(ANS - Jerusalem) – Today, 27 November, is the anniversary of the death of Venerable Simon Srugi, SDB. "In the context of the Jubilee Year of Divine Mercy, his figure and his example stand out and invite imitation. To him we entrust the Middle East which is restless and wounded, the Salesian Family, the Salesian Brothers, and in particular the sick," says Fr Gianni Caputa from Jerusalem, a Salesian of the Middle East Province.

Simaan was born in Nazareth on 15 April 1877 to a Melkite father and a Maronite mother. At the age of five he lost both parents and was entrusted to Fr Antonio Belloni, who was called "Abul-iatama, father of orphans". He had founded a religious congregation to take care of children in need.

In 1891 the works of Fr Belloni passed to the Salesians and Simaan was so happy with them that at the age of 16 he asked to enter the Congregation. He made his perpetual profession in 1900.

Bro. Srugi was distinguished for the charity which he exercised towards the boarders in the agricultural school in Beit Gemal, and towards the workers and farmers of the area who were poor and often sick. Particularly after the First World War he made a definite decision to care for the sick.

Those who lived with him knew that he drew his tireless charity from his constant union with God, nourished by personal and community prayer, devotion to the Heart of Jesus and to Mary Help of Christians.

He considered himself fully a Salesian educator. The children of Beit Gemal carried in their hearts the wounds of war and some of them remembered the sight of parents being killed in front of them. He understood that they needed affection, and said to his confreres: "They are small, they are orphans; we have to be their parents, help them, correct them when they make mistakes but never hurt them. We must educate them without using the stick nor our hands or a sharp tongue."

At a time and in an area that, after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, was troubled by struggles, Simaan was a peacemaker and in all circumstances he educated to mercy and forgiveness. In 1939 he began to experience health problems which eventually led to his death on 27 November 1943.

Because of the war only a few people could attend his funeral, but among them were some Muslim farmers. All were unanimous in celebrating his virtues, convinced that he had died a servant of God.

More information is available on sdb.org.

Published 27/11/2015