Based on the guidance of His Holiness the late Triple Beatified Pope Shenouda III that we should lend great attention to the Lord’s brethren, implementing the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” [Mat 25:40]:
- The Do You Love Me? Ministry commenced in 2005 C.E.
- By 2012, it had become one of the most significant activities and services of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
- This ministry is based on concern for the Lord’s brethren and all the needy, who have nobody to lend them an assisting hand, and who need urgent care and assistance, to alleviate their suffering.
Realms of the “Do You Love Me?” Ministry
- Ministry for the ailing, offering them treatment, performing surgeries on the Lord’s brethren, who cannot afford it, after consulting with specialists and consultants
- Ministry for those approaching matrimony, in preparing their household
- Assisting in academic expenses, to facilitate completing educational phases in schools and colleges/universities, to develop humans and society in general
- Distributing basic food necessities, as a “blessing” to the poor, which is now spread in many Coptic dioceses
- Assisting needy families, with a monthly stipend, to aid them in covering daily costs of living [be they low-income families or the Lord’s brethren]
- Non-monetary aid for the needy
- The ministry conducts a filming session, for families that approve, airing it on the show bearing the ministry’s name “Do You Love Me?” with medical, technical and spiritual analyses, aiming to get Egyptians to participate in the ministry with medical, non-monetary aid or monetary aid
- The ministry offers necessary clothing to the families of the Lord’s brethren during the Holy Feasts of Christmas and Easter
Therefore… the goals of “Do You Love Me?” are:
- Assisting the Lord’s brethren [widows and orphans]
- Monthly assistant stipends
- Academic fees [elementary school – middle school – high school – college/university]
- Providing couples [matrimony] with trousseau, young men and women
- Residential [rentals, repairs, pouring roofs, reconstruction]
- Affording furniture [beds – closets/wardrobes – electrical appliances – fridges – stoves, etc]
- Treatment [surgical operations – granting monthly treatment allowances for the chronically ill – special needs]
- Distributing Feast requirements [foodstuffs – meats – poultry, etc]
- Distributing clothing and sending Feast requirements to areas in need
- Assisting low-income families
- Emergency Assistance [immediate]
In addition to spreading awareness:
- Ghettoes and slums – disease prevention
- Rights and Citizenship status
- Significance of Education
All of this takes place with the prayers, blessings and participation of those loving people both locally and abroad, and with the prayers of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, and his partner in Apostolic service His Grace Bishop Ermia [Jeremiah].
