Local support is growing for those killed, injured or displaced in Lebanon as the uptick of violence in the country’s south between Israel and Hezbollah spread to the rest of the country.
In Sydney’s west, Lebanese Independence Day was marked on 22 November with a “journey of peace” walk from Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral in Harris Park to St Raymond’s Maronite Catholic parish in Auburn where Mass was offered for Lebanon and the Holy Land.
There, a giant Lebanese flag formed by 10,452 red, white and green balloons (the number of square kilometres across the country) was laid out in the church carpark.
Independence celebrations began the previous evening when a concert held by the parish’s children raised money for the Lebanon Appeal, a joint initiative of the Australian Bishops’ Conference, Caritas Religious Australia and Caritas.
Over four days St Raymond’s was kept open for visitors who had the opportunity after seeing the “flag” to pray for peace and light a candle in the church in the presence of relics of the parish saint.
Parish priest Fr Charbel Abboud said he believed the flag was the world’s largest to be made of balloons and the two-day construction effort, made possible with a team of parishioners, was to encourage prayers for “the martyrs and the innocents” affected by war and persecution and for younger generations to remain faithful in supporting their suffering homeland.
“The red colour represents the blood of the martyrs, white the snow on the mountains, peace and purity, and the cedar the citizens of Lebanon and their resilience, while for Christians the cedar also represents the Blessed Virgin Mary,” he explained.
Local member for Auburn Lynda Voltz commended the parish’s “unwavering support for the people of Lebanon” in a private members’ statement to the NSW lower house.
“Such a creative endeavour has brought the community together and drawn attention to the ongoing struggles faced by Lebanon,” she said.
“May their efforts be an inspiration towards peace, justice and solidarity towards those enduring hardship.”
Maronite Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay OLM along with Melkite Bishop Robert Rabbat has urged all Catholics to offer prayers and humanitarian aid, saying that “painful cross” had been laid on people in Lebanon.
“We cannot but feel their pain and suffering,” the bishops said in a letter of appeal last month.
The “catastrophic toll” of recent bombardments includes deaths and injuries in the tens of thousands, destruction of buildings, infrastructure and essential services, and the displacement of more than a million people.
“These families are in urgent need of basic humanitarian assistance, including food, medicine, clothing and shelter,” they said.
“As winter approaches, cold weather and harsh living conditions compound their suffering. As is so often the case, the elderly and mothers with young children will suffer most.”
Donate to the Lebanon Appeal here.