Catholic News – October 2025
In this Catholic News podcast we are joined by Anton Asfar, Secretary General of Caritas Jerusalem and Fr Elias Tabban, Parish Priest of Zababdeh Parish, near Jenin.
We learn about the happy, hopeful but also cautious mood on the ground among the people following the Gaza ceasefire agreement which marks the end of the war and the beginning of the first phase of the peace process in the Holy Land.
There are many challenges which are arising, including the lack of fresh water, sanitation and food supplies, which means that families are struggling. There are also technical challenges for the Caritas teams to get to those who most need help. However, Caritas, fuelled by its mission as being “love in action” continues to do everything it can to serve those most in need on the ground – from providing hot meals and recreational activities to psychosocial support and urgent medication.
Fr Elias shares the experiences of local families and the ways the war has affected their lives, including how the local Christian and Muslim communities have been moved to build bridges and work together to overcome the challenges they are facing. We learn about how the parish is the heart of the community, serving as a school, pastoral centre and place of entertainment, prayer and solace – not just for Christians but also the wider community.
These are stories of resilience, solidarity and hope inspired by the Gospels and born out of love for each other as one human family.
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