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Posted on 11/13/2026 8:19:42 AM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
Fr Luis Montes arrived on Wednesday, November 4th, 2026, at the Holy Family Parish in Gaza, to serve as a vicar priest, joining the parish’s clergy in their pastoral mission. Fr Gabriel Romanelli expressed his joy at welcoming the new priest.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said: «We pray for Fr Montes new mission, asking the Lord to bless his ministry and guide him in his service to the community.»
Father Luis Esteban Montes, IVE, was born in Darregueira, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina…
From 2003 to 2010, he served as Provincial Superior of the Middle East, based in Egypt. He then spent ten years in Iraq, where he served for five years as pastor of the Latin Cathedral in Baghdad, before becoming Vicar to the Latin Archbishop in Erbil, and later serving as the his secretary.
(Excerpt) Read more at zenit.org ...
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What’s the Over/Under on how long he lasts?................
He’s already served in other easy peasy places like Egypt and spent a decade in Iraq.
So he’s had his training in the trenches. :)
Didn’t paste: Father Luis speaks Spanish, English, Italian, and Arabic.
“What’s the Over/Under on how long he lasts?”
Does the name Custer ring a bell?
wy69
Some folks are made for hazardous duty. They have the temperment, poise and presence of mind to keep going, even when vis a vi with forces that could kill you at any time, should that be their whim. Tommy Robinson, the British political activist is this way.
Men of the cloth and wartime medics are often this way. They have a personal mission to serve. Some have a fatalistic perspective and live focused on the present, not on what could be, or should have been. These people have accepted the possibility of their martyrdom and carry on, one day at a time.
He’s volunteering to be a human shield for terrorists.
There are a grand total of 90 Catholics in all of Gaza.
There were about 5,000 before Hamas seized control.
That is what real ethnic cleansing/genocide looks like.
Looked up where most of the Catholics went.
Looks like they mainly settled in Judea, being given refuge by Israel.
They don’t want Hamas, but living in Israel is not a walk in the park for Christians in the region either.
“Christian communities in Israel face growing hostility, annual report reveals”
On March 27 in Jerusalem, the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue presented findings from its annual report, “Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem,” and from a survey conducted in December 2024 with 300 Palestinian/Arab Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem providing insight into their perceptions of various aspects of life.
The report documents a rise in incidents of intimidation and aggression targeting Christian communities throughout 2024. Currently, there are approximately 180,000 Christians living in Israel (about 1.8% of the Israeli population), and 78.8 % of them are Arab.
Physical attacks emerged as the most prevalent category among the 111 documented cases, with the majority targeting clergy, easily identifiable by their religious attire. Spitting was identified as a common form of physical harassment. Vandalism and desecration targeting Christian churches, including graffiti, stone-throwing, and arson, were also documented.
“Looked up where most of the Catholics went. Looks like they mainly settled in Judea, being given refuge by Israel.”
The Muslims have long made it clear Christians are not welcome, except as shields and propaganda:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/dec/23/gaza-christians-hamas-cancelled-christmas
I’ve been in Israel, openly Christian, in both military uniform and as a civilian working there.
I’ve never met anything other than openness and respect, far more respectful of my relgious observances than Scotland (mocking hatred) and certainly better than Saudi or Qatar, where I was met with official and open hostility.
I was invited to many a Sabbath (Friday night) meal by random neighbors in Israel, and my hosts made sure to serve fish only, for example.
I am sure there are troubles for some Arab Christians, but I think most of it is overblown or taking random, illegal, acts by a few and trying to generate hate and propaganda against Israel. This is compounded by the fact many Arab Christians are Arab before Christian and deeply despise Jews.
That said, the most educated and wealthy demographic in Israel are Arab Christians. They are aggressively protected by Israeli law and the 99% of the Israeli population that is happy to have them.
Okay well I object to your notion of “ethnic cleansing” as it applies to Christians, as Christianity is not a fixed ethnicity. And neither is Islam. If terrorists are killing other Christians, then they are killing their own blood brethren.
However, there is obviously a contingent of people including yourself I’d imagine, that believes Arabs, regardless of faith, don’t have any sovereign stake to territory in Gaza.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem sees things differently.
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