Your Sight On Our Homeland

A Spiritual Recital On the Intention of Lebanon Under the Patronage and Blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai

At the Invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches and the Pastoral Office for Persons with Disabilities in the Maronite Patriarchate – Bkerke

Under the patronage and blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, a spiritual recital on the intention of Lebanon under the title “Your Sight On Our Homeland”, was performed by the Journalist and Artist Dalia Freyfer, accompanied by the Musician Mr. Fadi Abi Hachem. It was held at the invitation and organization of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Pastoral Office for Persons with Disabilities (POPD) in the Maronite Patriarchate – Bkerke, Lebanon, on Friday 11 October 2024, in the Church of Christ the King - Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon.

The recital was broadcasted live on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel. Attendees were His Eminence Bishop Hanna Alwan, the Patriarchal Vicar General, representing His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Fathers Priests, Sisters Nuns, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs at the head of an MECC team, and the Pastoral Office for Persons with Disabilities (POPD) in the Maronite Patriarchate - Bkerke. Attendees were also representatives of various entities and institutions, official, social and cultural figures, journalists, as well as guests and believers.

The recital was hosted by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), who delivered an opening speech in which she talked about the life of the Blessed Father Yacoub, and praised Lebanon’s steadfastness in the face of all difficulties, as well as the determination of the country’s people to overcome all dilemmas with great faith. She also emphasized the necessity of being united in Prayer, supplicating our God, the God of justice and peace.

Then, a speech addressing God was delivered by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, who said, “We, the children of the earth entrusted with Your endowment, have come today to address You, with a civilized address befitting the culture You have planted in us. Today we have come to address You with words and music produced by the children of the earth. Perhaps the sound of chanting will be stronger than the sound of war. We know that falsehood has its share, but we know that You have conquered the world. We also proclaim to You that fear has found no way into our souls, because You told us Take courage, it is I. We proclaim to You that we believe that Your Incarnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection will make a change, despite the evil spreading in the world."

Afterwards, the Artist and Journalist Dalia Freyfer presented various hymns and chants which added an atmosphere of peace and hope with an angelic voice that carried the participants to an oasis of Prayer and meditation on the intention of peace and justice in Lebanon and the world. The attendees also praised and glorified the Lord amidst the sound of the melodies played via the piano by the Musician Mr. Fadi Abi Hachem.

Moreover, the recital also included a reflection by Father Milad Al Skayem, Head of Mayrouba’s Monastery, and General Spiritual Guide of the Divine Mercy Communities in Lebanon, in which he stressed the necessity of clinging to hope and coming together in order to overcome the ordeal that Lebanon is passing through. This is in addition to a reflection by Mrs. Nelly Bakhos Suleiman, from the Pastoral Office for Persons with Disabilities (POPD) in the Maronite Patriarchate – Bkerke, in which she mentioned the importance of strengthening the bonds of fraternity and living the love of Jesus Christ today and every day, in order to face all difficulties.

The blessing of the recital was from His Eminence Bishop Hanna Alwan, who delivered a speech in which he stressed that we are the children of the Resurrection and hope, and that Jesus Christ calms the storm, no matter how strong it is. He emphasized the necessity of strengthening the faith and the importance of continuing praying, as well as consolidating the spiritual and national unity, especially in light of the difficult circumstances that Lebanon is witnessing.

At the end, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, represented by His Eminence Bishop Hanna Alwan, was honored with an honorary shield as a token of great love and deep appreciation from the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Pastoral Office for Persons with Disabilities (POPD) in the Maronite Patriarchate - Bkerke, Lebanon.