Opening of Télé Lumière-Noursat Office in the North and Appointment of Journalist Lea Maamary as Director
Christian and Islamic Spiritual Leaders Emphasized the Role of Télé Lumière and Praised the Opening of the Office
Professor Michel Abs: "It is a step of love and creativity for the good of the Word"
You can find some photos at the end of the text.
Because the Word is stronger than wars, and because love is stronger than hostility, Télé Lumière-Noursat has opened an office in the North, specifically in the Al-Zahiriyah area of Tripoli, to be the resounding voice of truth and to build bridges of love and connection amidst crises and wars.
Participants in the inauguration included:
His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif, Maronite Archbishop of Tripoli
His Eminence Bishop Edouard Georges Daher, Metropolitan of Tripoli, Koura, and all the North for the Melkite Greek Catholics
His Eminence Bishop Ephraim Kyriakos, Metropolitan of Tripoli, Koura, and their dependencies for the Greek Orthodox, represented by Reverend Father Ibrahim Sarouji
His Eminence Metropolitan Basilios Mansour, Shepherd of the Archdiocese of Akkar and its Dependencies for the Greek Orthodox, represented by Reverend Father Gabriel Yakoumi
His Eminence the Mufti of Tripoli and the North, Sheikh Mohammed Tarek Imam, represented by Mr. Mohammed Hassoun
His Eminence Sheikh Ali Kaddour, President of the Alawite Islamic Council, represented by His Eminence Sheikh Mohammed Abdul Karim, Member of the Sharia Committee in the Alawite Islamic Council
Reverend Dr. Hadi Ghantous, President of the Evangelical Church in the North
Father Quirico Calella, Head of the Franciscan Fathers' Monastery in Al-Mina, Tripoli
Father Krikor Yaghiaian, Representative of His Eminence Bishop Shahe Panossian in the North
Esteemed Professor Michel Abs, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)
Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Director of the Télé Lumière-Noursat Office in the North
Professor Laure Abi Khalil, Coordinator of the Social Capital Rehabilitation Project at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)
Father Jean Moura, General Chaplain of Prisons in Lebanon, represented by Journalist Joseph Mahfoud, Head of the Central Media Committee in Lebanon
Mr. Amin Kamil Brer, Coordinator of Tripoli and the North at the Association of the Security and Religion Council
Ms. Nancy Najjar from the Antiochian Orthodox Media Center
A group of Priests, Pastors, dignitaries, and media professionals were also in attendance.
After the national anthem and a Blessing Prayer by the Christian and Islamic Spiritual Leaders, the master of ceremonies, Ms. Noha Maamary, delivered a speech highlighting the importance of the occasion, summarizing her words with the Gospel verse: "Go and make disciples of all nations."
After that, all the participating Spiritual Leaders took turns speaking, emphasizing the role of Télé Lumière-Noursat in North Lebanon, which deserves much media attention and shedding light on its various humanitarian, social, and spiritual issues.
The Spiritual Leaders also praised Télé Lumière’s 34-year mission, carrying the message of humanity, the Word, and giving, and building bridges of communication among all sects and religions. The speakers also commended the competence of Journalist Lea Maamary, renowned in the Church and community, wishing her continued success and expressing full support for the success of the Northern office's mission.
Then, a televised speech by Mr. Jacques Kallassy, Chairman of Noursat's Board of Directors and General Manager of Télé Lumière, was presented. He discussed the importance of this office and its role amidst crises and challenges, wishing the team dedication and prosperity.
Then, Professor Michel Abs, Secretary-General of the Middle East Council of Churches, delivered a speech in which he said:
"As modern society becomes increasingly violent, and daily life resembles a jungle where predators clash, the need for those who sow seeds of love and harmony among people grows greater. They remind us that those who share society with us are our brothers in humanity, and any harm that befalls them will ultimately affect us as well.
Recently, negative feelings and rhetoric of all kinds have escalated: fanaticism, religious, ethnic, racial, and political extremism, and hate speech. This extends even to social tendencies and lifestyle choices, where we have witnessed the emergence of turbulent lifestyles that can at least be described as pathological. Unfortunately, these have proven to go viral, spreading rapidly in a society that has lost its restraints.
In this gloomy atmosphere and existential uncertainty, humanity—especially in our afflicted region—needs a light to lead it out of the darkness it has become accustomed to, considering it a fait accompli, and which our people have come to regard as the natural state of affairs.
In this context, Noursat is considered a milestone in the history of sound and peaceful media, concerned with preserving the Christian faith and spreading its principles and values as guidance for people from all denominations.
This blessed institution, under the leadership of its esteemed director, the cherished Brother Nour, has taken tremendous steps in spreading the good word and values, overcoming numerous difficulties that any institution not engaged in triviality and superficiality must face. Its path has been a challenge to all that dulls minds and trivializes the values and ideals that were the guarantor framework for our progress over past centuries.
The opening of this institution's office in the North is a commendable and blessed step in two dimensions:
First, the attention to areas distant from the centralization of this poorly managed society, with its poorly distributed work and wealth. These areas have been called remote, neglected, or abandoned. Those of us who work in social research and development are well aware of the deprivation and neglect suffered by these regions, rich in their people, heritage, and culture.
Second, the decentralization in work and granting autonomy to regions and branches is an advanced step in institutional and administrative development. This positively reflects on the abundance and quality of work. The successful Zahle experience in Noursat was a pilot model that is being repeated today in northern Lebanon, and it must be replicated in other regions of the homeland and abroad. Such a step is likely to stimulate creativity and innovation in institutions, leading to significant progress in their work and establishing a new culture in work relationships.
In this regard, I must acknowledge the lady responsible for this work, who will supervise it amidst her busy schedule, Ms. Lea Adel Maamary.
My interaction with Ms. Lea spans a decade to date, and I have found in her the qualities that make her the most successful ecumenical and national media professional in our region. She combines her Christian non-sectarianism—that is, her ecumenism—with religious openness carried by those of true faith, far from fanaticism and grudges. She also possesses advanced competencies, whether in crafting topics and programs or in their implementation, in a context of unparalleled responsiveness. Therefore, today, she is entrusted by Cherished Brother Nour with the work in the North, just as she is responsible for Church Relations and Communication in the Middle East Council of Churches. Congratulations to you, Lea, on the responsibilities you bear and the concerns that these responsibilities encompass—you are up to them.
And since one thing leads to another, I must inform the religious leaders present here that Noursat, through the efforts of Lea, has equipped an audiovisual production center in the Middle East Council of Churches, under the name "Al Kalima Platform", which we will inaugurate Thursday, November 7, 2024.”
As a concluding highlight, a heartfelt speech was delivered by the Director of the Northern Office at Télé Lumière-Noursat and Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches, Journalist Lea Maamary. She spoke with deep emotion about her mission at this station, which has reached 17 years of giving, and her mission continues. She confirmed that positions do not matter to her because she is a messenger of the Word, love, and unity, and she will work with everyone without discrimination, throughout Lebanon, stemming from her mission at Noursat. She thanked Brother Nour for his trust in her, Mr. Jacques Kallassy, and all her colleagues and staff at the station, affirming that no language in the world is stronger than the language of love, and that with goodness, we prevail. She also announced the launch of the first media platform in the North at the beginning of the new year, 2025.
At the end of the celebration, everyone exchanged commemorative photos and toasts, and Gospels and souvenirs were distributed.
