The Secretariat of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II for Social Welfare held a meeting with the priests representing the dioceses of Upper Egypt, Lower Egypt, the Canal Cities, and Greater Cairo on Monday, 6/10/2024, at the hall attached to the papal residence.

The meeting was attended by 44 priests from various dioceses.

Father Bishoy Charles discussed important points in the service through the programs offered by the Secretariat:

First, Updating Data: The Secretariat emphasized the importance of updating data and registering all families receiving social welfare on the unified database to identify the actual needs of each diocese. This helps the churches and service-providing organizations (especially during feasts and occasions) understand the true extent of need in the diocese. There was also a focus on the development service in the dioceses.

Second, the “Blessing Bag” Program: The advantages and disadvantages of distributing the Easter Blessing 2024 were discussed. A collective group of churches (Heliopolis, Nasr City, Zeitoun, new cities, and the Fifth Settlement, along with some philanthropists) was established to organize and unify the service.

The collective group distributed the blessing service to the dioceses through the churches, with each diocese assigned one or two churches at most to receive the blessing and send it to the bishopric. The diocesan bishop has full discretion in distributing the blessing according to his vision for the diocese. This system made it easier for the priests to receive the blessings designated for their families, ensuring fair distribution across all churches in all dioceses.

Regarding the monthly Blessings Bag, there was a significant recommendation to use the modest blessing provided to purchase healthy food for children and families to ensure better nutrition for the entire family.

Third, the “Educate Your Child” Program: There are clear results from the “Educate Your Child” classes, as some of our children excelled and were honored by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II for their achievements in the preparatory certificate.

The importance of participating in the program and prioritizing education for our children was highlighted. The priests were asked to prepare and register for the “Educate Your Child” program for the upcoming year and submit applications from new churches or dioceses as soon as possible to arrange the budget for the new school year.

Fourth, the “Daughter of the King” Program: There is a need to review the balances of the “Daughter of the King” accounts in the bank and to ensure that the amounts saved for the girls at the time of their marriage are withdrawn and used.

It is also important to inform the girls that they have a savings account, which they should contribute to and withdraw from when they get married. The names of girls who were married during the year should be sent to the office three times annually for follow-up with the bank:

1. At the beginning of the Nativity Fast.
2. At the beginning of Lent.
3. At the beginning of the Apostles’ Fast.

At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that this gathering would be held semi-annually to monitor the progress of the service and exchange successful experiences among the dioceses