Scarred, Sacred Space: Ministry in Lebanon with Fr. Dan Corrou, SJ

A few weeks ago, the Jesuit Dan Corrou went to Mass like any other Sunday. But the setting was far from ordinary. The Mass was being held in the Church of St. Vincent de Paul in Beirut, Lebanon, which was bombed out during Lebanon’s civil war about 40 years ago. Fr. Dan was so struck by the image of a community praying together in the largely destroyed church that he snapped a picture and posted it to Facebook, where it spread quickly. In the photo, the church is full, with a bishop presiding and a number of priests concelebrating. A choir of young people fills the corner of the sanctuary. The walls and ceiling of the church are blackened, the roof is pretty much gone, and twisted steel bars poke out of damaged concrete. Chunks of tile are missing from the walls. The church was never repaired, and has been largely unused for decades, but recently it has served as the setting for special prayers for peace and justice amid national unrest. The Mass Fr. Dan photographed was happening as peaceful protests for government reforms filled the streets just beyond the church walls. The picture is such a striking image of where the Jesuits are called to be: on the margins of society, preaching the Gospel and promoting social justice. Fr. Dan talks with Mike about how his vocation has taken him from New York to his ministry in Beiruit, where he works with Jesuit Refugee Services and with a community of Jesuits in studies.