Coralis, a Maryknoll missioner, chose to spend her three-month “rest” period before renewing her commitment to Maryknoll in El Paso volunteering as close to Gaza as possible. She traveled to Beirut, where she served at a center run by the Jesuits. Coralis left for Lebanon in early January and was scheduled to return to El Paso today.
Well, war broke out last week. The center where she lives and works has been turned into a shelter for foreign workers — mostly Bangladeshi — who are not able to avail of the government shelters because they are aliens. Her flight out of Beirut has been cancelled twice. She’s been re-booked on another flight out on March 11th. I attach some pictures she sent of the situation at the Jesuit church and center (she’s in the first one, sitting on the floor with the women). One of the Jesuits there posted a reel about their situation and also makes an appeal for donations to keep their operation going, especially since our government has announced that this horrendous bombing might go on for another 4 – 5 weeks. I hope your communities can help. Our province surely will. Here’s the link to the reel and to the Jesuit Refugee Services site for the donation.
Reel: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1652054185987425
Donations: https://jrs.net/en/middle-east-crisis/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=emergency
Let’s continue praying for peace and a change of heart.
Sr. Mary Ann Azanza, RA
Provincial
Assumption Sisters
300-2 McCombs Road, #43
Chaparral, NM 88081
https://www.facebook.com/ReligiousOfTheAssumption
