The Archdiocese of Manila has called on the faithful to pray the rosary on Tuesday, Oct. 17, as Israel’s war against the armed Palestinian group Hamas rages on.
Vice Chancellor Fr. Carmelo Arada Jr. issued the circular on Saturday, Oct. 14, in response to an appeal by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, for prayers and sacrifices.
“In solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land, we request that our parishes and communities gather our people for prayer like the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament [or] Holy Hour in praying the rosary on Oct. 17, or any day your community decides,” the circular stated.
“Let us organize prayer times with Eucharistic adoration and with the recitation of the rosary of our Blessed Virgin Mary,” it added.
In his appeal, Pizzaballa urged Catholics to remain hopeful despite the “ensuing spiral of violence” where “everything seems to speak of death.”
Hamas launched a surprise attack in more than 20 Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip on Oct. 6. The terrorist group fired missiles from Gaza and indiscriminately killed civilians.
Israel recorded more than 1,300 deaths since the conflict began. Health authorities in Gaza reported more than 1,900 Palestinians killed due to Israeli airstrikes in retaliation to Hamas.
Hamas, with the guidance of Iran, has grown bolder in its attacks since taking over Gaza’s government in 2007 from the moderate group Fatah.
The decades-long conflict, going back to 1947, has complicated Middle East relations and placed generations of Palestinians under occupation.
