Today, Thursday, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II held the annual meeting with the social welfare priests in the dioceses of the governorates of Aswan, Luxor, Qena, Sohag, Assiut, and Minya, in addition to the dioceses of the Red Sea and New Valley, with a total of 29 dioceses.
Fr Rafael Tharwat, Deputy Bishop of Services, gave an explanation in his speech about the vision for establishing the Office of Development and Social Welfare in the dioceses.
Father Bishoy Charles, Secretary of the Social Welfare Service, spoke about what has been accomplished so far in the Social Welfare Service, and about the “Educate Your Son,” “The King’s Daughter,” and “Blessing Bag” programs.
While Dr. Amira Tawadros, Director of the Demographic Center, Ministry of Planning and Development, spoke about the Egyptian Family Development Project launched by His Excellency President El Sisi in 2020.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Sally Abdel Qader from the Central Bank, in her speech, addressed the issue of financial inclusion for marginalized groups, how to teach people the correct management of their money, and the role of the church in raising awareness in this context.
A short film was also shown about the “Educate Your Son” project, where at the end of the meeting, the outstanding students in the secondary school who participated in the project, and the fathers and bishops of the dioceses to which the outstanding students belong, were honored.
In his speech, His Holiness the Pope thanked the attendees and speakers, congratulated them on the occasion of the Christmas fast and the approaching month of Kiahk, then gave three pieces of advice to the priests who serves the social welfare service:
1- Be merciful:
H.H. noted: “Cruelty is a human invention and is one of the branches of sin.”
H.H.added: “If you are cruel, know that you are a sinner. Cruelty is not appropriate for social service.”
He warned: “Check yourself and know that cruelty keeps you away from the Kingdom like the foolish virgins who heard the sentence: “But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’”
(Matthew 25:12)
H.H.continued: “Please be merciful because we are in a time that needs mercy. The Church is compassionate to people and may God protect you from the evil of need. Please be merciful.”
2- Be honest:
H.H.explained: “Our Lord’s goodness is great and is blessed, along with your faithfulness, and what is in our hands, we have no credit for it. The Church is the Church of Christ, and He knows its need.”
H.H. pointed out: “You are a sanctified priest and you have the dignity of the priesthood and you represent the Coptic Church. Please be faithful to the utmost and remember the promise. “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
(Revelation 2:10)
Be faithful until death and take care of yourself, because in the parable of the Five Loaves, relied on the faithfulness of the child and the faithfulness of the disciples, who have given faithfully to Christ, be faithful in this service.”
3- Be a manager:
H.h. explained: “Advise your people to only acquire things that benefit them, and not to spend on things that harm them. Teach your people to be good managers and not to waste food.”
H.H. concluded: “And we pray in the church, saying: “Deliver us from inflation”.
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