6th July 2026

Despites words and agreements on ceasefires, Israeli forces continue attacks on Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, killing at least one person in southern Lebanon and martyring two Palestinians in separate strikes on Gaza City and the Jabalia refugee camp yesterday. The latest attacks in Gaza come amid a worsening humanitarian situation, as international aid agencies have repeatedly warned of severe shortages of food, medicine, fuel and other essential supplies. CNN reports of conversations with Palestinians in Gaza. They say they are living in the ashes of what they see as another impotent US-led deal. nearly all of Gaza’s population – have been displaced, according to the UN, many multiple times.  Rats, cockroaches and weasels run through make-shift shelters tearing through limp tent sheets and biting children and new-born babies in their sleep. Israel continues to move the so-called Yellow Line deeper into Gaza that marks the boundary of Israeli-controlled territory.  Israel now controls 60 per cent of Gaza and it is clear that Israel will continue to grab land away from Palestinians. Israel's insurgence into the West Bank also continues at steady place.  In the past few days a 13 new settlements in the central occupied West Bank, have been approved by Israel's Security Cabinet  a move aimed at further fragmenting the territory, isolate East Jerusalem from its surrounding Palestinian communities and pushing Palastinans out of Israel.

Loving God, we bring to you the needs of our neighbours in Gaza and the West Bank. We ask for your loving care for all who live in fear, fear of the IDF, fear of hunger, fear of illness, fear of rats, fear of the loss of their lands, and fear of death. We thank you for all who bring aid and support and demonstrate humanity. We ask your loving care and compassion for all who consider violence to be the way forward, and by acting in hate dehumanise themselves. May peace come to this place we call the Holy Land.  In  the name of Jesus we pray,  Amen.  

Christina Lucey, 83, lives in residential care in Bexhill, UK. She began volunteering for CAFOD more than 25 years ago. Now her commitment to global justice has been recognised by the Pope. Christina has received an Apostolic Blessing from His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in recognition of more than 25 years of voluntary service and her long-standing dedication to the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD). Together with her late husband Denis, Christina supported campaigns for global justice and took part in international Jubilee marches. The couple were involved in the 2000 debt cancellation campaign in Copenhagen. Christiana's volunteer work raised awareness of CAFOD’s efforts in more than 40 countries worldwide. On receiving Papal recognition Christina said, "It was very overwhelming because I never imagined that I would receive such recognition. I feel a real sense of pride to have been recognised in this way, and I am very grateful." A representative of CAFOD praised her selfless commitment and described her dedication as “nothing short of extraordinary”. 

Praise be to you O Lord Almighty,

you are the King of creation!

I adore you for you are my saviour!

You shelter me under your wing,

like a mother hen shelters her chicks

and you raise me up as on an eagle’s wing.

I praise you Lord,

for your goodness and mercy are with me

every day and through the night.

You are my companion and friend, lighting my path,

leading and guiding me with your Word.

I praise you O Lord Almighty!

All that is in me adores you!

Amen.