Maronite Voice. A Publication of the Maronite Eparchies in the USA. Volume VI Issue No. IV April 2010

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1 The Maronite Voice A Publication of e Maronite Eparchies in e USA Volume VI Issue No. IV April 2010 Our Maronite Church is a Treasure, It is Our Privilege to Be Part of Such a Spiritual Movement The Descent of e Holy Spirit by Fr. Abdo Badwi, University of Holy Spirit, Kaslik, Lebanon (USEK), Department of Sacred Art. Dear Broers and Sisters in Christ: Two mons ago, at e beginning of Lent, our Patriarch wrote a Pastoral Letter on e 1600 anniversary of Saint Maron. It was among his best. Every year he personally reflects on what e Church needs, and is Pastoral Letter addressed what it means to be a Maronite Caolic and what Saint Maron has contributed to e Church and to a nation called Lebanon. If you have not read it, please do; you will not regret it. Around e same time, before reading e Patriarch s Pastoral, I also wrote a refection, What it Means to be Maronite, but it is nowhere near as profound as our Patriarch s letter. Bo can be found at Our Maronite Church is a true treasure, but our Lord said: To whom much has been given, much is expected (Luke 12:48). It is our privilege to be part of a spiritual movement which began in Antioch, was formed by Maron and given his name, developed as a Church by Saint John Maron, remained faiful to its Syriac heritage and its Caolic Fai, has never been divided, has helped form a nation, and has helped raise up marriages at continue to inspire and make e expression juwaz Marounee mean a bond as strong as a Maronite marriage. This spiritual movement, e Maronite Church, continues to is day to call sons and daughters to a life of holiness and peace. Are we wory of such a heritage? When I get an occasional compliment, I usually respond, Thank you, but e credit is due my parents. This is not false humility, it is true. The Maronite Church has blessed millions over e past sixteen centuries; and since God has blessed us in such a way, we too should say, It is because of our parents, at is, our spiritual ancestry. Wi saints like Maron and John Maron, wi patriarchs like Estephan Doueihi, wi martyrs like e Blessed Massabki Broers, wi modern saints like Sharbel, Rafka, Nehmatallah, Blessed Jacques Haddad (Continues on page 6)

2 Schedule of Bishop Robert Shaheen April 1, 2010 Liturgy of Holy Thursday of e Mysteries followed by Adoration of e Blessed Sacrament until midnight at St. Raymond Caedral, Saint Louis, Mo. April 2, 2010 Great Friday of e Crucifixion, Pre-Sanctified Liturgy at St. Raymond Caedral, Saint Louis, Mo. April 3, 2010 Liturgy of e Resurrection at St. Raymond Caedral, Saint Louis, Mo. April 4, 2010, Easter Sunday Easter Liturgy at St. Raymond Caedral, Saint Louis, Mo. April 13-15, 2010 Eastern Caolic Bishops Meeting at e Pastoral Center, St. Louis, Mo. April 16-17, 2010 History Community Meeting at e Pastoral Center, St. Louis, Mo. April 18, 2010 Pastoral Visit, Norman, Oklahoma. April 25, 2010 Installation of Dr. David Mueckl as Knight of Saint Gregory, St. Raymond Caedral, St. Louis, Mo. May 2, 2010 Our Lady of Lourdes, France May 4-10, 2010 Rome, Italy May 14-16, Deacon Ordination and Pastoral Visit, Our Lady of e Cedars Maronite Church, Akron, Ohio. Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon Annual Clergy Retreat The Maronite Voice 4611 Sadler Road Glen Allen, VA Phone: 804/ Fax: 804/ gmsebaali@aol.com The Maronite Voice, (ISSN ) e official newsletter of e Maronite Eparchies in e U.S.A. (Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles and Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn), is published monly. Send all changes of address, news, pictures and personal correspondence to The Maronite Voice at e above captioned address. Subscription rates are $20.00 per year. Advertising rates are available upon request. Publishers Most Reverend Bishop Robert Joseph Shaheen Most Reverend Bishop Gregory John Mansour Editor Msgr. George M. Sebaali Consultor Fr. Abdallah Zaidan, M.L.M. Editing and proofreading Mary Shaia Anne-Marie Condlin Printed in Richmond, Virginia. Maronite Convention 2010 St. Elias Maronite Church Birmingham, Alabama July 7-11, 2010 T he Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon held its Annual Clergy Retreat, January 11-15, 2010, at e Franciscan Retreat House in Phoenix, Arizona, wi its shepherd, Bishop Robert Shaheen. The Retreat Master, Fr. Mitch Pacwa, focused e eme of e retreat on e Mystery of e Priesood during is Year of e Priest. For more information contact e NAM office at (914) or visit The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 2 April 2010

3 Eparchial Assignments H is Excellency Bishop Gregory Mansour, Bishop of e Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, has made e following Eparchial appointments effective on June 1, 2010: Chorbishop Joseph Lahoud from Pastor of Our Lady of e Cedars in Jamaica Plain [Boston], Massachusetts, to retirement for having reached e canonical age. Fr. Georges El-Khalli from Pastor of St. John Maron, Williamsville [Buffalo], New York, to Pastor of Our Lady of e Cedars, Jamaica Plain, Mass. Fr. Elie Kayrouz from Pastor of St. Ann, Troy, New York, to Pastor of St. John Maron Church, Williamsville, N.Y. Fr. George BouChaaya from Parochial Vicar at St. Anony Maronite Church, Glen Allen [Richmond], Virginia, to Administrator of St. Ann Church, Troy, N.Y. Fr. Peter Boulos to care for e pastoral needs of e Maronite Community in Melbourne, Florida, while retaining his current assignment as Administrator of Saints Peter and Paul Mission in Tampa, Fla. Transfers effective August 1, 2010 Monsignor Maroun Asmar from Pastor of Saint Sharbel in Somerset, New Jersey, to retirement for having reached e canonical age. Fr. Tony Akoury from Pastor of Saint George Church, Uniontown, Pennsylvania, to Pastor of St. Sharbel Church in Somerset, N.J. Fr. Nadim Helou, M.L.M. from Parochial Vicar of Saint Anony of e Desert in Fall River, Massachusetts, to Administrator of Saint George in Uniontown, Penn. Beatification of Broer Nehme O n March 27, 2010, e Holy Faer, Pope Benedict XVI, approved recognition of a miracle obtained rough e intercession of e Servant of God Stephen Nehme (born Joseph), Lebanese professed religious of e Order of Maronites ( ). The Beatification will take place in Lebanon on June 27, Eparchial Condolences Saada Karam, e moer of Fr. Peter Karam, Pastor of Saint Maron Church in Cleveland, Ohio, died on March 19, She is survived by her sons, Fr. Peter and Elie Karam, and her daughters, Therese Abdel Karim, Antoinette Ghostine, Layla Atmeh and Georgette Karam. Condolences may be sent to Fr. Peter Karam, St. Maron Church, 1245 Carnegie Ave, Cleveland, OH Bishops Robert Shaheen and Gregory Mansour, along wi e clergy and faiful of e Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon and of e Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn extend eir heartfelt sympay and e promise of our prayers to Fr. Karam and his family. May e Lord God grant Saada eternal rest and peace in His Kingdom and consolation to her family and loved ones. Project Roots T he Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn and e Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon join togeer to help people reconnect wi eir Christian spiritual roots in Lebanon and e Middle East. An office in Los Angeles, Calif., under e responsibility of Fr. Abdallah Zaidan, M.L.M., will assist ose interested to: Obtain eir sacramental records from eir country of origin Connect wi family members living in eir place of origins and roughout e world where ey emigrated Obtain Lebanese citizenship, if desired Obtain immigration records, if desired Remain connected wi e Maronite Church here and roughout e world. No eparchial funds will be used, but e office will accept financial help from ose willing to help. For more information contact: Faer Abdallah Zaidan, M.L.M. 333 Sou San Vicente Boulevard Los Angeles, CA Maronite You Conference T he National Maronite You Workshop will be held at St. Vincent College in Latrobe (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania, from Monday, July 19 rough Saturday, July 24, The cost for e conference is year is $375 per person (double occupancy); $500 per person (single occupancy-adults only). Applications and a non-refundable deposit of $150 per person are due by May 28. Applications submitted after June 18 are subject to a $50 late fee per application. No applications will be accepted after June 28. For more information, please Fr. Gary George, Director, at abounag1@hotmail.com. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 3 April 2010

