One year ago, when the Custos blessed the second building in Tripoli Marina, Fr. Halim, in charge of the convent and the school, recalled that the 150 years of Franciscan presence in Tripoli Marina would be celebrated in 2009.
And now, a year later, Fr. Halim was able to invite the Custos and the Friars of the region to inaugurate the renovated convent. On Thursday 19th February, the Father Custos, during his visit to the fraternities in Lebanon, blessed the end of the renovation. We all met in Tripoli Marina: the friars from Harissa, where we had accompanied the Father Custos in the morning, and ourselves, the friars from Beirut.
With Fr. Halim we visited the small convent above the church; it has nine rooms with bathrooms, two rooms with glass walls: one facing south (the kitchen) and the other facing north (the dining room). The plaster has been removed from the walls of the rooms, revealing and showing off the stone walls to their best. The same work was done in the church.
At 12 o’clock we were invited to lunch in the new dining room obtained from a corner of the terrace, which the schoolteachers had festively decorated. Lunch and service at the table were assured by a restaurant. Together with the Custos, there were seven Friars from Lebanon plus some Friars from northern Syria, whilst due to the bad weather the friars from Damascus were unable to come. Fr. Halim’s collaborators and some teachers took part in this moment of fraternity.
In the early afternoon, we went to church for the concelebration of Mass, presided by the Father Custos: the Maronite Bishop of Tripoli was also with us, as well as, of course, all the collaborators of Fr. Halim. It was a fine group enriched by a group of Tertiary Franciscans, which is being formed in Tripoli with the support of the group of Tertiary Franciscans of Beirut.
The mass (in Arabic) of St. Francis, to whom the church and convent are dedicated, was celebrated Fr. Hanna Jallouf acted as master of ceremonies, whilst Fr. Joseph Costantin led the singing.
Fr. Halim, in his welcome greeting, recalled the 150 years of Franciscan presence in Tripoli Marina. The Custos, during the sermon, said that every effort will be made to reinforce the Franciscan presence in Tripoli, a subject on the agenda of the next Custody chapter in 2010. He thanked Fr. Halim for the work done in Tripoli, as well as thanking the collaborators. He recalled the importance of prayer, which must precede and guide pastoral work.
Holy Mass was followed by the blessing of the renovated convent, which ended with affixing St. Damian’s Cross on the main wall of the convent. The celebration ended here but we hope that from here there will be the beginning of a new life which we hope is as prosperous and fruitful as the work of the Friars in the previous 150 years.
This was followed by refreshments in the courtyard of the school, where we gathered in great happiness for the renovation in the convent, marking a new vitality of the Franciscan presence in Tripoli.
Fr. Joseph Costantin ofm
And now, a year later, Fr. Halim was able to invite the Custos and the Friars of the region to inaugurate the renovated convent. On Thursday 19th February, the Father Custos, during his visit to the fraternities in Lebanon, blessed the end of the renovation. We all met in Tripoli Marina: the friars from Harissa, where we had accompanied the Father Custos in the morning, and ourselves, the friars from Beirut.
With Fr. Halim we visited the small convent above the church; it has nine rooms with bathrooms, two rooms with glass walls: one facing south (the kitchen) and the other facing north (the dining room). The plaster has been removed from the walls of the rooms, revealing and showing off the stone walls to their best. The same work was done in the church.
At 12 o’clock we were invited to lunch in the new dining room obtained from a corner of the terrace, which the schoolteachers had festively decorated. Lunch and service at the table were assured by a restaurant. Together with the Custos, there were seven Friars from Lebanon plus some Friars from northern Syria, whilst due to the bad weather the friars from Damascus were unable to come. Fr. Halim’s collaborators and some teachers took part in this moment of fraternity.
In the early afternoon, we went to church for the concelebration of Mass, presided by the Father Custos: the Maronite Bishop of Tripoli was also with us, as well as, of course, all the collaborators of Fr. Halim. It was a fine group enriched by a group of Tertiary Franciscans, which is being formed in Tripoli with the support of the group of Tertiary Franciscans of Beirut.
The mass (in Arabic) of St. Francis, to whom the church and convent are dedicated, was celebrated Fr. Hanna Jallouf acted as master of ceremonies, whilst Fr. Joseph Costantin led the singing.
Fr. Halim, in his welcome greeting, recalled the 150 years of Franciscan presence in Tripoli Marina. The Custos, during the sermon, said that every effort will be made to reinforce the Franciscan presence in Tripoli, a subject on the agenda of the next Custody chapter in 2010. He thanked Fr. Halim for the work done in Tripoli, as well as thanking the collaborators. He recalled the importance of prayer, which must precede and guide pastoral work.
Holy Mass was followed by the blessing of the renovated convent, which ended with affixing St. Damian’s Cross on the main wall of the convent. The celebration ended here but we hope that from here there will be the beginning of a new life which we hope is as prosperous and fruitful as the work of the Friars in the previous 150 years.
This was followed by refreshments in the courtyard of the school, where we gathered in great happiness for the renovation in the convent, marking a new vitality of the Franciscan presence in Tripoli.
Fr. Joseph Costantin ofm