A few days prior to Christmas celebrations, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal paid a traditional visit on Sunday, December 20, to the Catholic parishioners in the Gaza Strip, where he opened the door of the Holy Family Catholic Church marking the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy in the ill-fated and the besieged Gaza Strip.

Parish priest of the Holy Family in Gaza Fr. Mario de Silva welcomed Patriarch Twal who later celebrated Mass during which he announced the inauguration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy at the Holy Family Catholic Church. In his homily, he talked about the significance of the Jubilee Year of Mercy and this year’s message of Christmas, as well as the suffering of the Gaza Strip residents due to the imposed siege.

After the Mass, the parishioners greeted the Patriarch and chatted with him. Patriarch Twal also inaugurated four projects that provide vital services to the parishioners.

Patriarch Twal was accompanied by Latin Patriarchal Vicar in Nazareth Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, General Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate Father Imad Twal, Secretary to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem Fr. George Ayoub, Director General of the Patriarchate Schools Fr. Faysal Hijazin, Director general of Caritas Jerusalem Fr. Raed Abu Sahliyeh, Superior General of the Rosary Sisters of Jerusalem Mother Iness Al-Yacoub and a number of priests.