4 THE ORDER OF SAINT SHARBEL Annual Members Raymond J. Dustin Lila L. Dustin St. George Maronite Church San Antonio, Texas The Order of Saint Sharbel is an organization of lay people and clergy who have pledged eir spiritual streng and financial support for Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary and e retired Maronite clergy of e Maronite Eparchies in e USA. For more information about e Order, ask your pastor or write to Eparchy of Saint Maron Order of Saint Sharbel 109 Remsen Street Brooklyn, NY Or Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon Order of Saint Sharbel 1021 Sou 10 Street St. Louis, MO by Marie Van Heusen Vocations: Embracing Her Reality I n early November, I was pleased to meet Sister Marla Marie. I had heard much about her from my daughter Tresa and rough The Maronite Voice. Sister was visiting wi us in order to meet Tresa s family and learn more about her. This February, Tresa joined Sister in e new religious community of Maronite Servants of Christ e Light. I was a bit concerned because I wanted to make a good impression. I discovered at Sister s greatest interest lay in answering any of my Bishop Gregory Mansour, Tresa, and her moer questions or concerns for my Marie Van Heusen. daughter. At at time, she asked me to write about my oughts and reactions to Tresa s decision. I must say at I did not ink much about my feelings, until Sister asked. I should add at Sr. Marla Marie was especially interested because I have two children entering e religious life. My youngest son, Ian, entered seminary is fall at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. I often hear from friends and family comments about how hard it must be to give two children to God. I have to admit I never imagined it was my choice. I tried to teach my children at, if we open ourselves, God will reveal to us our vocation (marriage, religious, teacher, doctor, etc.). We can ignore Him or we can pray, listen (discern), and en find our own unique calling in life. I believe at all ree of my children have done at. It is not my place, as a moer, to impose my hopes for em, but instead to encourage and support em as ey discover God s plan. So as I sit and write I begin to remember em as ey grew up. I have always sensed in Ian, since infancy, a calling to religious life. There were signs I believed pointed toward at future for him. Now Tresa was a different story. She was strong-minded, determined and stubborn at a very young age. As she grew she used ose traits to become a hardworking, resilient, devoted and unfailingly honest (to a fault) young woman. I often wondered and worried if Tresa would meet a nice young man who could understand and appreciate her. Would she be blessed, as I have been, to fall in love and marry a good man who would, rough eir love, draw her closer to God? Also, of course, as a moer, I dreamed of a big beautiful wedding and of supporting her rough moerhood, as e loving nana. And yet on e day Tresa told me she was being called to be a nun, e first ought to enter my head was not of loss. As I listened to her explain about e mons of praying and discerning, and how she had come to realize God was calling her to serve Him and His Church, I was overwhelmed wi a great joy for her! I can now stop wondering and worrying. My daughter has found e One Man who will always love, support and understand her. Yes I give up my dreams of at beautiful wedding and Tresa blessed wi children. I gladly let go of my dreams in order to embrace her reality, loving and serving in e greater family of all, The Caolic Church. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 4 April 2010

5 by Tommy Tedros T he annual St. Maron s Feast Day celebration at Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon Caedral turned out to be yet anoer memorable event as we came togeer to celebrate e 1600 anniversary of e dea of St. Maron. This year, in e presence of our Bishop, His Excellency Robert Shaheen, we honored special people for all eir contributions to society. Our eme is year, A Leading Star, is a perfect description of e guidance and example set by many individuals in our community. The honorees at personified is eme are two parishioners at have contributed so much and have given eir time and efforts considerably. Dr. Elias Ayoub, and Mrs. Mary Baccash were e honorees who continue to excel in eir support and leadership in our parish life. On Sunday, February 21, 2010, e Our Lady of Mt Lebanon - St. Peter Caedral community of Los Angeles, California, celebrated its annual St. Maron s Feast Day, beginning wi a Pontifical Liturgy at e Caedral. The Divine Liturgy started wi a procession of e members of e Order of Saint Sharbel. They were in honor Los Angeles, California St. Maron s Feast Day Left to right: Msgr. Alfred Badawi, Fr. Abdallah Zaidan, Bishop Shaheen, Chorbishop Faouzi Elia and Fr. Gaby Hoyek. guard formation as e altar servers and clergy entered e Caedral. The main celebrant was His Excellency Robert Shaheen. Chorbishop Faouzi Elia, Vicar General, Monsignor Alfred Badawi, Faer Abdallah Zaidan, Faer Elias Sleiman and Faer Gaby Hoyek concelebrated. Following Liturgy, a luncheon was held at e Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. Around six hundred guests attended is event at included e honoring of Dr. Elias Ayoub and Mary Baccash as recipients of e Lifetime Civic Achievement Award. Tommy Tedros conducted e introductory part of e program where he introduced e many religious and civic dignitaries in attendance. Those present included City Councilman Dennis Zine and Acting Consul General of Lebanon, Madonna Aoun Ghazal. Many oer special guests and VIPs participated in e activities of at day as e program was en turned over to Master of Ceremonies and Chairman of e Event Mr. Robert Atallah. He introduced e various guests to speak during e course of is event. Oer speakers included Bishop Robert Shaheen of e Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon. Chorbishop Faouzi Elia read and introduced a videotaped message from His Excellency Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation. There was also a special power-point presentation about e life and legacy of St. Maron. Faer Abdallah Zaidan awarded e Silver Massabki Awards to Ron Lazar and Sara Abudayyeh for eir service and dedication to e local caedral community. He also presented for e first time in our community e Fai of e Mountain Award for young adult achievement to ree sisters, Dona, Rebecca and Jasmine El-Khoury. The program included some musical entertainment by Nina Bejany, Noor Ghssoub and Christine Said. Afterwards, Faer Zaidan presented Mary Baccash wi e Life Civic Achievement Award. Mary has been an active parishioner of Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon Caedral since e 1960s. She has been a dedicated member of e church s ladies society and helped wi e various community activities. In e early 1900s, her parents emigrated from Syria rough Ellis Island and settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In e early 1950s, e Baccash family moved to West Hollywood, California, residing near Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon Caedral. The family became very involved since en and Mary is extremely proud of her heritage, history, hard work and family traditions. An audio-visual presentation of Dr. Ayoub s life journey was shown as it highlighted his background and career pa and how it translated into e success he exhibits presently. Dr. Elias Ayoub was born and raised in Hammana, Lebanon, and decided to follow in his cousin s footsteps and practice medicine. Elias earned his bachelor s degree and later his medical degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He started his residency in Cleveland, Ohio, where he also began a life of service to his family, friends and his community. In Cleveland, he founded and became e president of e Cleveland chapter of e American-Lebanese League. In 1981, he returned to Lebanon and married his life partner Mireille. They ve been married for 28 years and have successfully raised five wonderful children in California. In 1993, Dr. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 5 April 2010

