CNEWA marks 100 years of service in ancient Christian lands

Marking 100 years of humanitarian service with a benefit gala in Ottawa last week, the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) paid tribute to the countless number of workers, donors and supporters in Canada and abroad who have worked together to fulfill the vision of its founder Pope Pius XI. 

Moved by the plight of millions in the birthplace of Christianity in the Middle East where World War I caused unprecedented suffering, the Holy Father merged several Catholic organizations into a centralized agency. The new pontifical charity named CNEWA was tasked with caring for the sick, feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless regardless of their faith and ethnicity.

Since its founding in 1926, CNEWA has been working in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, the Holy Land, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Armenia, Ukraine and India, providing emergency relief and long-term aid to the sick, wounded, displaced and impoverished. 

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 “We help, not because they (the beneficiaries) are Christians, but because we are,” Adriana Bara, national director of CNEWA Canada told over 100  attendees at the gala dinner at St. Elias Banquet Centre in Ottawa. Explaining that it was a quote from a religious Sister who worked for CNEWA, she added it has been a guiding light for all of CNEWA’s staff and frontline workers throughout the years.

While honouring the organization’s history, speakers highlighted the spirit of Christian love and self-sacrifice that inspires CNEWA’s work.

Fr. John O’ Brien, director and Jesuit Superior of the Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland, Ont., was the keynote speaker. Drawing a parallel between the Martyrs of Midland, he said Jean Brebeuf and his fellow Jesuits who travelled from France to Canada to work with Indigenous people remained faithful to their mission despite extraordinary challenges. The courage, accompaniment and faithful presence of the Canadian Martyrs offer a powerful reflection for CNEWA as it marks its centennial, he said.

 For 100 years the same spirit of the Martyrs has guided CNEWA in standing alongside Eastern Churches as they serve communities facing war, displacement, poverty, persecution and uncertainty, he said.

 His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church — one of the Churches that works in partnership with CNEWA — was the recipient of the Faith and Culture Award in recognition of his leadership and unwavering dedication to the Church and people of Ukraine. As he was unable to be physically present, Bishop Bryan Bayda of the Eparchy (Diocese) of Toronto and Eastern Ontario received the award from CNEWA’s president Msgr. Peter Vaccari on Shevchuk’s behalf. 

In a video message to the gathering, Shevchuk expressed the profound gratitude of the Eastern Churches and the people of Ukraine.

 “For a century CNEWA has accompanied the Eastern Churches with compassion, solidarity and hope,” he said. “In doing so you have revealed the compassionate face of Christ and made His love visible through countless acts of mercy.” 

Referring to the suffering of the Ukrainian people since the full-scale invasion of their country by Russia began in 2022, he said: “The people of Ukraine have experienced this witness in a profound way throughout the years of war. Your partnership has brought not only humanitarian aid, but also encouragement, prayer and the assurance that the Universal Church walks with us.”

Larissa Habib, another guest speaker, had traveled all the way from Beirut to share her story of the key role played by CNEWA which had accompanied her from the refugee camp where she was born, and had led her to a life of dignity and purpose. She now works for CNEWA in Lebanon and is deeply committed to paying forward the gifts CNEWA has given her.

 Her Palestinian Christian parents fled Haifa when they lost their home in the exodus of 1948. Haifa was once home to a large population of Palestinian Christians, but Habib’s parents, along with other Christians, ended up in the Dbayeh refugee camp 12 kms north of Beirut.

Life in the camp where Habib grew up was harsh, with substandard housing, lack of basic amenities and the legal restrictions that prevented refugees from finding meaningful work to make ends meet.

Funding assistance from CNEWA secured a place for her in a Catholic school, she said, which restored her sense of self worth and dignity that were sadly undermined by the life of poverty in the camp. CNEWA also supports a Joint Christian Committee for Social Services within the camp. Her father, Elias, is the director of this committee, which provides counselling, vocational training and after school tutoring to help children succeed in school, she said.

“CNEWA opened the door to a better life for me,” she told The Catholic Register in a post-event interview. “My faith and the faith passed on to me by my parents healed the scars of being a refugee.”

Now CNEWA’s projects coordinator in Lebanon, Habib is a living example of the positive difference the organization makes to lives devastated by war and displacement. 

“As we honour our history, the work of CNEWA continues, and also look to the future with renewed commitment,” said Bara, reminding attendees that CNEWA’s work is ongoing and does not end with the centennial celebration. 

 Joseph Hazboun, CNEWA’s regional director in Jerusalem, is one of CNEWA’s leaders engaged in urgent humanitarian work. He is busy dealing with the impact of heavy floods that recently added to the misery of people in Gaza.

“Heavy rains from Nov. 6 to 8 flooded shelters, damaged learning spaces and added to the strain on clinics in Gaza,” he reported. “The Pontifical Mission is providing emergency household assistance and working with local partners to keep education and health services accessible. We are seeking US$30,000 for repairs and priority maintenance at three clinics, alongside support for additional winter relief, learning-space repairs, and psychosocial activities.”

With Christmas around the corner, he and his staff are seeking $15,000 (U.S.) for what he calls a Christmas psychosocial intervention for children and families in Gaza.  

“Christmas gatherings would give families an opportunity to celebrate together,” he said. “Structured group activities could give children space to play and express what they are experiencing, with support for children and caregivers.”

