Anglican Chaplaincy
of Midi Pyrénées & Aude
News
Bishop's Advent Appeal 2025
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:17-18 (NRSV)
The headlines may be fading, but the suffering in Gaza is far from over. Months of devastation have left entire communities struggling. The impact of conflict lingers long after the fighting stops. Disease spreads rapidly, food and clean water remain scarce. At the time of writing, 68,280 people have been killed in Gaza, the vast majority of whom are civilian women and children, and the toll of wounded stands at 170,375.
Despite overwhelming challenges, the medical team at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza is doing everything in their power to care for the injured and sick. They face impossible odds: shortages of medicine and essential supplies, dwindling fuel reserves for life-saving equipment, and an ever-growing number of patients in desperate need.
At Al-Ahli Hospital, doctors and nurses have treated over 190,000 outpatients and performed more than 6,000 surgeries in the past year alone. The demand is relentless. The injuries they see of burns, broken bones and shrapnel wounds are devastating.
Beyond emergency treatment, Al-Ahli hospital offers long-term rehabilitation, mental health support, and essential community care. Many of those injured will face lifelong disabilities, requiring physiotherapy, pain management, and counselling. Without urgent funding, these critical services could be lost.
This Advent, I am asking you to support the work of one of our partners in the Gospel, USPG, whose partnership with the Diocese of Jerusalem gives us the opportunity to sustain this vital hospital, ensuring that it remains open and equipped to serve those who need it most, not only in moments of immediate crisis but in the long, difficult years of recovery that follow.
It looks – for now – that there is a fragile semi-peace. It is to be hoped that this not only lasts but spreads and deepens, and that rebuilding can begin. Your gift today will help keep the hospital open and equipped to provide urgent medical aid, long-term rehabilitation, and dignity to those in crisis.
"Every donation and every prayer are an act of love. It is a message to families in Gaza that they are not forgotten," says Sawson Aranki-Batato, Programme Development Officer, Diocese of Jerusalem.
I commend to you these resources for prayer as I ask you to give generously to this Appeal (details below).
Prayers for peace in the Middle East — Embrace the Middle East
How to pray for Gaza and Israel - Tearfund
Pray for Peace in Israel and Gaza - 24-7 Prayer International
O God, whose heart breaks for the world,
May your justice dwell in the land
May your righteousness abide in fruitful fields
May the effect of righteousness be quietness and trust forever
May the effect of justice be peace—enduring peace.
Amen.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
+Robert Gibraltar in Europe
How you can donate to the Bishop in Europe’s Advent Appeal 2025:
By bank transfer:
Account number: 40317039
Sort code: 20-06-13
IBAN: GB16 BUKB 2006 1340 3170 39
Swift / BIC: BUKBGB22
By cheque:
Please make it out to: Diocese in Europe
Diocese in Europe Board of Finance
14, Tufton St
London SW1P 3QZ
(please add the words “Advent Appeal 2025” to any note you send with the cheque)
Just Giving:
On the Diocese in Europe Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/diocese-ineurope
(please add “2025 Advent Appeal” in the Message from Donor column)
Chaplaincy Joint Service
On Sunday, September 28th, 2025, our Chaplaincy family gathered for a very special occasion — Chaplaincy Day, marked by the licensing of our Lay Readers and a joyful celebration of worship, music, and fellowship. It was a day that reflected the heart of our life together: faith shared across distance, unity in diversity, and gratitude for God’s continuing work among us.
Our Chaplaincy stretches far and wide — from Vayrac near Brive in the north to Floure near Carcassonne in the south — so considerable distances were travelled by many to gather at the beautiful Église St. Eugène in the village of Brens in the Tarn. Yet every kilometre was worth it: to meet together as one family in Christ, to greet new friends, and to renew the bonds of fellowship that unite our scattered congregations. We were honoured to welcome Archdeacon Peter, who journeyed all the way from Leicester to be with us. He led us in a joyful celebration of the Eucharist and re-licensed our Lay Readers — Kate du Toit, Peter Gibbs, and Malcolm Rigley — assisted by Paul Willis, our Area Dean.
The service was filled with a deep sense of thanksgiving, commitment, and hope for the ministry ahead. The music, too, lifted our hearts heavenward. A choir composed of singers and musicians from across the Chaplaincy came together, their voices and instruments blending beautifully in hymns of praise and thanksgiving. Their offering of music added grace and splendour to a service already rich in meaning.
After worship, we continued in fellowship with a vin d’honneur, generously provided by members of the Brens congregation. Conversation and laughter f lowed easily beneath the warm autumn sun. This was followed by a bring and-share lunch, where each congregation contributed a different course — a delightful feast symbolising the diversity and unity of our Chaplaincy life. Days like these remind us that the Church is not defined by buildings or boundaries, but by the people who come together in love and service. We give thanks for all who made this day possible — for those who travelled far, who prayed, sang, served, and shared — and for the grace that binds us together as one Chaplaincy in Christ.
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Please join our Toulouse Congregation in completing the below Diamond Challenge. We are completing this up until the end of 2025, the Toulouse congregation's Diamond Jubilee year.
