austraLasia - 5159(III)_Between Nazareth and Beitgemal

Venerable Salesian Brother Srugi

By Fr Gianni Caputa, SDB
Vice postulator of Venerable Simaan Srugi

Holy Land, 4 August 2019 -- Brother Simaan (Simon) Srugi is among the less known and less explored holy members of the Salesian Family. He was born more than 140 years ago in Nazareth and passed away during WW2 in Beitgemal (Holy Land).

Last year during the 7th EAO Salesian Brothers Congres's thanks to Fr. Ivo Coelho and his communicative passion most of the participants were touched probably for the first time by Srugi's simple, humble but strongly missionary trait of Salesian holiness. And again this year, during the pilgrimage of the Rector Major and his Council to the Holy Land, the 10th successor of Don Bosco, in the foosteps of Blessed Michael Rua (two visits to Holy Land!), was able to pray in Nazareth and in Beitgemal.

Nazareth is the birthplace of our Venerable Salesian Brother, where he was born, baptized in the Catholic Melchite parish church and Beitgemal is the place where our Holy Brother Simaan spent most of his Salesian Life as a missionary in his own land, serving mostly the surrounding Muslim population and where he also passed away. His tomb is venerated in the Chapel of Beitgemal community, probably also very close to the tomb of the Protomartyr Saint Stephen. Even the present SDB provincial of Middle East (MOR - Holy Land, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt) province Fr. Alejandro Leon has chose as the theme of his licenciate thesis the spirituality of Venerable Simaan Srugi. In Srugi we can really meet a very attractive Salesian consecrated life model.

Even a brief visit to the Beitgemal community, chapel and the room of Venerable Brother Simaan Srugi helps us to understand the life-style, spirituality and life witness of this humble Arabic Salesian. In his room - infirmary of the community, we find also now all medicines, dispensary register and 'free treatment cards' at it was 80 years ago. In the chapel you may spend few minutes in prayer in front of his simple white tomb with the inscriptions in English and Arabic.

We suggest every Salesian, but especially the Salesian Brothers, to browse the rich materials on the Boscolink, to explore the life story, spirituality and missionary drive of this humble Salesian Brother who witnessed the love of Christ amidst the turbulent war times and amidst his Muslim sisters and brothers. You read just few pages of his biography or spiritual profile and you will not be disappointed. The life story and personality of Srugi is simple but deeply inspiring and attractive.

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5159(III)_Between Nazareth and Beitgemal