One local apostolate hopes to use the good cheer of the Christmas season to aid persecuted Christians in the Middle East.
Beginning Dec. 14, St. Rafka’s Mission of Hope and Mercy will be holding a Christmas Gift and Food Drive to provide meals and hygiene items to up to 4,500 refugee families and Christmas gifts for up to 2,500 refugee children. The campaign will be held through Jan. 6.
Founded by Father Andre Mahanna, pastor of St. Rafka Maronite Catholic Church in Lakewood, St. Rafka’s Mission of Hope and Mercy works tirelessly to aid persecuted Christians in the Middle East who are now living as refugees in Lebanon.
The apostolate’s website says their mission “is to save lives from all kinds of persecution, rejection, or neglect and to confirm them in God’s image, the Author of all Goodness.
“Guided by the Spirit of the Lord, and in light of the Gospel, we toil to save the persecuted flock wherever that might be. With this, our initial aim is to protect and preserve Christianity and its roots; to restore hope, faith and love to all the children of Abraham.”
As part of the Christmas Campaign, on Dec. 15, St. Rafka’s will hold a Christmas Concert at their Lakewood parish featuring Michael Russell O’Brien at 11:30 a.m. Following the concert will be a brunch and a parade. The concert is meant to be a show of solidarity and support for Christians in the Middle East and will benefit the ministries and programs of the parish.
For more information and to participate/donate in the Christmas Campaign, visit missionofhopeandmercy.org.
St. Rafka Christmas Concert
Sunday, Dec. 15, 11:30 a.m. 2301 Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood $25 for adults, children 12 and under free