Beirut, Indian Redemptorists explain why they remain among the forgotten of the war
While Israel has begun a ground operation in southern Lebanon, Fathers Shinto and Binoy spoke to AsiaNews about their presence, along with the Missionaries of Charity, among the people most affected by the conflict. In the silence before the Blessed Sacrament, "the noise of the war fades away” for the peace that “only Christ can give.” A man in need is helped.
Beirut (AsiaNews) – “Many ask why we stay when it is dangerous. The answer is simple: our presence is our mission,” writes Father Shinto Moongathottathil. A member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (CSsR, also known as Redemptorists or Liguorini), he looks at the escalating fighting between Hezbollah and Israel from Lebanon.
“In that quiet hour before the Blessed Sacrament, the noise of the war fades away, and we find the peace that only Christ can give,” he writes at a time of great concern over the regional repercussions of the war launched by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against Iran, with renewed tensions between Lebanon and the Jewish state.
After the recent bombing of Lebanon’s capital and the country’s southern border, Israel launched a ground operation (read invasion) in southern Lebanon. This is bound to cause more bloodshed, as Father Poly Kannampuzha, superior of the Liguorini in Kerala, notes. “On the feast of St. Clement, I invite all of you to pray for our confreres in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia (Frs Binoy, Lijo, Shinto, Wilson, and Johnson) who were affected by the war,” he writes.
“The situation in Lebanon, in particular, is alarming,” he adds. "Most of the air strikes are happening in the capital, Beirut, and our confreres are not far" from the area where the strikes are concentrated. The religious “are not panicking. But let us support them with our prayers and reach out to them in solidarity."
This is essential work, as evidenced by a testimony from the Redemptorist superior, Father Binoy Uppumackal, who cites the rescue two weeks ago of a man in conditions of “unimaginable suffering”.
Below is the full accounts of Father Shinto and Father Binoy to AsiaNews:
A Mission of Presence: Walking with the People of Lebanon
The situation in Lebanon today is very heavy. Every day, we hear the sounds of war, and we see the fear in the eyes of those around us. Thousands of families have been forced to leave their homes, carrying only what they can hold. Schools and streets are crowded with people who have nowhere else to go.
In the middle of this fear, we three Redemptorist missionaries (Fr Binoy, Fr Shinto, and Fr Lijo) have made a clear choice. We are staying. We are not just watching this war from a distance; we are living through it alongside the people. Many ask why we stay when it is dangerous. The answer is simple: our presence is our mission.
A very important part of our mission here is our brotherhood with the Missionaries of Charity (MC Sisters). We celebrate the Holy Mass with them. In a time of war, the Eucharist is our greatest strength. We also help the Sisters with their beautiful service to the poor. We lead days of recollection and hear confessions, providing spiritual support to those who are tired. During this time of struggle, we hold a special time of Adoration for the inmates and those living in the Sisters' care. In that quiet hour before the Blessed Sacrament, the noise of the war fades away, and we find the peace that only Christ can give.
Our mission also takes us into the heart of our local neighbourhood. Even in the midst of war, we go out to visit the families in our locality, especially those who are elderly or too sick to leave their homes. During a war, these people often feel the most forgotten. When we visit them and give them Holy Communion, we are bringing them more than just a sacrament; we are bringing them the comfort of the Church. We sit with them, listen to their worries, and pray with them. These visits remind them that even when the world feels like it is falling apart, God is still walking with them.
Sometimes, people think missionaries must always be "doing" big things. But we have realized that simply staying is the most powerful thing we can do. When the people see that we have not run away, it gives them courage. It tells them, "You are not alone. God has not forgotten you."
As Redemptorists, we follow the path of St. Alphonsus by staying close to those who are most abandoned. We kindly ask you to keep Lebanon and the Middle East in your prayers. The destruction around us is great, but the grace of God is greater. We don't know when this war will end, but we know where we belong. We belong here, with the broken-hearted, continuing the mission of plentiful redemption. Our presence is a small sign of God’s love, and as long as there is a need, we will remain.
Indian Redemptorist Fr Binoy Mandapathil CSsR, Mission Superior, Lebanon Mission Community, talks about a recent incident that shows dedication towards the weakest elements of the population:
Two weeks ago, we encountered a man in a state of unimaginable suffering. He had taken refuge in a narrow toilet, too afraid to come out, terrified of the police, and too weak to move. His body was covered in wounds, attacked by rats, and the stench of decay surrounded him. His skin was peeling, and he was unable to utter a sound.
When we found him, the sight was overwhelming. The smell was so strong that I could hardly bear to touch him. Yet, with courage and compassion, we managed to lift him into an ambulance. But our struggle did not end there. At the hospital, he was refused admission. The doctors feared his condition was contagious, labelling it as “secondary diseases”, and they turned him away.
It was then that the true strength of the community and faith shone through. With the support of many kindhearted people and the determination of the Missionary Sisters, we fought for him to receive the care he desperately needed. Eventually, he was operated on, and after the procedure, he was welcomed into the Home of Peace, the house of the MC Sisters.
Today (16 March), I visited him again. The transformation is remarkable. He is no longer the broken man we found in that toilet. He can sit properly, he smiles, and above all, he is deeply grateful. His gratitude is not only for the medical care but for the love and dignity restored to him.
This story is a living testimony of God’s mercy working through human hands. Where hospitals saw danger, compassion saw a brother in need. Where society turned away, faith embraced. And where despair reigned, hope was reborn.
Thank God for the courage of the MC Sisters, for the strength of those who stood together, and for the healing that now allows this man to live with dignity once more.
(Nirmala Carvalho contributed to this article)
.png)
01/10/2024 19:49
