Dear friends of Gethsemane, may the Lord grant you his Peace!
In this month it seems right to share with you a part of the letter of our Custos of the Holy Land, on the occasion of the emergency of the earthquake victims. We all feel powerless in the face of this calamity. May it be an occasion of prayer and solidarity for all of us, and may it be, by a completely heavenly gift, more and more a beating heart that allows the hands to shake other hands, the feet to go towards those in need, an embrace that consoles. Let us pray more intensely in this Lenten season of conversion that has just begun.
Here is what Fr. Francesco writes:
As you already know, on the morning of 6 February a terrible earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, causing destruction and death. As friars of the Custody of the Holy Land we are living in the first ... we are experiencing firsthand the humanitarian drama that this calamity has caused. In Syria, the areas of the North West, where we friars are present, have been particularly affected: the communities of the Oronte Valley, Aleppo and Latachia.
We have direct contact with the friars who live there, who, thanks God, remain unharmed. They themselves tell how in this emergency phase, they are trying to meet the needs of thousands of people who are still in shock from the devastation experienced. At the moment our confreres are hosting and feeding about 4,000 people in Aleppo and 400 in Latachia, in the villages of Knaye and Yakoubie even our structures are destroyed but the friars present there try to coordinate aid. Unfortunately, we anticipate that the situation of serious discomfort will last for a long time.
People seek shelter from the cold, a hot meal, blankets, a word of comfort and hope. Many have lost families and homes. Others cannot return to their homes because they are condemned. For now you have to cope with the emergency, as soon as you have to start to check which houses are accessible and which are not, then begin to repair and rebuild.
While on the one hand we recognize the importance of meeting material needs, on the other we try to be bearers of hope, giving consolation to people who are discouraged and afraid. Thanks also to the help of many, we are able to be present through the ministry of charity, close to the lonely and powerless in the face of this calamity that has shaken us all within.
As Custody, thanks to your help, we will always do everything possible to support this mission and to help the local population. We have already started a fundraising through the association Pro Terra Sancta (cf. https://www.proterrasancta.org) and you can also send donations to the Custodial Treasurer with the reason "Aid to Earthquake Victims" (cf. https://custodia.org).
Let us pray for all those who have been affected by the earthquake and let us all mobilize to alleviate this new suffering that has struck our brothers after 12 years of war.
May the Lord bless you,
Fr. Francesco PATTON OFM
Custos of the Holy Land
