CNEWA-Pontifical Mission continues to coordinate efforts and partner with the local church and humanitarian organizations to relieve hunger and provide basic humanitarian needs for the people in Gaza impacted by the war between Israel and Hamas. In mid-April, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and chair of CNEWA, will travel to Israel and Palestine. He will visit partnering social service and humanitarian organizations with Msgr. Peter I. Vaccari, president of CNEWA-Pontifical Mission. They will also meet with religious leaders and mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of Ponti ..read more

Caritas Ukraine extends its deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones and been affected by the recent rocket attack in Odesa on March 15th. This attack, orchestrated by Russian aggressors, targeted civilian infrastructure and resulted in the highest casualty toll yet seen. Today, the city and region mourn the loss of at least 21 lives (the number is increasing). The bombardment devastated a three-story recreational facility, and damaged at least 10 private residences, as well as a service station, a low-pressure gas pipeline, an ambulance, and firefighting vehicles. We stand in sol ..read more

February 24th marks the second anniversary of the full-scale Russian attack on Ukraine. Our hearts, minds, and most sincere prayers are with all those affected by what has been a merciless war.   Europe has not experienced such violence and destruction since World War II. The Russian attack has changed everything, however. Sadly, we continue to hear of the unimaginable numbers of people who are forced to flee Ukraine and the surrounding region so that they may rebuild their lives. The effects of this war leave not only physical but psychological wounds for countless people in Ukraine as w ..read more

A reflection on Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2024 In the journey towards unity amongst Christian Churches, events like the annual ecumenical celebration during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Montreal, stand out as powerful catalysts for fostering understanding, friendship and unity among different Christian denominations. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is not just an annual event— it’s a grand tapestry of prayer, friendship, and shared devotion that has brought Christians together at memorable, prayerful events around the world.   Dr. Adriana Bara, CNEWA Cana ..read more

Since she first entered religious life in her native Syria at the age of 17, Good Shepherd Sister Marie Claude Naddaf has worked tirelessly to uphold the rights of women and girls throughout the Middle East. For her ongoing dedication to the anti-trafficking mission and her role as the coordinator of Wells of Hope, CNEWA recognized Sister Marie Claude as the guest of honor at its Healing & Hope Gala Dinner on 5 December. “Marie Claude is a woman of prayer, deep prayer, and action. And she speaks from a wide, open and compassionate heart for girls, women and children who experience violence ..read more

Editors’ note: Journalist Gohar Abrahamyan provides an audio report of her experience below. Listen to the audio clip, then read more in her feature article “No Turning Back” in the December edition of ONE. A full transcript follows. In Nagorno-Karabakh, people were on the verge of starvation, exhausted because of the nine-month-long severe blockade imposed by Azerbaijan. They were not just physically malnourished, but also mentally suffering, losing hope and strength to fight, while the worst was yet to come. On September 19, Azerbaijan unleashed a large-scale military attack targ ..read more

“Let us contemplate the Child, let us contemplate the manger, his crib, which the angels call “a sign” for us (cf. Lk 2:12). For it truly is the sign that reveals God’s face, a face of compassion and mercy, whose might is shown always and only in love. He makes himself close, tender and compassionate. This is God’s way: closeness, compassion, tenderness.” – Pope Francis, Christmas 2023 Jesus Christ was a promise fulfilled for us – the long-awaited coming of a Messiah who longed to show us his face and to bring about “closeness, compassion and tenderness.”  Help us finish this year strong ..read more

Tetiana Stawnychy, president of Caritas Ukraine, visited CNEWA headquarters in New York on 17 November to discuss Caritas Ukraine’s priorities and the needs within the country amid the ongoing war. A national umbrella organization with a number of offices set up in local Greek Catholic communities, Caritas Ukraine has reached 2,995,000 unique beneficiaries, totaling more than 4,992,000 services, since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Still, more than 17.6 million Ukrainians need humanitarian assistance, 3.67 million of whom are internally displaced people. Ms. Stawnychy hig ..read more

Last week, I stayed overnight in Bethlehem, and by early morning, I set out to return to our office in Jerusalem. I knew from various social media groups that all the inner roads leading from Beit Sahour to the Mazmouriyah checkpoint, as well those leading to the tunnel checkpoint, were blocked, as the Israeli military had tightened movement in this area without prior notice. The sporadic closure of West Bank checkpoints and roads, in addition to the closure of iron gates or the placement of dirt mounds on roads, has restricted movement for thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank since the ..read more

“Three houses, two cars, and a barn full of animals,” said Elmira Grigoryan, as she struggled to recount what she had left behind in Nagorno-Karabakh. Elmira, 60, and her husband were enjoying a quiet meal at their home in the village of Gandzasar on 19 September, when Azerbaijan launched a large-scale military offensive on the historically Armenian region. They abandoned their meal and fled to their neighbor’s basement. “In the initial hours, our village suffered severe damage, with casualties and wounded,” she recalled. “It was a terrible situation, forcing us to bury our fallen neighbors in ..read more