Momentum, the Weekly Newsletter from the Middle East Council of Churches

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find a news about the meeting of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and an MECC delegation with His Holiness Pope Francis, after the General Audience of His Holiness in the Vatican. You can also find the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, which title is “The Antiochian Levant of Life”. In his message, Dr. Abs talked about the tragedies that the people in the East have always suffered from, the East of Christianity, where the disciples were first called Christians. He also condemned all divisions, conflicts and crises, hoping that our Christianity, in the image and likeness of our Christ, is unshakable.

The issue also includes a news about the meeting of Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and His Eminence Bishop Munib Younan, MECC Honorary President, with His Eminence Cardinal Kurt Koch, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, His Eminence Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, and Father Hyacinthe Desteville, an official in the Eastern section at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in Rome.

As well as, you can find a video interview with His Eminence Archbishop Mor Boutros Kassis, Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo, in which he described the suffering of the Syrian people especially after the earthquake that hit the North of the Antiochian Levant, in addition to the Churches' emergency response to the earthquake’s repercussions and the work of the Ecumenical Relief Committee, which was formed by MECC with Churches’ representatives in Syria, aiming at supporting the affected people and help them restore their homes.

Moreover, the issue presents a news about the second session of the training program launched by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs on basics of organizational behavior and work relations, for the MECC team. The training aims at improving the capabilities of the MECC team and developing its skills at various administrative, professional, cultural and intellectual levels.

You can also find an interview with Father Nicolas Bustros the Paulist, Doctor of Dogmatic Theology and MECC Associate Secretary General, in an episode entitled “Trust, You Are the Church” on Charity TV, as part of “Trust and Arise” program, in which he spoke about the Theological concept of the Church.

This is in addition to details and photos about the activity implemented by the MECC Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s office, on the International women’s day, as well as about the cultural gathering organized by the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) entitled "Care for Nature and Creation", for students from Theological Institutes in Egypt.

Furthermore, the issue presents many reports issued by MECC under the name of "Rescue Syria Update" which will keep you informed about the developments of MECC action as well as the overall situation in a context analysis perspective. The MECC will be also publishing other periodical and updated reports.

The issue also presents the Ecumenical Calendar for March 2023 issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, Ecumenical reports, the weekly Prayer, videos, and news of the Middle Eastern Churches.

Additionally, the issue presents a socio-economic overview of the Middle East during February 2023 and the latest updates of the Coronavirus in the region.