El espíritu ecuménico en los países expatriados es una necesidad

Es cierto que los cristianos orientales dispersos por el mundo están alejados de su tierra natal, pero la mayoría de ellos llevan su cruz, su fe, sus valores y el ajetreo de la vida hasta donde aterrizan. Rara vez se rinden, y siempre encuentran soluciones para superar los retos. El obispo Juan Habib Shamieh habla de la diáspora y de cómo la Iglesia conserva a sus hijos, incluso cuando cambian de parroquia, y explica cómo trabajan en la archidiócesis maronita de Argentina, para acortar la distancia y evitar que la patria se convierta en un recuerdo.

¿Qué ocurre durante este histórico día?

A lo largo de todo el año, los cristianos celebran muchas festividades y eventos diferentes, cada uno según sus costumbres y tradiciones religiosas locales o internacionales. Sin embargo, ¿acentúan estas celebraciones la brecha entre las familias de la Iglesia? La respuesta es no.

Por supuesto, cada Iglesia tiene sus propias características y ritos, pero todas están unidas bajo un mismo lema: «La riqueza en la diversidad». Esta riqueza fue siempre lo que distinguió a las Iglesias de Oriente y Occidente, mientras que todas ellas alaban a Jesucristo en una sola fe, reconociendo su muerte y resurrección.

El juez Bitar ha declarado en repetidas ocasiones que la investigación está llegando a su fin y que se citará a algunos políticos de alto nivel. Esto plantea la cuestión de si señalará con el dedo a un político turbio con vínculos militantes, o simplemente a algún chupatintas como el ministro interino Hassan Diab, que parece el chivo expiatorio perfecto. Las iniciativas del juez, son las últimas de varios esfuerzos infructuosos para determinar la causa exacta de la explosión y hacer rendir cuentas a los responsables de la misma. Sin embargo, con el grave deterioro de la economía y la creciente indignación de la población, el juez Tarek Bitar podría tener lo que se necesita para hacer sonar la alarma sobre el crimen.

El MECC organizó una formación sobre «Fundamentos de la salvaguarda de la infancia» para 40 profesores y facilitadores.

El curso se centró en la salvaguarda de los niños y abordó muchos temas como los derechos humanos, los derechos de los niños, los fundamentos de la protección, además de las características, necesidades y dificultades relacionadas con cada grupo de edad, desde la infancia hasta la adolescencia, la importancia de la salud psicológica y el apoyo psicológico, los fundamentos de la primera ayuda psicológica, la comunicación eficaz con los niños, las estrategias de apoyo a los niños, el fraude y el abuso de poder.

La interacción con el semanario Momentum del MECC y su creciente papel en la promoción de la comunión y la conciencia ecuménica en Oriente y Occidente se refleja a través de la construcción de puentes entre las iglesias del Oriente Medio y de Occidente y la creación de redes con ellos con el fin de trabajar por la unidad cristiana y el testimonio del Evangelio, por lo tanto, la activación de los diálogos entre las iglesias a nivel local, regional y mundial.

This is neither a social psychology nor a political science article. This is an article on the fate of populations and their future.

This article is inspired by the biography of the Lord, from His scourging of the temple merchants , His revolution against hypocrisy and corruption , as well as from His realization on the cross of the ignorance of the people- "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

The worst thing that can happen to a people is falling prey to hypocrisy, corruption, and ignorance, which are three characteristics that are inseparable in the history of nations. The worst thing that afflicts a people in this context is a slow sliding that reaches the limits of helplessness.

Intensive Home Nursing Care Course

The MECC Department of Service and Relief - Diakonia, Beirut office, in cooperation with Saint George University Hospital (Al-Roum Hospital) in Ashrafieh, Beirut, organized an intensive training course focused on nursing, health and home care for children and the elderly. Twenty-one women of different age groups participated to build their capabilities, develop their skills in the field, allow them to enter the field of health work professionally, and develop their awareness regarding health incidents they may face daily.

The Ecumenical Spirit in the expatriate countries Is a Necessity

It is true that Eastern Christians scattered across the globe are estranged from their homelands, but most of them carry their cross, their faith, their values, and the hustle and bustle of life to where they land. They rarely give up, and always find solutions to overcome challenges. Bishop John Habib Shamieh talks about the diaspora and how the Church preserves its children, even when they change parishes and explains how he works as in the Maronite Archdiocese of Argentina to shorten the distance and prevent the homeland from turning into a memory!

What Happens During this Historical Day?

All year long, Christians celebrate many different festivities and events, each according to their local or international religious customs and traditions. However, do these celebrations accentuate the gap among Church families? The answer is no. of course, each Church has its own characteristics and rites, but they are all united under one slogan: “Richness in Diversity”. This richness was always what distinguished churches in the East and the West, while all of them praise Jesus Christ in one faith, acknowledging his death and resurrection.

Report: 7 July 2021

The Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus has finally reached the Middle East, prompting various health institutions to emphasize on exercising caution; the new strain spreads much easier and has stronger symptoms.

Judge Bitar has repeatedly declared that the investigation is closing an end and that some high profile politicians will be summoned. This raises the question whether he will point the finger at a shady politician with militant ties, or just some pencil pusher such as caretaker minister Hassan Diab who looks like the perfect scape goat. The initiatives by the judge, are the latest in several unsuccessful efforts to determine the exact cause of the explosion and to hold those responsible for it accountable.

MECC organized a training on “Basics of Child Safeguarding” for 40 teachers and facilitators.

The course focused on child safeguarding and addressed many topics such as human rights, children rights, safeguarding basics in addition to the characteristics, needs and difficulties related to each age group from childhood to adolescence, the importance of psychological health and psychological support, basics of first psychological aid, effective communication with children, child support strategies, fraud and power abuse.

The interaction to the MECC weekly Momentum and its growing role in promoting communion and ecumenical awareness in the East and the West is reflected through building bridges between churches of the Middle East and of the West and networking with them in order to work towards Christian unity and the testimony for the Gospel, thus, activating dialogues between churches locally, regionally and globally.

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 meeting of His Holiness Pope Francis and the Christian leaders in the Vatican for prayer and meditation on the intention of Lebanon. Hence, MECC called in a special statement for unity in prayer with those who are gathering for Lebanon, which is today as if it was under the cross, struggling to survive in the face of crises and disasters.