY!!! Let us pray with Pope Francis and our Patriarch of Jerusalem, H.E. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, to implore the gift of PEACE for this Holy Land and for the whole world.
Together with Superior Sister Carmela Dal Barco and the sisters all of the Community, I extend heartfelt thanks for your attention and supportive prayers. We add our warmest wishes for the upcoming Holy Festivities.
Fraternally Sister Ginetta Aldegheri