St. Raftka Maronite Church in Lakewood, Colorado, created this video as part of its mission to draw attention to the plight of Christians in the Middle East.
Founded by Fr. Andre Mohanna, the “St. Rafka Mission of Hope and Mercy” all started with an ecumenical prayer breakfast in May 15, 2015, when Maronite Bishop Abdallah Elias Zaidan, Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, over 37 religious Christian leaders, and more then 250 others met to discuss the issue of Christians disappearing in the Middle East. The goal of the breakfast was to encourage everyone to spread the word, but that one breakfast ended up raising over $23,000. When financial support kept pouring Fr. Mohanna—pastor of St. Rafka Maronite Catholic Church—was inspired.
Along with a lay leader (and founding member of the mission) Peter Boyles, and state Senator Sam Zakhem, Mohanna visited Lebanon this past June, meeting with religious and political leaders. They began to distribute aid to children and families. It was clear they needed to form an entity that would carry on the work so the “Saint Rafka Mission of Hope and Mercy” was born. It is based in Colorado, as well as Lebanon and takes its name from the saint who lived under pressure of persecution during the 1860 A.D. massacres against Maronite Christians in Mount Lebanon.
The group’s web site contains further information about the work they do and how Christians in the United States can aid their brothers and sisters in the Middle East region.
And today we celebrate...