Mass intentions for the 34 priests of the Eparchy of Baalbek-Deir El-Ahmar
The Eparchy (in the Eastern Catholic Churches, eparchies are equivalent to dioceses in the Latin Church) of Baalbek-Deir El-Ahmar covers the Bekaa Valley region in the east of Lebanon, an impoverished region of the country which for years now has been sliding ever deeper into crisis. Ever since the start of the war in neighbouring Syria, its proximity to the border has made the situation there increasingly unstable. Those who are able to do so are leaving the country for a better life in places like Canada or Australia. Others are travelling to the capital, Beirut. Today, only around 5% of the remaining population are Christians.
Give your Mass intentions to one priest in Lebanon!
Low Mass
High Mass
Triduum
Novena
Gregorian Masses
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At the end of last year, the situation was made drastically worse by the Israeli bombing raids. These were theoretically targeting strategic districts in the south of the eparchy, notably in the region around Baalbek, a known Hezbollah stronghold. However, at the same time, a number of villages in which Christians and Muslims were still living peacefully together were also affected. Many were forced to flee to other parts of the eparchy, and the Church continues to try to manage the large number of internally displaced.
The priests of the eparchy are working tirelessly in this difficult region. “Good shepherds” in the truest sense. But they too need to survive, and so we are supporting them regularly with Mass intentions and will continue to do so in the future. They are most grateful for this support.
Father Antonios Kayrouz of the parish of Chlifa writes: “I would like to express my profound gratitude for your constant support. Your sympathy and understanding have become a strong cornerstone of my mission and give me comfort and encouragement in times of uncertainty.”
Father Chady Khoury from the parish of Ainata writes: “Your wonderful generosity not only touches our hearts but is a crucial influence in enabling us to carry out our mission. Your support is like a guiding star and has given us fresh strength in fulfilling our work.”
Similarly, Father Elie Abou Sleiby of the parish of Hadath expresses his heartfelt gratitude for the help received so far: “Amid the complicated web of challenges, your generous help has woven strong threads of resilience in the fabric of our community. Your kindness resonates throughout our parish, fostering an atmosphere in which faith, hope, and charity are not only surviving but indeed flourishing.”
Again this year, we are proposing to provide the 34 priests of the Eparchy of Baalbek-Deir El-Ahmar with your Mass intentions, to support them in their difficult and unrelenting ministry.
Low Mass
High Mass
Triduum
Novena
Gregorian Masses
