MECC
The MECC General Secretariat Team Raises Its Prayers During the Holy Week
Following Up on Work Updates with Great Hope
The General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) continues its weekly meetings, with colleagues uniting in work, Prayer, and reflection in an Ecumenical and fraternal spirit, praying for peace and justice in the region and the world. Today, the team is living the Holy Week with humility and hope in preparation for the joy of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In this context, the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, held the latest weekly meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at the Council’s headquarters in Beirut, with the presence of the General Secretariat team from various departments and the online participation of colleagues from Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and Canada.
At the beginning of the meeting, Professor Michel Abs, delivered, on behalf of the MECC family, a word of consolation, sympathy, and support to the colleague Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer, the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations, and the Director of the Platform of the Word at MECC, who lost her life partner. He prayed that the Lord, through His Resurrection, would grant her strength and determination in this new chapter of her life.
The MECC Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, Implements a Health Awareness Session for a Group of Adolescent Girls
With the increasing of daily pressures, not all families have the required knowledge to parent their children on topics related to health. This is especially the case among disadvantaged refugees who have very little knowledge about such topics, especially when it comes to young girls. For this reason, the Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) launched a health awareness session for 8 young girls to cover topics related to puberty.
This session was designed to educate and support young girls as they navigate the physical and emotional changes of adolescence. In a safe and respectful environment, and accompanied by a health specialist, participants learned about body development, menstrual hygiene, and emotional well-being, helping them better understand and manage this important stage of life. The session encouraged open dialogue, promoted self-care, and empowered girls with the knowledge and confidence to make healthy choices.
Aleppo - Inauguration of the Saint Assia the Wise Clinic Center, Belonging to the Armenian Catholic, Syriac, and Maronite Communities
Saint Assia the Wise Clinic Center in Aleppo, which belongs to the Armenian Catholic, Syriac, and Maronite Communities, was inaugurated, on Friday 11 April 2025, in the presence of His Eminence Archbishop Boutros Marayati, His Eminence Archbishop Antoine Shahda, and His Eminence Archbishop Joseph Tobji.
The center was renovated with the generous support and funding from the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and the ceremony was attended by the Council's representative Lamis Makhloul, as well as the management and members of the charity organizations of the concerned Communities, doctors, and staff at the center.
The ceremony was opened by His Eminence Archbishop Antoine Shahda with a short Prayer, followed by a speech delivered by Dr. Rizkallah Malo, who reviewed the steps that led to this achievement. His Eminence Archbishop Boutros Marayati congratulated all the doctors, workers, and donors, especially the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), before cutting a cake to celebrate the occasion.
The ceremony concluded with a speech delivered by His Eminence Archbishop Joseph Tobji, and commemorative photos were taken for this significant event in the history of joint work between the Communities to serve the society.