6 Ayoub led e creation of e International Maronite Foundation, which has held two substantive and effective conferences and carried out numerous humanitarian and cultural missions. He has also been a great part of e local community as well. Just last year, Dr. and Mrs. Ayoub were e co-chairpersons of e 46 Annual NAM Convention in Los Angeles at proved to be a tremendous success as many honored and distinguished guests were in attendance along wi many Maronites from all over e United States. He is currently on e NAM Board of Directors serving as Public Relations Chairperson. He has hosted e American Lebanese Medical Association in Lebanon on two occasions and has led seminars on public heal in Lebanon. Thus, for all his work on behalf of Lebanon and its people, he was honored wi e bestowing of e Order of e Cedars in a ceremony in Detroit. Not long after, he was recognized for all his work in e United States on behalf of his culture, his profession, and e United States wi e Ellis Island Congressional Medal of Honor. Following e video, Faer Zaidan and Faer Sleiman presented e Lifetime Civic Achievement Award to Dr. Ayoub who anked everyone and spoke about his life experiences. These two recipients are well deserving of e accolades and ey make us, e Lebanese community, proud to honor em in is event. St. Maron s Day is e feast day of e founder and patron of e Maronite Church at is commemorated every February 9. Each year, e bar is raised on e magnitude of is event, and it fosters Maronite pride in us all in terms of heritage, culture, tradition and unity. Minneapolis, Minnesota Mid-America Regional Convention by Joan Moses T he Mid-America Regional Convention of NAM was held at Saint Maron Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 12 rough 14. The event was aptly chaired by Elena Elkhoury and led liturgically by Monsignor sharbel Maroun. Participants were delighted by homemade Lebanese cuisine served at every meal during e ree days. A coordinated effort by dozens of parishioners produced e delicious foods. Friday night Ramsho and Benediction of e Cross was followed by our traditional array of meatless dishes and a dance to e tunes of D.J. U.B., Yaoob Jacobs, parishioner and NAM delegate. Saturday started wi breakfast and a tour of our facilities. Two excellent workshops were attended by many wi a strong showing from our sister church, Holy Family, of e greater Saint Paul area. Faer Rodrigue Constantine of Holy Family gave an interactive and informative talk on e Liturgical Renewal of e Maronite Church in America, in which he is deeply involved wi e music part. Samir Elkhoury spoke winningly on his passion, The Phoenician- Maronite Connection. Bo workshops led to deep lunchtime conversations and socializing before many participants went to e Mall of America for tax-free cloes shopping. A side Msgr. sharbel Maroun, Pastor, receives an award on behalf of St. Maron Parish for eir hard work for NAM. trip for e MYO and MYA was taken to e adjoining Water Park of America. Afternoon Liturgy was followed by an elegant cocktail reception wi a fun Chinese auction, a Lebanese buffet, and Hafli. Amin and e Sultans live band of New York, entertained along wi Yaoob Jacobs. About two hundred people attended. Sunday morning a Children s Liturgy was offered by our Maronite Caolic Formation (MCF) students, grades one rough six. Tommy Tedros, NAM President; Mike Naber, Executive Director of NAM; and Antoine Boumitri, Regional Vice-President for Mid-America Region of e Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon spoke to e community. Monsignor sharbel received an award on behalf of e parish for all eir hard work for NAM. Msgr. sharbel also bestowed e Regional Silver Massabki Award on Nawal Zerka, dedicated wife and moer of four sons, including our oer NAM delegate, Michael Zerka. Our Maronite Church is a Treasure Continued from page 1 and Blessed Broer Nehme, who point to heaven and yet live rooted here on e ear, wi parents, grandparents, hermits, nuns, priests, countless martyrs and saints who have gone unnoticed by history, and wi Patriarch Sfeir as our Faer and Head, can we be anying but grateful for such a rich spiritual heritage? Let us ank Saint Maron and e sons and daughters of e Maronite Church for is great gift. Happy Easter and blessed Jubilee Year of Saint Maron. Sincerely yours in Christ, +Gregory John Mansour Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 6 April 2010

7 by Carmen Dailey Glen Allen, Virginia You Regional Retreat O ver e weekend of March 5-7, 2010, you from Our Lady of Lebanon Church, Washington, D.C.; St. Elias Church, Roanoke, Va.; St. Sharbel Church, Raleigh and Archangel Michael Church, Fayetteville, N.C., joined you from St. Anony Maronite Church in Glen Allen, [Richmond], Va., for a weekend of shared fellowship and fun. The eme of e retreat was Get an Attitude: The Beatitudes, and talks focused on e challenging, radical ideas found in e Sermon on e Mount. The seventy retreatants contemplated what it means to be pure of heart, and learned to understand e expression poor of spirit. They shared experiences of loss and grief for Blessed are ose who mourn,, and struggled wi challenging scenarios revolving around Blessed are ose who hunger and irst for what is right. Each beatitude was covered, and retreatants contributed many oughtful discussions on eir topics. A highlight from e retreat was, as always, e presence of two of our seminarians, Deacon Tony Massad and Gaby Gubash, who continually serve as excellent role models for all of e you. On Saturday night, e you participated in a confession service. It was inspiring to see e you going to confession and supporting each oer in is beautiful service. As part of e service, you received letters from parishioners at St. Anony s and from oer family members. These surprise letters offered support and encouragement to e you as ey grow in eir fai. No retreat is complete wiout a hafli, and e retreatants enjoyed a dance on Saturday night. Many new friendships were forged as retreatants laughed and learned wi you from roughout e diocese. These relationships hopefully will continue as e you grow into e adults of our parishes. Many parents assisted wi e retreat, preparing and serving delicious meals, and some parents stayed around to observe e retreat. Heaer Hodges, a moer of two participants, commented at not only was e retreat fun for her sons, but she enjoyed it as well! The you were up early on Sunday morning for eir last session. They also participated in e parish liturgy as readers, gift bearers and peace givers. After lunch, e seventy plus you departed wi promises to return. by Dr. Felix Labaki Buffalo, New York Joint Retreat D uring e first two weeks of March, 2010, St. John Maron Parish of Williamsville [Buffalo], New York, and St. Aloysius Parish held eir annual joint Lenten retreat. For e ird consecutive year, St. John Maron s parishioners, and many from St. Aloysius, were regaled by visiting homilist Msgr. Peter Popadick, Pastor of St. Aloysius, a nearby parish in e Diocese of Buffalo, as he combined his sharp wit wi his inspiring spirituality in developing e eme of The Year of e Priest. After e Divine Liturgy on e first of our two nights, many of ose attending availed emselves of e opportunity to participate in e Mystery of Reconciliation offered by Fr. Georges El- Khalli and Msgr. Popadick. Following e liturgy on e second night we and our guests from our adopted sister parish gaered in e Parish Center for a Lenten meal of soups, salads, breads and desserts prepared by e ladies of e Altar & Rosary Society. This offered an opportunity to renew and continue e camaraderie which has developed among members of e two parishes. On Wednesday evening of e next week, St. Aloysius Parish reciprocated by inviting Fr. El-Khalli as guest homilist and our parishioners as participants to eir retreat night. Fr. Georges continued e eme of The Year of e Priest. In his scholarly presentation, he closed wi, There can be no Eucharist wiout e Priesood; ere can be no Priesood wiout e Eucharist; and ere can be no Eucharist or Priesood wiout Christ. Prior to e Liturgy we all enjoyed a simple Lenten supper of soups, breads and light desserts. This now-annual event emphasizes e spiritual and pastoral closeness which is possible between pastors of different traditions and among eir flocks. One illustration of is sharing of interests was exhibited by some of our guests who were eager to hear Fr. Georges explanation of e magnificent icons and oer artwork of St. John Maron Church. Flint, Michigan Mid Eastern Luncheon O ur Lady of Lebanon Church in Flint, Michigan, held its second Mid Eastern Luncheon on Thursday, March 11, The luncheon was open to e public as well as to parishioners, and approximately two hundred people attended. Our volunteers worked twice as hard on is event since we were in e middle of e Lenten season, and ey wanted to offer a second meatless Lenten menu to go along wi eir standard Mid Eastern menu. For ose looking for a meatless meal, ey added pumpkin kibbe, spinach pie, and green beans wi oil to eir standard menu. Thanks to our devoted volunteers and eir hard work, e luncheon was a success and all of e lunches were sold by 2:00 pm. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 7 April 2010

