|
Completion of a Parish Center in Lebanon Success Story Almost everywhere in Lebanon you can see the picture of Saint Charbel Makhlouf. Numerous miracles and answers to prayers are attributed to the intercession of this modern Lebanese saint. Saint Charbel, who died on December 24, 1898, at the age of 70, is seen as the epitome of the monk, having lived a life of strict asceticism, penance and contemplative prayer. Even during his lifetime he was reported to have healed the sick, and it is even claimed that he raised two dead people back to life.
The young people of Deir El Ahmar have little in the way of life prospects. Unemployment is high, and more and more young people are sliding into drugs and addiction. Almost half of all the school pupils leave school early because they can see no future for themselves. In response to this situation, the Parish of St. Charbel sent us an urgent appeal for help to enable them to build a parish center where these young people could be given help and encouraged to occupy themselves meaningfully. It would be a place where they could do their homework, learn a range of manual skills, and also study and learn about their faith. And the center was to be not only for young people, but would also offer programs for all age groups – from children to engaged couples, through to elderly people. Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, ACN was able to help and stepped in with $27,300 to fund the project. Now the parish priest, Father Hanna Rahmé has written to thank us: "On behalf of all the Catholic faithful of our parish, I would like to thank you and salute you. We are praying for all your generous benefactors who have helped us here in this region to bear witness to Christ, despite the difficult political situation and the uncertainty." Aid to the Church in Need commits to invest your funds where they will have the greatest impact for the Church that we serve. Funds donated to Aid to the Church in Need’s projects will be used towards the greatest need in our programs to help keep the Faith alive.
Code: 326-01-19
Aid to the Church in Need commits to invest your funds where they will have the greatest impact for the Church that we serve. Funds donated to Aid to the Church in Need’s projects will be used towards the greatest need in our programs to help keep the Faith alive. |
|
Keeping the Faith Alive
Not surprisingly, then, the Parish of Deir El
Ahmar in the Baalbek plain is dedicated to this revered Lebanese saint. This
mainly Christian village, which is surrounded by overwhelmingly Muslim villages
and towns, has a population of some 10,000. The people here live in very simple
and humble circumstances. Most of them are ordinary peasant farmers, just like
the parents of Saint Charbel himself, who were poor. His father died young, so
that as a young boy he already had to work, herding the flocks of goats, before
finally entering the monastery at the age of 23.