Organisation mondiale des anciens et anciennes eleves de l'Enseignement catholique World organization of former pupils of Catholic education Organizacion mundial de antiguos alumnos y antiguas alumnas de la Enseñanza catolica

Lisboa, May 28, 2001

 Dear Colleagues,

You are warmly invited to the XII° World Congress of Former Pupils of Catholic Education, to be held in Lebanon from the 11^th till the 14^th of October 2001, with its main theme : "The part of former pupils in defence of catholic education in a multicultural society ".

You will find the program and registration form attached hereto, to be submitted as soon as possible to the Secretariat of the Congress.

This XII° Congress is an outstanding event for the OMAEC. On one hand, it is the first time it will be held outside Europe, for we wish to confer a real world-wide dimension on our movement, even in its structures. On the other hand, the Congress will be held in Lebanon, of which Pope John Paul II said : "It is much more than a country, it is a message !".

Lebanon is a small country located between the Mediterranean sea, Syria and Israel. It has a moderate climate. In October, the weather will be cool with temperatures of about 18°C. Lebanon is an Arab pluralistic country  with 18 official religious confessions ! Arabic, French and English are spoken. Born of the Phoenician civilisation, Lebanon is the only country that was mentioned 72 times in the Bible. It is a bridge between East and West, a crossroads of religions, in short, a multicultural society. Between 1975 and 1990, Lebanon was torn by a dramatic war related to the Near East events. Its economic and social situation is still largely affected.

In this context, we were keen on tackling the important issue of defending catholic schools in countries where the economic situation impedes their development and upholding. We, the former pupils, cannot remain indifferent to the difficulties encountered in so many countries!

I would like to address my heartfelt thanks to the Lebanese Committee of the Congress organisation headed by Mr. Antoine Chamoun, correspondent of the OMAEC in Lebanon, and by Mr. Nagy Khoury, secretary general of the Committee. We hope that young people in charge of former pupils will be able to join us, including those from underprivileged countries. We will do our best to financially help them if needed.

We take pleasure at seeing us again or meeting you in Lebanon in October.

Yours truly 

A- Tourist pre-program:

* Monday October 8, 2001 (starting in the afternoon) : Gradual arrival of the participants to BIA (Beirut International Airport). A personalised welcome of the participants who will be taken in charge by former Lebanese pupils. Two possibilities are available :

- Stay at the residents’ home : dinner with the host family
- Stay in the hotel (many possible categories) : each is accompanied to the hotel of his choice. Dinner upon choice.

* Tuesday October 9, 2001 : Visit to Sidon (Saida) in south Lebanon (the Sea Castle, Khan el Franj, Soap Museum [khan es Saboun]) and to the Chouf region in Mount Lebanon (Beiteddine palace, Deir el-Kamar church and square, Emir Amin’s palace, Moukhtara palace, Baaklin library, the cedars of Barouk, etc)

*Wednesday October 10, 2001 : A day in the Bekaa plain (Taanayel domain, Qaraoun lake, Anjar, Baalbeck monuments, Ksara Cellars, etc.).

* Thursday October 11, 2001 : Free afternoon until 14h00

B- Common program of the Congress :

* Wednesday October10, 2001 (starting in the afternoon) : Gradual arrival of the participants at the congress to BIA (Beirut International Airport). A personalized welcome of the participants who will be taken in charge by former Lebanese pupils.

Settlement in the Convent of Saydet el-Jabal (Fatka) situated on the heights of Jounieh, about 20 km from Beirut. All foreign participants at the congress will be lodged in this reception home specially equipped for accommodations and for hosting national and international congresses and conferences.

* Thursday October 11, 2001 (till 19h00) : Arrival of the last participants at the congress. Welcome in the same conditions.

* Friday October 12, 2001 :

* Saturday October 13, 2001 :

* Sunday October 14, 2001 :

09h00 Reports of the workshops, resolutions and conclusion.

10h30 Closing speeches.

11h00 Solemn Eucharist.

12h30 Lunch.

Departure of the participants, driven to the Airport.

* Plenary sessions of the Congress will be provided with simultaneous translations into French, English and Spanish.

* All transports are guaranteed in air-conditioned buses (price included in the registration fees).

* The registration form, attached herewith, is to be submitted as soon as possible and before September 15, 2001 with a payment on account in $US of 50% of the fees, to be carried out by net transfer of fees. This payment on account will not be reimbursed in case of cancellation after 15/09/2001.

* For further information please contact : :

OFFICE OF THE XII° CONGRESS OF THE OMAEC &emdash; OCTOBER 2001

Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour

P.O.Box 6220 - 151 Hazmieh - LEBANON

Telephone : 00-961-5-924146 or 924147 (ask for Mr. Nagy Khoury)
Fax : 00-961-5-921323
E-mail : ndj@destination.com.lb

/_/ Mr. /_/ Mrs. /_/ Miss /_/ Father /_/ Sister

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TOURIST PRE-PROGRAM :

_/_/ Registration : 100 $US

_/_/ Free accommodation at the residents’ home :_

/_/ Hotel : …… $US : 50, 100 or 150 $US, according to selected category, x 2 days (bed & breakfast)

PS = For this program, only two lunches are included in the registration fees, during the excursions.

THE CONGRESS PROGRAM :_

/_/ Registration for adults : 125 $US (full board) :_ _

/_/ single room /_/ double room_

/_/ Registration for youths (of less than 30 years of age) : 75 $US (full board)_

/_/ Extra charge: 25 $US for arrival on Wednesday afternoon_

/_/ Registration for Lebanese participants : 40 $US (without accommodation)

CALCULATION OF TOTAL AMOUNT : ……… $US

PAYMENT ON ACCOUNT OF 50% of this amount : ……… $US

The balance of the amount will be settled in Beirut

I submit the payment on account this day by "net transfer of fees" in $US (I inform my bank that I will take charge of the exchange and transfer fees) to the Congress bank account :

Société Générale Libano-Européenne de Banque, sal

(Head office , Sin el-fil, Beirut)

OMAEC (12^th Congress) 001-004-360-222516-01-0

Date : ……………………………

Signature : ……………………….

OBSERVATIONS :

* Exceptional financial aid can be provided to young people (of less than 35 years of age) in charge of former pupils from underprivileged countries, especially from Africa, in order to attend the Congress (plane ticket & registration for the congress partially covered) : Submit the justified request to the secretariat of OMAEC in Paris (cofaec@cef.fr ; 48 rue de Richelieu &emdash; F 75001 PARIS &emdash; France).

* The payment on account will not be reimbursed unless cancellation occurs before 15/09/2001.

* The Congress fees are a set price package deal. They include the participation to the plenary sessions, which are provided with simultaneous translations into French, English and Spanish, the official ceremonies, the visits, the full board, the evenings, the transport in bus and the subsequent dispatch of the Congress report.