8 Somerset, New Jersey Family Convocation Day Bishop Gregory Mansour addresses members of St. Sharbel Church gaered for eir annual retreat. by Subdeacon Joseph Chebli O n February 27, 2010, e St. Sharbel parish of Somerset, New Jersey, under e pastoral care of Msgr. Maroun Asmar, and e assistance of Subdeacon Joseph Chebli, held its First Annual Family Convocation Day for married and engaged couples to reflect on and renew eir spiritual bonds. His Excellency Bishop Gregory Mansour, Bishop of e Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, graced e parish wi his presence, accompanied by Deacon Danny Abi Akar. The morning began wi a breakfast followed by e morning discussion which focused on marriage. After lunch an afternoon session focused on family, culminating wi e Divine Liturgy and a Celebration of e Feast of St. Maron at Pierre s Restaurant. During e day, e Bishop made himself available to hear confession, a sacrament in which many had taken part. In e morning session, His Excellency presented e tru of marriage, e good, bad and e ugly as he described it. He wanted to present not just e ideal of marriage, but its sometimes harsh reality as well. Using as foundation e Creation narrative in e book of Genesis, Bishop Gregory untangled e nuances at are presented by e sacred writers. He pointed to e reflective action of e Triune God in creating a free-willed man despite His knowledge of e possible demise at an improper use of e free will may bring to humanity. The Bishop explained how God s creation of Adam, and en Eve out of his side, is a sign of equality between woman and man. However, rough e subtle deceit of e serpent, who separated and en tempted Adam and Eve, ey sinned and en hid in shame. But e Bishop did not leave us wiout hope. He mentioned at e story of salvation continued to show for e unfailing care and love of e Triune God. One of e emphases of e Creation story describing e deceit of man is e fact at Eve was tempted while away from Adam, in essence when bo are not standing beside each oer. On at eme e Bishop warned of e separation (physical and emotional) between man and woman and urged couples to fight anying at comes between em. After e Bishop s talk, e morning session broke out into two groups. The men were moderated by Subdeacon Joseph and e women by his wife, Elizabe. The discussion focused on attempting to answer questions such as what makes each spouse happy in a marriage and what hinders such happiness. After lunch, during e afternoon session which focused on e family, Bishop Gregory drew again on Genesis, contemplating on e words of e sacred writer who mentioned at it was God Himself who recognized at it is not right for man to live alone, and since God lives in a communion of love as Faer, Son and Holy Spirit, so should e family be a communion of love. The family, in fact, is an icon of e Trinity; Bishop Gregory added at e expression of love between a husband and wife is essential and told e story of an elderly man who raised a beautiful family and when asked about his secret he simply said: I loved eir moer. The afternoon workshop was a joint conversation of husband and wife on what are some of e challenges at prevent em from living fully e vocation of married love and of what helps em to do so. The children of e irty couples attending were cared for by e MYA and MYO who designed a program for em including a magician to entertain em. At e end of e Divine Liturgy e Fai of e Mountain Award was presented to Marie Soueid and e Silver Massabki Award was presented to Sami and Lina Stephan. This first annual marriage and family convocation at Saint Sharbel was a good beginning to reach out to couples and families and to support em in eir vocation. Jacksonville, Florida Vacation Bible Day by Fr. Elie Abi Chedid S aint Maron s you group in Jacksonville, Florida, organized a Vacation Bible Day wi e eme Jumping for Jesus, for children ages 6 to 12 on Saturday March 20, The day included games, music, a movie, workshops and food. The event was successful for e you group and all e younger children who participated in a day of fun, learning and sharing food for mind and body. Faer Elie Abi Chedid, Director of e you group, expressed his anks and appreciation to all ose who sponsored and helped in is event especially to e you group officers: Jeannette Saliba, Maya Saikali, Christy Abou Tayeh, and Angela Karam. Food For Thought The one triune God is an ocean at cannot be crossed or explored. High is e heaven, broad e ear, deep e sea and long e ages; but higher and broader and deeper and longer is [God s] knowledge. For [God] has been adorned by nature, [God] who created it from noing. St. Columban, Irish Monk and Missionary, 6 century The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 8 April 2010

9 Somerset, New Jersey Msgr. Maroun Asmar to Retire bytony Loubnan, Council President O n Sunday, April 25, 2010, His Excellency Bishop Gregory Mansour will celebrate Divine Liturgy at St. Sharbel Church in Somerset, New Jersey. Following e liturgy a banquet will be held at e Pines Manor to honor Msgr. Maroun Asmar, Pastor, as he retires after decades of service to e Maronite Church. I ve had e honor to serve as his Church Council President for e past irteen years and have witnessed firsand how our parish family has flourished. Msgr. Asmar has been more an a pastor to many and our parish has embraced him as a member of each family. There has never been a dull moment under his watch and we are always reminded at The Best is Yet to Come. Monsignor Maroun Asmar was born October 27, 1933 in Jezzine, Lebanon, has served as Pastor of St. Sharbel Church in Somerset for e past seventeen years. He also serves as Administrator for Our Lady Star of e East Mission in Pleasantville [Atlantic City], N.J. He served Our Lady of Lebanon Caedral from 1956 rough 1994 as Cantor, Choir Member, Lector, Reader, Subdeacon and Deacon to four Rectors: Chorbishop Mansour Estephan, Bishop Elias Chahine, Msgr. George Webby and Bishop Stephen Hector Doueihi. In 1979 he was ordained a Subdeacon by Archbishop Francis M. Zayek. In 1981 he was knighted by Archbishop Zayek into e Order of e Knights of St. Sylvester from His Holiness Pope John Paul II for his support and untiring efforts to aid e war victims in Lebanon. Upon completing a four-year program for e diaconate he was ordained a Deacon by Archbishop Zayek in His early days in Lebanon, strong work eics and positive outlook are what led him to great successes later in life. After completing one year of Caolic High School in Jezzine, he was interested in e priesood and visited e Eparchy of Saida wi his Uncle Fr. Louis Asmar. However, lack of finances forced him to leave Jezzine and go to Beirut to learn e trade of cabinet making from 1949 to He en opened a cabinet shop in Jezzine from 1951 rough He served in e Lebanese Army, Engineering Section as an Instructor from 1953 rough He married Genevieve Asmar in 1956 and immigrated to e U.S. They had ree children, Peter, Paul and Mary and four grandchildren. His wife, Genevieve always encouraged and supported his plans and studies for e Diaconate program. Following her dea in 1990 he met wi Archbishop Zayek and discussed his calling to e Holy Priesood. After two years of preparation under e guidance of Chorbishops Michael Thomas and John Faris he was ordained to e Holy Priesood by Archbishop Zayek in His first assignment was Assistant to Chorbishop Michael Thomas at St. Sharbel Church in Somerset, N.J. He has been Pastor since He held various jobs upon his initial arrival to e U.S. He joined e New York City Transit Auority in 1964 as a Carpenter s Helper. In 1978 he was promoted to Supervisor. He took a leave of absence from e Transit ( ) to join e Union where he began as a Field Representative. In 1988 he was elected, unopposed, as e first Secretary Treasurer for e Subway Surface Supervisor s Association. In 1991 he was elected Union President, unopposed for a 3-year term. He retired from e Union in He played an instrumental role in bringing TeleLumiere television station to e United States by holding many fundraisers. In 2007 he was elevated to e rank of Monsignor as a Chaplain to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI by His Excellency Bishop Gregory Mansour. Msgr. Asmar s plans for retirement include taking on two new roles as Chaplain at St. Peter s Hospital and at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and is currently enrolled in eir certification course. For details on his April 25 Retirement Banquet Contact Tony Loubnan at (732) ; or Subdeacon Joseph Chebli at (908) or at josephchebli@hotmail.com. You can also visit for more information. Schedule of Bishop Gregory Mansour April 7-8, 2010 Caolic University, Washington, D.C. April 10-11, 2010 Regional NAM Convention, Atlantic City, N.J. April 14-16, 2010 Eastern Caolic Bishops Meeting and Maronite History Committee Meeting, St. Louis, Mo. April 18, 2010 Our Lady of Lebanon Caedral, Brooklyn, N.Y. and 4:00 P.M. Liturgy at Westchester Mission, Westchester, N.Y. April 22, 2010 Eparchial Finance Council Meeting, Brooklyn, N.Y. April 24, 2010 Open House for Caedral Renovations, Our Lady of Lebanon Caedral, Brooklyn, N.Y. April 25, :00 A.M. Liturgy and Brunch at St. Sharbel Church, Somerset, N. J., in honor of Msgr. Asmar s retirement. April 29, 2010 Presbyteral Council Meeting, Brooklyn, N.Y. May 2, 2010 Our Lady of Lebanon Caedral, Brooklyn, N.Y., Homecoming Liturgy May 9, 2010 Our Lady of Lebanon Caedral, Brooklyn, N.Y. May 16, 2010 Our Lady of Lebanon Caedral, Brooklyn, N.Y. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 9 April 2010

