Today (Friday), H.H. Pope Tawadros II witnessed the 40th anniversary celebration of the Mother of Mercy Service (1984 – 2024). It was founded in 1948 by a young, 12 year old boy named Maged Kamel Soliman. He was interested in serving the marginalized, the sick, elderly men and women, the deaf, and the mute. He later became the late Father Bishoy Kamel, the founder and patron of the service. He was ordained by the late H.H. Pope Shenouda III, on 23rd March 2001 for this service in Alexandria.

The celebration was held at St. Peter’s Conference House in Borg Al Arab, affiliated with the Church of Saints Mark and Pope Peter, the Seal of the Martyrs in Alexandria. This was in the presence of H.G. Bishop Bavly (General Bishop of the Montazah Sector Churches), H.G. Bishop Elarion (General Bishop of the Western Alexandria Sector of Churches), H.G. Bishop Hermina (General Bishop of the Eastern Alexandria Sector of Churches), Hegumen Abraam Emil (Deputy General of the Patriarchate of Alexandria), a number of priests from Alexandria, and a large number of members of the Mother of Mercy service.

Before the start of the celebration, His Holiness visited an exhibition of pictures and handicrafts produced by the Mother of Mercy Service.

The celebration included many speeches by Their Graces Bishop Bavly, Bishop Elarion, and Bishop Hermina, who welcomed Pope Tawadros, praising his care for all his children with special needs and physical disabilities.

This was in addition to a speech by Father Ishak Wadie, who is currently in charge of the service and completed the journey after the late Father Bishoy Kamel. Hegumen Antonious Fahmy and Hegumen Abraam Emil delivered a speech in which they conveyed the feelings of love of the people of Alexandria for His Holiness the Pope.

The celebration also included several segments, including a short film chronicling the history of the service, its development, and its expansion until it included 21 service families. Hymns and performances in sign language were presented by the servants of the deaf and mute and people with special needs at all age levels. There was also a theatrical presentation of the story of Daniel, presented by the service family of Pope Kyrillos for people with special needs.

In his speech, Pope Tawadros praised all the distinguished members of the ceremony, its presenters, and all the servants and services. He expressed his great joy at the service and the successes it had achieved.

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