20150405Siria2
Intensifying our prayers for peace

At the general audience of March 1, 2015, Pope Francis remarked that “Dramatic stories continue to arrive from Syria and Iraq concerning violence, kidnappings and damaging harassment of Christians and other groups. We wish to assure all those who are caught in those situations that we have not forgotten them, but are near to them with our insistent prayers that the intolerable brutality of which they have been victim may soon come to a halt.” The vast crowd that filled St Peter’s Square paused for a moment of deep prayer, as it remembered the two tortured countries of the Middle East.

From Syria they write: “Many surrendered to the idea that the war is a fact of life and that the hundreds of people who die every day no longer make news. The people have reached the limit of endurance and the winter is long and cold, without diesel fuel, electricity and water. The mortar fire continues to sow death in the big cities, while battles continue on the peripheries and in villages. The economy is on the ground and many families are unemployed; and legal outlets from the country are nearly closed. One Syrian bishop said that our people are humiliated and have had their human dignity insulted.”

20150206_161931Despite the evil that is rampant in Syria, the local Focolare community continues to believe “that there can be a better future here. We continue to find strength in living the Gospel, even with courageous witness.” They know they are not alone but belong to a great family around the world that is continuing to pray for them and work for peace. “Although tiredness, after four years of war and the prospect of a dark future for the country weighs on us.”

This was the Aleppo to which the members of the men’s focolare returned on February 23, 2015. They write: “After three months away, we’ve returned to set up our Focolare Centre in Aleppo, together with Sami our married focolarino who lives with his family on the coast. He comes to stay with us once a month. Staying here is a challenge, for we are aware that Jesus in our midst, through mutual love, is the only source of hope and comfort for the local community and the people around us.”

 

“During our journey,” they conclude, “we stopped for a week in Damascus, at the women’s focolare. They have supported the community in our absence. Then we spent a week in the community of Kfarbo in the middle of the country. There was a lot of joy over our return: now the family is complete! We are all very grateful for the prayers of so many people around the world who are supporting us in this hard trial.”

13 Comments

  • Carissimi della Siria, siete sempre nei nostri cuori e preghiamo per ognuno di voi . Grazie per la vostra testimonianza nel vivere l’ideale della fraternità
    in mezzo a questa tragedia .

    • Thank you dears Marilena & Silvano…you are in our heart for ever… and what you have done to the Syrians is unforgettable. .
      we love you and we miss you.
      Jack Asbati

  • Il mio cuore piange per i tanti disastri, per la violenza e le destruzioni. Ma la speranza non muore. e punta ad un futuro sicuramente migliore. Vi penso sempre, vi sono unito nella preghiera e nella vita di tutti i giorni

  • Carissima famiglia della Siria,
    grazie per quanto ci scrivete, grazie profonde per la vostra vita alla quale unisco la mia nel vivere ogni momento per l’unita’. Nella preghiera al Padre per il dono della Pace
    Gloria (Polonia)

  • In ogni giorno siete nelle nostre preghiere. Oggi abbiamo potuto pregare per la pace in Siria in un santuario mariano. Siamo con voi!

  • Ciao carissime amici, marhaba, sono mezzo-siriana che e crescuto in Germania/Berlino. Il mio cuore lavora per il pace a siria. Ho conosce bene Aleppo, Damasco, dove stanno membri della mia grande famiglia. Ho amo siria. Sono sempre con voi e prgho con millioni per il miracolo della pace per siria.
    Unissima nell nostro ideale che nessuna querra disturba!!!!!!
    Un abbraccio da Gabi

  • Siamo unite con tutti dela Siria e dell’Iraq e pediamo a Dio tutte il amore por questa famiglia nei mondo….uno, del la citta di Natal, en Brasile.

  • Carissimi tutti della Siria e dell’Iraq, vi abbiamo nel cuore e nei nostri pensieri ogni momento. Chiediamo a Dio il miracolo della pace.

    • Shukran, Walther Kostner! Sono con te per tutti siriani che credano nell ideale della unita.
      Fino alla fine come Chiara ha detto la prima volta nella mia scuola gen 1978!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Per Siria-unissima-GABI

  • When I saw the news shared through the recent conference call I was moved to hear of the trauma our own Focolare families are going through because of war. Their strong experiences
    are strong witnesses that the Ideal is the light that shines through darness. For my part i can live for them offering my day for peace to return and find ways to cut back on what is superfluous and send the money saved to help those affected by war.

  • Thank you for sharing this post. Very heart-warming that they can still maintain hope in such dark and frustrating times. May God continue to give them increasing strength.

    • En entendant les nouvelles atrocités à Alep ces jours ci je me suis demandée si les focolari étaient restés dans cette ville. Vraiment merci pour votre vie toute donnée pour et avec la Communauté là bas. Soyez sûrs de ma prière intensifiée quotidienne unie à celle de toute l’Oeuvre et de l’Eglise pour vous et ce si beau peuple.
      Christiane

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