The Youth of Our Lady of Ebleh Church in Lebanon Celebrates the Season of Creation
They Pledge to Strengthen the Environmental Work in the Bekaa Valley
You can find some photos below the text.
The Ecumenical family in the Middle East and the world unites in an environmental Christian season which is the “Season of Creation,” that starts, as every year, on September 1, and ends on October 4, aiming at praying and working together to protect God’s creation and our common home. Based on the theme of this year’s season which is “Let Justice and Peace Flow” and its symbol “A Mighty River,” the world celebrates God’s creation through a series of various events and activities that enhance spiritual and environmental awareness.
Since the Middle East Council of Churches launched this season in the region, Churches, Christian, Ecumenical and youth groups in the Middle East are implementing several initiatives to celebrate the season and glorify God the Creator. In Lebanon, specifically in the Bekaa Valley, which is considered a place of resources for the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf, the youth of the Ebleh Church organized an environmental activity through which it established the first Church youth group concerned with environmental issues. The group decided to develop the environmental work in the Bekaa Valley, and took the name of “Our Lady of Ebleh Youth.”
Hence, on the occasion of the “Season of Creation,” “Our Lady of Ebleh Youth” launched its work in the Bekaa Valley in cooperation with the “Think Environmentally” initiative, which has been active in the Bekaa for 5 years and is affiliated to Michel Daher Foundation. Therefore, this youth group organized a celebration on Friday 1 September 2023, which marks the beginning of the season. The celebration started with a Holy Mass celebrated by Father Fadi Al Fahal, in the presence of the President of Michel Daher Foundation Mrs. Marleine Daher, alongside a group of Monks and Nuns from the “Holy Savior Monastery” in Lebanon.
As well as, Archdeacon Garen Yosulkanian, a member of the Eco Justice Committee at the Middle East Council of Churches, and a specialist in environmental issues, participated in the celebration and delivered a message of support to the youth who have become the first group with a missionary environmental work that seeks for the prosperity of the villages of the Bekaa Valley and the three cities of Zahle, Al Ferzel and Baalbek, which include natural and environmental oases drawn beautifully by our God the Creator.
In addition, the celebration included a speech by the youth, in which they asked for support to their work in the Bekaa Valley, in addition to a speech by the Poet Charbel Abou Hanna who stressed on the need to help these youths.
The initiative of Our Lady of Ebleh Youth in the Bekaa Valley – Lebanon, is one of the youth initiatives that seeks to highlight the importance of the environmental issue and work for a better future for the new generations! Let us raise our Prayers with them to God the Creator, saying “Bless us to walk together with all people of good will so that the many streams of the living waters of God’s justice and peace may become a mighty river all over the Earth.”
