EGYPT
New Church library helps young people learn more about their faith
Sheraton-Heliopolis is one of the newer suburbs of Cairo that did not even exist a few decades ago. Close to the international airport, it was named after the original Sheraton hotel which was the only existing building there at the time. It is now a busy suburb of over 400,000 people.
The Catholic Church has established a pastoral centre in this densely populated suburb named the “Diakonia Development Center“, to serve the pastoral and social needs of the Catholic community in the parish. It is here that the children and young people of the Good Samaritan group also meet.
The diocese plans to establish a small Christian library in the centre for the 150 children and young people who regularly come here, to help them become more familiar with the Holy Scriptures. It is especially important for them, as a religious minority, to have a sound knowledge of the Bible since they are often asked questions about their faith – sometimes in a deliberately provocative or manipulative way – and need to be able to give clear and coherent answers. These Christian children have to deepen and extend their knowledge of the Scriptures from an early age and especially to have a good understanding of those passages in the Bible that are often used by non-Christians to attack their faith.
It is also very important for these young people to be able to understand how God leads them and guides them by His providence for their own personal development. In this way, they come to know Jesus better and believe more deeply in his love. For as Saint Jerome wrote, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ“.
ACN has promised 3,500 Euros to furnish this library.
