It is good to know, God has not abandoned his people. VATICAN INSIDER STAFF ROME - Syria: Spiritual exercises in besieged Aleppo - A Catholic missionary describes how the Church is becoming the only source of comfort in this troubled land. The city of Aleppo is still under siege. The militias of the Free Syria Army (FSA) and Islamist opposition groups which are often in conflict have blocked the escape routes which allowed people to flee the city and reach Lebanon. Just a few days ago, Suleimanya and the surrounding areas came under mortar and missile attack, leaving dozens of people dead. Bread and basic foods are scarce and gas and petrol prices for those people who have stayed in the city have skyrocketed. Under these dramatic circumstances , the priests and clerics who work in the city’s cathedral and the Latin Rite Roman Catholic parish are doing all they can to provide basic material and spiritual help to those they can reach. “Many of them come to mass every day. Under the tragic circumstances, the Church has become the only place where people can find comfort,” parish priest Fr. David Fernandez told Fides news agency. Fr. Fernandez is a Catholic missionary from the Institute of the Incarnate Word. “Given the reality in which we live, besides focusing on how to survive, it is vital people don’t lose hope and feel distressed. The local parish and the cathedral are organising activities like guitar and language courses for boys and girls. Many of them have asked us to organise a spiritual exercise course. God willing and current situation permitting we will preach the exercises at the end of July or beginning of August. We all need to know that God has not abandoned us. Only he can protect our hearts, our faith and our hope in a situation like this.”
Posted on: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 09:41:55 +0000
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