10 Marian Feast Named Holiday for Muslims, Christians Interview Wi Dr. Mohammad Al-Sammak by Tony Assaf C hristians and Muslims in Lebanon are looking forward to sharing e Feast of e Annunciation as a national holiday, says e secretary general of e Christian- Muslim Committee for Dialogue. Mohammad Al-Sammak said is in an interview wi ZENIT while he was in Rome for a February 22, 2010, conference on e eme, "The Future Is Living Togeer: Christians and Muslims in e Middle East in Dialogue." It was organized by e Sant'Egidio Community, an international Caolic organization at focuses on prayer, spreading e Gospel, ecumenism, and dialogue wi oer religions and non-believers. Al-Sammak, who also serves as a political counselor to e Grand Mufti of Lebanon, became e first Muslim to participate as an active member in a Synod of Bishops in 1995 when John Paul II convoked a special assembly of e prelates of Lebanon. Al-Sammak is also one of e 138 Muslim leaders who signed e open letter "A Common Word Between Us and You," addressed to Pope Benedict XVI and various heads of oer Christian churches and confessions. He worked for ree years on a project wi e Lebanese government to make e Feast of e Annunciation, March 25, a holiday for bo Christians and Muslims. Last week e auorities issued a decree making at day a national feast day. In is interview wi ZENIT, Al-Sammak spoke about e past, future, and oer elements shared by Christians and Muslims in e Middle East. ZENIT: What do you ink of e crisis in Islamic and Christian relations in e Middle East and e fact at after fourteen centuries of living togeer we are once again participating in a conference on dialogue? Al-Sammak: Basically, e Muslims and Christians in e Middle East are condemned to decide to live togeer. There is no ird way: eier ey choose to live togeer or ey are forced to live togeer. Let us say at e coexistence between Christians and Muslims is not someing premeditated, but it is a choice. And since we have built a common life on e basis of a choice, we must be aware at ere are differences between us and create a culture founded on respect for ese differences and acceptance and living wi em. Neier of us can abolish nor impose our own way of life on oers. The diversity and plurality of our Arab societies -- Christian and Muslim -- are a vital and fundamental component and even an historical component. At e same time, ey are also a formula for e future if ere is a future for is region. ZENIT: What could e future of e Middle East be if e Christians disappeared? Al-Sammak: There is no future for e Arab region if e Muslims and Christians do not live togeer. What is happening now in at region in regard to e diminishment of e number and role of Christians is a disaster not only for Christians but also for Muslims, and will lead to e disintegration of at society and e loss of e weal of diversity and e scientific, economic, intellectual and cultural expertise of e Christians who emigrate. Emigration is not so much a loss for e Christians as it is for e Muslims and at e same time it is a defeat for Islam- Christian coexistence. ZENIT: To what extent are Muslims aware of e danger of a disappearance of Christians from e Middle East? Al-Sammak: I must admit at e Christian preoccupation for e future is greater an e awareness at Islam has of is danger. It must be our duty to broaden e circle of Islamic consciousness about e emigration of Christians and e gravity of e exodus of Christians for Islam in at region and e rest of e world. The Christian exodus brings an indirect message to e world: at Islam does not accept e oer and cannot live wi oers. At is point e oer world, or e Western world in general, following is logic, would have e right to say: If Muslims do not accept e presence of Christians among em, in reality an auentic and historical presence, why must we accept [Muslims] in our societies? This reflects negatively on e Islamic presence in e world and so it is in e interests of Muslims, for e image of Islam in e world and for e interests of Muslims in different parts of e world, to maintain e presence of Christians in e Arab world and to protect is presence wi all its might not only out of love for Christians but because is is eir right as citizens and inhabitants of e region, who were ere before Muslims. ZENIT: Speaking of Muslims in e world, especially in e Western world, one often hears talk of Islamophobia. What, according to you, are e causes and solutions to is phenomenon? Al-Sammak: Some of ese causes stem from historical circumstances inherited from Western culture, which has a negative vision of Muslims at has its roots in literature and is reflected day after day in e media in one way or anoer. But what feeds is phenomenon is e behavior of some Islamic extremists in e Western societies and when I speak of unacceptable behavior, I am not necessarily talking about terrorism, which is in itself dangerous, negative and catastrophic, but I am also talking about e confusion between religion and tradition. Tradition is not religion and some of ese persons of whom I am speaking unfortunately come from Muslim societies [at have] local customs and traditions at ey say are part of e religion even if ey are not, and perhaps ey are contrary to e religion itself. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 10 April 2010

11 They live in Western societies clinging to ose traditions because rough em ey ink at ey are expressing eir independent personalities. And so ey come to ese Western societies at do not accept em, and ey understand emselves to be different in culture, in language, in religion, in food in "halal" and in "haram," etc. and begin to feel emselves marginalized from social life; and to develop eir own personality ey cling to e traditions at ey practiced in eir countries and sanctify em, at is, ey elevate em to e level of e holiness of religion in such a way as to give e impression to Westerners at if is is Islam, one cannot live wi it. But is is not Islam, ese local traditions at come from African countries, from Pakistan, from Afghanistan, from India, etc.; e confusion between what is really religious and what is a social tradition to which a religious identity is given, leads to an increase in Islamophobia, understood as hatred of Islam based on ignorance. Because ignorance about Islam derives from two ings: The first is an erroneous interpretation of Islam by some Muslims and e second is e lack of understanding of Islam by some non-muslims. The basis of is social behavior practiced by some Muslims who come from underdeveloped or poor or primitive societies is not only in e fact at ey ignore e social traditions of e West in e societies where ey go to live, but at ey also and above all ignore a large part of e constants of eir fai and ey negatively project is in such a way as to cause is situation of Islamophobia. ZENIT: There is a grow in e currents of Islamic extremism. What is e impact of is grow on e Christians of e Middle East? Al-Sammak: I ink at ese movements have already gone beyond e grow phase and at perhaps today we are witnessing e beginning of e phase of eir decline. This grow reached its height a short time ago but e drop in numbers has begun. These movements do not only have an impact on Christians in e Middle East but above all ey have an effect on Muslims. Extremism is an attempt to monopolize e tru and an attempt to monopolize God and to monopolize e sacred; it is also an attempt to interpret religion according to e interests and concepts of certain movements and so e way of relating to Muslims is determined by ese interpretations at are a reat to Islam, for Muslims and for Christians. Thus we need a process of correction of ese concepts rough cultural and educational projects, and I can say at Arab countries are already conscious of is aspect after having paid a high price for e spread of e extremism at has begun to fade due to e courageous steps taken by different countries like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Algeria and oers. All of ese countries have begun a new and courageous reflection to revive e practice of e true fai in a correct and positive way. ZENIT: What do e Muslims of e Middle East expect from e next Synod of Bishops? Will you participate? Al-Sammak: I participated in e previous Synod and I am grateful to His Holiness John Paul II not only for inviting Muslims to a Synod but also for having insisted on us participating as active members and not just as observers. I, personally, was a member of working commissions and is was a fact wiout precedent in e history of synods in general and in e history of Muslims at Christian meetings. In reality, e next Synod is very important because it will discuss e topic of Christians in e East; and is is not an issue at only regards Christians but an issue at is also of interest to Muslims because ey have e same fate in e East. What affects Christians in e Middle East also affects Muslims. Therefore we are very interested in what will happen and what will be decided in e next Synod. So far we have not received any invitation to participate but I hope at is will happen and I hope, too, at e Islamic participation will bring about someing similar to what it did in e Synod on Lebanon. Also because if we Muslims participate, we will assume e responsibility for implementing what will be decided at e Synod in view of a common Christian-Muslim responsibility. We have said is many times because we are responsible for implementing what was established by e post-synodal declaration, at least for what regards Lebanon. A similar declaration will also be issued by is Synod and so e Muslims could have a responsibility for implementing it. ZENIT: In your opinion, is ere a continuity between e pa taken by John Paul II and at of Benedict XVI? Al-Sammak: I ink at in restoring e Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, which was once annexed to e Pontifical Council for Culture, Pope Benedict XVI wanted to return to dialogue wi e oer religions, including e Muslims. In fact, we have all seen how e Pope welcomed e Islamic initiative "A Common Word Between You and Us," which regards love in Islam and Christianity. I had e honor of being among e first signatories of is document. The Pope's visit to Palestine and Jordan and his conversations wi Muslim leaders opened new and broad perspectives to reactivate e dialogue launched by John Paul II in Assisi in We have followed is work and we consider it among e most important missions at e Vatican is undertaking in relation to e Muslim world. We cannot, however, not take account of what is happening in some Muslim countries such as Nigeria, Indonesia and Malaysia. There are some paological aspects of Islamic-Christian relations at can only be dealt wi rough a culture of dialogue and a culture of respect for differences. The role at e Vatican can play is clear in e process of openness toward e Islamic world to encourage and promote is culture and establish it in Islamic societies. ZENIT: The Lebanese government decreed e Feast of e Annunciation as a common feast for Christians and Muslims. In what measure can such initiatives, especially when ey are promoted by e state, promote coexistence? Al-Sammak: This is one of e achievements at we are proud of and at we have been working on for e past ree years. (Continues on page 12) The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 11 April 2010

