The Caritas Baabda II Region organized, under the slogan “Our Elders Are Our Blessing,” an annual gathering for 300 senior citizens from the parishes of the region.
The gathering included the celebration of Holy Mass in their intention at the Church of Saint Thérèse – Fiyyadiyeh, presided over by the President of Caritas Lebanon Association, Father Michel Abboud, assisted by the President-elect of Caritas, Father Samir Ghawi, the Head of the Regions Department Father Roland Mourad, the Region’s Spiritual Advisor Father Tony Karam, Father Issam Ibrahim, Father Roger Charfan, and Father Maurice Anbar, in the presence of the President of Baabda II Region Marcel Saghbini, bureau members, volunteers, and youth.
In his homily, Father Abboud thanked the region for its annual gesture toward the elderly, and for the invitation to “participate in this special gathering, in the presence of the new president who will continue the journey in a week’s time.”
He said: “As every year, the Baabda II Region invites us to join in the celebration at the beginning of the Week of Priests, in the Church of Saint Thérèse, who entered the convent at the age of fifteen with the motto ‘We pray for priests,’ for her concern was that Jesus remain beloved. For Jesus to be loved, He must enter souls, and to achieve that, He enters souls through the priest, whose greatness lies in the fact that God becomes incarnate in his hands. We are here thanks to the priest who gave us the sacrament of Baptism so that we may live the life of the Kingdom.”
He added: “When Jesus chose His disciples, He did not choose the educated or credentialed — He chose fishermen in whom He saw a strong will to walk His path, and He asked them not to be afraid. After them, the Church continued its journey even among wolves, who do not always come from the outside but sometimes from within. Yet despite that, there is nothing to fear for the Church, for it is the Church of Jesus, who founded it on the rock of faith and who protects it. But we must be cautious for ourselves, lest we not live as Jesus desires — in piety in all our practices. For the pious person makes peace with himself despite all difficulties, finds rest, reconciles with others and forgives them. Whoever lives in piety has love of goodness for all; he finds heaven on earth, for his heaven becomes God — he discovers Him and lives in peace.”
He concluded: “I thank you for all this enthusiasm that you carry and that has brought us together, and I ask God to grant you good health, for He sees your deeds and values them — whoever is faithful in little will be faithful in much.”
Regional President Saghbini then delivered a few words, expressing his wish that the Lord watch over the elderly, saying: “Our motto today is ‘Our Elders Are Our Blessing’ — you are a blessing in our lives and in our families. May the Lord grant you health and long life.”
At the end of Mass, the Baabda II Region presented an icon of the Virgin Mary as a token of gratitude and appreciation to Father Michel Abboud for his contributions during his six-year presidency of Caritas.
The gathering was followed by a lunch bringing together the elderly from the various areas of the region, where they enjoyed an atmosphere of joy and love.