Visits by the Social Welfare Secretariat

– As part of the service plan set by the Secretariat of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II for Social Welfare in 2023, which aims to visit dioceses for communication and follow-up on social welfare services, the Secretariat has visited various dioceses (Minya, Sohag, Assiut, the New Valley, Port Said, sectors of Alexandria [East, West, Central, Montaza], Beheira, and Tanta).

– The tour was led by Father Archpriest Bishoy Charles, Secretary of His Holiness for Social Welfare, accompanied by Fathers Botros Nabil and Luke Maher, along with a group of servants from the Social Welfare Office.

Visits to the dioceses of Minya, Assiut, Sohag, and the New Valley

– The first meeting for the dioceses of Minya took place on February 14, 2023, with a reception by His Grace Bishop Makarios at the Church of St. Anthony in Minya. The event was also blessed by Their Graces Bishop Agapius of Deir Mawas and Bishop Anianus of Beni Mazar.

– More than 300 priests and service leaders from the dioceses of Mallawi, Matai, Beni Mazar, Samalout, Minya, East Minya, Abu Qurqas, and Deir Mawas attended.

– Bishop Makarios engaged in a fruitful discussion with the attending bishops on social welfare services and the necessary recommendations for improvement.

– On May 8, 2023, the Secretariat visited the dioceses of Assiut and the New Valley, received by His Grace Bishop Yoannis of Assiut at the Virgin Mary Monastery in Dronka, with the blessing of Their Graces Bishop Arsanius of the New Valley and Bishop Bissenti of Abnoub and El Fath. Approximately 275 priests and service leaders from the dioceses of Assiut, Dairout, Al Quseya and Mir, Rasqa Deir Al Muharraq, Manfalout, Abutig, and the New Valley attended.

– The bishops gave three speeches on service:

1. Matthew 25
2. The 10 principles of service
3. Joshua ben Sirach

– His Grace Bishop Yoannis presented the Secretariat’s services and activities, recommending that priests and servants participate in social welfare programs and focus on the talents of those they serve to make the most of them.

Visit to Sohag  

– On May 9, 2023, the servants visited the Diocese of Sohag, hosted by His Grace Bishop Bakhoum, Metropolitan of Sohag, who blessed the visit of the Secretariat. His Grace Bishop Mercurius of Gerga delivered a spiritual speech titled “Faith and Blessing.”

– Around 256 priests and servants from the dioceses of Sohag, Tama, Tahta, Gerga, El Balyana, and Akhmim were in attendance.

Visit to Port Said  

– On Monday, June 26, 2023, the Secretariat was received by His Grace Bishop Tadros, Metropolitan of Port Said, at the Church of Saint Philopateer Mercurius and Saint Demiana.

– The Secretariat gathered the dioceses of Port Said, Ismailia, Suez, Zagazig, Sharqia, the 10th of Ramadan, Damietta, and Kafr El-Sheikh.

– The visit was attended and blessed by Their Graces Bishop Seraphim of Ismailia, Bishop Bemwa of Suez, and Bishop Marcus of Damietta and Kafr El-Sheikh. The meeting had about 85 priests and 115 service leaders from these dioceses.

– The meeting began with a welcoming address by His Grace Bishop Seraphim, who delivered a spiritual word.

Visit to Alexandria

– The Secretariat gathered the sectors of Alexandria (East, Central, West, Montaza).

– On Monday, July 31, 2023, the Social Welfare Secretariat visited the St. Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Pavli, General Bishop for the Montaza churches, and His Grace Bishop Hermina, General Bishop for the churches of East Alexandria.

– The meeting saw the participation of 150 priests and servants from all sectors of the diocese.

– During the meeting, His Grace Bishop Pavli delivered a word from selected verses from Paul’s letters to Timothy, emphasizing the church’s service system, the proper selection of bishops and servants, and the importance of their work rooted in truth.

Visit to Beheira 

– On Tuesday, August 1, 2023, the Social Welfare Secretariat visited Beheira at Beit Al Karma in Damanhour.

– The meeting was welcomed and blessed by His Grace Bishop Pachomius, Metropolitan of Beheira, Matrouh, Pentapolis, and the Five Western Cities, and Abbot of St. Macarius the Alexandrian Monastery on Mount El-Qalaliyya in Beheira.

– This meeting was attended by 100 priests and servants.

Visit to Tanta  

– The Secretariat organized a meeting gathering the dioceses of Tanta, El Mahalla El Kubra, Banha, Monufia, Mit Ghamr, and El Mansoura.

The meeting took place on Monday, September 11, 2023, at the Monastery of St. Mina, Abyar, Tanta, with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Salib Bishop of Mit Ghamr, Dakados, and Sharqia, and His Grace Bishop Maximus, Bishop of Banha and Quesna.

– Around 150 priests and service leaders from the six dioceses attendebd.

– His Grace Bishop Salib opened the meeting with a welcome address and a spiritual word on giving, the importance of services, and how to make use of them.

Topics discussed in all visits by the Social Welfare Secretariat team:  

– Archpriest Bishoy Charles spoke about the 10-year harvest of the social welfare service, reviewing its activities and diverse fields, emphasizing the psychological, spiritual, and physical well-being of people under the motto “Serving every human and all of the human.”

– Our major programs “Daughter of the King,” “Blessings Bag,” and “Educate Your Child” were presented.

– Father Luke Maher discussed the vision, goal, and mission of mercy and development services, stressing the importance of providing and expanding both services, as one cannot do without the other. He also highlighted the significance of education and the role of churches in establishing educational systems to assist their communities and foster development.

– Father Botros Nabil presented the idea behind the “Daughter of the King” program.

– The team shared statistics on the “Daughter of the King” program in the dioceses, encouraged priests to participate, and highlighted the crucial role of education in eradicating poverty and uplifting people.

Discussion on the “Koinonia” program  

This program raises awareness in the following areas:

1. The state’s “Takaful and Karama” pension program
2. How to benefit from treatment at the state’s expense
3. Financial inclusion and how to apply it
4. Coordination and cooperation with development partners