World Patriarchal Maronite Foundation Fundraising Dinner

21/7/2015

(Translation of this article appears in Arabic section)

Sydney - M. E. TIMES Int'l: A recent event at Doltone House, Pyrmont, NSW, highlighted the excellent work by the World Patriarchal Maronite Foundation for Integral Development (WPMF).

Mr Sarkis Nassif, Convenor of WPMF and Mr Anwar Harb spoke at the dinner. The MC of the night was Dr. Anthony Hasham.

Also in attendance was Dr Salim Sfeir, Vice-President of the WPMF, committee members of the WPMF, businesmen, media and many guests.

An important part of the evening was the address by Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay. Extracts of his speech follow.

Bishop Tarabay

"It is my greatest pleasure to be here with you this evening. I recently returned from Lebanon and convey to you the blessings of His Beatitude, our Patriarch. 

The major aim of the foundation is to strengthen the presence of the Christians and the Maronites in Lebanon. A strong Maronite Church in Lebanon strengthens the presence of all the Christians in the Middle East.  This aim has become crucial these days and it deserves our full support.

The WPF started in Lebanon with the initiative of Dr Salim Sfeir and a number of Lebanese businessmen and entrepreneurs. This foundation has the blessing of Our Patriarch who realizes that it is much needed in our Maronite community in Lebanon.

This Foundation is a critically important element in uniting our Maronite voice from around the world to help in strengthening our presence in Lebanon and the region.

We are currently living in a time where the Middle East is not only financially unstable, but also socially, morally and politically insecure. The big negative impact of this situation is on our young people.

In effect, we need to work together to bring a sense of peace to Lebanon and its people, so that they may feel secure in their own homeland. By creating opportunities for development, we are bringing them that peace, and to use the words of the Pope Paul VI who wisely observed that, “the new name for peace is development.”

The international launch of the Foundation was made here in Australia during the recent visit of His Beatitude and Eminence Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Rai.

Our biggest gratitude and appreciation goes to all of you, present here tonight, to support this good cause. May God reward your generosity a hundredfold and bless you all through the intercession of St Charbel, whose feast we celebrate this weekend.

Sfeir

"Allow me to welcome every one of you, gathered here in Sydney around our bishop Antoine Tarabay and our dear friend Sarkis Nassif. Let me also express my enthusiasm for being present among you as Vice President of the World Patriarchal Maronite Foundation for Integral Development (WPF), presided by his beatitude our Maronite Patriarch.

Dr. Sfeir

“Together we strengthen our roots”  This is the slogan of our foundation and thisis our main goal.

WPF is a group of Lebanese Christian Businessmen sharing successful stories in different professions including Entrepreneurs, Bankers, Leaders and Public figures who have joined together our efforts and experiences having agreed on a mutual vision.

Hand in hand we have been working together to help Lebanese Maronite and Christian Youth to grow and stay in their country.  WPF is and will always be committed to help shape a stronger and better future for our beloved motherland. The WPF board is committed to perpetuate a legacy of 1,390 years of significant Maronite accomplishments in Lebanon, starting with Patriarch Youhanna Maroune.

Closely aligned with His Beatitude Bechara Boutros El-Rai, The Patriarch of Antioch, we are brought together by His Beatitude through strong faith, devotion and synergy sharing values and concerns. We are joined together for a common purpose with his Holiness's help and support.

Anwar Harb addressing the audience

In a first important step we have joined forces with Labora a Christian Lebanese organization headed by Father Tony Khadra whose objective is to encourage and train young Lebanese Christians to engage in public sector work and ultimately restore a Christian balance with others in Lebanon’s public sector.

We are deeply engaged in the private sector as well. The WPF is in process of inaugurating an Employment Office in Beirut with the ultimate goal of enrolling at least 500 young men and women in the first year. In addition WPF’s mission reaches further to local and regional communities in Lebanon. 

Fellow Maronites and Christians in Australia you can be the most powerful and credible force in shaping the future for many Lebanese young Christians! Marginalized rural schools can be replaced by strongholds of accomplishment through ambitious projects.

Parts of the audience

Your commitment will be instrumental, not only to help sustain our Christian presence in Lebanon but at the same time you can earn respectable financial returns for yourselves and for the Lebanese Enterprises you choose to support.

Our strength is to advance our people wherever they may be.