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MOROCCO, Meknes, 5th April 2008
I would like to send you my best regards from the Moroccan land. I have been trying to remove barriers, to win Islam followers' trust and the convictions of their hearts for 6 years. There are many meetings which involve both parties incredibly. These meetings are the best way to overcome mutual prejudices and hostility.
1. In our St Anthony Centre we gather young people who search for motivation and help in formation and career possibilities. It is not easy, especially when there is the lack of perspectives and no options are left opened which means that you are in a fix. Unfortunately, such situation is very common here. We have 30 Muslim teachers who still search for their place in life. We are here to help them in this. They are volunteers in formation of those who have just started savouring the beauty of human existence and future possibilities. As the French poet said: La vie est belle" (Life is beautiful), but it is difficult to discover it. We take part in giving rise to new possibilities and we can notice the fruit it bears. This year 4 of our volunteers found new jobs, 2 people got married, 3 of them went abroad to find their way in the European community.
2. The dialogue (meetings) dealing with the level of human life bears fruits because all of us take active part in helping people in need. It is more difficult to meet at the religious level. Religion is intimate, personal and often reserved for only one party. I personally try to love and respect other people as they are. I DO NOT WANT TO JUDGE OTHER PEOPLE. I AM NOT THE ONE WHO WILL JUDGE; I AM IN A BETTER SITUATION. IT IS LOVE WHICH HAS THE LAST WORD...
3. "Hurry to love people, they depart so fast". I hurry in my service, especially for those who are left to their fate. I think of the prisoners. I help them through my prayers, visits and material help. It is not easy here. There are many problems both from the Moroccans and from the community. Only patience and LOVE bear fruit... Zbyszek has been already released from prison and currently we are doing our best to help Andrew. His wife gave birth to a daughter last week. And he, Her Dad is in prison. Everybody has to pay for their mistakes and learn and learn all the time. I hope that Andrew will see the day of his extradition to Poland soon which will make his family happy.
4. MOROCCO - as a Muslim country is on its way to better times. This evolution is very slow but you can notice it. The Moroccan "Gorbatschow", King Mohammed VI, finds a middle ground in his decisions. The traditional and orthodox Islam does not always accept the decisions and actions he undertakes. Life, however, is not that simple and demands human solutions. A new Family Code has been coming into force for 4 years. In this code men's and women's status is almost equal. The woman is the one who decides whom to marry, she must be 18 years old then, she has the right to divorce and to custody of the children. There is no equality as far as the division of the estate is concerned. But there are new generations who have already started realizing the new code.
5. I have been participating in the lives of handicapped children for a month. Their lives are really difficult. They have been abandoned by their parents. Madame ZNIBER Foundation takes care of these children and of their basic needs. The state seems to be deaf and does not acknowledge them. I am there for them, listen intently to them and try to help as much as I can...
Today's mission in a Muslim country is a perseverance test for Christ's disciples. There is a great temptation to leave the country because your work does not bear visible fruits. This is the situation of Paul the Apostle ("We will listen to you next time") or Karol de Focouald who was seeking the followers of life and rules in the heart of Islam, or the last martyrs of love in Algeria (Krystian de Cherge and his 6 Trappist fellow-brothers) who went the whole way loving without measure.
I am in beautiful Morocco, in the heart of Islam. I am the witness of the Resurrected Love and I am aware of the fact that that it is worth living and devoting oneself to other people. I am here and I invite you to this adventure. As one of our French associates said: "La vie c est une aventure". IT IS REALLY WORTH LIVING AND LOVING OTHER PEOPLE...
Fr Simeon Stachera, OFM
a cadet brother from Morocco
Muslim teenagers from our ST ANTHONY CENTRE IN MEKNES - MOROCCO, who take part in a Spanish course and in a formation which prepares them to the future life.
Muslim teenagers
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