Msgr. Peter I. Vaccari, CNEWA-Pontifical Mission president, recorded the latest installment of “Connections With Msgr. Peter” at the Dbayeh refugee camp outside Beirut on 20 July. He and a small CNEWA delegation traveled to Lebanon, Jordan and Syria to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Pontifical Mission, CNEWA’s operating agency in the Middle East.
The episode, which CNEWA released on 31 July, welcomed Tresool Singh-Conway, chief financial officer, Thomas Varghese, director of programs, Michel Constantin, regional director of CNEWA-Pontifical Mission’s Beirut office, Darine Tawk, projects coordinator for CNEWA-Pontifical Mission’s Beirut office, Good Shepherd Sister Marie Claude Naddaf, coordinator of Wells of Hope, an anti-trafficking organization in the Middle East, and Nayiri Arslanian, a social worker for Wells of Hope.
“Pontifical Mission was established first in this place,” said Mr. Constantin. The agency was originally founded as Pontifical Mission for Palestine in 1949 to address the needs of Palestinian refugees. “We were not like all other organizations who came in a rush and they dumped tons of food and mattresses and then they left. We remained with them, working with them, with the poor, with the church, for 75 years.”
The agency’s mandate, he said, has grown and shifted through the years to meet the needs of the poor and vulnerable across the region, to “be the bridge between the donors and the local church and the local people.”
Sister Marie Claude, who was the guest of honor at CNEWA’s Healing & Hope Gala Dinner last year, expressed her gratitude for the agency’s work in the region.
“We thank the Lord for these 75 years of life and fruitfulness. CNEWA Beirut was like a small mustard seed that was planted here. Today, CNEWA has become a large tree,” she said, noting CNEWA’s backing of Wells of Hope. “You have become our supporters. Without you, we cannot do anything.”
Wells of Hope takes a multi-level approach to combating trafficking in Lebanon, focusing on awareness-raising, training, direct outreach to victims and survivors, empowerment and vocational training.
“The needs are huge. The challenges are huge,” said Mr. Constantin. “Especially now, we are passing through a very, very critical time in the Middle East and in Lebanon and in the surrounding countries.”
Msgr. Vaccari asked viewers to accompany CNEWA in three ways: through prayer, through education and through financial generosity. Directing people to the CNEWA blog and website, Msgr. Vaccari explained the importance of understanding the “Catholic story” CNEWA tells and how the church is addressing issues on the global stage.
He then announced that Archbishop Gabriele Caccia will be the guest of honor at CNEWA’s third Healing & Hope Gala, 9 December, and Gayle Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints, will be the recipient of CNEWA’s Faith & Culture Award.
To learn how you can help, visit cnewa.org/what-we-do/you-can-stand-with-the-most-vulnerable/.