12 Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn Code of Conduct Progress Made April 5, 2010 Prot. No. 114/1/10 Dear Broers and Sisters in Christ: A s we know, e crime of e sexual abuse of children is not a Caolic problem, but a worldwide one at affects every culture, every religion and every society. To our shame and to e great harm and pain to Caolics and oers, a small minority of priests and religious have harmed e young in is way. In 2002 e American Caolic Bishops gaered in Dallas, Texas, and addressed is problem in a concentrated manner. They engaged every aspect of Church life to protect children and educate adults as to e devastating effects of childhood sexual abuse. Today, our Eparchy, as well as at of e Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, is among e leaders in is effort and our success is due to your efforts. Wi e desire to inform each of you on e progress made in our Eparchy, and wi an ardent desire to remain constantly vigilant, below are some facts at can help us understand e steps taken:!safe environment training and criminal background checks are mandatory for clergy and all church personnel dealing wi children in our Eparchy. We are fully compliant in bo ese areas.!our Eparchy has a Code of Conduct dealing in is matter (see our website for our Eparchy s code).!our Eparchial Victim Assistance and Safe Environment Coordinator is Rosanne Solomon. Her telephone number is !Counseling assistance is provided to victims.!seminary screening has been tightened; all our seminarians are given psychological tests, background checks and training in how to create safe environments for children.!audits of our Eparchy have been conducted every year. For e past five years our Eparchy has been in complete compliance.!a Diocesan Review Board exists in our Eparchy. Our Eparchial Board is made up of four lay persons and two priests.!our Eparchy cooperates fully wi public auorities on credible allegations. Information on what e Church in e United States has done can be found on e website of e United States Caolic Conference of Bishops Also see for e Code of Conduct for e Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon. Wi courage and conviction let us continue to work to ensure at our you and children are not only safe and protected, but respected and loved as well. If ere are any concerns at you have about is matter, please feel free to contact me or Rosanne Solomon. Wi prayerful best wishes, I remain Sincerely yours in Christ, +Gregory J. Mansour Bishop of e Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn. Marian Feast Named Holiday for Muslims, Christians Continued from page 11 For ree years we have been organizing on March 25 a Muslim-Christian gaering centered on Mary, reciting verses from e Gospel and from e Qur'an at regard Mary, seeking to show what is common to Islam and Christianity. Last year from e podium of e former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, I personally declared his agreement and his approval of e declaration of March 25 as a Muslim and Christian feast day. The idea was at on is day everyone must continue to work, because e former prime minister said: "I want e Lebanese to work one day more, not one day less." My broers and I of e Christian-Muslim Committee for Dialogue (of which I am e secretary general) accepted e decision, because we wanted in any case to dedicate is day to Muslims and Christians. Last week we met wi Prime Minister Saad Hariri and we again proposed is idea to him, and he immediately supported it. And forty-eight hours later a decree was issued at declared March 25 a national holiday and a day of celebration: a day of [interreligious] work for bo Muslims and Christians. Rome, March 1, 2010 (Zenit.org) Patriarch Sfeir Calls on People to Support Lebanon and its President M aronite Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir called Friday, April 2, 2010, in his Easter Message for all Lebanese to support eir country, eir president and eir officials as well as to overcome deep-rooted hatred for each oer. Patriarch Sfeir added at high-ranking Lebanese figures are being criticized and marginalized, saying at is was never e case previously, in a reference to e recent criticisms launched against President Michel Sleiman. He also touched on e security situation in e country, saying most Lebanese citizens are suffering from e security breaches. Patriarch Sfeir said at some gangs raid homes and shops at gun-point, and are engaged in drug-trafficking. Despite e improvement in e security situation, e law is not being implemented, said Patriarch Sfeir, adding at ere are security breaches because of existing divisions in e public opinion. (NowLebanon.com, April 3, 2010) The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 12 April 2010

13 Maronite Seminarians in e U.S. Please pray for our seminarians by name and for an increase of vocations to e Priesood and Religious Life. Deacon Tony Massad Deacon Danny Abi Ackar Alex Joseph Deacon Vince Farhat George Hajje Fady Bazouzy Discerning a vocation to e Priesood? Please call e Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn at (718) ; or e Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon at (314) ; or Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary at (202) Dear Lord, People s Prayer for Priests We pray at e Blessed Moer wrap her mantle around your priests and rough her intercession strengen em for eir ministry. We pray at Mary will guide your priests to follow her own words, Do whatever He tells you (Jn 2:5). May your priests have e heart of St. Joseph, Mary s most chaste spouse. May e Blessed Moer s own pierced heart inspire em to embrace all who suffer at e foot of e cross. May your priests be holy, filled wi e fire of your love seeking noing but your greater glory and e salvation of souls. Amen. Saint John Vianney, pray for us. Imad El Chiti Gaby Gubash 2009 United States Conference of Caolic Bishops, Washington, D.C. Permission is granted to reproduce is text in whole or in part wiout adaptation for noncommercial use. Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. Alex Harb The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 13 April 2010

14 Panoply of Priests Helen M. Alvaré I m not sure if it got started in e late 1960s, but at s when I remember family-friends and relatives beginning to express e opinion at it was better to roam from parish to parish in order to find a priest who satisfied one s personal taste, an to stay in e parish assigned to you by your diocese. So some of my relatives started frequenting e parish where e priests were also professional eologians. Ordinary sermons didn t satisfy eir erudite tastes. Some friends only wanted to hear from e priest who passed out a paper bag at every Mass, in order to take up a special collection for e homeless men and women living on e Philadelphia streets. Gospel teaching wiout direct action wouldn t do for em. Whenever and however is kind of picking and choosing got started, I recollect distinctly at my parents felt it to be an insidious development. I didn t really understand e streng of eir feelings on is. My moer would try to explain: These are holy men of God, she would remind me. God has done e choosing, and ese men have bravely and sacrificially done e responding. Besides, she would say, it s just not charitable to assume e general posture at our job as parishioners is to take and to criticize. A better posture would be to ank God for what e priests do and bring to us. True to my parents words, ey invited a string of very diverse priests into our house and our life. There were e exceedingly pastoral priests, whose kindness and gentleness my parents just couldn t bid goodbye after ey had moved on to anoer parish. There was e priest who had stuck by my parents and one of my siblings after e latter had gone rough some tough times in high school. There was our former pastor who we used to visit in e retirement home for priests long after he could no longer make it over for dinner. At some point during our visit, he would start glancing around his room, determined to find gifts he could present to me and to my sister out of e few possessions he owned so at we never went home empty-handed. There were also e priests who elicited respect, if not e warm fuzzies. They came to dinner too. There was e pastor whom I feared to meet in confession when I was a little girl, and e priest-essayist whose opinions on defense spending did not mesh wi my faer s at all, but who was welcome to dinner at our house anyway, not only for e childhood memories he shared wi my parents, but also due to my parents steady respect for his holiness, his erudition, and e courage of his convictions. No matter e variety of priests I met, e takeaway message I got over time was at we were privileged as a family to have e friendship and e instruction ey never failed to give. They were kindness and intelligence wrapped up into a very nice package. What a perfect preparation is proved to be for my work as an adult! When I attended graduate school in Theology, ere were four women and about twenty seminarians and priests in my class. Togeer, we crammed for our comprehensive exams, celebrated our passage, ate many meals, and attended Mass. When I traveled e United States on behalf of e American Caolic bishops for more an ten years, I met an endless variety of holy, ordained men. I met priests who had emerged from families where ere had been divorce, or disabilities and who had become uniquely gifted bearers of Christ s message of healing and bearing wi suffering. I met quiet contemplatives, loquacious professors, and monks who operated tractors and movie cameras all in e same day. I met priests who had prayed outside abortion clinics until e personnel inside quit because e Spirit had changed em, and priests living side by side wi e homeless. I met priests whose prayer lives were so rich at ey could see lucidly what I was doing and what I ought to be doing, better an I could see while on e treadmill at was my life. The more time I spent wi em (and e older I got), I could actually see how eir particular gifts served e particular needs surrounding em. In short, I came to see and won t my parents be happy when I tell em at my parents instincts were right on. God has called a great variety of men to live, work, and speak to is infinitely variable world. Helen Alvaré is e moer of ree children and resides wi her husband in e Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. She is presently a professor of family law and law and religion at George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia, and previously worked in e pro-life office of e USCCB for ten years. Professor Alvaré is also a consultor for e Pontifical Council for e Laity. This article was disseminated by Sister Mary Ann Walsh, Director of Media Relations, United States Conference of Caolic Bishops (USCCB). The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 14 April 2010

