MECC
En la Iglesia de Cristo, no hay ni un refugiado ni un extranjero
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.
A una semana antes de su ordenación episcopal el director de los medios de comunicación del Patriarcado, el padre Joseph Bali:
«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.
En el día de Pentecostés, una renovación de la fe y una transición a la Verdadera Luz
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».
Apoyo psicosocial a las mujeres y niños más vulnerables
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.
¿Interferirán las Naciones Unidas en las investigaciones sobre la explosión del puerto de Beirut?
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.
A Week Prior to His Ordination a Bishop
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.
“Momentum”, the Weekly Newsletter from the Middle East Council of Churches
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.
In the Church of Christ, there is neither a refugee nor a stranger
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.
Psychosocial Support for the Most Vulnerable Women and Children
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.
On the Day of the Pentecost, a Renewal of Faith and Transition to True Light
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.”
The East and Covid-19, From Battle to Recovery
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…
The Coronavirus COVID-19 situation in the Middle East
Report: 16 June 2021
The vaccination campaign continues to score additional inoculated people.
Some ME nations have started requiring people to be vaccinated to enter certain government or private establishments.
Will the United Nations Interfere in the Beirut Port Blast Investigations?
53 Lebanese, regional, and international rights groups and individuals, as well as 62 survivors and families of the victims and firefighters, sent a joint letter to the UN asking the organization to launch its own impartial investigation. The reason behind this move is the slow and obscure investigation that has been finding no answers whatsoever. Instead, months of political red tape, obstruction, evasion, and delay, have suffocated the investigation; there is no imagine the forces at work to hide what really happened on August 4.
Inequality and its Discontents
Report: 1 to 11 June 2021
With the severe decrease in COVID-19 cases in almost every country, international donors and investors are re-organizing their efforts towards the development of this region. However, some countries are relying more than others on aid, depending on the type of political system in place. For instance, Egypt has taken advantage of inward investment to launch massive projects. Meanwhile, others such as Lebanon and Syria are struggling under economic sanctions imposed on key decision makers not in line with western policies.
