5th-11th September - "Paul, from persecutor to apostle in Jesus Christ”: this was the theme that guided the reflection of the fourth Franciscan march in Syria.
And which, like St. Paul, was to guide us so that we could get to know, love and follow our God!
The figure and the theology of St. Paul are very rich as a theme for reflection and study at this time when all the Church, on the invitation of Pope Benedict XVI, is celebrating the jubilee for the two thousandth anniversary of the birth of the Apostle of the people. And we, the young people of Syria, the country where the greatest event in the life of St. Paul took place – being called on the road to Damascus – , could not fail to walk reflecting on the importance of this event, also in reference to our personal stories.
A well-known contemporary scholar explains that, to understand Paul’s theology, it is not enough to start from Tarsus, the city where he was born and received his early bringing up; it is not enough to start from Jerusalem, the city where Saul was educated and was able to measure up to the apostles and Peter in particular; it is not sufficient to start from Antioch, the city which was his point of reference for all his missionary travels. Naturally, these cities were all important in the formation of St. Paul, and contributed to his moral and spiritual growth.. But to enter into Paul’s thought, and to understand his approach to Christ and the mystery of salvation, it is necessary to start from Damascus, because Damascus represents the moment of his first illumination and the change in course which shaped the rest of his life (Carlo Ghidelli, Un anno con San Paolo).
These were days of joy and prayer during which, accompanied by the Apostle of the people, we covered the area of our mission in the North: Ghassanieh, Yacubieh and Knayeh, places that recall our origins as the Apostolic Church in Syria, only a few kilometres away from the famous city of Antioch. The participation of young people this year was significant, both due to the large number of them and the ir different origins, from both in and outside Syria (Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt). The "many national colours” of the participants offered an element of richness and exchange of cultural gifts.
The participation of 5 friars minor (Fr. Bahjat Karakash, neo presbyter, Fr. Rami Asakrieh, Fr. Ibrahim Sabbagh, Fr. Rami Petraki and Fr. Firas Lutfi), and four nuns (two Missionaries of Mary, one of St. Dorothy and a Franciscan from the Immaculate Heart of Mary),made the climate more fraternal and edifying.
To celebrate the jubilee year of St. Paul, Mons. Giuseppe Nazzaro, Apostolic Vicar of Syria, granted the participants in the March a plenary indulgence.
We extend our very warm thanks to all the friars who supported us with every kind of help, both spiritual and material, in particular to Fr. Ibrahim Younes, Fr. Antoine Louxa, Fr. Hanna Jallouf and Fr. Georges Abou-Khazen.
The march aims in particular to be an opportunity to promote vocations, helping young people hear the voice of the Lord and inviting them to the generosity of the answer: Lord, what do you want me to do? I therefore ask you to join us in our prayers so that the Lord blesses us with many vocations, according to His Heart.
Fr. Firas Lutfi ofm
Vocational animator for Syria
And which, like St. Paul, was to guide us so that we could get to know, love and follow our God!
The figure and the theology of St. Paul are very rich as a theme for reflection and study at this time when all the Church, on the invitation of Pope Benedict XVI, is celebrating the jubilee for the two thousandth anniversary of the birth of the Apostle of the people. And we, the young people of Syria, the country where the greatest event in the life of St. Paul took place – being called on the road to Damascus – , could not fail to walk reflecting on the importance of this event, also in reference to our personal stories.
A well-known contemporary scholar explains that, to understand Paul’s theology, it is not enough to start from Tarsus, the city where he was born and received his early bringing up; it is not enough to start from Jerusalem, the city where Saul was educated and was able to measure up to the apostles and Peter in particular; it is not sufficient to start from Antioch, the city which was his point of reference for all his missionary travels. Naturally, these cities were all important in the formation of St. Paul, and contributed to his moral and spiritual growth.. But to enter into Paul’s thought, and to understand his approach to Christ and the mystery of salvation, it is necessary to start from Damascus, because Damascus represents the moment of his first illumination and the change in course which shaped the rest of his life (Carlo Ghidelli, Un anno con San Paolo).
These were days of joy and prayer during which, accompanied by the Apostle of the people, we covered the area of our mission in the North: Ghassanieh, Yacubieh and Knayeh, places that recall our origins as the Apostolic Church in Syria, only a few kilometres away from the famous city of Antioch. The participation of young people this year was significant, both due to the large number of them and the ir different origins, from both in and outside Syria (Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt). The "many national colours” of the participants offered an element of richness and exchange of cultural gifts.
The participation of 5 friars minor (Fr. Bahjat Karakash, neo presbyter, Fr. Rami Asakrieh, Fr. Ibrahim Sabbagh, Fr. Rami Petraki and Fr. Firas Lutfi), and four nuns (two Missionaries of Mary, one of St. Dorothy and a Franciscan from the Immaculate Heart of Mary),made the climate more fraternal and edifying.
To celebrate the jubilee year of St. Paul, Mons. Giuseppe Nazzaro, Apostolic Vicar of Syria, granted the participants in the March a plenary indulgence.
We extend our very warm thanks to all the friars who supported us with every kind of help, both spiritual and material, in particular to Fr. Ibrahim Younes, Fr. Antoine Louxa, Fr. Hanna Jallouf and Fr. Georges Abou-Khazen.
The march aims in particular to be an opportunity to promote vocations, helping young people hear the voice of the Lord and inviting them to the generosity of the answer: Lord, what do you want me to do? I therefore ask you to join us in our prayers so that the Lord blesses us with many vocations, according to His Heart.
Fr. Firas Lutfi ofm
Vocational animator for Syria