The Last Word
Perspectives from the president by Msgr. Peter I. Vaccari
“Broken hearts and many tears…”
C
ardinal Timothy M. Dolan, archbishop of New York, repeated this refrain as we approached the date of our pastoral visit to Israel and Palestine, scheduled for 12-18 April — a visit that was unexpectedly cut short. In recent years, it has been custom for members of CNEWA’s board of trustees to make pastoral visits to locations where CNEWA is at work on the ground. This year, the chair, Cardinal Dolan, made that visit in April to Israel and Palestine. Michael La Civita, CNEWA’s director of communications, and I were included in his delegation. The visit was scheduled to mark the 75th anniversary of the presence of CNEWA’s operating agency in the Middle East, Pontifical Mission. In the initial itinerary, many sites were prepared for him to visit and review along with their activities, which Pontifical Mission engages through its team in Jerusalem. Under the leadership of Joseph Hazboun, regional director in Jerusalem, Pontifical Mission is engaged in helping in health care, especially for the elderly, education, youth programs for all ages, and formation of community leaders, including future priests. However, the entire region experienced a profound and dramatic change on 7 October, when an attack was launched against the state of Israel. We are all familiar with the news stories that report the massive loss of innocent human life, Israeli and Palestinian, the taking of hostages, the displacement of people and the separation of so many from their families and friends. Cardinal Dolan, on this pastoral visit, wished to express his solidarity and concern for the seismic shift
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