【慈幼通訊社
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2016 年
07月
12
日敘利亞阿勒頗訊】
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「阿勒頗人民受著槍林彈雨炮轟的時候，我們的生活十分艱苦。一位來自慶禮院的小女孩，家中遭火戰炮擊中，與姐姐同告受傷，幸賴天主的恩佑，她們已無大礙。」阿勒頗的慈幼會士，不知道已多少次匯報類似轟動的報導了。由於炮擊事件死灰復燃，他們被迫中斷青少年的暑期活動。然而他們卻沒有放棄：慈幼會士與當地教會，一同籌辦青年日活動，作為補償青年所失去的活動。
慈幼會士說：「青年暑期活動的最後一星期活動，原定於7月11日開始，但現況並不容許。我們決定關閉慶禮院，以免令青年處身危險之中。這裡的情況一直惡化。我們在天主手中，並在決策者的慈悲中。這艱苦日子會否過去？如何過去？何時過去？我們並不知道。我們只知道要喝這苦杯……這是何等艱苦啊！」
在悽愴與失望的陰霾下，慈幼會士仍活躍工作，並決定為青年竭盡所能。「縱使戰火不斷，我們與當地教會，於7月29至30日，在阿勒頗籌辦青年日活動，以配合在克拉科夫舉行的世界青年日。這向普世表達了一份強烈的希望。這是城中一眾青年的呼喊：我們是和平的子民，我們需要和平。」
耶穌會士 Antoine Audo 蒙席，最近以阿勒頗加色丁禮長上的身份，表示當地的情況，是一個「神秘與奇異的錯謬，一方面我們因眼前的事而心碎，另一方面卻有很多人前來參與聖祭、祈禱、分享希望與慈悲的精神。」
他在總結時說：「請為我們祈禱，因為我們還要面對艱苦的日子。」
Summer Camp stopped by bombs but the young people do not give up
(ANS - Syria –Aleppo, 12 July 2016) – "We have had a very hard time. A rain of bombs fell on the people of Aleppo. A girl from the oratory was injured together with her sister, after a rocket fell on their house but, thank God, they are now well.” This is the umpteenth dramatic report from the Salesians in Aleppo. Because of the resumption of the bombing they have had to interrupt their summer activities for children and teenagers. And yet there is no desire to give up: to make ends meet young people, Salesians and the local churches are organizing a Youth Day.
"The last week of the summer programme for young people was due to start on Monday 11 July but the situation there does not permit it. We have decided to close the oratory, so as not to put the young people at risk,” say the Salesians. “The situation here is deteriorating. We are in God's hands and at the mercy of those who make decisions. Will this difficulty pass? How? When? We do not know. We only know that we have a bitter cup to drink ... and how bitter it is!"
In a context of desolation and despair, the Salesians are still active and determined to do everything possible for the young people. "Despite the war, together with the local churches we are organizing a Youth Day in Aleppo, to be held 29-30 July to coincide with World Youth Day in Krakow. It is a strong message of hope intended for the whole world. It is the cry of all the young people of the city: we are people of peace and we want peace."
It is the "mysterious and wonderful paradox" of which Msgr. Antoine Audo SJ, spoke recently as the head of the Chaldean Diocese of Aleppo: "on the one hand we are all heartbroken by what happens, on the other there are many who come to celebrate the sacraments, pray, share a spirit of hope and mercy".
"Pray for us because there are hard days ahead of us," the statement concludes.