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JORDAN'S CHRISTIANS HOST CARITAS INTERNATIONAL DELEGATION AND SYRIAN REFUGEES
Ammon News, Jordan
May 20 2014
[5/20/2014 1:12:14 PM]
AMMONNEWS - By R.B. Sinclair - The Catholic Center for Studies and
Media and Caritas Jordan organized a day of service and reflections for
forty-one (41) Caritas International presidents and four hundred Syrian
Refugees at Our Lady of Peace Center (OLPC). Caritas International
is a charity confederation of Catholic relief, development and social
service organizations with offices in over 200 countries. The Caritas
International representatives are visiting Jordan on the occasion
of Pope Francis's upcoming visit to the Holy Land. The delegation is
headed by Cardinal Óscar Andres Rodríguez Maradiaga.
All through the day, the Center offered free medical and dental
services to all refugees who sought help. Five doctors, two dentist,
nurses, a pharmacist and many volunteers who helped direct the sick to
the right examination rooms. Patients' ages ranged from the newly born
to eighty years old. On regular days, the Center serves individuals
with mild to medium disabilities. "We serve people of all ages
and faiths," said Father Imad Twal, the director of OLPC. Father
Rifat Bader, head of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media
and Spokesperson of Pope's visit to Jordan, welcomed the Caritas
Internationalis delegation to Our Lady of Peace Center, and gave a
pointed assessment of issues concerning Syria and the Syrian refugees.
Father Imad Twal talked about the mission of the Center and, later,
conducted the daily six-o'clock Holly Mass.
Cardinal Maradiaga and the delegation met with Syrian families and
listened to their concerns and hopes for a peaceful resolution to
the Syrian crisis. The session was "safe." and focussed only on
humanitarian issues, "politics" was discouraged.
Attendees described hardships in earning a living to support their
families. They described the difficulties in acquiring visas to
unite with their families living abroad. A widow, with a ten year old
disabled daughter, sought to join her two sons living in Germany. She
said German authorities informed her that one of two was allowed to
travel to Germany. "They are asking me to either send my daughter,
by her self, to Germany or to leave her alone in Jordan. That's not
a choice." she added.
Outside the hall, people talked about their hardships. They fled from
towns like Halab, Homs, Hasaka, Daraa , Maloula, Damascus and other
areas. Insaf had to flee her home to escape the brutality of the armed
gangs roaming her neighborhood. Sitting next to Insaf was her young
daughter who did not utter a word. She just gazed into the horizon
with sadness covering her innocent face. Other refugees talked about
deaths and kidnappings of family members. Lawless fighters robbed
and destroyed homes, shops and factories. Churches and mosques were
desecrated. Another wondered : "why would America, Saudi Arabia and
Qatar do this to us." Before the war, Arabs from Jordan , Saudi
and the Gulf would come to Syria and enjoy our hospitality and
beautiful country, "why did they destroy our country," he added. A
Syrian Armenian woman interjected: "do not forget the role of the
Turks Wherever we go, they keep on following us with their hate and
persecution."
In an exclusive interview with Father Rifat Bader emphasized that
the Pope's visit will strengthen the powers of peace through prayer
and example. His Holiness words and deeds have inspired the world
. His declaration:" a poor church for the poor" is a sort of a
"white revolution" for reform. The Pope's call for a day of prayer
and fast for Syria dampened the voices calling for war. In Jordan,
The Pope will pray for peace and Justice for all.
In response to a question about the "Arab Spring" and religious
tolerance, Fr. Bader remarked that political instability and wars
remain the main factor banishing Arab Christian away from their
ancestral homeland. A Middle-East without its Christians will not
be the same. As far as tolerance or coexistence, Fr. Bader opined "I
do not like the words. It implies something different that one might
not like or agree with, but can bear or tolerate. On the other hand,
Citizenship means we are all equal under the law. "
At his office, Fr. Rifat Bader and his staff are busy perfecting the
smallest details connected with Pope's visit. Jordanians are eager
to welcome His Holiness in the Holy Land in the best way Jordanian
hospitality offers.
