Lebanese ‘Word of Life’ youth unite with Syriac Catholic parishes for retreat in Daramsuq countryside

DARAMSUQ — With hearts full of joy and enthusiasm, the youth of the “Word of Life” group from Lebanon gathered with their counterparts from the Syriac Catholic parishes of the Hmoth (Homs), Hemto (Hama), and Nabak Diocese. The retreat took place at the Monastery of Saint Musa al-Habashi in al-Nabak, nestled in the Daramsuq (Damascus), Syria, countryside.

Bishop Isehaq Jules Boutros, the spiritual guide for the “Word of Life” group and the youth parish of the Syriac Catholic community, shared that the visit to Syria had been carefully prepared over the past five months, in close coordination with Bishop Yulian Yacoub Murad of the Diocese of Hmoth.

The workshop, titled “To Build the Body of Christ,” aimed to foster spiritual growth and cooperation among the 42 young men and women participants from the diocese’s ten parishes.

The retreat also focused on establishing a youth pastoral office within the diocese, encouraging collaboration and unity among the parishes’ youth. Bishop Boutros expressed his joy and pride in the Lebanese youth’s enthusiasm for the journey, noting that for many, it was their first visit to Syria.

He emphasized that the learning and spiritual enrichment gained from the workshop were mutually shared by both groups, marking a significant step in strengthening ties and spiritual growth across borders.