Can you please introduce yourself and share a little about your background?
My name is Miral Atik, I was born into a Christian Catholic family in the year 2000, during what was known here as the Intifada, it was a very intense period in the Holy Land. I grew up in a strong Christian environment and received all my sacraments: Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation.
We went to church every Sunday, but as I grew older, I had many big questions about the world, injustice and suffering. For a time, I felt that Mass didn’t speak to what I was searching for, so I drifted away from the church.
But Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. If you seek him, you will find him. Eventually I returned to the faith, and God answered many of the questions that had weighed on me. That helped me embrace life here, because for years I dreamed of leaving the Holy Land. After coming back to God, I began to see the beauty and blessing of this place. Now I cannot imagine living anywhere else.
I currently work at the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the diocese responsible for Latin churches in Jordan, Palestine, Israel and Cyprus. It is a large and complex region. This is my first job since studying in Lebanon, and God truly blessed me with it. Through my work I have learnt a lot about the role of the Church in our context, the heart of the Patriarch, and how his vision guides how we respond to the challenges we face.
My work focuses on writing articles, covering liturgies and celebrations, and helping give a voice to the Christian community here. Many people don’t realise that Christians still live in the Holy Land, so communicating that reality is important.
You have written a number of articles about hope during times of crisis and linked to the Jubilee of Hope. How do you communicate hope when living in such a complex context?
For me, hope begins with my own experience. If I am writing about hope while having none myself, it would not be authentic.
Honestly, it is Jesus and our faith that give me hope. Faith helps me see that what we witness physically, such as death, war, and division, that is not the final word. God is always at work behind the scenes. There are people doing good that we may never see, small but mighty.
That is the image of hope I carry into my writing: that it is not all darkness. But you must also allow yourself to feel grief. What we witness is painful, and we need to acknowledge that to make space for real hope. It is not about pretending everything is positive; it is about recognising the reality while also recognising the goodness that still exists.
You recently took part in a gathering of young Catholic communicators in Rome. Can you tell me about that experience and what it meant for you?
Yes. This year I had the blessing to participate in two gatherings: the Young Jubilee of Communication earlier in the year, and the recent meeting connected to the Faith Communication programme we’re doing online.
Both experiences were incredibly enriching. They helped me feel closer to the wider Church and to realise that I am not alone in this mission. Many young people around the world share the same passion and are doing similar work in their own contexts.
These gatherings helped me see how connected we are, like a web. Even if we seem small, our unity and the different roles we play make us strong.
Knowing that many young communicators are active online also brought me a lot of hope. We desperately need hope in digital spaces. We consume so much online, and it shapes how we see the world. Digital spaces can lead someone away from God or closer to him. Hearing that the Church is taking this seriously and exploring creative ways to bring the message of love, unity and hope online was very encouraging.
You are very active in the digital space. How can the Church make its online presence more engaging for young people and help bring them closer to God?
I think it starts with listening. When we truly listen to young people, we understand what needs they are trying to meet online and why certain content attracts them. Once we recognise that, we can create content that speaks to those needs.
We cannot force anyone to engage. Instead, we observe, reflect and respond thoughtfully. This generation is incredibly creative, and creativity reflects the image of God within us. Digital spaces are built on visuals and sound, so beauty and creativity are powerful tools for evangelisation.
Artists can take a verse and turn it into an image or a short video that speaks to the heart. Testimonies are also deeply impactful. Hearing real stories changed me personally. Storytelling is human, authentic and honest, and that resonates with people.
How do you see young people shaping the future of communication in the Church?
We bring new perspectives because we grew up in a different world. I was born in 2000, so the internet shaped my teenage years. That experience gives my generation an instinct for understanding how digital communication works and what engages people.
There is a strong passion among young people to be present in digital spaces, but we are also learning how to do it wisely. That is why I value the Faith Communication programme. Each session gives me more clarity about what it means to be a faith communicator.
Young communicators bring energy and awareness of digital culture, but we also recognise that we cannot do this alone. We rely on God’s grace and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
What message would you like to share with people around the world about the Church in the Holy Land?
I would say, first of all, that we are a continuation of the first Church, meaning we carry with us the same vocation they had, to make known the Gospel, all the consecrated men and women who serve the Church in the Holy Land are important, as they minister to those whose existence keeps alive the tradition and the Holy Sites that give witness to our faith.
Christians here have endured a lot over generations, but we remain steadfast. It is a blessing to be born here, though it is not easy. The challenges push you closer to God because you cannot rely on yourself alone.
Another thing I want people to know is that we carry the face of God to those who may never read the Bible. People come to know our faith through the way we interact with them. Our schools welcome Muslim students. Our hospitals care for everyone. Our outreach is open to all. This is a form of mission.
The Church here works hard to be a bridge, not a wall. Even though we are a small minority, we bring light into very difficult circumstances.
Looking at everything you live and witness in the Holy Land, what final message would you like to share with the global Church?
I encourage those who can, to visit the Holy Land, especially during Easter or Christmas, it is life changing to celebrate the events right where they took place, but I would also advise them to spend time with the locals, it will give them a deeper insight into the Church here, our history and culture, we are in need of their support as brothers and sisters.
The faithful in the Holy Land choose to remain and not immigrate despite the difficult economic situation, restrictions on movement and the daily hardships of living in this land, we choose to remain and keep the faith alive where it emerged from, this is something I would like the global church to be aware of, that the Christian existence in these Holy Land is a calling of perseverance, of hope, and importance to the mission of the Church.
One thing that gives me hope as someone living here is remembering God’s mercy. It is easy to fall into blame or see others as enemies. But recognising my own need for God’s mercy helps me see others, even those who cause harm, as people who also need God’s mercy.
Living here is a constant challenge. Your faith is tested often. But Christ gives us a different perspective. On the cross it looked like everything had ended, but it wasn’t the end. That truth breaks the cycle of hatred. Recognising the face of God in others, as our Patriarch often reminds us, is essential. Some days it is hard, but we hold on.
I am grateful that Pope Francis chose hope as the theme for the 2025 Jubilee. It carried me through moments of hopelessness this year and constantly reminded me of where true hope comes from. Hope and faith go hand in hand.