15 Newtown Square, Pennsylvania Silver Massabki Award of work, but loads of fun in sharing our foods and heritage wi e local community. After e Divine Liturgy in honor of St. Maron, a full luncheon was prepared by e ladies of e parish and enjoyed by over two hundred people. Everyone had a chance to congratulate Gaby and Ibtissam on such commitment. This was truly a day of prayer and fellowship. Buffalo, New York The Last Supper Fr. Paul Mouawad, Ibtissam and Gaby El-Beyrouty. by Lillian Shahade O n February 28, 2010, Fr. Paul Mouawad proudly presented e Silver Massabki Award to Gaby and Ibtissam El-Beyrouty for eir unselfish dedication to St. Sharbel Maronite Church in Newtown Square, Pennsylvannia. This day marked also e celebration of Saint Maron Feast Day, delayed by e frequency of inclement weaer. This is e first of many events is year as we celebrate e 1600 anniversary of e dea of St. Maron and e continuation of e Maronite Fai. Saint Maron was born in e middle of e 4 century. He was a priest who later became a hermit, retiring to a mountain of Taurus near Antioch. His holiness and miracles attracted many followers, and drew attention roughout e empire. St. Maron was deeply monastic wi emphasis on e spiritual and ascetic aspects of living. After his dea in e year 410 AD, his spirit and teachings lived on rough his disciples. The Massabki Broers Award given to Gaby and Ibtissam, recognizes an individual or married couple who exemplifies what it is to be dedicated to e church in e way of time, treasure or talent as a role model for ose around em. Gaby and Ibtissam have been members of St. Sharbel since it started as a Mission over irty years ago. Gaby is a member of e Parish Council, handles e maintenance and repairs to e church and rectory and is a good will ambassador. Ibtissam spearheads, organizes and is chief cook for almost all of e major events and fundraisers for e church. Wiout her ability in organizing e women and preparing e foods ere probably wouldn t be any fundraisers. Their service to e church is invaluable and definitely sets an example to follow. Togeer Gaby and Ibtissam organized our Annual Festivals for e last couple of years. They festivals were e biggest, best and longest at we have seen here at St. Sharbel in some time, requiring Lots by Debbie Tartick T he First Communion class at St. John Maron Church in Williamsville [Buffalo], N.Y., celebrated e Last Supper e week before Palm Sunday, learning about e institution of e Holy Mystery of Eucharist, e institution of e priesood and e commandment of broerly love. As e teacher read e institution narrative, e children consumed e body and blood (bread and grape juice) of Jesus while learning at Jesus' body and blood are nourishment for our body and helps us continue to grow spiritually as followers of Jesus. The Last Supper ended wi e children practicing how to receive communion on e tongue using candy wafers. The children couldn't decide which was more fun - eating during class or learning how to stick out eir tongues! D eadline for next mon s issue of The Maronite Voice is April 25, Send all changes of address, news, pictures and personal correspondence to: The Maronite Voice 4611 Sadler Road Glen Allen, Virginia Phone: (804) ; Fax: (804) Gmsebaali@aol.com. Digital pictures must be high resolution in JPEG format. The Maronite Voice is also available online in PDF format at The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 15 April 2010

16 Minneapolis, Minnesota 101 Birday Lebanon. Mrs. Sanchez Pietton, a former Miami resident was one of e unfortunate ninety victims of e Eiopian Airlines plane at crashed off e coast of Lebanon on January 25, Ambassador Pietton is a long-time friend of our parish and community. He has participated in more an one event at Our Lady of Lebanon back in e nineties when he served wi distinction as Consul General of France in Miami. Ambassador Pietton, a fervent supporter of Lebanon is presently playing an important role in fostering French support to bring Lebanon back to its place of honor among e community of nations. San Diego, California A 2010 Mercedes Benz C300 Raffle Sadie Anton wi Msgr. sharbel Maroun. T he parish of Saint Maron of Minneapolis, Minn., st honored Sadie Anton on her 101 birday. Sadie is a very unique person who still lives by herself in a very neat and clean house (second floor) where she was born in Sadie is still an active parishioner at Saint Maron and she rarely misses a Sunday Liturgy. Christmas night she showed up to church despite over fifteen inches of snow. Sadie and her nephew Namie Kouri (95 years) are e two oldest members of our community. They are a great inspiring example for all around em. Sadie also volunteers ree days a week at e Senior Neighborhood Center to assist e old people, as she says. Miami, Florida Memorial Liturgy A Memorial Liturgy was celebrated on Sunday, February 21, 2010 at Our Lady of Lebanon Church, Miami, Florida, for e repose of e soul of e late Marla Sanchez Pietton, wife of e Ambassador of France to by Fr. Nabil Mouannes E very year we crown Our Lady, Mariam Moer of Life in San Diego, California, a shrine dedicated to e sanctity of life. And for ree consecutive years our offering to e Blessed Virgin was joined by a halo from heaven, a confirmation of our gift and e work we hope to accomplish! Literally, a halo of rainbow colors has appeared above our shrine just as we have been crowning our Blessed Moer! This year we are calling on your assistance from a distance to participate in a direct way in helping e shrine which has been appointed by Bishop Robert Shaheen as e Center for Pro-Life Activity in e Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, and also to help our little K-8 grade academy which is growing under her protection! The raffle drawings will occur at 6:30 P.M. on May 30, 2010 on e church grounds. Winner(s) need not be present to win. For more information and on-line ticket purchases please see e church webpage or The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 16 April 2010

17 Peoria, Illinois At The Foot of His Cross by Laurice Joseph W hat will you leave at e Foot of e Cross; Jesus left His Life, consequently, we have Everying! Dying to self, in my opinion, is e 11 Commandment. The weekend of Feb , 2010, St. Sharbel Maronite Church, Peoria, Illinois, manifested what many people left at e Foot of e Cross at being Dying to Self. For ree meaningful, God-filled days, parishioners from St. Ann, St. Thomas and St. Vincent de Paul Latin Rite Caolic Parishes united wi e St. Sharbel Maronite Caolic parishioners and died to self, by participating in a program entitled W.A.T.C.H. This name is an acronym for We Are e Church! All participants of WATCH #18 placed is selfless Gift at e Foot of e Cross in anksgiving to e God-Man, Jesus, for His supreme sacrifice for all of us. The WATCH program is comprised of Liturgies, speakers, meditations, inspiring and related religious music, videos and slides. Throughout ese ree days, nonparticipants were making hourly Chapel visits, praying for e WATCH #18 participants! Deacon George Geagea first presented e idea of WATCH to our Church. Shortly after, it was examined and accepted; and, as always wi e help of God, parishioners conducted WATCH #1 at St. Sharbel Church during Lent in After Friday night s opening Liturgy, first-time attendees told me at ey felt e presence of Jesus, especially when ey listened to Fr. Awada symbolically chanting e words of Consecration in Aramaic! These words never cease to enchant and inspire e Love of e Eucharist! Prayer-filled processions from e hall to Church took place roughout e weekend. Sunday morning s Maronite Liturgy epitomized e meaning of America, a great melting pot of diversity; for all participants, Maronite and Latin, contributed prayerfully and musically to produce a most meaningful Service to God. Our Lord, e Supreme Maestro, orchestrated each and every moment of is ree-day WATCH. All of us heard His message: Togeer-as-one, your work has just begun. Orlando, Florida St. Maron Feast Day O n Sunday, February 7, 2010, St. Jude Maronite Caolic Church, Orlando, Florida, celebrated e 1600 anniversary of St. Maron s dea wi a luncheon sponsored by Charles and Rania JeBailey. More an one hundred fifty people filled e hall when lunch was served. During e celebration, Faer Bassam M Saade, Pastor, and Amine Harb, current Vice President of e National Apostolate of Maronites [NAM], presented e parish s first Massabki Silver Award to Khalil and Blanche Abou-Jaoude, who have served as St. Jude s delegates to e NAM convention for e past several years. Khalil is a member of e Parish Council and Blanche is currently e Left to right: Amin Harb, Michelle, Khalil and Blanche Abou-Jaoude, and Fr. Bassam Saade. Choir Director. Their daughter Michelle was awarded e Fai of e Mountain Award for her outstanding volunteer work and dedication to her Maronite Caolic fai. Congratulations to e Abou-Jaoude family for eir awards and to St. Jude for a successful feast day. Confession of a Candle by Deacon Dany Abi Akar F ew minutes constitute my lifetime yet my life is full of beautiful incidents and a history rich in e Caolic Church. Each radiant beam of mine contains a virtue, yes a true virtue. I learned at if I do not melt, I will never illuminate. I learned at if I do not give my body to be burned and if I do not allow e fire of love to consume my wick, I will not give light and warm, and nobody can benefit. I learned how to be delightful when approaching e match to my wick. For what can I be if I remain in e back of a drawer in beautiful wrappings while e darkness engulfs e space around me? Do not fault e night for its darkness since it is I who can brighten and distribute my light. I am e candle who is burning wi pride and by e end of my life I can say at I have accomplished my victory. Remember at after every darkness, dawn will come. Years constitute your whole life at is filled wi beautiful incidents. Remember at your soul is e wick of your presence. Let each beam of it contains a virtue and let your whole life brighten in e darkness of is world. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 17 April 2010

