They met the Salesians, with the Director, Fr. George Fattal, who received them and offered them lunch and abundant food to bring to the old house at Aleppo. With the Knights of Malta, with whom they share the property of the house, they studied the possibility of restoration and of future activities in favor of the mission. The Melkite priests of the Church dedicated to St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Fr. Bassam Ashaji and Fr. Joseph Katat, promised their collaboration and encouraged their return. The Latin Bishop of Syria, Msgr. George Abou Khazen, gave his blessing and many other friends, among whom the Sisters of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, participated in the Holy Mass presided by the Bishop, along with the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Hospital Sisters of St. Louis, the Carmelite Sisters, the Armenian Sisters, women, young people, and neighbors.
Aleppo is coming alive again. The reality is cruel. There is the almost total destruction of a good part of the city. There are thousands who died and others are dispersed, and orphans. They speak of the 1500 stores that have been destroyed and looted. Today there is water, after a period of shortage; instead, electricity is furnished for only one hour during the day and at night.
The return of the people of Aleppo is difficult due to the lack of security along the road that leads to the city. There are kilometers of small streets between the empty and destroyed villages in the middle of the territory occupied by Isis or by groups opposed to the regime of Assad. The Sisters’ house is full of dust. The water pipes are broken or rusted and the walls and floors are ruined. The external windows must be replaced, but aside from all this, the house has been well guarded by the young people and by a doctor who offered himself to guard the house.
During the Novena of Mary Help of Christians the dream came true and to Our Lady of Fatima is entrusted the prayer for Peace and the return of the Sisters to Aleppo so that the mission may flourish once again.
