On Monday evening, H.H. Pope Tawadros II attended a gathering organized by the St. Mark’s Service for Expatriates in Alexandria.
The event, which took place at the theater attached to the Papal Residence in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria, began with a documentary about the history of the Expatriate Service in Alexandria, which was founded by the saint Father Bishoy Kamel. Following that, Fr. Bishoy Abdel-Massih, the service coordinator, spoke, thanking His Holiness for his care and attention to the young men and women living away from their homes in Alexandria. He also presented an archive of 35 years of memories, including statistics and milestones of the service.
One of the graduates shared his personal experience with the Expatriate Service, and a group of talented young women showcased a collection of their handmade artistic creations.
The “Ti Parthenos” Choir of the St. Mary’s Family for Expatriates presented a selection of spiritual hymns. H.G. Bishop Bavly (General Bishop of the Montaza District Churches, Youth Ministry Leader in Alexandria, and overseer of the service) spoke about the lessons that can be learned from living away from home.
The gathering concluded with a speech by Pope Tawadros, in which he thanked all those who contributed to the event, commended the shared words, the talents, and the choir. He then reflected on the verse: “The Lord watches over the strangers” (Psalm 146:9).
From this verse, he presented four warnings and stages of expatriate life:
- The Stage of the Power of Choice: Choosing between the sweet and bitter, right and wrong.
- The Stage of Repetition: Repeating correct actions or repeating mistakes.
- The Stage of Continuation: Living a life of fulfillment or a life of emptiness.
- The Stage of Bitterness: This comes at the end of a path filled with hunger and mistakes.
The event was attended by the General Bishops overseeing the pastoral sectors of Alexandria, Hegumen Abraam Emil (the General Deputy of the Patriarchate in Alexandria), and priests from Alexandria responsible for the homes for expatriate men and women.
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