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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Invitation to share in a prayer for Gaza Strip Let us pray for all who suffer in the Gaza Strip. For prisoners, for the victims of false accusations and violence, for all at the point of death, and those who watch beside them, that God, in his mercy, will sustain them with the knowledge of his love. Lord, hear us. All Lord, graciously hear us. Father Manuel Musallam, born in Bir Zeit, was a priest for 14 years in Gaza, during which he had no permission to leave. Last May, he retired, tired, exhausted by what he has endured alongside his people, trying to support and assist with all his strength, regardless of their political, religious or ideological backgrounds. The world has hardly listened to his cries for help. His warnings against political manipulation and the danger of extremism were not taken into account by the world. It is in Gaza that he has left his friends and they all cried at his farewell, Muslims and Christians. They were able to see him not only as a priest but as a builder of peace, who was not discouraged when the bricks of this building for peace collapsed under the bombardments. He retired in Bir Zeit, not far from Ramallah: a retreat from his pastoral duties but certainly not his commitment. He is mandated by the Palestinian Authority and supported by the Holy Seat to organize and lead the Muslim-Christian Commission and the Department of Christians in the world. His Muslim friends have often told him that it was through him that they have discovered Christianity. It is therefore natural that the call to the global prayer in commemoration of the attack against Gaza comes from him, former director of two major schools in Gaza. The lay-out of that day was refined in September, when we met. The sad anniversary will be December 27 but in order to collect and educate as many friends as possible, we chose December 20, the day the Patriarch of Jerusalem the Archbishop Fuad Twal planned to give the Christmas Mass in Gaza, a week before that of Bethlehem. There will be a communion around the world with these people whom the media tell us little. These people continue to suffer in the enclosure without a way out, physically and mentally, and with little glimmer of hope or expectation. This prayer is written in Arabic by Manuel Abuna. The prayer is translated into English, French, Spanish, Italian, Slovenian; it will be read out aloud in churches and temples on almost every continent. Abuna Manuel does not want the prayer to intervene in the liturgy planned for this 4th Sunday of Advent. However, he would be happy if our voices would be united, believers or not, in a large call for Peace and Justice. We invite you to share this day with all those who are appalled by the unjust and useless suffering of the people in Gaza Duša Zgonec, President of the association Jeunes Palestiniens en Chemin Contact Father Manuel: Fax: 00972-02-2819-388 Mobile :00972 (0) 599-602-320 Email : musallammanuel@yahoo.com
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