In light of the dramatic escalation of the war in the Middle East, the Fratelli Lebanon Project community, led by the Brothers of the Christian Schools and the Marist Brothers of Champagnat, has issued an urgent statement on the situation in Lebanon.
Recent Israeli attacks in the south of the country and in southern Beirut, the capital, “resulted in an initial death toll of 31 people and 149 injured”. As a result, “many people are moving from southern Lebanon to the north, while the skies are filled with drones,” say members of the Fratelli community, located on the outskirts of Beirut and Saida, where inclusion is promoted through socio-educational programmes, and “joining efforts to uphold the rights of children in condition of vulnerability.” This is one of the flagship projects that express the synergy between the two religious congregations of Brothers and between the La Salle Foundation and the Marist Foundation for International Solidarity (FMSI).
Schools closed
On the other hand, although the educational works of the Lasallians and Marists have not been affected by last weekend’s bombardments, they remain closed, as does the Fratelli Project. Likewise, the Fratelli Lebanon community “is currently safe and remains vigilant to respond to emerging needs.”
In view of the situation, “as Marist and De La Salle Brothers, we join in prayer for all those affected by this violence” and “we call for an immediate end to hostilities, for justice and for the restoration of lasting peace in Lebanon,” the joint statement concludes.
The Fratelli Lebanon community includes Marist Brothers Jean Aimé Randrianasolo, FMS (Madagascar) and Jude Mary, FMS (Nigeria), and De La Salle Brothers Guillermo Moreno, FSC (Spain) and Carlos Pérez, FSC (Mexico), as well as lay Lasallian volunteer Ricardo Vergel from Colombia.
As the Lasallian Family, we join in prayer for an end to the war in the Middle East and, in a special way, for the Lasallians of the Middle East District.