For Gaza Christians, Christmas season means anxiety, uncertainty

Published: 2007-12-24

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- For Christians in the Gaza Strip, this year's Christmas season is filled with anxiety and uncertainty. A Christmas party for children Dec. 23 at Holy Family Parish was held under the watchful eye of two police cruisers, which circled the block "to keep (the people) safe," said Father Manuel Musallam, pastor. Desperate to not feel alone during this holiday season, all 300 members of the parish showed up at the party, he told Catholic News Service in a telephone interview. He said he was able to distribute sacks of rice and coupons for an eight-pound chicken to each family for their holiday meal because of a donation from Europe and a small fund from the Vatican. Even on weekdays, about 100 parishioners attend the afternoon Mass and catechism classes in order to be strengthened by their community bond, but they all leave before sunset, the priest said. He said there was no midnight Mass scheduled for Christmas, only an afternoon Mass. "No one would come for midnight Mass. They are afraid after dark of the whole situation. They are afraid of crime, of being raped, of being arrested, of their homes being attacked while they are absent ... they are anxious. The (Palestinian) extremists are very strong," said Father Musallam. Approximately 2,500 Christians live among 1.5 million Muslims in the Gaza Strip; the largest number of Christians belong to the Greek Orthodox Church.

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