The event was a moment to reflect on our mission, our roots, and the people who carry this work with courage and love in some of the world’s most fragile contexts.
We had the privilege of welcoming two exceptional guests of honour:
Joseph Hazboun, Director of CNEWA Jerusalem, and
Michel Constantin, Regional Director for Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Iraq.
Their testimonies offered a profound look into the reality on the ground.
Joseph spoke passionately about the urgent need to invest in future leaders, even when the fruits of this investment may not be immediately visible. Humanitarian assistance is essential, he reminded us, but unless we create pathways for young Christians to remain in the Holy Land, the Christian presence in the places of Christ will continue to shrink.
He shared a deeply personal moment about his own daughter, who recently married and moved to Spain, because in the Holy Land it has become increasingly difficult to move freely from one place to another, and young people feel their prospects narrowing. His message was call that alongside humanitarian, educational, and pastoral programs, supporting young people to stay rooted in the Holy Land is vital if we hope to safeguard the Christian heritage of this region.
Michel offered a sweeping overview of CNEWA’s programs across the four countries he oversees. With more than 25 years of service, he reflected on how needs have evolved—and how his passion for this mission has only grown. For him, working with CNEWA is “like being part of a family,” one that accompanies the vulnerable with tenderness and perseverance.
As I contemplate Joseph’s and Michel’s mission on the ground, I cannot help but think of Christ’s words in Matthew 10:16: “I am sending you out as sheep among wolves.”
Joseph and Michel truly embody this mission. They often work in dangerous environments, serving communities that live under immense pressure. Yet they also live out the rest of Christ’s instruction in the same Gospel: “Be therefore wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
Their courage, wisdom, and humility are a constant source of inspiration for all of us at CNEWA Canada.
Looking back on this milestone evening, I am deeply moved by the commitment of CNEWA Canada team, current and former, who poured their hearts into planning every detail. Their dedication reflects the spirit of CNEWA: a mission carried forward through faith, compassion, and hope.
CNEWA Canada, born 20 years ago at the Canadian Bishops initiative, extended the mission of CNEWA established in 1926, by Pope Pius XI. It was their desire to build bridges of love between East and West, between Canadians and their brothers and sisters in the East, between those who have and those in need, the strong and the fragile, those who give and those who receive.
Two decades of work mean countless lives touched through education, healthcare, pastoral support, and emergency relief. And we move forward strengthened by the stories, the challenges, and the unwavering resilience of the communities we serve.
May our work continue to be a light in the East, and a bridge of solidarity from Canada to the most vulnerable corners of our world.