By Dean Andrew McGowan

As news of the terrible events in the Holy Land continues to emerge, the Berkeley community holds in prayer two 2023 graduates undertaking internships there. The Rev’d Katie Kirk ’23 from Alabama has been Porter Fellow at St George’s College, but had returned to USA for a personal visit just before the events in and near Gaza began to unfold. She remains in the USA working remotely with the Jerusalem Peace Builders organization for the moment, and will be monitoring the situation with our partners at SGC and The Episcopal Church’s Global Partnerships office. The Rev’d Max Sklar ’23 from Massachusetts is working in a parish near Jerusalem, and remains in place. He is safe, and is sharing updates as able.

At the Community Eucharist during Convocation on October 11th, Dean McGowan and student leaders initiated the first monetary collection at the offertory since the COVID-19 pandemic began, in support of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, which is operated under the auspices of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. This was days before the deadly explosion that took the lives of hundreds of refugees there. We continue to encourage your financial support of Al-Ahli Hospital.

Please keep all those affected by violence and injustice in your prayers, and not least these two recent graduates who are working with others for peace and to witness to the Gospel.