s Photo supplied by anonymous author who remains anonymous for obvious reasons [Anonymous opinion first published in The Guardian] I was at work last Saturday when I heard the blast. Since that moment, the world has been turned on its head. The school called asking me to come and pick up my child. I rushed... Continue Reading →
Theology in a time of war
Schoolgirls in Iran (Photo by Paul Keller via Creative Commons license, edits by the Century) Article Mac Loftin in The Christian Century, March 9, 2026 The brief biblical account of Herodโs slaughter of the innocents raises the question of what faith demands when politics fails to stop the killing. The massacre of the innocents is... Continue Reading →
Far more energy, effort imagination and finance goes into war-making as compared to peacemaking
A report from the Anglican College in Jerusalem Here we go again. The ministry of the College has been inhibited in so many ways over these past years. Yet again, just as pilgrim visits were beginning slowly to re-start, we have been thwarted as full-blown war returns to these lands. Tragically, far more energy, effort... Continue Reading →
We remain โbattered and bruised, but not defeated.โ
A Pastoral Letter from Archbishop Hosam Naoum, Primate of the Province of Jerusalem & the Middle East - 28 February 2026 Dear Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As you are all now painfully aware, in the early hours of this morning, February 28th, a coordinated and massive military assault was launched by the United... Continue Reading →
Holding Onto Emmanuel
A message from the Sabeel community As we celebrate this Christmas season, we give thanks for your gifts of friendship and solidarity with the people of Palestine. Your support, prayers, and commitment to justice and peace sustain us and encourage our work every day. We especially honor those who are willing to take risks to... Continue Reading →
Hope is not bound by circumstances โ Two stories of hope in action
HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH, GAZA CITY As we move through Easter Week together I am moved by the witness of the late Pope who prayed and worked for peace in the Middle East. As reported by CBC News: On Monday night, following the news of the death of Pope Francis, Father Gabriel Romanelli's cellphone in... Continue Reading →
Advent and Christmas in a time of war
How can Advent and Christmas be contemplated in a time of war, asks Richard Sewell, Dean of St. Georgeโs Cathedral, Jerusalem [Reprinted from the Church Times UK and St. Georgeโs College, Jerusalem] THE ancient city of Jerusalem is bordered by two valleys: Gehenna and Kidron. The latter is also known as the Jehosophat Valley in... Continue Reading →
Is non-violence possible in Middle Eastern states? And everywhere else?
Given my recent comments on social turmoil in the United States, specially evident in the presidential election (see Opposites) I am delighted to follow these posts up with the following post from the Centre for Action and Contemplation (Richard Rohr), all very much to the point as conflict between Hezbollah and Israel is about to... Continue Reading →
Reconciliation in the family: Indigenous wisdom in the Middle East conflict
Reprinted from the Winnipeg Free Press; article by Niigaan Sinclair, 2 Nov 2023 "In 1845, after a century long battle over territory between the Anishinaabe and Mรฉtis on one side and the Dakota and Lakota on the other, the Dakota leaders sent a letter to Cuthbert Grant in what is now St. James in Winnipeg.... Continue Reading →
Prayer of the Mothers
Yael Deckelbaum - Prayer Of The Mothers (Official Video) 2016-11-20 As relevant now as it was in 2016 The song "Prayer of the Mothers," was born as a result of an alliance made between singer-songwriter Yael Deckelbaum, and a group of courageous women, leading the movement of โWomen Wage Peace.โ The movement arose on summer... Continue Reading →