“Where suffering and hope co-exist”

The Belfast Jesuit Centre joined faith leaders and community groups at St John the Evangelist Parish Hall, Falls Rd, Belfast, on 28 November 2025,for an interfaith evening dedicated to Palestine. The event, organised by Christians for Palestine Ireland and Gaels Against Genocide, marked the proposed twinning of St John’s Parish in Belfast with Christ the Redeemer Parish in Taybeh, Palestine – a project actively supported by the Belfast Jesuit Centre, and agreed upon at the event.

The gathering was open to people of all faiths and none, and brought together speakers from Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities to share perspectives on equality, peace, justice, and hope for the Holy Land. For all three faith traditions, Palestine is a sacred land with profound spiritual meaning.

People attending prayed together for a just and lasting peace, grounded in equality and dignity for all. They listened to reflections on the profound suffering being endured by the Palestinian people in the face of the current genocide, and explored how communities of faith can stand together in compassion, solidarity, and a shared longing for justice.

Gerry Clarke SJ, Director of the Belfast Jesuit Centre says they were encouraged by Fr. David Neuhaus SJ’s vision for Palestinians in the state of Israel/Palestine. (Click here to watch Fr Neuhaus video »). “And we too hear the call to support peace and justice in the region, and equality in the treatment of Palestinians,” Fr Gerry continued, adding, “We are especially heartened that representatives of different religious traditions want to gather and hear each other on this tragic conflict. And we want to support Palestinians with our prayer and solidarity.” Read a full account of the event below from the Belfast Jesuit Centre.

Interfaith Gathering in Belfast Strengthens Ties with Palestine

On 28 November 2025, the Belfast Jesuit Centre joined faith leaders and community groups at St John the Evangelist Parish Hall, Falls Rd, Belfast, for an interfaith evening dedicated to Palestine. The event, organised by Christians for Palestine Ireland and Gaels Against Genocide, marked the proposed twinning of St John’s Parish in Belfast with Christ the Redeemer Parish in Taybeh, Palestine; a project actively supported by the Belfast Jesuit Centre.

Father Martin Magill of St John’s opened the evening with a warm welcome to “people of the book” across traditions. He prayed for ‘Palestine and the Holy Land’, describing the gathering as “an evening of encouragement.” Michael Malone, serving as master of ceremonies, framed the purpose of the night as fostering “mutual understanding of Muslim, Christian and Jewish faiths,” while rejecting racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and genocide.

The first voice from Taybeh came via video message from Father Bashar Fawadleh, the parish priest of Christ the Redeemer. Speaking from Italy, where he is raising awareness of his community’s plight, he described Taybeh as a place “where suffering and hope co-exist.” He urged greater diplomatic pressure on Israel to halt settler violence and highlighted parish initiatives; football, music, drama, and sports academies designed to give children hope, alongside subsidised housing projects for Christian families. Inviting pilgrims to visit, he reminded listeners that Jesus once walked in Taybeh, calling it a land of “faith that endures and hope that does not die.”(See photo).

Dr Naomi Green, Assistant General Secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain, followed with words of solidarity. She praised the “unwavering faith” of Christians who stand with Palestine, reading from the Qur’an (49:15) to underscore the shared spiritual commitment of Muslims and Christians.

Representing Jews 4 Palestine Ireland, Lia Mordezki, a young Jewish professional from Belfast, spoke with urgency about the need for action over words. Rooted in the Talmudic principle that “Judaism has the duty to protest,” she recalled how Christians sheltered her grandparents in Poland during the Holocaust. Lighting a candle and offering a prayer for peace, she urged collective resistance against genocide.

Roy Upritchard of Christians for Palestine contributed a prose poem celebrating Taybeh’s history as a refuge for Jesus and his disciples, contrasting its sacred past with the oppression endured by its “caged population” today. Music then lifted the room as the Justice Choir performed songs of resistance, including “Not in My Name”.

The evening’s most impassioned address came from Dr Saeb Sha’ath, Patron of Palestine Aid Ireland. He denounced the BBC as “the mouthpiece of sectarianism,” and traced the roots of religious division to imperialist projects of “western hegemony.” Recalling a childhood free of sectarian boundaries, he noted that the PLO once united Jews, Christians, and Muslims, declaring, “I own these three heritages.” His grief was palpable as he spoke of losing 155 family members to the conflict, while warning of the destructive role of Christian fundamentalism, and Zionism in Middle Eastern wars that have devastated Christian communities.

After a tea break, the focus shifted to practical steps for twinning with Taybeh, the world’s oldest Christian village, historically known as Ephraim. Plans included cultural exchanges, volunteering, fundraising, pilgrimages, and promoting Taybeh’s local products through initiatives such as the “Living Stones” craftwork website. With tourism in Taybeh down by more than 90% since the crisis began, speakers stressed the urgency of stimulating economic growth and awareness.

Immediate actions agreed upon included:
• Signing the twinning agreement
• Identifying groups to coordinate and manage the partnership
• Establishing a communications team to raise awareness
• Organising Christmas activities such as crib funds, donations, and parish displays

The evening closed with a sense of shared purpose: a commitment across faiths to solidarity, justice, and the enduring hope of Taybeh.

Belfast Jesuit Centre,

December 2025.