Church leaders in Holy Land call for Oct. 17 day of prayer, fasting, abstinence

“Israel-Hamas war rages as crisis deepens in in Gaza”

“Gaza-Egypt border closed to crowds fleeing potential ground attack”

“Diplomats Race to Ease Gaza Crisis Amid Fears of Spreading Conflict”

The headlines can be frightening and disheartening.

What can people here, thousands of miles away, do to help bring peace and justice to the region?

Pray, fast and sacrifice – particularly on Tuesday, Oct. 17 – bishops in the Holy Land are urging.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and leaders of other Christian denominations have echoed that call.

“On behalf of all the Ordinaries of the Holy Land, I invite all parishes and religious communities to a day of fasting and prayer for peace and reconciliation,” said Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem.

“We ask that on Tuesday, October 17, everyone hold a day of fasting, abstinence, and prayer,” the cardinal announced. “Let us organize prayer times with Eucharistic adoration and with the recitation of the Rosary to Our Blessed Virgin Mary.”

“This is the way we all come together despite everything, and unite collectively in prayer, to deliver to God the Father our thirst for peace, justice, and reconciliation.”

Archbishop of Omaha George J. Lucas on Tuesday asked the faithful of the northeast Nebraska to heed Cardinal Pizzaballa’s request and pray for our brothers and sisters in Israel and Palestine.

“We pray for peace there in that Holy Land and for anyone whose life is threated today by violence and terror, that they be preserved from harm,” Archbishop Lucas said.

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