Mother praying for daughter’s safety in Israel

A Cavan mother, whose daughter is currently serving with the Missions in Jerusalem, has been praying for her continued safety during the ongoing Israel–Palestine conflict.

Rita Martin from Cavan Town confirmed her daughter, Sister Sinead Martin, had been based in Jerusalem prior to the latest outbreak of violence.

“She’s in Jerusalem,” she says, explaining her daughter is a nun, working with the Franciscans, the custodians of the Holy Land.

“She travelled to Jerusalem under the Community of John the Baptist,” Rita confirmed to the Celt.

The Franciscans serve the principal shrines of the Redemption, including the Holy Sepulchre, the Nativity at Bethlehem and the Annunciation at Nazareth.

Sr Sinead is involved in their missionary work in the Holy Land, including supporting schools and caring for refugees and other needy people throughout the region.

Speaking about her daughter’s experience so far in the area, Rita explains: “She’s obeying all the rules. They have to be careful and there would be restricted areas, they just follow the guidelines and whatever emergency arises.”

She also explains that Sister Sinead and her group “say their prayers” that the conflict will end and they will remain safe.

“There’s very little anybody can do. I don’t think they’re coming home or evacuating or anything like that. They’re just living there.”

Sister Sinead makes contact with home as often as she can, but the situation makes it very difficult at times.

“It can be very difficult to get lines in and out,” says Rita. “It’s a very difficult situation over there.”

It’s been more than two weeks since Hamas launched its assault on Israel, killing at least 1,400 people and taking more than 200 hostages.

In retaliation since, health authorities in Gaza claim over 5,000 people have been killed since the start of the war between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel on October 7 last. More than 15,000 have been injured, the authorities said.

Israel still occupies the West Bank and claims the whole of Jerusalem as its capital; while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a hoped-for future Palestinian state.

Last week, Franciscan friars in Jerusalem gathered together for two services in which they prayed for peace.

They have left the doors of Franciscan sanctuaries open, primarily to allow ongoing pilgrimages to carry out their spiritual experience as best they can.