
【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2024 年12月 02 日敘利亞阿勒頗訊】 ─ 儘管阿勒頗又再面臨極度不確定性和艱難的時期,但在該市的慈幼會會士分享了一條信息,向所有人保證他們將繼續留下並承諾支援和陪伴年輕人、家庭和青少年。他們的焦點仍然堅定地集中在耶穌身上,耶穌是永恆希望的源頭。
慈幼會中東”Jesus the Adolescent”會省(MOR)社會傳播委員及阿勒頗會院院長Pier Jabloyan神父,在2024 年 12 月 1 日星期日錄製的影片開頭表示:「親愛的慈幼家庭朋友們、恩人以及鮑思高神父的朋友們,來自阿勒頗市的問候,由於該市重新爆發了戰鬥,阿勒頗市再次經歷了一個充滿挑戰和嚴酷的時期。」
他接著說:「感謝你們帶給我們的許多支持、關懷和團結的訊息。你們中的許多人也要求了解慈幼會在這城市的最新情況。首先,讓我向你們保證,我們在這裡,並會與慈幼會保持密切聯繫。」
Jabloyan神父講述了最近發生的事件:
「11月28日星期四,各反對派的軍事組織進入這座城市,然後這座城市落入他們的手中。這給我們的年輕人帶來了很多不確定、恐懼和焦慮的氣氛。許多家庭生活在不確定和懷疑之中。這座城市現在已戒嚴,沒有人進入,也沒有人離開。有幾個人試圖逃跑,但只有少數人歷盡千辛萬苦、冒著極大的風險成功逃脫。有些家庭花了超過 35 個小時才離開這座城市。
「我們面臨的困難就像戰地一樣:缺乏食物和水,」他解釋道,「供水系統的某些部分不再起作用,這意味著這座城市已經斷水。我們希望這個問題能在未來幾天得到解決。」
儘管資源有限,慈幼會會士仍竭盡全力:
「我們與年輕人一起努力到達我們可以去到地方,幫助有困難的家庭,即使只是一點點。由於資源如此匱乏,我們無能為力,但我們可以陪伴,鼓勵他們,傾聽他們的聲音——他們非常需要這些東西,特別是因為這種情況讓我們所有人都感到震驚。」
在這逆境中,慈幼會會士分享了一個希望的信息:
「在將臨期的第一個主日,我想傳達希望的信息,特別是當我們被召喚過今年這希望之年時。今天的福音談到了末世的事件:挑戰、徵兆、戰爭……也許我們現在正身處其中。但希望的源泉在於主的話語,他告訴我們不要陷入醉酒昏睡中,意思是不要迷失在世俗令人分心的事物中。應該使我們的目光轉移至我們的終極目標上,那就是主耶穌。
這希望在慈幼會會士及他們的青少年日常生活中顯而易見。Jabloyan神父分享道:
「今天,我們在網路上慶祝逾越聖祭,就像在新冠疫情期間所做的那樣,因為我們的許多年輕人由於每日宵禁而無法離家。我們談論主耶穌如何賦予我們生活意義。作為鮑思高神父的神子,我們在生活中看到了看不見的東西,我們努力在每一個行動中看見耶穌,即使在這個充滿挑戰的時時期也能感應到他的同在。」
他以衷心的請求和道別結束了他的信息:
「我代表團體和整個中東會省的所有弟兄向你們致意。我們請求你們的代禱和記掛。我們希望有一天能和你們相見!給大家一個大大的擁抱,再見!”
A Message from the Salesians of Aleppo: “We Are Here, Close to the Young, Families, and Those in Need”
(ANS – Syria – Aleppo, 02 December 2024) – While Aleppo faces yet another period of profound uncertainty and hardship, the Salesians of Don Bosco present in the city have shared a message to reassure everyone of their continued presence and commitment to supporting and accompanying young people, families, and those in need as much as the current situation allows. Their focus remains firmly on Jesus, the source of eternal hope.
“Dear friends of the Salesian Family, benefactors, and friends of Don Bosco, greetings from the city of Aleppo, which is once again enduring a very challenging and harsh period due to renewed fighting in the city,” begins Salesian Fr. Pier Jabloyan, Rector of the local Salesian community and Delegate for Social Communication of the “Jesus the Adolescent” Middle East Province (MOR), in a video recorded on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
“Thank you for the many messages of support, affection, and solidarity we have received. Many of you are also asking for updates on the Salesian presence in the city. First of all, let me assure you that we are here, staying close to the young, close to families, and close to those in need. Like many other congregations and local churches trying to assist as much as they can, we too are doing what is possible for so many in difficulty, especially considering that the current situation has caught us by surprise,” he continues.
Fr. Jabloyan recounts recent events:
“On Thursday, November 28, various opposition military groups entered the city, which then fell into their hands. This created a lot of doubt, fear, and a climate of anxiety for our young people. Many families are living in uncertainty and doubt. The city is now closed—no one enters, no one leaves. Several people tried to escape, but only a few managed to do so with great difficulty and at great risk. Some families took over 35 hours to get out of the city.”
“The difficulties we face are those of a war zone: lack of food and water,” he explains. “Some parts of the water system are no longer functional, which means the city is left without water. We hope this issue will be resolved in the coming days.”
Despite limited resources, the Salesians are doing their best:
“Together with other young people, we are trying to help families in difficulty, reaching places where we can offer assistance, even if it is just a little. With such scarcity, we cannot do much, but we can be present, encourage them, and listen to them—things they need so much, especially since this situation took us all by surprise.”
In the midst of this adversity, the Salesians share a message of hope:
“On this First Sunday of Advent, I want to convey a message of hope, especially as we are called to live this Year of Hope. Today’s Gospel spoke about the events of the end times: challenges, signs, wars… Perhaps we are tasting some of this now. But at the same time, the source of hope lies in the Lord’s words, where He tells us not to fall into ‘drunkenness’—meaning not to lose ourselves in worldly distractions. It’s true that we are living through a very difficult period, but this should not divert our eyes from the ultimate goal, which is the Lord Jesus.”
This hope is evident in the daily lives of the Salesians and their youth. Fr. Jabloyan shares:
“Today, we celebrated Mass online, as we did during the COVID period, because many of our young people cannot leave their homes due to the daily curfew. We spoke about how the Lord Jesus gives meaning to our lives. As children of Don Bosco, who lived as though seeing the invisible, we too strive to see Jesus in every action and to perceive His presence even in these challenging times.”
He concludes his message with a heartfelt request and farewell:
“I greet you on behalf of all my confreres in the community and across the Middle East Province. We ask for your prayers and remembrance. We hope to meet you one day! A big hug to everyone, goodbye!”
