Five months ago, in Gaza City, 18-year-old Suhail Shadi Abu Dawod was awaiting a visa for Italy to begin his novitiate with the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) – and then the war between Israel and Hamas broke out.
“I began considering joining the Congregation of the Incarnate Word in 2021, when I was 15 years old,” Abu Dawod told CNA through his pastor, Father Gabriel Romanelli.
“I wish to join it because it is a simple and humble congregation that spreads the message of love, spirituality, praying the rosary, and faith throughout the world.”
Abu Dawod is a postulant for the institute. He is following in the footsteps of the two priests from his parish who are part of the IVE.
“When the war interrupted my journey, I felt deep sadness and great disappointment. However, I realized that God was preparing an important gift for me and for the development of my vocation. This is part of God's plan. I rely on God's guidance and firmly believe in His grace for me,” he said.
Like hundreds of other Christians in Gaza, Abu Dawod and his family left their home and have been living for five months in the premises of the Latin parish of the Holy Family in northern Gaza.
“Feeling blessed in the midst of war” or “faith is stronger than war” are some of the thoughts Abu Dawod shares from time to time on Facebook.
“I truly feel blessed,” he told CNA, “seeing all the people attending and praying at Holy Mass, united as one heart, especially on the occasion of the Christmas feast, which celebrates the birth of Jesus.”
Each day, the postulant participates in Mass as an altar server and cares for the younger children. He also helps make sacramental hosts in a “makeshift” factory. He is part of the scout group, plays football, and is learning to play the bagpipes. The violence and death raging around him have not shaken his faith but, he says, have strengthened it.
“My faith is flourishing amidst the challenges of war, it grows day by day through the daily prayers of the rosary, reading the life stories of the saints, and, above all, meditating each Sunday before the body of Christ. Jesus, who is the source of my faith, is the foundation upon which I place all my trust,” he said.
Abu Dawod indicated that he has also enriched his vocation by working as a volunteer for Mother Teresa's charity within the parish, serving disabled children and people in need who live there.
“I began writing a journal during my service, and through this journey, I have been able to see an improvement in my spirituality, which is of the utmost importance,” he said.
During these very difficult months, Abu Dawod has learned that “God always has mercy on us” and that “God is with us, He will never abandon us in this difficult situation.”
The Christians of Gaza have consistently refused to leave their parish and go to southern Gaza, despite the threat of attacks and bombings. “We are like Noah's ark in the days of the flood,” parishioners told their pastor, Father Romanelli, who has been unable to return to the parish since the war broke out.
These words, full of faith and hope, are similar to those of Abu Dawod.
“My Lord Jesus Christ always gives me hope, He is the source of hope in my life. I stand as a sign of hope, enduring the challenges, difficulties, and pain during this perilous time of war,” he said.
Even today in Gaza, as food and water become increasingly scarce and sanitary conditions are at their limit, as many have died and others suffer psychologically, this young man speaks words of faith and hope:
“God has given us abundant and blessed gifts, without any limit. He continues to provide us with the basic necessities that allow us to live.”
Abu Dawod says he has also learned something about himself.
“I have learned to be more patient, especially in the things I ask of God, recognizing that He has a plan for me and for the good things that will come my way. I must wait for His glorious will to unfold,” he said.
“I have also learned to prioritize loving rather than seeking to be loved, understanding that love is the key to spreading peace in the world – to love without limits.”
During this Lenten season, Abu Dawod said:
“I am currently living Lent in a different way from all previous years. I pray more, I recite the holy rosary, and I attend Holy Mass. I fast more, I abstain from consuming things I used to enjoy, and I forgive others, for this time calls for reconciliation.”
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Even the word “resurrection,” seen from Gaza and amidst the war, has taken on new meaning.
“It means that we are God's children, not His slaves. It underscores His limitless love for us, which surpasses all others,” said Abu Dawod.
“He sent His only Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who triumphed over the devil and all the evil spirits of the world, victorious over darkness and death.”
Abu Dawod has chosen to dedicate his time to serving Jesus as he prepares for Easter.
“I purify my heart, I strive to eliminate all the sins within it, all in anticipation of meeting King Jesus on the great feast of Easter. This feast is a poignant reminder of how Jesus sacrificed Himself on the holy cross for the forgiveness of our sins. By His glorious resurrection on the third day, He broke the bonds of death.”
In the Holy Land, the very place where Jesus died and rose again, Abu Dawod prays for peace.
“We implore God for peace, the same peace that spread throughout the world at the time of Jesus' resurrection,” he said. “My fervent prayers are dedicated to justice and the establishment of lasting peace in the Holy Land, especially in our city of Gaza.”
This article was originally published in English by Catholic World Report (Article Link). It is republished and translated with the author's permission.