Report: 30 June 2021

Corona cases in the Middle East have significantly dropped launching the region into a new phase of prospective economic prosperity. However, a threat is looming from the East, but not from China this time- from India.

Report: 16 to 25 June 2021

Mostly all nations covered by this publication have scored positive developments, despite the obstacles they have faced. Even Palestine is receiving the assistance it needs in terms of reconstruction and sustainable development to its economy. However, the case is not the same for Lebanon; it is still in the “deliberate depression” phase whereby there is no signs of relief. Lebanon, the heart of the ME, is sinking and many of its rulers seem content to watch such a spectacle. If international actors do not intervene on a deeper and impartial scale, Lebanon sinking deeper into its problems will have profound socioeconomic and security effects on the whole region.

The new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, includes this week the MECC call to join the Catholic Churches Consecration of the East to the Holy Family on Sunday, June 27, during a Mass for "Peace Day for the East". The weekly message of the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs entitled "The East, the Peace, and the Lost Stability", and a special interview with the Patriarchal Media Director for the Syriac Orthodox Church Father Joseph Bali a week prior to his ordination a Bishop.

The Middle East Council of Churches called on Christians and all the people of this tormented East to join the Catholic Churches to dedicate the East to the Holy Family, in a mass to be held on Sunday, June 27, under the name "Peace Day for the East".

Peace, which is the key to stability, progress, and development for all people, has become a goal in itself due to the fact that it was immolated by modern civilization.

Peace is a transitional goal, followed by goals, necessarily to be reached, by all means and whatever sacrifices it may cost!

All means are acceptable to reach peace...except war...and often states beg for war to reach peace. An excuse more hideous than the sin itself!

Sunday, June 27, Mass for "Peace Day for the East"

Because the blessing of peace is what this East and its people need most, Along with the historic meeting which His Holiness Pope Francis, called the heads of Christian churches in the East on the first of next July to participate in, the Middle East Council of Churches, invites to celebrate the Mass of the “Day of Peace for the East and its consecration to the Holy family”, on Sunday, June 27, at 10:00 am.

On the 21st June, many families-parents and children- get together to celebrate fathers’ day. This year however, it was different for Paul Naggear; his 3-year old child was killed by the blast of August 4. After losing his child Alexandra, Paul Naggear vowed to stand up to the government at every chance. As such, he joined various demonstrations countless times, protesting against the conduct of a careless and corrupt government.

Report: 23 June 2021

Despite the ranking of nearby countries, Iran and Turkey, as 6th and 9th for highest and newest cases of the coronavirus worldwide, the Middle East is mainly in the recovery stage.

Children are the First Victims of Hospital Collapse

In the few past difficult days, Lebanese citizens woke up to good health news on the Coronavirus measures: the European Union included Lebanon on the white list, which means that the residents of the country are now allowed to travel non-essential trips to the member states of the Union without imposing the March 2020 measures on travelers. However, this glimmer of hope came in times of deepening crises that toppled the health and medical sector and hit it to the core, what about the citizens? Can they take any more blows?

Due to daily pressure and the deteriorating living conditions in Lebanon, Lebanese citizens and foreign residents, especially women and children, have forgotten how to be happy and hopeful. They are looking for a window to relieve their despair and anxiety. The Middle East Council of Churches, Diakonia Department, sought to rekindle happiness in their hearts through educational and artistic activities.

Los refugiados tienen un Día Internacional: el 20 de junio.

El fenómeno necesita que nos detengamos ante él, pues su número se ha convertido en más de 80 millones en todo el mundo y aumentan al ritmo de veinte refugiados, desplazados forzosos, cada minuto.

Imagínense cómo está herida la humanidad y cómo aumenta el número de personas vulnerables, de todo tipo y por diversos motivos.

Las Naciones Unidas han clasificado este grupo de pesadas cargas en diferentes categorías. Citaremos algunas definiciones tomadas de su página web para evitar confusiones entre los grupos a los que hay que tenderles la mano para que salgan de la pobreza y la miseria.

«Soy un verdadero ortodoxo sirio cuando estoy abierto a otras iglesias; seguiré cumpliendo con mi deber en mi iglesia de ofrecer medios de comunicación cristianos»

«Ya que fuiste fiel en las cosas pequeñas, te daré grandes responsabilidades. Ven, comparte la alegría de tu maestro» (Mateo 25, 23); el Padre Joseph Bali es un colega y amigo que asumirá una mayor responsabilidad al ser ordenado Obispo el 25 de junio próximo por el Patriarca Mor Ignatius Aphrem II en la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Sede Patriarcal en Atchaneh - Líbano, con el Padre Roger Akhras y el Padre Kyrollos Babi.

