The Apostolic Nuncio: The projects of the Order of Malta in Lebanon are based on the foundation of love and service to all in need, without distinction.
The Embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta in Lebanon and the Lebanese Association of the Knights of Malta celebrated the feast of St. John the Baptist with a Mass that gathered all the different denominations in Lebanon at the St Joseph Church of the Jesuit Fathers in Beirut. The Holy Mass was celebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, Msgr Joseph Spiteri, and co-celebrated by the first secretary of the Pontifical Council Msgr Ivan Santus, Rev.Fr Bernard Hamm and Rev.Fr Antoine Assaf, both chaplains of the Order.
The president of the Lebanese Republic General Michel Aoun was represented by the Minister of Economy and Trade, Mansour Bteich, MP Michel Moussa represented the Speaker of the House Nabih Berri, and Daoud Sayegh represented the Prime Minister Saad Hariri. A number of current and former MPs, party representatives, Mrs. Mouna Hraoui, members of the diplomatic corps, the military commander General Joseph Aoun represented by his wife Mrs. Neemat, representatives of the various security agencies, and the Patriarchs of the Christian communities were all present.
Representatives of the Grand Mufti of the Republic and of the Druze Sheikh al Aql, as well as representative of Sheikh Abu Hassan Aref Halawi Foundation, and of the Imam El Sadr Foundation, joined the Mass.
The Ambassador to the Sovereign Order of Malta to Lebanon, H.E Bertrand Besancenot, the President of the Lebanese Association of the Knights of Malta, Mr. Marwan Sehnaoui and members of the Association, as well as a number of friends and supporters of the organization attended Mass as well. Sung for the very first time, this year’s Mass was specially composed for the occasion for choir, orchestra, organ and pan flute, by and under the leadership of Monsignor Valentino Miserachs, (former director and titular master of the Liberiana Chapel of St. Mary Major in the Vatican and former director of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music), with the participation of Michel Tirabosco, international concertist, for the pan flute.
Animated by the Notre Dame University of Louaize (NDU) Choir, the mass was served by the young volunteers of the Order of Malta. It was filmed and broadcasted live by the French TV channel KTO and it will be aired again on that same channel on Friday June the 28th at 5pm (local time).
In his homily, Msgr Spiteri highlighted the perpetuity of the Order. “Starting when the founders volunteered to provide shelter for the pilgrims of the Holy Land,” he recalled, “Today, the work of the organization is still alive after 900 years in many countries of the world, especially in Lebanon thanks to the Lebanese Association of the Knights of Malta.” He pointed out that the organization “has known several crises over the centuries, but found the strength to continue and renew the spirit of service that goes back to the beginnings, and succeeded in achieving the dream of the founders despite the transformations of history, and very uneven social conditions.”
He considered that “the 30 medical and social projects carried out by the Order in Lebanon are based on the concept of love and service to all, without any discrimination, regardless of language, culture, ethnicity or religion.” He called on the members of the Order to “continue to work in the spirit of compassion, which aims to establish respectful human relations, and reflect self-sacrifice and human brotherhood.” He hoped that the organization would continue “to offer a certificate of mercy and compassion for all”.
This celebration was made possible thanks to the generous support of Marc and Anna Odendall.
