History of the institution

The presence of the Congregation in Chlifa is a dream! The inhabitants of the village have waited for its realization for more than twenty years. And the dream came true at the beginning of August 1989, when a house was rented for the Sisters, and the project was inaugurated as a rehabilitation center for mentally disabled children (day hours), including an embroidery and sewing workshop, in addition to the mission in the village and the surrounding area. At the beginning, the number of children was minimal, given the difficulty of moving in the village of Chlifa-Békaa for the security situation. As for the workshop, the works started from the beginning. Beside the project, the Sisters ran the French section at the public school and taught catechism courses upon the demand of the parents.

In 1992, the Congregation received a land from the municipality of the village for the project execution which started in 1993, with one hundred and fifty beds. Six years later, the first floor was equipped to accommodate the women chronically ill and elderly; in addition to a dispensary with specialized doctors providing care to the sick and needy people in the neighboring villages. The Sisters have an important role in the region of Bekaa deprived from spiritual and social services, thus responding to the desire of the Founder: that of being present in remote Lebanese areas.

The institution today

With changing needs over the years, the building has undergone several modifications, including the transfer of the dispensary and the church of our Lady of Harvest to the main entrance. As for the ground floor, it is allocated for the residence of the Sisters. 

Completion of the new project

Faithful to the recommendations and spirituality of our Founder Blessed Abouna Yaacoub, we cannot shut our doors. This is why, and despite the situation, our institution in Chlifa – Bekaa welcomed on the second floor, without any material guarantee, 53 mentally and psychiatric male patients from the Santa Maria Center, following its closure by the Ministry of Public Health. The women are transferred to the Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross and to Our Lady Hospital for chronic diseases in Antelias. 

Since our Congregation, and therefore our institution in Chlifa, cannot continue to equip the second floor intended for these patients, we hope to be supported, because alone we will never be able to provide these destitute patients with a decent stay they deserve.