CATECHISM, PASTORAL FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES

All the inhabitants of Menjez are Catholics of the Maronite rite. However, there is no permanent parish priest in the parish, so pastoral care for the community is provided by the Franciscan Sisters Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, except on Sundays, when the Liturgy is celebrated by the Diocesan Maronite Priest.

 

The sisters are dedicated to teaching catechism, preparing for the sacraments, youth, and family ministry. They also promote and accompany young people from the group of St. Francis, which derives its peculiarities from Franciscan spirituality.

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THE MISSION OF EDUCATION

With their specific educational mission, the sisters fulfill their charisma in response to the will of the founders, ensuring education for children and youth in the Akkar area, especially for the poorest.

 

Akkar's population is predominantly Sunni Muslim, with a significant Christian presence (Maronite and Greek Orthodox Catholics), as well as Shiite and Alawite minorities. The school accepts everyone regardless of religion.

 

Since 2001, the "Laverna" section has been active, dedicated to children and young people with cognitive disabilities, divided into five classes according to their learning abilities and the pathologies they suffer from. A training course has been opened for them in three sectors: cooking, gardening and crafts.

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These activities support the integration and involvement of children in support of established state structures and organizations. Providing a school with specialized programs tailored to the needs and way of life of the population is a step forward towards progress and a step towards building a dignified and normal life in society for all students of the "Laverna" section.

 

Many ambitious students even manage to continue their education at a higher level. Today there are 50 students from the "Laverna" section.

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MERCIFUL AID FOR THE POOR AND THE NEEDING

The mission of the sisters to the poorest benefits from a dispensary that guarantees the help of all children and young people from the school, the elderly and the poor families of Menjez and the neighboring villages and towns.

 

Particular attention is paid to Syrian refugees, who need not only charitable assistance, but above all spiritual support, education and integration into society.

 

In addition, the sisters, thanks to many institutional and private benefactors, support the poor families in the area through distance adoption. This helps children and young people to study in order to have a place in society.

 

One of the most beautiful characteristics that outlines the charity mission of the sisters in Menjez is the care in all aspects for children with cognitive disabilities. In the Akkar area, children with cognitive impairments are numerous, as marital or kinship marriages are very common.

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