He now lives at the frontier between war and peace. He is working in Homs, the city that has been
devastated in the civil war in Syria. The United Nations brokered a ceasefire a month ago, but it is interrupted daily by shelling that each day takes lives. The Christian quarter in which the Jesuit community lived has now been deserted because of the fighting, and he has taken residence in another suburb.
devastated in the civil war in Syria. The United Nations brokered a ceasefire a month ago, but it is interrupted daily by shelling that each day takes lives. The Christian quarter in which the Jesuit community lived has now been deserted because of the fighting, and he has taken residence in another suburb.
Although the Christian community has not been targeted specifically in the conflict, it has been badly affected. Up to 80 per cent of the 150,000 Christians have fled into the mountains and to other cities.
Children are victims of the warfare. Schools are closed and children are confined to their houses, watching television with the adults. So Ziad decided to offer classes for children in a building near the church, which itself was damaged by a shell. He engaged unemployed university graduates to teach in the school. He says of the school, ‘It is a ray of light, a great source of hope, in this hell. We are educating 150 children now. Whether they are Christians, Sunnite or Alawite makes no difference.’
He also feeds the children with milk, sandwiches and fruit, and, with a group of religious and young people, distributes food parcel to families in Homs and the surrounding villages. This project is supported by Caritas.
Life is difficult in Homs. To travel to the Jesuit residence from his present house would normally take 
a few minutes by bicycle. Now he needs to travel by car, taking a huge detour. But he continues to move between the areas controlled by the Syrian army to those in the hands of the rebels.
a few minutes by bicycle. Now he needs to travel by car, taking a huge detour. But he continues to move between the areas controlled by the Syrian army to those in the hands of the rebels.
Ziad refuses to take side in the conflict. ‘I am for peace, and don’t get involved in politics’, he says.
‘Apart from humanitarian aid to the people who suffer in this situation, my priority is the education of the children. We must form a new generation in order to lessen the tension between religious groups.’
This is difficult, Ziad says, because prejudices are so strongly held. ‘In this patriarchal society people are not very open. They do not venture beyond their own group.’
Ziad’s greatest fear is that extremists will control the public conversation. He blames the media for provoking division and hostility between the communities, with no respect for truth.
For all the dangers, he and his companion Jesuit have no plans to move.
‘Whatever happens, we have decided to stay’, he says, ‘because it is the people, and especially the children, who matter. Personally I don’t worry about my future; I live each moment as it comes. Certainly I have brushed up against death on several occasions, but I have become used to it. At all events God has protected me.’
It’s a level of trust that is daunting, but essential for people like Ziad, whose Jesuit mission is to live at the frontiers.
Translated by Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ
So many prayers for him! May his every step be held in the hands of God, which of course, they are.
ReplyDeleteThat is the Spirit at work, seen through the generations, in the name of Christ. I was reading something this morning, about how we are called and may not wish to respond, but we must. One name mentioned was Saint Francis Xavier, who might have preferred to stay with his friend and leader, Saint Ignatius. But off to Asia he went, and it was in Asia he stayed. And he changed the course of history by doing God's will.
Amen.
Yes, Xavier was reluctant to make the Spiritual Exercises, which leads a person to freedom in new ways. You are so right!
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