2024-12-02 SYRIA

The Marists in Aleppo remain faithful to their mission

Last week, the jihadist rebels of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and allied factions advanced against the Syrian government army and conquered the city of Aleppo. They entered the “Al Mohafaza” neighborhood, where the Marist community is located and where the Blue Marists carry out their activities, encountering little resistance from the Syrian army. At 21:30 on Friday, November 29, the authorities decreed a curfew which continued on Saturday and Sunday.

On Sunday, December 1st, the situation seemed calmer and quieter; it was even possible to go out in the morning to buy some things, although the rest of the day the community spent indoors. However, in the afternoon a bomb fell on the Franciscan school “Terra Sancta”, just 500 meters from the Marist community.

Aureliano García Manzanal, Provincial of Mediterránea, told us: “The brothers are well, living these moments with the greatest possible serenity”. And he invited to pray: “At the beginning of this Advent, a time of hope, we pray to our Good Mother for all the people of Syria and for the city of Aleppo. May the God of peace enlighten the hearts of those who have the responsibility and the possibility of putting an end to the madness of war”.

In the Marist community, at the moment, there are two brothers: Br. Georges Sabe, from the Province of Mediterránea and Br. Esteban Ortega, from the Province of Ibérica. Also living in the same house is a layman, Jack, who works with the Blue Marists. At the moment there is also a child in a vulnerable situation who has been living with the brothers for some time.

The Marist community in Syria is made up of a much larger group, the “Blue Marists”, with more than 160 volunteers who run 14 social assistance programs in Aleppo for the local population. Since last September, the team has been coordinated by Adel Janji, Lina Lawand and Bahjat Azrié.

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