At Christmastime, the Church celebrates new beginnings—Christ’s coming into the world, when everything is made new. Yet, as Christians, we also recognize these new beginnings as continuations—fulfillments of God’s unwavering work among us, answers to ancient promises that transcend time. This December, the Jesuits of Lebanon had the privilege of witnessing such a moment: a development in one of our missions that is both a new chapter and a continuation of enduring care, a realization of old promises and the dawn of new opportunities.
For decades, a diverse community of migrants, refugees, and others has gathered faithfully at St. Joseph Church in Achrafieh for English-language Masses and activities. This year, on December 8—the feast of the Immaculate Conception—Bishop Cesar Essayan elevated this community, formally establishing it as a parish within the Latin Vicariate of Lebanon. Fr. Dan Corrou, SJ, an American Jesuit who has served this community for several years, was installed as its first pastor. The new parish has been designated the Anglophone Parish for all of Lebanon, with a special focus on serving migrants and refugees.
This unique mission reflects the history of its members. Migrants from across Africa, South Asia, and the Philippines come to Lebanon, driven by economic pressures or displaced by war and persecution. For over 30 years, Jesuits in Beirut have walked alongside these communities. Beginning with the work of Fr. Martin McDermott, SJ, and the late Fr. Theo Vlugt, SJ, St. Joseph Church has become a refuge—a home for those far from their countries and a source of solace amid the challenges migrants face in Lebanon.
The parish inauguration was a joyful celebration. Bishop Cesar presided over a moving Mass, joined by Fr. Michael Zammit, SJ, provincial of the PRO Province, and numerous other Jesuits. Parishioners from over a dozen countries participated, with representatives from each migrant community serving as lectors, acolytes, choir members, and dancers. Even the church itself seemed to rejoice: the festive procession and incense during Mass triggered the building’s new fire alarms! The occasion brought together families whose children had been baptized, couples who had been married, and catechumens who had entered the Church over the past year, all receiving a special blessing from the bishop. After Mass, a celebratory meal showcased the cultural diversity of the parish, with dishes from the various migrant communities.
While Jesuits have long ministered to this community, its establishment as an official parish is more than a procedural change. It challenges a lingering mindset in some circles that migrants’ place in the Church is limited to charitable outreach through organizations like Caritas. This perspective reduces migrants to their economic and social needs, overlooking their spiritual dignity and full membership in the Church. By declaring St. Joseph Church a parish, Bishop Cesar has sent a powerful message: migrants in Lebanon are not just recipients of charity—they are integral members of the Body of Christ.
The men, women, and children—South Sudanese, Sri Lankan, Filipino, Nigerian, Cameroonian, and more—who form this parish are the people of God. The establishment of St. Joseph Parish affirms their right to pastoral care, sacraments, spiritual formation, and the sacred community of the Church. This parish is more than a space; it is a home at the heart of Beirut, where the Church’s universal call is lived out: a home for all.
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