http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleno=25328#.U3u2psaKDIU
Ammon News, Jordan
May 20 2014
[5/20/2014 1:12:14 PM]
AMMONNEWS - By R.B. Sinclair - The Catholic Center for Studies and
Media and Caritas Jordan organized a day of service and reflections for
forty-one (41) Caritas International presidents and four hundred Syrian
Refugees at Our Lady of Peace Center (OLPC). Caritas International
is a charity confederation of Catholic relief, development and social
service organizations with offices in over 200 countries. The Caritas
International representatives are visiting Jordan on the occasion
of Pope Francis's upcoming visit to the Holy Land. The delegation is
headed by Cardinal Óscar Andres Rodríguez Maradiaga.
All through the day, the Center offered free medical and dental
services to all refugees who sought help. Five doctors, two dentist,
nurses, a pharmacist and many volunteers who helped direct the sick to
the right examination rooms. Patients' ages ranged from the newly born
to eighty years old. On regular days, the Center serves individuals
with mild to medium disabilities. "We serve people of all ages
and faiths," said Father Imad Twal, the director of OLPC. Father
Rifat Bader, head of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media
and Spokesperson of Pope's visit to Jordan, welcomed the Caritas
Internationalis delegation to Our Lady of Peace Center, and gave a
pointed assessment of issues concerning Syria and the Syrian refugees.
Father Imad Twal talked about the mission of the Center and, later,
conducted the daily six-o'clock Holly Mass.
Cardinal Maradiaga and the delegation met with Syrian families and
listened to their concerns and hopes for a peaceful resolution to
the Syrian crisis. The session was "safe." and focussed only on
humanitarian issues, "politics" was discouraged.
Attendees described hardships in earning a living to support their
families. They described the difficulties in acquiring visas to
unite with their families living abroad. A widow, with a ten year old
disabled daughter, sought to join her two sons living in Germany. She
said German authorities informed her that one of two was allowed to
travel to Germany. "They are asking me to either send my daughter,
by her self, to Germany or to leave her alone in Jordan. That's not
a choice." she added.
Outside the hall, people talked about their hardships. They fled from
towns like Halab, Homs, Hasaka, Daraa , Maloula, Damascus and other
areas. Insaf had to flee her home to escape the brutality of the armed
gangs roaming her neighborhood. Sitting next to Insaf was her young
daughter who did not utter a word. She just gazed into the horizon
with sadness covering her innocent face. Other refugees talked about
deaths and kidnappings of family members. Lawless fighters robbed
and destroyed homes, shops and factories. Churches and mosques were
desecrated. Another wondered : "why would America, Saudi Arabia and
Qatar do this to us." Before the war, Arabs from Jordan , Saudi
and the Gulf would come to Syria and enjoy our hospitality and
beautiful country, "why did they destroy our country," he added. A
Syrian Armenian woman interjected: "do not forget the role of the
Turks Wherever we go, they keep on following us with their hate and
persecution."
In an exclusive interview with Father Rifat Bader emphasized that
the Pope's visit will strengthen the powers of peace through prayer
and example. His Holiness words and deeds have inspired the world
. His declaration:" a poor church for the poor" is a sort of a
"white revolution" for reform. The Pope's call for a day of prayer
and fast for Syria dampened the voices calling for war. In Jordan,
The Pope will pray for peace and Justice for all.
In response to a question about the "Arab Spring" and religious
tolerance, Fr. Bader remarked that political instability and wars
remain the main factor banishing Arab Christian away from their
ancestral homeland. A Middle-East without its Christians will not
be the same. As far as tolerance or coexistence, Fr. Bader opined "I
do not like the words. It implies something different that one might
not like or agree with, but can bear or tolerate. On the other hand,
Citizenship means we are all equal under the law. "
At his office, Fr. Rifat Bader and his staff are busy perfecting the
smallest details connected with Pope's visit. Jordanians are eager
to welcome His Holiness in the Holy Land in the best way Jordanian
hospitality offers.
http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleno=25328#.U3u2psaKDIU