National Director of Missio Lebanon says situation becoming “more deadly by the day”
The situation in Lebanon is becoming more deadly by the day and efforts to help the displaced and injured are becoming extremely difficult says Missio, the Pope’s charity for world mission.
Missio and its church partners have been living in and serving Lebanese communities for many years, and are flinging wide the doors of the Church to help the thousands of people in need.
“We all live in a situation where fear, pain, anger and anxiety are mixed,” says Fr Rouphael, National Director of Missio Lebanon.
“The uncertainty about what awaits us weighs on everything. It is not clear who can stop all this and whether the attacks are just the beginning.”
Accoding to Missio representatives on the ground, the Israeli army’s bombings are directed against targets identified as possible bases of the Shiite Hezbollah Party. But this strategy has also been hitting small enclaves and villages in predominantly Christian areas for days.
“The small Shiite village of Maaysra in the Keserwan area, a historical settlement area of Catholic communities, was bombed,” said Father Rouphael .
“It is a village just a few kilometres from the headquarters of the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerké.
‘This uncertain situation is also affecting the relief efforts for the displaced and injured. Hospitals are collapsing, they were not prepared to treat the many people wounded in the face and eyes by pagers that became bombs.
“Churches and schools are opening to welcome the displaced, and there are many individual initiatives of solidarity with Christians and Muslims fleeing the south and other affected areas.”
Sadly, Fr Rouphael explains, the spontaneous solidarity is accompanied by mistrust: “The propaganda and political polarization of recent years have fuelled distrust and triggered mutual attacks between the various parties, who accuse each other of betraying Lebanon and being a disaster for the country.
‘The economic crisis has also limited the willingness to help those in need. This leads many to help only members of their own family network and confessional group.”
A representative of Missio said that as always its missionary sisters and brothers are standing with all the people of Lebanon who are suffering through this terrible time, regardless of background or belief. They are helping however they can, wherever they can, with practical help and spiritual sustenance. They ask for our prayers and support.
The Holy Father, Pope Francis has also called for prayers for our sisters and brothers in Lebanon. He said: “I am saddened by the news from Lebanon, where in recent days the intense bombings have claimed many victims and caused destruction. I hope that the international community will make every effort to stop this terrible escalation. It is unacceptable. I express my closeness to the Lebanese people, who have already suffered too much in the recent past.’
He added: “Let us pray for everyone, for all people who suffer due to war. Let us not forget martyred Ukraine, Myanmar, Palestine, Israel, Sudan, all martyred peoples. Let us pray for peace.”
Showing God’s love in the direst situations
Lebanon is one of many countries in which missionaries are making a very tangible difference in times of fear and despair.
“We know our mission as Sisters of the Forsaken Jesus,” says Sister Jovanna, who has been working alongside communities in Lebanon.
“That’s why we are here for a good reason. And here we will stay. Our aim is to support and share a bit of love and care with families that are in real need. As long as we have food for ourselves we will always share it, by God’s grace!”
Help Missio build a world of peace
We believe in a world of peace, where everyone, everywhere has the opportunity to experience God’s love. On World Mission Sunday, will you help missionaries show the world’s most vulnerable people that they are not forgotten; that they are loved by God and by us?
- Find out more about the Sisters of the Forsaken Jesus and how you can support them and missionaries like them this Mission Month here
- Please click here to donate whatever you can to our World Mission Sunday campaign and let’s make sure everyone has the opportunity to experience God’s love.