Dr. Michel Abs: We Must Shed Light On This History to Promote Awareness and Learn From It

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission of the Churches on International Affairs in collaboration with the WCC Spiritual Life organized a webinar entitled “Past massacres in the Middle East” on Friday, November 19, 2021. It is part of many virtual events organized this year to mark the 75th anniversary of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs.

Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs participated as panelist.

Training to Improve the Capabilities of the MECC Team

Developing the working group performance in any institution or organization contributes the most in enhancing the work mechanisms and improving the productivity. The Middle East Council of Churches is keen to organize periodic training courses for its department’s teams aiming at developing their skills in various fields in order to achieve the desired Ecumenical and humanitarian goals.

The new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, presents an exclusive interview with His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, after his appointment as Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics. He said “After 30 years God sent me back to my starting point, Beirut, I am nothing but a servant and priest fulfilling the will of Jesus Christ”.

As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it was entitled “Towards the Twelfth General Assembly”.

As the invitations to the heads of churches to appoint their delegates to the General Assembly were sent, the timer has been set on ticking until the Assembly convenes between May 16 and 19 of the year 2022, in order to elect the Executive Committee entrusted with the task of managing the Council of Churches until the year 2026.

This Assembly comes one year and eight months later than its regular meeting date, which had been set in September of the year 2020. It has been delayed for two years due to the pandemic that confronted humanity with new challenges.

His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian

Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics

‘After 30 years God sent me back to my starting point, Beirut’

‘I am nothing but a servant and priest fulfilling the will of Jesus Christ’

With complete surrender, he passed his priestly journey, and he was the faithful servant whom his master entrusted over many things, so he chose him as a Patriarch at the head of the Armenian Catholic Church.

His Beatitude Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics believes that God’s hand is in his in every stage of his mission. He started off in Lebanon, then Jerusalem, the United States of America, to Eastern Europe, to finally returned after 30 years to his starting point as Patriarch seated in Beirut.

Children today are growing up in an environment that may negatively affect their daily life and behavior. What is the reason? Rather, the reasons are many, and cannot be limited to a specific field or level that could be related to security, social environment, economy or health sector... But most important is to accompany and support them in overcoming everything that could hinder their growth and rob them of their childhood.

Report: 1 to 15 November 2021

Several countries around the world have been hit with energy crises during the past month. This alone is indicative that the world must start to shift to cleaner forms of renewable energy. The Middle East is no stranger to what’s happening and has begun implementing some projects in some areas that aim to decrease dependency on fossil reserves.

The restoration of St. Elias center for elderly was completed. The Care Home was rehabilitated by MECC in cooperation with Kerk in Actie organization in Netherlands within the rehabilitation program that works on the restoration of social and religious establishments affected by Syrian crisis.

The new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, presents details of the Congratulatory Visit to the Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics His Beatitude Raphaël Minassian, held by a delegation from the MECC General Secretariat headed by Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it was entitled “So that identity does not become a tool of devastation”.

Nothing is more precious to a person's heart than his identity.

It defines who he is, towards himself as well as towards others, towards his narrow surroundings or towards his community.

Identity becomes more complex and richer and more diverse as civilization progresses, and it becomes made up of sub-identities and layers of belongingness.

Modern man is no longer monolithic, and there is no longer a single dimension that expresses his identity, but multiple dimensions that combine and multiply and may sometimes contradict one another, depending on the surrounding social structure as well as on the personality of the individual.

H.E Bishop Paul Rouhana:

‘The Lord invited us to be a Church’

‘Love is a spiritual battle we fight to free ourselves from ego and anger. Without it, our journey together would fail’

Injustice, hate speech, corruption, unfairness... All these are expressions that have always dominated the global scene, especially the Levantine, at a time when societies are suffering from severe crises on every front: health, environmental, economic, cultural, and political. But does anyone hear the pain of those marginalized? Are there initiatives contributing to alleviating the crisis? What is the Church’s role in all of the above?

A delegation from the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches visited His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, the new Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics at the Patriarchate headquarters in Beirut. The delegation congratulated Minassian on his election as Patriarch and head of the Armenian Church, which has a remarkable role among the MECC member Churches.

The Middle East Council of Churches peruses its support to women who are facing many daily burdens and pressures due to the difficult living conditions in Lebanon through various vocational training sessions. Thus, the Service and Relief Department – Diakonia, Beirut office, implemented a sewing training program, at the Hebbaryeh municipality in South Lebanon.

The ACT Alliance Lebanon Forum held its annual meeting at the Middle East Council of Churches General Secretariat’s headquarters in Beirut on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, in the presence of the ACT Regional Representative – MENA Rachel Luce and the Regional Humanitarian Program Advisor – MENA George Majaj.

Under the patronage and presence of the Maronite Patriarchal Vicar of Sarba, H.E Bishop Paul Rouhana, former MECC Secretary General, the Council’s General Secretariat organized a spiritual retreat presided over by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. The retreat was held on Friday, November 5, 2021, at the Saint Paul Monastery - Patriarchal Maronite Diocese, Vicariate of Sarba, Keserwan - Lebanon, which is newly renovated.

Cuanto mayor es la corrupción de los grupos gobernantes, mayor es su hostilidad hacia quienes les confiaron la gestión de sus asuntos, y con sus propias vidas.

Cuanto más extremado sea el objetivo del gobernante, más feroz será en la protección de sus oscuros expedientes y «logros».

Sabe que el ojo de Dios le persigue hasta en su más recóndita intimidad, y el ojo de Dios es el ojo del pueblo. Es como el inseguro que casi dice: «llévame», porque el ojo del Creador, el Creador que distribuye los medios de vida y la riqueza, no deja de percibir nada.

The Service and Relief Department - Diakonia, Beirut office at the Middle East Council of Churches, implemented many health awareness sessions for a group of women in Our Lady Dispensary, affiliated to MECC and located in Sabtiyeh – Lebanon. The sessions aimed at empowering them and developing their capabilities.

The new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, presents the news of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs’ participation as a guest in an episode entitled “You are the salt of the earth” as part of the TV program “La Takhaf” on Télé Lumière and Noursat, in addition to the full video of the episode. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it was entitled “Starving and bringing to kneels to Avoid Accountability”.

The greater the corruption of the ruling groups, the greater is their hostility towards those who entrusted them with the management of their affairs, and with their very lives.

The more the ruler goes to extremes in his aim, the more ferocious he will be in protecting his dark files and "achievements".

He knows that God's eye is chasing him even in his most secluded privacy, and God's eye is the eye of the people. He is like the dubious one who almost says, “Take me,” because the eye of the Creator, the Creator who divides livelihoods and wealth, does not fail in noticing anything.

Report: 16 to 31 October 2021

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated that Middle East region is on track to economic recovery. Yet similarly to the World Bank, it claimed that rising social unrest and unemployment are slowing down progress. The IMF’s statement comes during a time countries are adopting a more cooperative approach with one another and are receiving inbound investments. Hopefully, governments will heed such remarks for the welfare of the average citizen.