The priest is in charge of the Vacation Bible School at Saint Francis Roman rite parish in Aleppo.
The Vacation Bible School is made of up children from different Christian confessions, both Catholics and Orthodox. They range in age from 3 to 15. During school time they also sing, play and make friends.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Una luce bambina nella notte di <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aleppo?src=hash">#Aleppo</a> un oratorio estivo in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Siria?src=hash">#Siria</a> <a href="https://t.co/9jBS9919ef">https://t.co/9jBS9919ef</a> <a href="https://t.co/1fqClyG2iN">pic.twitter.com/1fqClyG2iN</a></p>— Avvenire (@Avvenire_NEI) <a href="https://twitter.com/Avvenire_NEI/status/739150340331819008">June 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Fr. Lutfi said the initiative is "a light for a martyr city of the Syrian civil war."
Over 250,000 have died in the war and millions of people have been displaced.
This year, the Pro Terra Sancta Association, which serves the Franciscan Custos of the Holy Land, asked Italian parishes to join the efforts. They can hold similar "Vacation Bible School" as a work of mercy so the Syrian children feel they are not alone.
Organizers hope that through this initiative, Italian children will learn what life is like for Christians in the Middle East.