"Love flourishes even in the wastelands of war and destruction"
This month, Peter Hickey, supporter engagement officer for London, writes about how Mary’s Meals is bringing hope to the people of Aleppo at this desperate time.
Over the past few weeks, I am sure all of us have been moved by the devastating earthquakes in Syria and Turkey. The harrowing images on our TV screens and the dreadful first-hand accounts from our local partner in Syria, Dorcas, bring to life the full scale of the tragedy.
In the days following the earthquakes, the Bishop of Aleppo said: “After 12 years of war, this is a new tremendous bomb, lethal and unknown, which falls on us.”
We have heard first hand from Dorcas about the huge loss of life, the buildings destroyed and those who lost loved ones overnight. So much destruction and pain – and yet a flicker of hope remains.
We are very grateful to everyone who made this possible by giving to our Syria Earthquake Appeal. Within hours of the earthquakes hitting, we were providing life-saving food aid to people affected by the tragedy. Since then, we expanded our support to providing hygiene packs, blankets and counselling services.
In this season of Lent, the Lord invites us deeper into the mystery of his love for us and asks us to draw ever closer to him. He calls on each one of us to conquer the agonising despair with his triumphant love. The spirit leads each one of us into the desert, where fear is overcome by hope and where love flourishes even in the wastelands of war and destruction. We are called to action; we are called to a new and radical love.
Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours, yours are the eyes with which He looks, Compassion on this world, yours are the feet with which He walks to do good, yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are His body.
– St Teresa of Avila
Let us pray together for all those who have been displaced, injured, bereaved, or lost their lives in this tragedy. May we be the bearers of hope for the children in Syria.
Pray With Us:
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Loving Father, you are full of mercy and compassion. Gather all those who have suffered and died into your arms and wipe away every tear from their eyes. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
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Dear Jesus, as we journey through this Lenten season with you, we remember the tears you shed in your agony. For those who have lost everything, for those who despair, comfort them O Lord with your peace.
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For the Mary’s Meals family, for our partners and volunteers on the ground, and for all those who support this mission – O Spirit of the living God, descend on us again. Inspire each one of us with a renewed sense of hope and help us all to respond more generously to our brothers and sisters.