18 Register Now for e 47 Annual Maronite Convention by Wanda Elkourie, Public Relations Chairman S t. Elias Church, host of e 47 Annual Maronite Convention, continued its Centennial Celebration wi a St. Maron s Feast Day Banquet on February 14, The church hall was filled to capacity as parishioners enjoyed a delicious steak dinner and a special centennial program. The Centennial Celebration continued wi a Lenten Mission, led by Msgr. Don Sawyer of Our Lady s Maronite Parish in Austin, Texas, March 1 3. In e meantime, St. Elias parishioners have begun preparations for e 12 Annual St. Elias Lebanese Food & Cultural Festival to be held April 9 and 10. While all ese activities are going on, e 2010 Convention Committee continues in its efforts to have e best time ever in Birmingham, Alabama, in July Registration forms are now available, and you can register online at Registration chair, Marialana Watkins, Ticket Co-Chairs, Lorraine Dabney and Janice Adams, and Banquet Seating Co-Chairs, Beverly Kimes and Gayle Thigpen, have eir committees lined up and schedules prepared to ensure a smoo flowing, speedy registration experience. Maron Boohaker, Raffle Chair, has worked diligently to obtain some fantastic prizes in e annual convention raffle to include two round-trip tickets to Lebanon, jewelry and much more. As stewards of e Maronite Church, we look for ways of seeing e Church prosper. As individuals, we want to prosper spiritually, socially, and financially. The convention will entertain us, and we in return need to support it and help it meet its fundraising goal by purchasing raffle tickets. Therefore, we will send one book of five raffle tickets to each member at $5 per ticket or e book for $20 for you and/or any family and friends at would like to support NAM. You may purchase additional tickets rough your local NAM delegate at church or rough e NAM office. Please complete e information section on e tickets and return em wi a check payable to NAM Convention 2010 to: Saint Elias Maronite Church Convention Raffle 836 Eigh Street Sou Birmingham, Alabama Or NAM Office Convention Raffle P.O. Box 717 Yonkers, NY Be sure to mark your calendar, July 7 11, 2010, to join us in Birmingham, Alabama. We start off e convention on Wednesday night wi Cool Jazz and Hot BBQ wi music provided by Rod Paris and DJ Yaoob Jacobs. Thursday night brings A Souern Celebration wi music provided by More Cowbell and DJ Yaoob Jacobs. On Friday night we have A Mediterranean Evening wi music provided by e Amin Sultan Band and DJ Yaoob Jacobs. Saturday night we re Puttin On e Glitz, which is black tie optional, wi Fabian Sanchez from Dancing wi e Stars and music Left to right: Beverly Kimes, Gayle Thigpen, Maron Boohaker, Lorraine Dabney, Marialana Watkins provided by e Amin Sultan Band and DJ Yaoob Jacobs. Amin Sultan has emerged as one of e most talented Middle Eastern singers in e United States. He has been recording music for over twelve years and traveled roughout e United States, Canada, and Lebanon performing at concerts, conventions and festivals. Some special events you will not want to miss: Being a member of Faer Mitch Pacwa s LIVE television audience as he conducts an on-air interview wi our Bishops at e EWTN studios on his internationally acclaimed show EWTN Live; spending e day at Moer Angelica s Shrine of e Most Blessed Sacrament, including Divine Liturgy; and touring e internationally renowned Civil Rights Institute and Birmingham Museum of Art which has one of e finest collections in e Soueast including e largest collection of Wedgwood outside of England. (Visit or for convention information.) The famous Silent Auction, started right here in Birmingham in 1993, looks forward to your donations. This year, we are going to take e top Vacation Destinations and auction em Live. If you would like some ideas for items to donate, check out our registries wi or (first name: Theresa; last name: Bolus) and (first name: LaVonne; last name: Williamson). Reserve a table to display your organization, sell your publications or your wares in The Oasis, our hospitality, vendor and exhibition hall. You will not want to miss The Kahlil Gibran Traveling Exhibit or e Argileh Café. The coveted Commemorative Program Book is in need of business ads, church ads, family pages and sponsors for e information pages. You can use e form provided in The Maronite Voice or submit your ad online at Once again, NAM registration is available online. Remember, NAM members receive registration discounts. For more information about NAM, NAM membership and NAM travel, visit Again, please visit e convention website at The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 18 April 2010

19 The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 19 April 2010

20 The Maronite Voice St. Anony s Maronite Caolic Church 4611 Sadler Road Glen Allen, Virginia NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO GLEN ALLEN, VIRGINIA by Rima Antoon Chicago, Illinois Annual Retreat O ur Lady of Lebanon Church, Lombard [Chicago], Illinois, hosted its annual Lenten Retreat, Living Beyond Your Horizon, on March 13, 2010 wi guest speaker Deacon Philip Marrow. Sharing his life's passion, Deacon Marrow incorporated e St. Ignatius of Loyola approach to life for his insights and reflections as we examined what it meant to be 'auentically human.' The retreat began wi an exercise at allowed us to look at our inner landscape by imagining ree concentric circles. The outermost ring examines e facts and circumstances of my life, e ings at cannot be changed, titled "Where am I?" Here lists some facts of my existence, such as e color of my hair, e family I was born into, etc... The second ring is e area of my life where I make personal choices and exercise some control, titled "How am I?" This is where ings happen to me, and my choices, habits, and character shape my integrity. When I go to e ird circle, I move closer to e person I most truly am before God, e center of my being, titled "Who am I?" In doing is, e encounter will challenge me in ways I cannot predict, as I may find serious discrepancies between e person who lives in e Where and e person God created me to be. Following upon is, I am reminded at God elects which opportunities and alternatives around me bring me to my auentic self. Some ings make me more loving towards God and towards oers; oer ings make me more selfish and less loving even towards my own self. By examining my conscience, I am better able to learn how ings stand between God and me, where I'm coming from and where my life in Christ is growing. I en meditate on my sins and reflect upon myself. As I pray e Scriptures, I allow e meaning and values of each single word sink into my life. My horizon determines my priorities, my deeply held concerns and, at e same time, what I brush aside or screen out as insignificant, boring or annoying. I can't argue my way from one horizon to anoer, I have to be 'dynamited' out of it to reach anoer one. Ignatius exercises are designed to dynamite us out of e little worlds in which we may be trapped and into a world limited only by e interests and concerns of e Risen Christ. "For my oughts are not your oughts, neier your ways my ways, says e Lord. For as e heavens are higher an e ear, so my ways higher an your ways and my oughts an your oughts" (Isa. 55:8). God says, in effect, my horizon is not your horizon. Statue of St. Maron at e Vatican H is Holiness Pope Benedict XVI gave his approval to have a five-meter, Italian marble statue of St. Maron placed in e only space left on e wall of St. Peter s Basilica in Rome. The Statue should be ready for e Special Bishops Synod for e Middle East in October, The Holy Faer meant for is gesture to be in honor of e Maronite Church as well as commemorating e 1600 year since e dea of St. Maron. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. IV Page 20 April 2010