During the days of violent fighting in the streets of West Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, I phoned the relative of our Friars for their news and to express our solidarity and that of the Father Custos. I tried to phone our friars in Harissa; and we were in touch with the Capuchin Monks and the Franciscan Sisters.
I also called our Bishop, Mons. Boulos (Paul), to give him our news and assure him that we were all fine. The Bishop was absent, but he was given the message. A few days later, the Bishop himself announced that on Wednesday 21st May he would come and share a meal with us, the friars in Beirut, as we had already invited him some time ago.
We were therefore doubly pleased to receive this visit, in view of the difficult and delicate period our country is going through. We thought of it as a gesture of solidarity with those of us who live in a dangerous area. As usual, His Excellence was simple and affable and took a great interest in our situation and in our apostolate. Fr. Antoine Saliba, who was passing through, also attended the lunch.
We expressed our gratitude to the Bishop for his visit which we had been looking forward to and greatly appreciated and for coming to express to us his spiritual support.
It now appears that the heads of the Lebanese political parties have reached an agreement to solve their problems and find a lasting solution for the country.
Fr. Joseph Constantin ofm
I also called our Bishop, Mons. Boulos (Paul), to give him our news and assure him that we were all fine. The Bishop was absent, but he was given the message. A few days later, the Bishop himself announced that on Wednesday 21st May he would come and share a meal with us, the friars in Beirut, as we had already invited him some time ago.
We were therefore doubly pleased to receive this visit, in view of the difficult and delicate period our country is going through. We thought of it as a gesture of solidarity with those of us who live in a dangerous area. As usual, His Excellence was simple and affable and took a great interest in our situation and in our apostolate. Fr. Antoine Saliba, who was passing through, also attended the lunch.
We expressed our gratitude to the Bishop for his visit which we had been looking forward to and greatly appreciated and for coming to express to us his spiritual support.
It now appears that the heads of the Lebanese political parties have reached an agreement to solve their problems and find a lasting solution for the country.
Fr. Joseph Constantin ofm