On behalf of myself, Fr Badaoui and my Brother Priests, we would ...

Lebanon…. The message of Hope
By Ken Hanna.
K e n H a n n a i s t h e E d i t o r o f t h e “ C e d a r L e a f “ s e c t i o n o f T h e M a r o n i t e M e m o . S e r v i n g t h e L e b a n e s e
South African Community from I970 to 2010.
He is the Chairperson of the Maronite Action Committee.
A Past President of the W.L.C.U. (World Lebanese Cultural Union) Johannesburg Chapter.
H a s r e p r e s e n t e d t h e M a r o n i t e C o m m u n i t y o f S o u t h A f r i c a a t t w o W o r l d M a r o n i t e C o n g r e s s e s , t h e
W . L . C . U . a t t w o W o r l d C o n g r e s s e s a n d a C o m m i t t e e m e m b e r o f t h e B e c h a r r e S o c i e t y i n S o u t h
Africa. He is also the founder of the Gibran Society of South Africa.
He has visited Lebanon on four occasions as well as Syria and Palestine.
H i s l a s t v i s i t t o L e b a n o n w a s i n t h e s u m m e r o f 2 0 0 4 , a c c o m p a n y i n g h i m w a s h i s f a m i l y
representing third, fourth and fifth generation South Africans of Lebanese descent .
Here are his impressions.
The death of Pope John Paul II has touched the hearts of all in the modern world. His visit to
L e b a n o n a n d S o u t h A f r i c a h a s m a d e h i m s o c l o s e t o o u r d e a r C o u n t r y a n d t o a l l o f u s .
T h e H o l y F a t h e r h a s s t a t e d t h a t L e b a n o n i s m o r e t h a n j u s t a c o u n t r y , i t i s a ” M e s s a g e o f H o p e ” .
He did not elaborate, but like most of his teachings and sayings one has to ponder and discern.
H e d i d h o w e v e r p a s s i t o n t o t h e C a t h o l i c B i s h o p o f L e b a n o n .
Let us start this exercise with a visit to Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa near Jounieh.
A gift from The Holy Father to the Lebanese people, an image of the Mother of Jesus, Our Lady.
It is the most beautiful of all reminders, a reminder of Lebanon as the eternal mother.
F o r t h o u s a n d s o f y e a r s L e b a n o n h a s b e e n s e n d i n g h e r s o n ’ s a n d d a u g h t e r ’ s t o t h e f o u r c o r n e r s
of the globe. South Africa is proof that the Phoenicians visited us, and stayed nearly 2,800 years
ago.
Mar o n i t e Me m o 15