Doreen Abi Raad

Clockwise from top left: Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan meets with youth at the Syriac Catholic Church of St. Peter and Paul in Qamishli, Syria; Patriarch Younan processes into the Church of St. Peter and Paul and meets with a family in Qamishli.

‘Beloved Syria Is Suffering’

The Syriac Catholic patriarch, following six-day pastoral visit, decries ‘painful’ situation on the ground: ‘Our very survival in our homeland is really at stake.’

Doreen Abi Raad World December 15, 2022

Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan consecrates the restored St. George Syriac Catholic Cathedral in Beirut. Patriarch Younan is shown greeting the papal nuncio to Lebanon, Archbishop Paolo Borgia; Melkite Catholic Patriarch Joseph Absi; and Cardinal Bechara Rai, Maronite Catholic patriarch.

Syriac Catholic Cathedral Again a Beacon in Beirut

Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan consecrated St. George Syriac Catholic Cathedral on Oct. 29 in a ceremonial Mass, while anointing the altar, walls and doors with oil of chrism, before celebrating the Divine Liturgy.

Doreen Abi Raad World November 29, 2022

During his pastoral visit to Turkey, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan ordains a priest at the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary in Mardin, the first in more than 110 years. Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan re-consecrates the church of the Syriac Catholic Monastery of Saint Ephrem in Mardin, which was confiscated for the past 100 years. Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan meets with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople at his patriarchal seat in Istanbul.

For Syriac Catholics, Hope Prevails in Turkey

In his homily, the patriarch referred to the verse, ‘Look at Him and trust in Him’ inscribed in Syriac over the cross raised behind the altar, telling the faithful: ‘Our eyes are always on the crucified Jesus, and in Him we place all our hope.’

Doreen Abi Raad World October 31, 2022

The ‘For Jesus and Mary’ gathering on Oct. 7 combined Eucharistic adoration, the Rosary and Marian hymns, concluding with the consecration of Lebanon to St. Michael the Archangel. Maronite Archbishop Elias Sleiman holds the Blessed Sacrament aloft.

Lebanon Is Consecrated to St. Michael the Archangel

Dominic Chikhani, of the Marys Heart prayer initiative, said the evening was ‘like a pilgrimage in heaven.’

Doreen Abi Raad World October 18, 2022

L to R: Dr. Pierre Yared and Maronite Sister Hadia Abi Chebli, who together co-direct Geitaoui Hospital in Beirut, work in their office and pose under an image of St. Charbel. The new St. Charbel Chapel is located in the hospital lobby. They consider the beloved Lebanese saint a protector of the hospital.

Lebanon’s Catholic Hospitals Struggle, but Dedicated Staff Continue to Offer Healing and Hope

One of the pillars of Lebanon’s tradition of Catholic-run health care is Geitaoui Hospital, which has a special patronage to St. Charbel, in Beirut.

Doreen Abi Raad World September 13, 2022

Clockwise from left: In Lebanon, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, president of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, celebrates the beatification Mass June 4 for Lebanese Capuchin Fathers Leonard Melki and Thomas Saleh, who were martyred in Turkey under the Ottoman Empire, in 1915 and 1917 respectively. Images of Lebanese Capuchin Fathers Melki (left) and Saleh (right) are shown in St. Anthony of Padua Church in their birthplace, Baabdat, Lebanon. Thousands gathered for the June 4 beatification Mass.

Beatifications in Lebanon Offer Spark of Hope

Great-nephew of one of the martyred priests was present at the ceremony on June 4.

Doreen Abi Raad World June 8, 2022

Supporters of the Lebanese Forces celebrate in Lebanon's northern coastal city of Batroun as they await results after the end of voting in the parliamentary elections on May 15.

Lebanon’s Future Poses a Challenge for the Newly Elected Parliament

The country’s largest parliamentary bloc, led by Iranian-backed Hezbollah, lost its parliamentary majority, but urgent action is required from a new government to address Lebanon’s devastating economic crisis.

Doreen Abi Raad World May 19, 2022