The third family camp combined formation for the Family Committee, a couples gathering with 24 couples from the Maronite and Melkite dioceses, a talk by Bishop Elie Haddad on love in the family, and a review of the year.
With the blessing of His Excellency Bishop Elie Haddad, Archbishop of the diocese, the Family and Life Committee of the Greek Melkite Catholic Diocese of Sidon and Metanoia Listening Center organized the third family camp at Beit El Ansara in Kfarfalous, from 4 to 7 September, under the title "A Project of Love."
On the first day, the camp included special formation for the committee members, with personal time to reflect on their relationship as a couple and as members of a community.
The second day began with a morning pause and meditation, followed by the first talk, by psychologist Mrs. Patricia Barcha Bassil, titled "Joy and Happiness in the Family." She stressed the need for spouses to live joy together and the importance of passing it on to their children and those close to them, because joy is contagious, and gave examples of situations that help couples live in joy.
In the afternoon, preparations began for the couples gathering: preparing the theme and the dialogue circles and setting up the venue. We welcomed twenty-four couples from both dioceses, Maronite and Melkite. The theme of the gathering was "A journey of rediscovering each other." Its aim was to help couples pause and look back over the journey of their marriage, discovering what has changed and what can still change. After the welcome and introduction, they divided into five groups for about an hour and a half; each person spent ten minutes answering questions symbolizing the tree of married life, and then they shared ideas and experiences from each family and answered the questions posed. Everyone then gathered again and we explored the theme in more depth, explaining the four seasons that married life passes through.
The gathering ended with simple refreshments; it was an enjoyable time in which couples got to know one another better and made new friends.
On the third day, the committee continued its own formation with a talk by His Excellency Bishop Elie Bechara Haddad titled "Love in the Family." He stressed the importance of the witness of the Christian family as an instrument of evangelization in the world, through living love after the example of the Holy Family, through which and in which God wished to express love. He emphasized the importance of the meeting of man and woman despite their differences – differences that give life and make the relationship succeed – and the need to find peace in love and security so that children can grow up healthy. He quoted Saint Paul's letter to the Colossians (3:12, 16): "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience… Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly."
In the afternoon, a meaningful film was shown about a couple struggling with communication and routine, and the determination of one spouse to repair the marriage with the help of a professional. The couples then shared their views on the situations in the film.
The last day of the camp began with the Divine Liturgy celebrated by the Archbishop at 7:30 am in the Church of Saint Nicholas at Beit El Ansara – the first Mass in the church since its restoration. Then came the formation, centered on a personal review of the year as a whole, at the personal and couple levels and as a community. A general evaluation was made of the year, of all the activities carried out and of the camp, and everyone prepared to begin a new year with enthusiasm, ready for new challenges in accompanying families.
