Annual Celebration Concludes at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish

On Friday, June 27, 2025, the 15th annual festival of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church in Ankawa concluded with a solemn Divine Liturgy commemorating the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, attended by a large gathering of the faithful.

On the third day of the festival, activities began with the Novena of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and the celebratory Divine Liturgy for the feast, blessed by His Grace Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda.

The homilies during the liturgy highlighted how Our Lady guides us to God and teaches us to pray, drawing from her words:
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

The congregation was also invited to sense the presence of the Holy Spirit among them, with an emphasis on the love of Mary, as expressed in the sermon:
“How wonderful you are, our Lady Mary. They blame us for loving you because you loved the Savior before us. Teach us humility, O Queen of Kings, and let us ask Our Lady of Perpetual Help to teach us to pray with joy.”

The closing liturgy was presided over by His Grace Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda, assisted by Father Nashwan Yonan, parish priest, before a large crowd that filled the church halls and courtyards.

The closing ceremony included the distribution of prizes to the winners of competitions, along with a charity raffle draw, creating an atmosphere of joy and strong community engagement.

The festival lasted for three consecutive days and featured a variety of activities including entertainment shows, handicrafts, traditional foods, and fashion shows, which added a unique cultural and spiritual dimension to the event.