Mother Maria del Cielo on Gaza: Peace deal brings hope, but rebuilding wounded souls is the next challenge. Faith drives sisters’ mission amid devastation
Newsroom (16/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) Mother Maria del Cielo, provincial of the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará (Family of the Incarnate Word), spoke with Vatican media on the sidelines of receiving the “Achille Silvestrini International Prize for Peace and Dialogue.” Her voice trembled with emotion as she shared updates from her fellow sisters serving at the Holy Family Parish in Gaza City: “We hear from our sisters in Gaza every day, especially in these recent hours. The peace agreement is a significant step, but now the real work begins.”
Mother Maria, whose religious community assists the parish alongside the Missionaries of Charity of Mother Teresa and parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli, joined them in receiving the Silvestrini Prize at Villa Nazareth University College in Rome. The award recognized their tireless efforts to foster dialogue and peace amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
A Glimmer of Hope Amid Devastation
Commenting on the recent peace agreement, Mother Maria expressed cautious optimism: “This is a great step forward; it truly gives us hope. This is what we’re hearing from the parish and the Holy Family community.” Yet, she emphasized the immense challenges ahead. The parish compound continues to shelter the wounded, the sick, and others in desperate need. “The agreement is a starting point,” she said, “but now we must work even harder to rebuild Gaza—not just physically, but to restore hope and heal souls wounded in every sense, both physically and spiritually.”
Faith as the Bedrock of Resilience
Despite the harrowing circumstances, Mother Maria insisted that the sisters in Gaza do not feel alone: “We place our trust in the Lord. He gives us the strength to carry on, and He does so in miraculous ways. Without His help, we could do nothing.” Reflecting on her December visit to Gaza alongside Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, she described a scene of unimaginable destruction: “I’ve visited the community there many times, but this last trip was devastating. It felt like stepping into another world—buildings reduced to rubble, children scavenging for food, everything unrecognizable. The pain is immense, but God’s love can prevail. Please keep praying.”
A Haunting Image of Suffering
In a poignant moment off the record, Mother Maria shared a memory that continues to haunt her: “I saw a father carrying his bloodied child, unsure if he was still alive, walking in the hope of reaching a hospital. It reminded me instantly of Michelangelo’s Pietà. That image is etched in my heart and prayers; I will never forget it.”
As Gaza takes tentative steps toward peace, Mother Maria del Cielo and her sisters remain steadfast, driven by faith and a commitment to healing a community scarred by war. Their work, she insists, is far from over.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
Related Images:
