Christmas is a joyful time of family moments and of sharing gifts. Although the health authorities advice in this pandemic is to celebrate Christmas within the family, it is still a great blessing to be able to enjoy all the good things this season offers. This is especially so when one spares a thought about what other members of our human family are passing through.
For this Christmas, Aid to the Church in Need (Malta) is inviting families in Malta and Gozo to share their Christmas joy with Christian families in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. This community lost nearly everything following the devastating explosion of 4th August 2020, which happened just near the city quarter where the majority of Christians live and work.
“In these days before the Christmas rush,” explained ACN (Malta) national director Stephen Axisa, “many are those who are asking themselves: what can I buy for myself, and for others? Whilenthinking of others that we know is a laudable human value, it is also important to spare a thought for other Christians who because of their faith are not given all the necessary support. ACN exists to assist our Christian brothers.”
This Christmas, ACN is suggesting that one simply sets a symbolic extra place at one’s Christmas table and donate to ACN whatever one plans to spend per person on the Christmas lunch at home for that one extra guest. On its part ACN (Malta) will be sending the money to Beirut on Tuesday 1st December 2020, so that ACN’s operators in Beirut will be in time to share the donated funds among the community of about 5,000 Christians. In this way, they too will feel that the Maltese people are supporting them in this period of total anguish for them.
With your help, this Christmas, ACN is providing these poor families with essential food provisions including rice, canned meat, cooking oil, flour, other essentials and some sweets.
“Christmas is a time for sharing. The situation for this Beirut community is now becoming morencritical as the weather is getting colder. It is so challenging that even a small donation of €20 for a small food basket can help. If several families in Malta, each donate €20 for one small food basket, all the members of this Beirut community will be able to enjoy Christmas day while remembering the generosity of the Maltese people,” appealed Mr Axisa.
To donate, please send a cheque made out to ACN (Malta) in an envelope marked “Share your Christmas meal” by regular post to the following address: ACN Malta, 39b, Mdina Road, Attard, ATD9038 (tel: 2148 7818). Alternatively, one can donate via ACN (Malta)’s website: www.acnmalta.org/donate, or through a bank transfer: (APS Bank, Attard Branch), Aid to the Church in Need Malta Foundation, IBAN MT72APSB77057008577220001771733, Swift /BIC Code: APS
BMT MT | Sort Code 77057
