Catholic Union Deputy Director, James Somerville-Meikle, writes:
As the missiles fire and bombs fall, most of us at home feel helpless in the face of this escalating war. At times this week I have found myself asking, where is God? Not out of despair, but in hope that in the midst of this darkness there may still be glimmers of light.
It is striking that some of the aid agencies still able to operate in Gaza are Catholic. The American group, Catholic Relief Service, has been working to secure humanitarian relief to Palestinian people.
Closer to home, CAFOD, has a helpful summary of ways in which people can help. While ACN has published an extremely moving account of a group of religious Sisters in Gaza city who refuse to leave and are standing in solidarity with the people they serve.
Tuesday 27 October will be a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the Middle East. This builds on the day that we marked on Tuesday this week and the daily prayers that many of us are offering at the moment for people in Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
It may be hard to see God in these troubled times, but it’s increasingly clear to see where His Church is.