Hope in the Face of Traumas Due to Wars and Conflicts
MECC Implements a New Session of the “Spiritual and Psychological Support” Program for Jordan and Palestine
You can find some photos at the end of the text.
Within the framework of the “Spiritual and Psychological Support” program implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Theological and Ecumenical Department, in various countries of the Middle East, a new session of the program was dedicated for Jordan and Palestine, between 21 and 26 July 2024, at Theodor Schneller School - Amman.
The session, which was titled “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6: 31), was held at a time when the region is witnessing a series of wars, conflicts, and crises that have burdened the people of the East and disrupted their usual activities. Thus, that they became in dire need of spiritual and psychological accompaniment to help them restore hope to their lives.
Attendees were a group of participants from Jordan and the Holy Land, including Churches’ ministers and their assistants, both consecrated and lay people, who lived harsh experiences due to the various crises and difficult conditions that the region is suffering from, or who are accompanying, in their turn, people who have experienced trauma in their lives.
This session was characterized by an atmosphere of comfort and fraternity, during which participants were able to express not only the personal traumas they are witnessing, but also the collective traumas experienced by the residents of the Holy Land as a result of their daily suffering due to feelings of violence, abandonment, and occupation.
As well as, the session aimed to support Churches’ workers and activists on a personal level, and to help them psychologically and spiritually so that they can complete their mission and perform their tasks in a better way. It also included times of Prayer and meditation, group participation meetings, in addition to spiritual and psychological topics. The participants were accompanied by a team of Fathers spiritual guides, and specialized psychologists with experience in this field.
It is worth mentioning that this program also represents an opportunity to exchange opinions and experiences about various topics of interest to the participants, and contributes to building new ecumenical friendships.
