On Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, the Franciscan complex of the Terra Santa College in Aleppo was hit by a strike. No casualties were reported but panic has reportedly spread among the people. (Credit: Custody of the Holy Land)
ACI MENA, Dec 3, 2024 / 15:05 pm (CNA).
The city of Aleppo, Syria, has been under intense siege since Dec. 1, marked by the shelling of the Latin Holy Land monastery in the Al-Furqan neighborhood. While no casualties or injuries were reported, the attack caused extensive damage to the building.
A statement released by the Franciscan order revealed that a missile strike from a warplane hit the monastery, destroying one of its wings and setting its storage facility ablaze. Other areas, such as the sports center and chapel, also suffered significant damage.
The friars expressed in their statement that they categorically reject any form of violence, emphasizing their mission as one of peace and reconciliation wherever they are sent by God. They called on the international community to intervene and do everything in its power to protect the city’s infrastructure from further destruction.
On Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, the Franciscan complex of the Terra Santa College in Aleppo was hit by a strike. No casualties were reported but panic has reportedly spread among the people. Credit: Custody of the Holy Land
Despite the attack, the monastery’s bakery and charity kitchen resumed operations the following day, preparing over 1,000 hot meals for free distribution, primarily to elderly residents. However, due to the scarcity of fuel and limited transportation, the church requested that recipients send representatives to collect the meals.
The Holy Land Monastery, built in the 1940s, originally housed a prestigious school, which, like many other Christian institutions, was seized by the Syrian government two decades later. In 2020, the expansive school grounds were returned to the Church. Until last Friday, under the leadership of Franciscan Father Samher Ishaq, the monastery was providing development services to the local community alongside its ongoing relief efforts.
On Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, the Franciscan complex of the Terra Santa College in Aleppo was hit by a strike. No casualties were reported. Credit: Custody of the Holy Land
Meanwhile, Aleppo has witnessed internal displacement within the city itself. Many Christians have fled homes near the Kurdish-controlled area, which still maintains a foothold in a small section of the city, seeking refuge with relatives in safer locations.
The proximity of Kurdish forces to Christian cemeteries has created additional challenges for burying the dead. Fear of jihadist factions reaching their positions has prompted Kurdish fighters to enforce strict measures, with reports circulating of a sniper targeting anyone attempting to approach the cemeteries.
The city also grapples with severe shortages of food supplies and an almost complete blackout of mobile communication networks. Landlines and internet routers remain the only reliable means of communication.
This story was first published by ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, and has been translated and adapted by CNA.
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Fr. Christian Carlassare, bishop-elect of the Diocese of Rumbek / Fr. Carlassare
Washington D.C., Apr 26, 2021 / 08:10 am (CNA).
The bishop-elect for South Sudan’s Rumbek Diocese was shot last night and is nursing bullet wounds at a local health… […]
Local Christians pray the rosary during a prayer service hosted by the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem. / Credit: Marinella Bandini
Jerusalem, Oct 16, 2023 / 14:13 pm (CNA).
This past weekend, Franciscan friars in Jerusalem gathered together with the faithful for two prayer services dedicated especially to peace, marking one week since war erupted between Israel and Hamas.
A moment of silence at the Way of the Cross, held in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini
The first took place on Friday, Oct. 13 — the Via Crucis. This is a tradition that Franciscans have carried on for centuries, walking through the Old City of Jerusalem on the Via Dolorosa every Friday: from the Sanctuary of the Flagellation (where Jesus’ condemnation to death and flagellation is remembered) to the Holy Sepulchre, which encompasses the sites of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
This tradition continued even during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, this time the Via Crucis was held inside St. Saviour’s Church for security reasons. This was a rare occurrence and has only happened before during crises of public order.
A Franciscan friar who carried the cross during the Way of the Cross held in St. Saviour’s Church in Jerusalem on Friday, Oct. 13. The cross bore symbols of Jesus’ Passion: the sponge that was soaked in vinegar, the crown of thorns, and the spear. Credit: Marinella Bandini
A small procession — formed by the custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, the master of ceremonies, and two friars — walked along the perimeter of the church, stopping at each station. The cross at the front of the procession bore symbols of Jesus’ Passion: the sponge, which was soaked in vinegar and brought to Jesus’ lips when he said “I thirst”; the crown of thorns with which Roman soldiers crowned him as king to mock him; and the spear that a Roman centurion used to pierce his side to ensure his death.
Praying the Way of the Cross, held in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini
Inside the church, the community of the friars of St. Saviour along with some nuns and a few faithful joined in prayer. Before the final blessing, a moment of silence was observed — as before the tomb of Jesus in the Holy Sepulcher’s edicule — to invoke the gift of peace.
