DETROIT — The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem thanked its Knights and Dames for their support of Holy Family Parish in Gaza — the only Catholic parish in the war-torn region — as it rebuilds after a declared ceasefire to Israeli military actions.
Thomas Olejiczak, lieutenant of the North Central Lieutenancy, USA of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, forwarded a message from Jeffrey M. Abood, advocacy and outreach director for the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation and himself a knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem with the rank Knight Commander with Distinction.
Writing to members of the order, Abood thanked them for their steadfast support of the parish, which has withstood trial after trial.
“You have been faithful and stuck with Holy Family Parish in Gaza for at least the last three years," Abood said. "Your faithfulness has helped see them through an unimaginable time. Please know that your prayers and support have helped in a concrete way."
For the first time in three years, Holy Family held a graduation ceremony for its primary school this year, Abood said, and has been able to restart its summer camp for children. Abood’s message included pictures of its primary school graduation and its summer camp for children.
Catholic families are still living in the Holy Family compound, as their homes are gone, and medical and food supplies are still restricted, Abood reported, as the ceasefire “yellow line” — the perimeter line the Israeli military established and frequently cross — lies within 1,500 feet of the parish.
In 2025, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, completed a four-day pastoral visit to southeast Michigan, where Michigan’s Latin-rite and Chaldean Catholic communities raised $705,000 to support the Christian community in Gaza and the West Bank.
The $705,000 raised during the cardinal’s visit came in addition to $501,524 raised during a special collection in the Archdiocese of Detroit in August 2025, meaning local faithful have given more than $1.2 million to aid communities in the Holy Land.
Those who would like to continue to support Holy Family Parish and School in Gaza can make out checks with "Holy Land Gaza" in the memo line to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, sent to Anna Montes, 212 Maplewood Rd., Riverside, Ill., 60546.