El Padre Joseph Bali, fiel servidor, licenciado en Física y licenciado en Filosofía, ingresó en el Seminario Teológico Sirio San Efrén de Maarrat Saydnaya.

Ven, Espíritu Santo, y envíanos un rayo de tu luz desde el cielo

Es el día de la fundación y el nacimiento de la Iglesia, el día en que se le confió su misión: una comunidad de misioneros y testigos. Los discípulos aceptaron la palabra del Señor con gran alegría para predicarla por todo el mundo en una sola lengua, la lengua de Dios.

Es el día de Pentecostés, el recuerdo de la venida del Espíritu Santo sobre los apóstoles reunidos con la Madre de Dios en Sión, Jerusalén, tras la Ascensión de Jesucristo al corazón del Padre Celestial.

Es la celebración de la renovación que guía al hombre desde las tinieblas y el pecado hasta la luz y la castidad. Esta Luz divina fue mencionada en el Evangelio por Juan en el capítulo 8,12: «Yo soy la Luz del mundo. El que me sigue no caminará en la oscuridad, sino que tendrá la luz de la vida».

El Departamento de Servicio y Ayuda-Diakonia de la oficina del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio en Beirut, ha organizado numerosas sesiones de apoyo psicosocial para un grupo de mujeres y niños, con el fin de ayudarles a recuperar la esperanza y su actividad habitual en medio del brote de Coronavirus y de las diversas crisis que ejercen una presión adicional sobre ellos.

53 grupos de derechos libaneses, regionales e internacionales y particulares, así como 62 supervivientes y familiares de las víctimas y los bomberos, enviaron una carta conjunta a la ONU en la que pedían a la organización que iniciara su propia investigación imparcial. El motivo de este movimiento es la lenta y oscura investigación que no ha encontrado respuesta alguna. En su lugar, meses de burocracia política, obstrucción, evasión y retraso, han asfixiado la investigación; no hay que imaginar las fuerzas que actúan para ocultar lo que realmente ocurrió el 4 de agosto.

Patriarchal Media Director Father Joseph Bali:

“I am a true Syriac Orthodox when I am open to other churches,

I will continue to do my duty in my church to provide Christian media”

“Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.” (Matthew 25:23), Father Joseph Bali is a colleague and friend who will be taking on greater responsibility as he will be ordained a Bishop on the 25th of next June by Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II in the Church of Our Virgin Lady at the Patriarchal Headquarters in Atchaneh - Lebanon, with Father Roger Akhras and Father Kyrollos Babi.

Father Joseph Bali, the faithful servant, holding a BA in Physics and a MA in Philosophy, joined St. Ephrem the Syriac Theological Seminary in Maarrat Saydnaya.

The new issue of “Momentum”, the weekly newsletter issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, includes the weekly message of the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs entitled "In the Church of Christ, there is neither a refugee nor a stranger", a detailed report regarding the webinar “Covid-19 in Times of Unrest - economic crises and sociopolitical conflicts in the Middle East” organized by WCC and MECC.

Refugees have an International Day on the twentieth of June.

The phenomenon needs us to stop in front of it, as their number has become more than 80 million worldwide and they are increasing at the rate of twenty refugees, forcibly displaced, every minute.

Imagine how wounded humanity is and how the number of vulnerable people, of all kinds and for various reasons, is increasing.

The United Nations has classified this group of heavy burdens into different categories. We have quoted some definitions from its website in order to avoid confusion between the groups to whom we need to extend a helping hand so that they be lifted out of poverty and misery.

The Service and Relief Department - Diakonia, in the Middle East Council of Churches, Beirut office, organized many psychosocial support sessions for a group of women and children, to help them restore hope and their usual activity amidst the Coronavirus outbreak and the various crises that put additional pressure on them.

Come, Holy Spirit, and send us a ray of your light from heaven

It is the day of the founding and birth of the Church, the day on which it was entrusted with its mission: a community of missionaries and witnesses. The disciples accepted the word of the Lord with great joy to preach it around the world in one language, the language of God... It is the day of Pentecost, the memory of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the apostles who were gathered with the Mother of God in Zion, Jerusalem, following the ascension of Jesus Christ into the heart of the Heavenly Father. It is the celebration of renewal that guides man from darkness and sin to light and chastity. This divine light was mentioned in the Bible of John in chapter 8:12: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

A Webinar Organized by WCC and MECC

Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: “Covid-19 is not something inflicted by God on the human race; humans pushed their luck in making nature bear more than it can take”

An international webinar was organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in partnership with the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) on June 14 as part of the ongoing series on the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace. It was entitled “Covid-19 in Times of Unrest – economic crises and sociopolitical conflicts” facing the Middle East.

MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs participated in the webinar along with many specialists and officials from different regional countries including Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Palestine…