A small procession, formed by the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, the master of ceremonies, and two friars, walked along the perimeter of the church, stopping at each station of the Way of the Cross. Here, they stop before the 8th station. Oct. 14, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini
Then on Saturday, Oct. 14, in the Church of St. Saviour a special time of prayer took place with the recitation of the rosary for peace at the feet of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima.
The Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, standing before the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, during the “Rosary for peace” in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem, Oct. 14, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini
In addition to the friars and religious men and women, there was significant participation from the local Christian community.
The five mysteries meditated upon were chosen based on an observation by Pope John Paul II in his 2002 apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae.
The parish priest of St. Saviour’s Latin parish in Jerusalem and the assistant priest pray the rosary at a prayer service organized by the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. Credit: Marinella Bandini
“The rosary is by its nature a prayer for peace,” the late pope wrote. He explicitly mentioned five rosary mysteries: the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (joyful mysteries), the proclamation of the kingdom of God (mysteries of light), the death of Jesus on the cross (sorrowful mysteries), the glory of the risen Christ, and the crowning of Mary as Queen of Peace (glorious mysteries).
After the singing of the Salve Regina and the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Prayer for Peace by St. John Paul II was recited: “Look with special attention upon the land in which you gave birth to Jesus, a land that you loved together with him, and that is still so sorely tried today. Pray for us, mother of hope!”
The Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land promoted a special “Rosary for peace” in St. Saviour’s Church in Jerusalem, on Saturday, Oct.14. The prayer was presided over by the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton. Credit: Marinella Bandini
The prayer service concluded with the final blessing and the song “Sub Tuum Praesidium.”
This Tuesday, Oct. 17, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land has called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace. This will be a time of Eucharistic adoration presided over by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, and will be held in the church of the Latin Patriarchate, Jerusalem’s co-cathedral.
A Franciscan friar prays the rosary during a prayer service promoted by the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land on Oct. 14, 2023, in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem.
In the sanctuaries of the Holy Sepulcher (Jerusalem) and the Nativity (Bethlehem), celebrations will also be held according to the Status Quo with a specific intention for peace. (The Status Quo is an understanding among religious communities regarding the holy sites.)
In the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed throughout the day and a special program of prayer for peace will take place, including Masses, Eucharistic adoration, the recitation of the rosary, and the divine mercy chaplet.
Local Christians pray the rosary, during a prayer service hosted by the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land on Saturday, Oct. 14, in St. Saviour’s Church, Jerusalem. Credit: Marinella Bandini
During the Angelus prayer on Oct. 15, Pope Francis invited all believers to join the day of prayer and fasting for peace, stating: “Prayer is the meek and holy force to oppose the diabolical force of hatred, terrorism, and war. I invite all believers to join with the Church in the Holy Land and to dedicate next Tuesday, 17 October, to prayer and fasting.”
Holy Mass is celebrated in Mariamite Greek Melkite Catholic Cathedral, Damascus, on Dec. 15, 2024. / Credit: Lama Ghosn/ACI MENA
ACI MENA, Dec 17, 2024 / 14:00 pm (CNA).
After more than 13 years of death, oppression, and destruction, the bells … […]
4 Comments
There is a journalistic trend to embellish, writers, no matter the content feel the context falls short without a splash of drama. Looking closely at the credits, the CNA merely translated the story from ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner. Intellectuals tend to use words like panic because that would be their first reaction, and possibly their only reaction, as they tend to not live in dangerous locations.. People who actually live in danger have a different reaction. They buckle down and continue work.. They prepare a 1,000 meals only a few hours after cleaning up and repairing the damage. Editing has become a lost art. A good editor would have handed this back and had the child re-write until they learned how to capture the spirit of the people, not the sum of sum of their own fears, or the glory of their vocabulary.
There is a journalistic trend to embellish, writers, no matter the content feel the context falls short without a splash of drama. Looking closely at the credits, the CNA merely translated the story from ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner. Intellectuals tend to use words like panic because that would be their first reaction, and possibly their only reaction, as they tend to not live in dangerous locations.. People who actually live in danger have a different reaction. They buckle down and continue work.. They prepare a 1,000 meals only a few hours after cleaning up and repairing the damage. Editing has become a lost art. A good editor would have handed this back and had the child re-write until they learned how to capture the spirit of the people, not the sum of sum of their own fears, or the glory of their vocabulary.
Bravo!!👍
Monks live in monasteries. Franciscans are NOT monks, they are friars who reside in friaries.
Who did the shelling?
Whose flag was on the warplane.