The Catholic Information Center in Lebanon and the Middle East Council of Churches
Launch in a Press Conference the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2024
And Announce the Fiftieth Year of the MECC Founding and the Ecumenical Musical Event that Will Be Held in Beirut
You can find some photos at the end of the text.
At the invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif, Maronite Archbishop of Tripoli and President of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Relations at the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon, and on the occasion of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” and the fiftieth year of the founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Catholic Information Center, in partnership with MECC, held a press conference on Tuesday 9 January 2024, at the Center’s headquarters in Beirut. During the conference, the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2024 was launched, in addition the program for the MECC Jubilee Year was presented, and the Ecumenical musical event that will be held for the occasion in Beirut, on Saturday 20 January 2024, was announced.
Attendees were His Eminence Archbishop Antoine Bou Najem, Maronite Archbishop of Antelias, Father Abdo Abou Kassem, President of the Catholic Information Center in Lebanon, Father Tanios Khalil, Dean of the Faculty of Religious and Theological Sciences at La Sagesse University in Lebanon, Dr. Michel Abs, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, Dr. Mike Bassous, the Secretary General of the Bible Society, and Mr. Marc Merhej, the organizer of the Ecumenical musical event, as well as participants concerned with the topics presented.
The conference began with a welcome speech by Father Abdo Abou Kassem, who said, “We meet at this round table, which embodies the symbol of unity among Christians and establishes cohesive ties between the children of the Churches. This is what the Holy Universal and Apostolic Church, along with all the Eastern churches and other Churches, are trying to do in order to unite with the one who unites us, the Lord Jesus Christ... Every year, the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Relations organizes a meeting that brings together brothers and sisters in all Churches, and how beautiful it is to meet together...”.
Afterwards, His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif addressed a speech in which he spoke about the theme of this year’s “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,” which is “You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27). He stressed the importance of loving God and the neighbor and the necessity of synodality walking together to overcome difficulties, explaining that “the selection of Biblical and Liturgical texts for this year is inspired by the Parable of the Good Samaritan.” He also emphasized that “love is the essence of the Christian faith, and that Christians cannot lose hope in unity or stop praying and working for unity that lies in the service of peace and reconciliation.”
Then, Dr. Michel Abs delivered a speech in which he talked about the role of the Middle East Council of Churches, highlighting its future vision and its new projects that will be implemented on the occasion of the fiftieth year of its founding. He also said, “Today we have begun the second half-century of the life of the Middle East Council of Churches, this institution that has formed a place of togetherness and interaction between the Churches of the Cradle of Christianity... In the fiftieth year of its founding, the Council is focusing on making this occasion a station for contemplation, evaluation, and dialogue for a better future for the Ecumenical work, or joint Christian work, in the service of the unity of Christians and the unity of society and the progress of both. The Council’s view, emanating from the view of the Churches, is that Christians form an essential part of the social fabric of their countries, and what is harmful to their societies is harmful to them, and what is beneficial to their societies is beneficial to them.”
For his part, Father Tanios Khalil presented in his speech the program of celebrations organized by the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Relations in partnership with the Middle East Council of Churches on the occasion of the Week of Prayer, noting that “the meeting of the Heads of Churches and believers is a testimony so that we can meet to pray for the one God... the Ecumenical movement moves us from a state of doubt and resentment to a state of reconciliation, and Prayer is the soul of the Ecumenical movement...” Hence, Father Khalil called on all Parishes to come together in Prayer and work for the unity.
In his turn, Mr. Marc Merhej gave a speech in which he pointed out that the Ecumenical musical event which will be held at the Forum de Beirut, on Saturday 20 January 2024, comes as the culmination of a year-long process of preparations and rehearsals, where the choir is meeting in a spiritual experience in which the choristers and musicians live the unity in Prayer and praise to which the Lord Jesus Christ called them. Mr. Merhej explained the content of this event, mentioning that it consists of one choir which includes clergy and laymen and women from different ages and Churches. The choir will be accompanied by a symphony orchestra to present a group of songs and hymns from various Church and Liturgical traditions.
In addition, there was an intervention by His Eminence Bishop Antoine Bou Najem, who shared his experience in preparing for this Ecumenical musical project, highlighting the stages of its development and describing it like a mustard seed, as he raised Prayers to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, on the intention of bringing peace to Lebanon and the world, and for those responsible in the Church and the awaited unity. As well as, Dr. Mike Bassous made an intervention in which he stressed the necessity of living Ecumenism in our lives and work, focusing on the importance of meeting and working together without excluding any party.
In conclusion, it was a general invitation to participate in this Ecumenical musical event so that we may come together and praise the Lord with one heart and a contrite spirit.
