By Sanad Sahelia
The association “Work of the Orient” (L'Œuvre d'Orient) is one of the oldest French Catholic institutions dedicated to supporting Christian and humanitarian communities in the East. As it approaches the 170th anniversary of its founding in 1856, the association returns to the forefront as a prominent ecclesial civil framework that has accompanied the region’s transformations from the mid‑nineteenth century to the present day.
Founded in Paris in 1856, in the international context following the end of the Crimean War and the Treaty of Paris, the association emerged at a time when the question of religious minorities—particularly Christians in the Ottoman Empire—was pressing. Initially established under the name L'Œuvre des Écoles d’Orient, its primary mission was to support education by creating and funding schools in Eastern countries, with the conviction that education was the essential gateway to strengthening Christian presence and securing communal stability.
Over more than a century and a half, the association gradually expanded its scope. While education was its sole focus in the early years, its activities grew to encompass broader humanitarian and social fields, especially amid political upheavals and wars in the region. Its role became evident during major crises, from nineteenth‑century events in Mount Lebanon and Syria to modern conflicts in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria, where it provided direct support to local institutions, churches, and affected communities.
Today, the association operates in four main areas: education through support for schools and educational institutions; healthcare by funding hospitals and medical centers; social work through programs assisting the most vulnerable groups; and pastoral support by aiding churches and ecclesial institutions in their spiritual and social mission. It also contributes to strengthening French cultural and linguistic presence in several Eastern countries.
Its reach extends to some 20–23 countries, primarily in the Middle East—Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Jordan—as well as nations in the Horn of Africa such as Ethiopia and Eritrea, parts of Eastern Europe, and South Asia, including India. This expansion reflects its transformation from a local French initiative into a cross‑border support network built on partnerships with local churches and civil institutions.
Palestine and the Holy Land
The association’s presence is most visible in its support for local ecclesial institutions, notably the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, alongside schools, churches, and religious orders in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. Education remains the priority, with assistance to Catholic schools through operational support and scholarships, ensuring continuity despite economic pressures.
Its work also extends to healthcare and social services, supporting institutions and initiatives for the most vulnerable, often through local church partners. On the pastoral level, the association helps sustain parish life, supporting priests and religious, and funding projects that maintain the vitality of Christian life in the Holy Land.
During crises—particularly in Gaza and parts of the West Bank—it provides emergency humanitarian, food, and medical aid through its ecclesial network. Its model in Palestine is based on partnership with local churches rather than direct implementation, making its role one of enabling and empowering existing institutions, within a broader vision of strengthening Christian resilience in a complex humanitarian and political context.
In today’s environment, the association continues to play a vital role in supporting Christian communities in the East, which face mounting challenges linked to migration, economic hardship, and protracted conflicts. Yet its work is not confined to one religious group; its projects extend to diverse social categories according to humanitarian needs in each area.
It also serves as a bridge between the Catholic Church in France and the Eastern Churches, providing direct support to ecclesial institutions and local initiatives. In this way, it forms part of a wider network of ecclesial‑humanitarian solidarity, where spiritual dimensions intersect with practical social action.
The 170th anniversary of its founding stands as a symbolic milestone, highlighting the continuity of its long presence in the East and the evolution of its role—from a nineteenth‑century educational project to a twenty‑first‑century humanitarian institution with multiple fields of action. This occasion also reopens questions about the Christian presence in the region and the role of international ecclesial institutions in fostering social stability and strengthening the resilience of local communities.