The Darbessama (Path to Heaven) Association was founded on October 8, 2004, and is officially recognized by the Lebanese State as a non-profit public-interest association. Its full name is "Darbessama-Father Simon El-Zind foundation", after the late parish priest Simon El-Zind (1960-2002). It is a spiritual, cultural, and social association inspired by Father Simon's life, parish work, writings, homilies, and spiritual experience, especially during the last months of his life. The association runs a social aid center and a cultural center, while having a regular schedule of spiritual activities. It has also founded a short-distance pilgrimage trail (2004) from Sahel Alma to the Our Lady of Lebanon shrine in Harissa, also named "Darbessama", and is organizing Marian annual pilgrimages along the route, around the date of May 12, day and month of Father Simon's passage to true life. The "Darb Mar Charbel" project was inspired, matured, and kicked off by members of the Darbessama association and is placed under its official umbrella. For more info about the Darbbessama Association, please visit darbessama.org
