9th June. Fr. Halim Noujaim invited us to Tripoli for the celebration of the end of the school year: Fr. Giuseppe Incelli and I went, arriving early so that we could visit the convent and the church. The contractor explained to us that all the dust everywhere is due to the work being done on the cellar ceiling, where some wooden supports were giving way with the danger of the floor of the office of the school head collapsing.
At the established time, we went into the small courtyard next to the convent, where a small stage had been set up decorated with multi-coloured paper and flowers to give the setting a cheerful tone.
The celebration began with the Lebanese national anthem. In a short speech that was both simple and spontaneous, Fr. Halim summed up the school year which, in the small world of the primary school, reflected the difficult and at times dramatic events in the past few months of the history of Lebanon. Hopefully this period has at last come to an end with the election of the President of the Republic. Fr. Halim expressed the wish that we can go back to living together in the respect of everyone, as in the past, without distinguishing between religious or political affiliation.
Fr. Halim mentioned the plans for the future of the school: "The next step will be to build a new nursery school or kindergarten. We will endeavour to make the school progress, with the help of God. We intend to reorganize the educational and teaching system in the school, so we need the effective collaboration of parents to carry on and improve things.” The parents expressed their support with a long applause.
A pupil presented the various parts of the programme performed by all the classes: it includes Arab dances and the dabke; they describe the situation of the pupils and their efforts and there are even some ironic songs on the political class.
The programme had been prepared by the teacher responsible for the celebration and we all appreciated her artistic touch in making the costumes. The children were dressed in traditional Lebanese costumes, then as gypsies or Arab dancers… The music had also been chosen with good taste and the performance was very well coordinated, showing excellent collaboration with the teacher.
The celebration lasted an hour and a half in an atmosphere of joy and to everyone’s satisfaction, both of the parents and of the teachers. Many veiled Muslim ladies attended the celebration without ostentation and spontaneously joined in the clapping, accompanying the rhythm of the songs.
For the teachers and assistants of the Headmaster and some of the guests, the day came to an end with a dinner under the arches of the convent.
By being present, Fr. Giuseppe and I wanted to offer a gesture of encouragement, also on behalf of the Custody, to the Headmaster and his staff, so that they continue their educational mission in Tripoli, with the help of God, despite all the difficulties continually present. This is how the Custody of the Holy Land continues its educational work in Tripoli, which it began 150 years ago for the local population, the majority of whom are Muslims, and continue to the fond of the Friars and their Saints, Francis and Anthony.
Fr. Joseph Costantin ofm
At the established time, we went into the small courtyard next to the convent, where a small stage had been set up decorated with multi-coloured paper and flowers to give the setting a cheerful tone.
The celebration began with the Lebanese national anthem. In a short speech that was both simple and spontaneous, Fr. Halim summed up the school year which, in the small world of the primary school, reflected the difficult and at times dramatic events in the past few months of the history of Lebanon. Hopefully this period has at last come to an end with the election of the President of the Republic. Fr. Halim expressed the wish that we can go back to living together in the respect of everyone, as in the past, without distinguishing between religious or political affiliation.
Fr. Halim mentioned the plans for the future of the school: "The next step will be to build a new nursery school or kindergarten. We will endeavour to make the school progress, with the help of God. We intend to reorganize the educational and teaching system in the school, so we need the effective collaboration of parents to carry on and improve things.” The parents expressed their support with a long applause.
A pupil presented the various parts of the programme performed by all the classes: it includes Arab dances and the dabke; they describe the situation of the pupils and their efforts and there are even some ironic songs on the political class.
The programme had been prepared by the teacher responsible for the celebration and we all appreciated her artistic touch in making the costumes. The children were dressed in traditional Lebanese costumes, then as gypsies or Arab dancers… The music had also been chosen with good taste and the performance was very well coordinated, showing excellent collaboration with the teacher.
The celebration lasted an hour and a half in an atmosphere of joy and to everyone’s satisfaction, both of the parents and of the teachers. Many veiled Muslim ladies attended the celebration without ostentation and spontaneously joined in the clapping, accompanying the rhythm of the songs.
For the teachers and assistants of the Headmaster and some of the guests, the day came to an end with a dinner under the arches of the convent.
By being present, Fr. Giuseppe and I wanted to offer a gesture of encouragement, also on behalf of the Custody, to the Headmaster and his staff, so that they continue their educational mission in Tripoli, with the help of God, despite all the difficulties continually present. This is how the Custody of the Holy Land continues its educational work in Tripoli, which it began 150 years ago for the local population, the majority of whom are Muslims, and continue to the fond of the Friars and their Saints, Francis and Anthony.
Fr. Joseph Costantin ofm