The explosion in Beirut at 6 p.m. on August 4, 2020, cannot be expressed in simple words because that would fall short of the depth and severity of the tragedy. It affected seriously all sectors of our community: material, human and psychological. The Vincentians and the Daughters of Charity active in this city since the first half of the 19th century through their places of worship, administration, schools, dispensaries, social services or presence among the youth, have paid their dues like everyone else. One Daughter of Charity, Sister Sophie Khosrovian, of Iranian origin, was killed and two seminarians and two Vincentian priests were injured.

All the premises of the Vincentians have been devastated: the Provincial House is no longer livable, but we have started to clear the rubble and young people from the different Vincentian groups are helping us with this task. The warehouse of food stored for distribution to nearly 500 families has been blown up. The house, which used to receive students and low-paid employees, requires major repairs in order to resume its mission at a time when many families have lost their homes and could have taken advantage of these premises to take refuge there. The Basilica of the Miraculous Medal was damaged. The stained glass windows are crumbling, the electrical system burned out, and we narrowly escaped a devastating fire. The Rosary and the Mass that we used to celebrate there every evening, sometimes in the presence of more than 700 people, are now held outside, taking advantage of the good weather despite the summer heat. The premises of the oratory, which was attended by about 200 children from poor neighborhoods, have also been damaged.

Where to begin repairs and by what means? We have decided to begin them first in the buildings of the Provincial House, which is home to the Provincial Curia, the confreres in the service of the “mission in the city”, catechesis for adults, senior confreres, seminarians, and the distribution of food and medicines. This House is a place open to accompany all kinds of misfortunes, material, human or spiritual; and it must resume its mission as soon as possible. To whom would we send all those wounded in life who found in us and with us a place to be heard, a place of comfort and support? We think of them first of all. They are our primary concern. They are the reason for our presence in Beirut.

When we look around us, we tell ourselves that we are still more fortunate than many families who are mourning the dead, the missing, the deeply wounded or who no longer have a place to find shelter. May the Lord come to the aid this poor Lebanon, which only yesterday imagined that it had emerged from the various crises that have shaken it in recent years and which finds itself now in a bottomless pit. Add to all these misfortunes, COVID-19’s contagion. We had been relatively spared until now; but the contagion has been increasing over the past month, and we lack the means to respond to it. Now you will have an idea of the state of affairs.

Antoine Pierre NAKAD, C.M.
Province of the Orient

Note from the Superior General, Fr. Tomaž Mavrič, CM for the visitors:

Our confrere, Father Antoine-Pierre Nakad, sent us this story about the situation in Beirut, which has shaken us deeply and left a great pain in our hearts.

When I contacted Father Ziad Haddad, the Visitor of the Province of the Orient, he expressed his great joy and comfort at receiving many phone calls from different visitors and other confreres. All are sharing their promise of prayer, closeness and material assistance for confreres in Lebanon to help them cope with the great losses that the Province has suffered, especially in Beirut. There is also concern for the possibility of helping many other people, families who have lost everything, including members who have died.

In these brief remarks, I would like to invite all the provinces and vice-provinces of the Congregation to continue their prayers for our Confreres, Daughters of Charity and other members of the Vincentian Family in Lebanon.

In addition, I would like to encourage other provinces and vice-provinces, which have the capacity, to support the Province of the Orient financially in some way to help them to face this catastrophe. You are asked to contact Fr. Paul Parackal, the Econome general and send your donations to him tagged: “Donation for Lebanon”.

I would like to thank you very much for all the closeness you have shown, which is another gesture that speaks of our love for each other.

Fr. Tomaž Mavrič, CM