By Susan Korah

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Ottawa Correspondent

Marking 100 years of humanitarian service with a benefit gala in Ottawa last week, the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) paid tribute to the countless number of workers, donors and supporters in Canada and abroad who have worked together to fulfill the vision of its founder Pope Pius XI. 

Moved by the plight of millions in the birthplace of Christianity in the Middle East where World War I caused unprecedented suffering, the Holy Father merged several Catholic organizations into a centralized agency. The new pontifical charity named CNEWA was tasked with caring for the sick, feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless regardless of their faith and ethnicity.

Since its founding in 1926, CNEWA has been working in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, the Holy Land, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Armenia, Ukraine and India, providing emergency relief and long-term aid to the sick, wounded, displaced and impoverished. 

 “We help, not because they (the beneficiaries) are Christians, but because we are,” Adriana Bara, national director of CNEWA Canada told over 100  attendees at the gala dinner at St. Elias Banquet Centre in Ottawa. Explaining that it was a quote from a religious Sister who worked for CNEWA, she added it has been a guiding light for all of CNEWA’s staff and frontline workers throughout the years.

While honouring the organization’s history, speakers highlighted the spirit of Christian love and self-sacrifice that inspires CNEWA’s work.

Fr. John O’ Brien, director and Jesuit Superior of the Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland, Ont., was the keynote speaker. Drawing a parallel between the Martyrs of Midland, he said Jean Brebeuf and his fellow Jesuits who travelled from France to Canada to work with Indigenous people remained faithful to their mission despite extraordinary challenges. The courage, accompaniment and faithful presence of the Canadian Martyrs offer a powerful reflection for CNEWA as it marks its centennial, he said.

 For 100 years the same spirit of the Martyrs has guided CNEWA in standing alongside Eastern Churches as they serve communities facing war, displacement, poverty, persecution and uncertainty, he said.

 His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church — one of the Churches that works in partnership with CNEWA — was the recipient of the Faith and Culture Award in recognition of his leadership and unwavering dedication to the Church and people of Ukraine. As he was unable to be physically present, Bishop Bryan Bayda of the Eparchy (Diocese) of Toronto and Eastern Ontario received the award from CNEWA’s president Msgr. Peter Vaccari on Shevchuk’s behalf. 

In a video message to the gathering, Shevchuk expressed the profound gratitude of the Eastern Churches and the people of Ukraine.

 “For a century CNEWA has accompanied the Eastern Churches with compassion, solidarity and hope,” he said. “In doing so you have revealed the compassionate face of Christ and made His love visible through countless acts of mercy.” 

Referring to the suffering of the Ukrainian people since the full-scale invasion of their country by Russia began in 2022, he said: “The people of Ukraine have experienced this witness in a profound way throughout the years of war. Your partnership has brought not only humanitarian aid, but also encouragement, prayer and the assurance that the Universal Church walks with us.”

Larissa Habib, another guest speaker, had traveled all the way from Beirut to share her story of the key role played by CNEWA which had accompanied her from the refugee camp where she was born, and had led her to a life of dignity and purpose. She now works for CNEWA in Lebanon and is deeply committed to paying forward the gifts CNEWA has given her.

 Her Palestinian Christian parents fled Haifa when they lost their home in the exodus of 1948. Haifa was once home to a large population of Palestinian Christians, but Habib’s parents, along with other Christians, ended up in the Dbayeh refugee camp 12 kms north of Beirut.

Life in the camp where Habib grew up was harsh, with substandard housing, lack of basic amenities and the legal restrictions that prevented refugees from finding meaningful work to make ends meet.

Funding assistance from CNEWA secured a place for her in a Catholic school, she said, which restored her sense of self worth and dignity that were sadly undermined by the life of poverty in the camp. CNEWA also supports a Joint Christian Committee for Social Services within the camp. Her father, Elias, is the director of this committee, which provides counselling, vocational training and after school tutoring to help children succeed in school, she said.

“CNEWA opened the door to a better life for me,” she told The Catholic Register in a post-event interview. “My faith and the faith passed on to me by my parents healed the scars of being a refugee.”

Now CNEWA’s projects coordinator in Lebanon, Habib is a living example of the positive difference the organization makes to lives devastated by war and displacement. 

“As we honour our history, the work of CNEWA continues, and also look to the future with renewed commitment,” said Bara, reminding attendees that CNEWA’s work is ongoing and does not end with the centennial celebration. 

 Joseph Hazboun, CNEWA’s regional director in Jerusalem, is one of CNEWA’s leaders engaged in urgent humanitarian work. He is busy dealing with the impact of heavy floods that recently added to the misery of people in Gaza.

“Heavy rains from Nov. 6 to 8 flooded shelters, damaged learning spaces and added to the strain on clinics in Gaza,” he reported. “The Pontifical Mission is providing emergency household assistance and working with local partners to keep education and health services accessible. We are seeking US$30,000 for repairs and priority maintenance at three clinics, alongside support for additional winter relief, learning-space repairs, and psychosocial activities.”

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With Christmas around the corner, he and his staff are seeking $15,000 (U.S.) for what he calls a Christmas psychosocial intervention for children and families in Gaza.  

“Christmas gatherings would give families an opportunity to celebrate together,” he said. “Structured group activities could give children space to play and express what they are experiencing, with support for children and caregivers.”

(Susan Korah is an Ottawa correspondent for The Catholic Register.)