Church shelled in Damascus

Damage on church roof

Yesterday evening I received news that our Franciscan parish church in Bab Touma on the outskirts of Damascus was bombed. It was not serious ... a corner of the roof was destroyed and the pews below were covered with debris. No one hurt. But it goes to show that the war in Syria is far from over. Last night the neighbourhood of Ghouta adjacent to Damascus was heavily bombed by State forces to flush out rebels who control that area. Many innocent casualties were taken to hospitals. Terrible way to pass Christmas and New Year.

It's not the first time this church was shelled. But from news we receive, the bombings are more frequent and closer to the church. There are many christians living there.

In the same neighbourhood of Bab Touma we have the sanctuary of St. Ananias who was sent to heal Paul's blindness. We have a home for the aged next to the Sanctuary. The sisters of St. Vincent de Paul have a hospital there too.

http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Syrian-army-breaks-siege-of-army-base-near-Damascus-533083

Locally the high cost of living is impoverishing lots of people. There are more homeless people now than before because they simply cannot pay the rent.  http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Syrian-army-breaks-siege-of-army-base-near-Damascus-533083

Debris in the church

And the bill to stop all grocery shops from opening on the Sabbath is rumbling back and forth in the Knesset. Ultra-orthodox demand it but many other types of jews are against it. To please the ultra-orthodox parties who hold the balance of power in the coalition govt., the governing party must cede to their wishes. But the majority of the people are against. The only concession the ultra-orthodox are willing to make is petrol station kiosks. When the bill is struggling to get through ... and if it succeeds, most jews will turn to the arabs to do their shopping. That's help the arab side which is poorer ... and by the way, there is already an increase in jewish shoppers in the arab parts of Jerusalem and the country.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/coalition-heads-reach-compromise-on-shabbat-bill-but-majority-not-guaranteed/