Scottish Catholic Observer

THE plight of vast numbers of people fleeing persecution in the Middle East and what should be done to help them will be the core questions addressed at an event in Scotland led by an archbishop from Lebanon.

Aid to the Church in Need, the Catholic charity for persecuted and other suffering Christians, will welcome Archbishop Elias Nassar (above) to Motherwell Diocese on Thursday October 9.

The Maronite-rite Catholic bishop of Saida, Lebanon, will give his account of what is being done to help refugees flooding in at record levels from war-torn Syria and Iraq

Amid growing concerns about the survival of Christianity in the region, the archbishop will set out the vital need to help the faithful whose roots go back to earliest times.

The evening begins at 6.30pm with Mass in Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral in Motherwell. The main celebrant will be Bishop Joseph Toal of Motherwell.

Afterwards, there will be talks in the nearby St Bride’s Hall from Archbishop Nassar and Neville Kyrke-Smith, national director of Aid to the Church in Need UK.

Lorraine McMahon, ACN’s head of operations in Scotland, stressed the significance of Archbishop Nassar’s visit.

“At this year’s event we are very fortunate to have such a well respected and influential figure in the Catholic Church and international community,” she said. “Archbishop Nassar will provide the audience with a real and personal connection to one of the world’s biggest crises.”

Aid to the Church in Need is at work in more than 147 countries, including Iraq, helping Christians who are persecuted, oppressed or in pastoral need.

—Register your interest now by phoning Lorraine McMahon on 01698 337470 or email [email protected]. Entry to the event is free and light refreshments will be provided. A collection will be taken for ACN’s work supporting refugees from Iraq and Syria.