Accompaniment and Listening Amidst the Difficult Circumstances that Lebanon is Passing Through
MECC Implements Two New Sessions of the “Spiritual and Psychological Support” Program
You can find some photos at the end of the text.
The Middle East is suffering... a sentence that perfectly describes the situation that the region has been passing through for many years as a result of wars, crises and conflicts. It is a tragic scene in every sense of the word: destruction, displacement, death, and extreme poverty... Hence, the will to live remains the strongest! This is what the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) has sought to affirm since its establishment, especially that the issue of humanity, of every marginalized and suffering person, lies at the core of its priorities.
Therefore, alongside its social services, MECC continues to implement psychological and spiritual support programs to accompany the people of the region in facing the difficulties surrounding them with great hope and deep faith.
In this context, the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department organized two new sessions of the "Spiritual and Psychological Support" program between October and November 2024, specifically implemented for Lebanon due to the difficult conditions it is facing on various levels—security, social, economic, and health. These sessions took place at Saint Jacob Monastery in Karm Saddeh.
The first session had 21 participants, and the second session had 25 participants, including laypeople, nuns, Parish Servants, and their assistants. The two sessions, which each lasted five days, aimed to support participants on a personal level and offer them psychological and spiritual assistance so that they could better fulfill their mission and perform their tasks. The sessions also provided participants an opportunity to unburden themselves from worldly stress and engage in meaningful experiences.
The program included times for Prayer and meditation, spiritual discussions in groups, and one-on-one spiritual and psychological sessions, as well as recreational activities that aimed at developing capabilities and skills. A team of spiritual Fathers and psychologists specialized in this field accompanied the participants throughout the program.
The participants greatly appreciated the chance to pause, reflect, and rejuvenate. They found the workshop both enjoyable and enriching, gaining valuable insights and experiences, and expressed their joy in coming together and desire to participate in similar future sessions.
