Father Gabriel Romanelli

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A young girl hangs an ornament on the Christmas tree inside the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza.

PHOTOS: Gaza Catholic parish prepares for second Christmas under war

Dec 22, 2024

By Marinella Bandini

As Christmas approaches, the Latin Church of the Holy Family in Gaza is alive with activity as the people at... Read more

The Missionaries of Charity convent located on the compound of Holy Family Parish, the only Catholic church in Gaza, was damaged by rocket fire on Dec. 16, 2023.

Convent in Gaza uninhabitable after taking fire; residents take refuge in parish church

Dec 20, 2023

By Marinella Bandini

The convent, which was home to over 54 disabled persons as well as three religious sisters, was greatly damaged by... Read more

Palestinians move towards the Nahal Oz border crossing with Israel, east of Gaza City, on Oct. 7, 2023.

Pope Francis calls Gaza priest as Israel announces blockade

Oct 10, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope called Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Church, the only Catholic Church in Gaza City and in... Read more

Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza at Christmas 2021.

Pastor of only Catholic church in Gaza: ‘Never have we seen things like this time’

Oct 10, 2023

By Julieta Villar

Father Gabriel Romanelli expressed his gratitude for the closeness, concern, and prayers, along with the “hundreds of messages” he receives... Read more

Latest news

Pope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi address in St. Peter's Square, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024

Urbi et Orbi: Pope Francis urges world leaders to pursue dialogue, peace in Jubilee Year

Volunteers at Mount Saint Mary College collected more than 800 toys for their annual toy drive in Newburgh, New York, in December 2024.

‘An incredible thing’: Catholic groups collect Christmas toys for children in need

Fresco of the Holy Family in Dobling Carmelite Monastery in Vienna, Austria. The Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Family this year on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024.

The 8 days of Christmas? A look at the Christmas octave

Pope Francis carries the statue of the Child Jesus to place in the Nativity scene inside St. Peter's Basilica at the end of Mass on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2024, surrounded by children dressed in traditional clothing from their countries.

Pope Francis on Christmas 2024: God is our hope

Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica before Mass on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2024, officially launching the Jubilee Year 2025.

Pope Francis launches Jubilee 2025 with opening of Holy Door

The Silent Night Memorial Chapel in Oberndorf, Austria, in December 2024. The building stands on the rubble of the original St. Nicholas Church, where “Silent Night” was first performed in 1818.

‘Christ, the Savior, is here:’ 200 years of ‘Silent Night’ in its Austrian birthplace

Greek icon of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, the Theotokos.

Becoming the mother of God: Did Mary have a choice?

A marble sculpture of St. Cajetan holding the infant Jesus identifies the spot where the saint’s vision occurred in the crypt of the Chapel of the Nativity, the side chapel to the right of the main altar of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.

The little-known story of a saint’s Christmas vision of the infant Jesus in Rome

A variety of fish dishes served on Christmas Eve.

Where does the ‘Feast of the 7 Fishes’ Christmas Eve tradition come from?

Deacon Nathan Ledoux and his friend Michael Figura at the National Art Gallery in London on Dec. 27, 2023.

Pandoro or panettone? 5 American seminarians in Rome share their Christmas traditions

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Dec 26
St. Stephen
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