"Faith is a precious pearl"

His Beatitude celebrated a Solemn Mass at Saint-Ephrem Church this past Sunday, following a reception held in his honour the evening before at the Syrian Community Centre. In attendance at these events were diplomats, a representative of Quebec Premier Jean Charest, and other political figures from municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government.

While in Canada, in addition to meeting Syrian Catholics from Montreal and Laval, the Patriarch also spent time with Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte of Montreal and Archbishop Thomas Collins of Toronto.

"We're proud and very much aware that we're in a Quebec with a solid foundation in Catholicism and in a culture that is tolerant towards everyone. We appreciate these values because we have been deprived of these human rights in the Middle East," he specified.

The Patriarch is well-acquainted with both Canada and the United States, having done missionary work south of the border in New York for the past 23 years and making monthly visits to Laval for the past seven years in his capacity as bishop of the Syriac Catholic Church.

His Beatitude's message is one of hope. "All of us on earth are on a pilgrimage toward the Father (God). We have complete trust in Our Heavenly Father." Faith, says the patriarch, is a treasure that we must protect. "We thank the Good Lord for giving us this grace. Faith is a precious pearl. It has to be cherished and shared with others in order for its joy to shine through. Our patron saint, Ephrem, wrote a beautiful poem about the pearl that was once lost but found again in a field."

"As a Father of the Church, my point of view has to be consistent with that of the Holy Father vis-a-vis contraception. He didn't say that those who practice birth control are sinners who must be condemned. Birth control measures are not properly used in Africa. The Pope is concerned about souls and the people of Africa, in the hope that they can live their faith through abstinence based on morals," the Patriarch explained.

"As far as the young girl is concerned, we are pro-life. We cannot accept abortion because it is against life. We need to support the young girl and help her regain her trust in the Lord and her hope for life."