Friends, I invite you to join me in a
day of prayer and reflection for Gaza on
Sunday the 24th of August. The people in
Gaza are being cruelly crushed by hunger,
violence, death, and destruction. Please
support Pope Leo’s recent appeal for a
ceasefire for the release of all
hostages and full respect for
international humanitarian law. As the
Holy Father said, every human being has
an intrinsic dignity bestowed by God
himself.

I know that many of you are deeply
troubled by the stark and horrific
images from Gaza of starving children
and helpless hungry families.
Getting sufficient quantities of
humanitarian aid to them is not only
necessary, it’s a matter of life and
death. The deaths of tens of thousands
of non-combatants, many of them women
and children, is unconscionable and
disproportionate.

It’s immoral for world leaders to stand
by inactively in the face of this
outrageous tragedy for humanity. the
cruel actions of Hamas in continuing to
keep hostages and the bodies of hostages
away from their loving families. That’s
also to be unreservedly condemned.

Please join our 24 hours of prayer and
reflection on the 24th of August.
Continue to show solidarity in whatever
way you can. By lobbying your political
representatives, for example, by
supporting humanitarian aid, and above
all, by continuing to pray for an end to
the conflict and the resumption of
peace, including the return of all
hostages and prisoners. Pray also for
our Christian brothers and sisters in
Gaza and on the West Bank. As Cardinal
Pizzabala said, Christ is not absent
from Gaza. He is there. He’s crucified
in the wounded, buried under the rubble,
and yet present in every act of mercy,
every candle in the darkness, every hand
extended to the suffering. So on Sunday
the 24th of August, consider lighting a
candle yourself in your family home or
your local parish church. Attend mass.
Spend time in prayer at home or before
the blessed sacrament. Pray the rosary.
Make some small personal penance or
sacrifice. Let the light of hope radiate
out from the island of Ireland that day
for peace, for Gaza, and for the future
of its people.

Thank you very much and
God bless