EPARCHY OF SAINT MARON OF BROOKLYN
Office of the Bishop
109 Remsen Street
Brooklyn, New York 11201-4212
Tel: (718)-237-9913 Fax: (718) 243-0444
chancery@stmaron.org www.stmaron.org
8 October 2024
Prot. No. 336-1-24
Cir No. 24.100
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Once again, our hearts go out to our brothers and sisters in Lebanon; they are enduring their greatest difficulties since the civil war. May our Lord be with Lebanon and her people.
Here below are some safe and good Catholic humanitarian efforts worthy of our help.
Caritas Lebanon. Founded in 1972, Caritas Lebanon is the official socio-pastoral arm of the Catholic Church and is under the authority of the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops of Lebanon. Caritas Lebanon assists both individuals and communities through direct assistance to the poor, sick, refugees, victims of sex abuse and trafficking, and others in need. Caritas Lebanon is a member of Caritas International, one of the largest humanitarian networks in the world. www.Caritas.org.lb
Tele-Lumiere/Noursat. Tele-Lumiere/Noursat, the “Television of Light”, is the first established Christian Television network in Lebanon and the Middle East. It was founded in 1991 by a group of committed lay people. Tele-Lumiere/Noursat has become a daily bread and hope for the Christian minorities in the Middle East, as well as a source of peace for many viewers from different denominations. www.noursat.tv
The Sisters of the Holy Cross. Founded by Blessed Jacques Haddad, these Franciscan Sisters help the poor in 21 different institutions. They serve in especially difficult circumstances. https://www.flfs-usa.org/
Missionary Sisters of the Very Holy Sacrament. The Missionary Sisters of the Very Holy Sacrament, founded in 1966 operates schools for poor children, orphanages, free health clinics for the poor in rural villages, and a retirement home for the aged. www.smssacrement.org
Oum El Nour. Oum el Nour is a Lebanese not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization that is committed to serving individuals suffering from drug addiction. Oum El Nour “Mother of the Light” provides a home for those who need shelter, help, understanding, and a place away to recover so that they can begin to live a full life, free of their past shackles. www.oumelnour.org/
SESOBEL. The name “SESOBEL” is an abbreviation from French – Service Social pour le Bienetre de L’Enfant au Liban – Social Service for the Well-Being of the Child in Lebanon. SESOBEL’s mission is to assist children suffering from mental and physical disabilities by improving their quality of life and supporting their families. SESOBEL cares for over 400 children annually and has helped thousands of families. With over 34 years of experience, SESOBEL has a shining reputation of service in the Middle East. sesobel.org
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. Founded in 1833 by a group of young laymen, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is a lay Catholic organization of women and men who put their faith into action. The Society is very close to the people. Most parishes and villages have a Society that is active. From the start, the Society has been under the patronage of Saint Vincent de Paul, a great saint, well-known for his works of charity. www.stvincent-lb.org/vincent/
IRAP The institute for the Education of the Deaf. IRAP is a specialized institute for the education of deaf and hearing-impaired children and adolescents. It has served all Lebanese regions, as well as Syrian, Palestinian and Iraqi students, for over 60 years in a nurturing family atmosphere and spirit, regardless of religious affiliation. Their mission is to promote the social and professional development necessary for integration into society, while providing the tools necessary to lead balanced, fulfilled, and productive lives.
There are many other institutions that our Eparchy assists – over 60 others not mentioned here.
Please consider helping these Catholic institutions doing important work to help the poor in Lebanon. I am personally familiar with each of the organizations we help. I know their leadership and have observed their work in action over the last several years. The Eparchy can assist you if you wish to support these worthy causes. You can send us a check and designate which institution you want to help. We will be sure it gets there.
Thank you for considering their needs and responding generously.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Gregory John Mansour