World News
Migrant workers in Lebanon celebrate church's first migrant day
Published: May 24, 2006
BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNS) -- Migrant workers in Lebanon came together to give thanks in their native African and Asian languages May 21 during the Lebanese Catholic church's first National Day for Foreign Workers. Nearly 2,000 migrant workers from Africa and Asia participated in the event at Bkerke, the headquarters of the Maronite Catholic Church. The annual day was declared by the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon. Bkerke's outdoor rotunda served as a stage for a program of cultural songs and dances. Many of those attending wore native costumes; Nigerian women wore brilliant jade headdresses, and Indian women wore colorful saris. A group from Sudan sang "The Real Peace Comes From Jesus Christ," concluding with a chorus of women ululating. A Filipino choir sang the Our Father in their native tongue, a large group performed "My Philippines," and Nigerians sang a song for Mary. The community from Ghana sang gospel music in three local dialects. Buddhists and Hindus also said prayers.
Copyright (c) Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .
