Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church April 15-16, 2017 MASSIH QAM - HAKAN QAM MASSIH QAM! HAKAN QAM! I would like to take this time to wish you and your family a blessed and joyful Easter. Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!!! Every year as we celebrate the season of Lent, walk the road of Christ s passion, and rejoice in His resurrection we should all feel a sense of renewal; a feeling of gratitude; a better understanding of God s unconditional love for us. We should also feel that we have in some way changed for the better. I only hope and pray that this Lenten journey has imprinted in our hearts just how much Jesus sacrificed for us. I pray that His sacred words to us have left an indelible mark to help us overcome the obstacles that keep us from showing others the same mercy, compassion, and forgiveness that Jesus has shown the world. May our Lord s victory be our victory! Massih Qam! Hakan Qam! REFLECTION On Easter Sunday, the Church is recollected in contemplation of the risen Christ. Thus she relives the primordial experience that lies at the basis of her existence. She feels imbued with the same wonder as Mary Magdalen and the other women who went to Christ's tomb on Easter morning and found it empty. That tomb became the womb of life. Whoever had condemned Jesus, deceived himself that he had buried his cause under an ice-cold tombstone. The disciples themselves gave into the feeling of irreparable failure. We understand their surprise, then, and even their distrust in the news of the empty tomb. But the Risen One did not delay in QUOTE OF THE WEEK "Yesterday I was crucified with Him; today I am glorified with Him; yesterday I died with Him; today I am quickened with Him; yesterday I was buried with Him; today I rise with Him. But let us offer to Him Who suffered and rose again for us you will think perhaps that I am going to say gold, or silver, or woven work or transparent and costly stones, the mere passing material of earth, that remains here below, and is for the most part always possessed by bad men, slaves of the world and of the Prince of the world. Let us offer ourselves, the possession most precious to God, and most fitting; let us give back to the Image what is made after the Image. Let us recognize our Dignity; let us honor our Archetype; let us know the power of the Mystery, and for what Christ died." St. Gregory the Theologian Fr. Vincent Farhat, Pastor Fr. Richard Cannuli, Weekend Assistance Mrs. Zeina Topalian, Religious Education Director Address: 1013 Ellsworth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147 Office: 215-389-2000 Hall Reservations: 215-334-1884 Evening Emergency Number: 215-952-0712 or 561-371-5316 Website: www.saintmaron.org Church Office: saintmaronphiladelphia@hotmail.com Instagram Page: @saintmaronphiladelphia Facebook Page: Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church of Philadelphia OFFICE HOURS: The Church office will be open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.
making himself seen and they yielded to reality. They saw and believed! Two thousand years later, we still sense the unspeakable emotion that overcame them when they heard the Master's greeting: "Peace be with you.'"......christ's Resurrection is the strength, the secret of Christianity. It is not a question of mythology or of mere symbolism, but of a concrete event. It is confirmed by sure and convincing proofs. The acceptance of this truth, although the fruit of the Holy Spirit's grace, rests at the same time on a solid historical base. On the threshold of the third millennium, the new effort of evangelization can begin only from a renewed experience of this Mystery, accepted in faith and witnessed to in life... Pope John Paul II Fact Mass is to be celebrated on Easter Day with great solemnity. It is appropriate that the penitential rite on this day take the form of a sprinkling with water blessed at the Vigil, during which the antiphon Vidi aquam, or some other song of baptismal character should be sung. The fonts at the entrance to the church should also be filled with the same water. The tradition of celebrating baptismal Vespers on Easter Day with the singing of psalms during the procession to the font should be maintained where it is still in force, and appropriately, restored. The paschal candle has its proper place either by the ambo or by the altar and should be lit at least in all the more solemn liturgical celebrations of the season until Pentecost Sunday, whether at Mass, or at Morning and Evening Prayer. After the Easter season the candle should be kept with honor in the baptistry, so that in the celebration of Baptism the candles of the baptized may be lit from them. In the celebration of funerals, the paschal candle should be place near the coffin to indicate that the death of a Christian is his own passover. The paschal candle should not otherwise be lit nor placed in the sanctuary outside the Easter season. Prayer God our Father, creator of all, today is the day of Easter joy. This is the morning on which the Lord appeared ot men who had begun to lose their hope and opened their eyes to what the scriptures foretold: that first he must die, and then he would rise and ascend into his Father's glorious presence. May the risen Lord breathe on our minds and open our eyes that we may know him in the breaking of bread, and follow him in his risen life. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. https://www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/eastersun day.htm VISIT FROM THE MARONITE SISTERS OF CHRIST THE LIGHT-WELCOME We welcome the Maronite Sisters of Christ the Light to Philadelphia for a weekend of faith and fun in celebrating our 125 th Anniversary. Below is the schedule for the weekend with the Sisters. Friday, April 21, Adults 35 and older 6:30PM dinner, 7:30PM- 8:30PM presentation and Q&A, 8:30 Adoration followed by group sharing and social/mixer. Saturday, April 22, ages 5 to MYO, 9:30AM-12:30PM (Including MYO), 3:00PM-5:00PM MYO Fun and Social Activity, 6:00PM Divine Liturgy, 7:00PM MYA Reflection on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 22, Chaplet of Divine Mercy @ 10:30AM I ask you to please rsvp for Friday evening and for the CCD children and MYO for Saturday so that we may prepare accordingly. I am sure that all of you will enjoy this visit and I encourage as many of you to attend. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ON SUNDAY AT 10:30AM The Maronite Sisters of Christ the Light will be praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday, April, 23, at 10:30 AM. Please join us before Divine Liturgy for this special prayer service. WITH DEEPEST SYMPATHY We extend our deepest sympathy to Peter and Terri Koway, Richard Koway, and Dante Scattolini on the passing of their cousin and wife Elise Koway Scattolini. Elise passed away this past week in Cape May, NJ. Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 22, at Saint Maron Church, from 9:00 AM 10:00 AM, followed by Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM. May Almighty God welcome her into His kingdom and may her soul rest in peace. Allah yer hamma. IN DEFENSE OF CHRISTIANS PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER Congratulations to Suzanne Tavani, Annie Tayoun-Dallegro, and Vincent Mowad, on being named Co-chairs for the local Philadelphia Chapter of In Defense of Christians. We are proud to be taking a lead role in this region for such a cause and we give our support and thanks to these individuals who have accepted the work that IDC does and to bring it to light in our area. God bless you and God bless all of our brothers and sisters throughout the world who are being persecuted. DABKE SIGNUP AND PRACTICE FOR FESTIVAL All those who will be participating in the dabke troupe for the festival, you are asked to please email the office the names of your children and ages. A schedule will be coming soon for practice times. Looking forward to another wonderful festival filled with our beautiful children entertaining us.
SPECIAL SECOND COLLECTION There will be a second collection for the next three weeks for the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light. The Sisters will be here on April 21-23, for a special weekend of reflection and fun with the adults as well as the children. Please see the flyer in this bulletin for the schedule for the weekend. UPCOMING EVENTS AT SAINT MARON CHURCH Friday-Sunday, April 21-23, 2017, Spiritual weekend with the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light. Sunday, April 30 First Communion Day Saturday, May 13, Mother s Day Hafli Summer Festival, June 2-4, 2017 SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (CONFESSION) Please know that confession is available before liturgies. You may also call to set up an appointment. PRAYER FOR SOLDIERS During these difficult times, we remember those family members and friends in faraway places. Let us lift in prayer the many women and men serving overseas in our armed forces. May they know of our respect and gratitude and be kept safe in the Lord s love. Amen. LITURGY INTENTIONS Saturday, April 15, 2017, @ 6:30 PM, liturgy is being offered for the soul of Michael Simon requested by the Barbara and Selema Dahdah and family. May his soul rest in peace. Liturgy is also offered for the soul of Maurice Al Sholi requested by his family. May his soul rest in peace. Sunday, April 16, 2017, @ 11:00 AM, liturgy is offered for the deceased members of the Tavani, Joseph, Mosey, and Rohanna families by Suzanne and Deebeanne Tavani. May their souls rest in peace. Saturday, April 22, 2017, @ 6:00 pm, liturgy is offered for the deceased members of the DeVito Family requested by their family. May their souls rest in peace. Sunday, April 23, 2017 @ 11:00 am, (Divine Mercy Sunday) liturgy is being offered for deceased members of the Saleba and Kouri families requested by their family. May their souls rest in peace. PROGESS TO OUR GOAL I would like to thank all of you who have supported the efforts in the renovation of the rectory. Your kindness is still coming in and for that I would like to thank you. We are a few weeks away to completion. Thank you for your help and support. IN OUR PRAYERS Please keep in your prayers Lisa Alestra, John Nader, Joseph Alestra, Rita Impo, Albert Boulos, Mary Fetterman, Issa Mazahreh, Aminee Skaf, Carmen Marrone, Helen Butrus, Josephine Rudolph, Rose Kouri, Yasmine Myers, Joey Gdowick, Francis Joseph Kerns, Albert Saleem, Albert Anderson, Jr., Michelina Krewda, Samer Chokeir, Aminee Skaf, Kathy Newman, Vickey Saulino, Rita Arrigale, Helen Freedenberg, Maryann Bratton, Renee Sahar, Joann Divon, Jane Trevelino, Sister Nahida Al Sawa, Virginia Ramano, Rose De Jesse, James Cordisio, Stacey Fuentes, Debbie Freedenberg, Noel Andjuhar, Juliette Chokier, Eddie Gussin, Angel Salerno, Dennis McGiney, Emilia and Alan Sacilowski, Donny Pizzi, Betty Antrilli, and Bonnie Sabatini. We ask Almighty God to bless them with good health so that they may join us in the Church and give glory and thanksgiving to God. Please notify the Church office of any family member who is ill so that we may remember them in our daily prayers and on our altar of intentions. WEEKLY COLLECTION FOR April 8-9, 2017 Sunday Collection $ 2,736.00 Donations $ 500.00 Special Collection $ 221.00 MYO Bake Sale $ 1,706.00 MYO PalmRose Sale$ 205.00 Total: $ 5,368.00
PLEASE REMEMBER TO SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES AND BEEPERS WHEN YOU ENTER THE CHURCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
First Reading 1 Corinthians 15:12-26 A reading from the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians. Your blessing father Brothers and Sisters: If Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. Praise be to God always. فصل من رسالة القد يس بولس األولى إلى أهل قورنتس ات ف إ ن ات ف ك ي ف ي ق ول ب ع ض م ن ك م أ ن ال ق ي ام ل أ م و ت ي إ ن ك ان الم س يح ي ب ش ر ب ه أ ن ه ق ام م ن ب ي ن األ م و يا إخو إ ن ك ان ٱلم س يح ل م ي ق م فب اط ل ت ب ش ير نا وب اط ل إ ي م ان كم ون ك و ن ي ق م! و ات ف ٱلم س يح أ ي ض ا ل م ك ان ال ق ي ام ل أ م و ص ح أ ن األ م و ات ال ي ق وم ون. وه و م ا أ ق ام ه إ ن ن ح ن ش ه ود ز ور على هللا أل ن ن ا ش ه د ن ا على هللا أ ن ه أ ق ام الم س يح إ ن ك ان الم س يح ل م ي ق م ف ب اط ل إ ي م ان كم وت ك ون ون ب ع د في ي ق م! و ات ال ي ق وم ون ف الم س يح أ ي ض ا ل م ف إ ن ك ان األ م و هذ ه الح ي اة وح س ب ف ن ح ن أ ش ق ى الن اس خ ط اي اك م. إ ذ ا ف ال ذين ر ق د وا في الم س يح ق د ه ل ك وا. إ ن ك ن ا ن ر ج و الم س يح في اس ط إ ن س ان الم و ت ك ان ب و وه و ب اك ور ة الر اق د ين. ف ب م ا أ ن ات الح ال أ ن الم س يح ق ام م ن ب ي ن األ م و أ ج م ع ين! و. ف ك م ا أ ن ه في آد م ي م وت الجم يع ك ذ ل ك في الم س يح سي ح ي ا الج م يع كل ف ب و ات اس ط إ ن س ان أ ي ض ا ت ك ون ق ي ام األ م و و اح د في ر ت ب ت ه: الم س يح أ و ال أل ن ه الب اك ور ة ث م ال ذ ين ه م ل لم س يح ع ن د م ج يئ ه. ق و ة الم س يح الم ل ك إ لى هللا اآلب ب ع د أ ن ي ك ون ق د أ ب ط ل ك ل ر ئ اس وك ل س ل ط ان و أ ع د ائ ه ت ح ت ق د م يه. الم وت. وآخ ر ع د و ي ب ط ل ه و إ لى أ ن ي ج ع ل هللا ج م يع والتسبيح هلل دائما. م و ب ع د ذل ك ت ك ون الن ه اي ح ي ن ي سل أل ن ه ال ب د ل لم س يح أ ن ي م ل ك Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church April 15-16, 2017
Gospel Reading Saint Mark 16:1-8 The Apostle Writes: When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb? When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you. So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. This is the truth. Peace be with you. إنجيل من مرقس الق د يس ل م ا ٱن ق ض ى الس ب ت ٱش ت ر ت م ر ي م ال م ج د ل ي وم ر ي م أ م ي ع ق وب وس ال وم ط ي وب ا ل ي أ ت ين و ي طي ب ن ج س د ي س و. ي و م األ ح د ب اك ر ا ج د ا أ ت ي ن إ لى الق ب ر م ع ط ل و الش م س. وك ن ي ق ل ن ف يم ا ب ي ن ه ن : "م ن ي د ح ر ج ل ن ا الح ج ر وفي وت ف ر س ن فش اه د ن الح ج ر ق د د ح ر ج وك ان ك ب ير ا ج د ا. ود خ ل ن الق ب ر ف ر أ ي ن ش اب ا ج ال س ا ع ن ع ن ب اب الق ب ر ". الم صل وب. إ ن ه الي م ين م ت و ش ح ا ح ل ب ي ض اء ف ٱن ذ ه ل ن. ف ق ال ل ه ن : "ال ت ن ذ ه ل ن! أ ن ت ن ت ط ل ب ن ي س و الن اص ر ي ق ام و ه و ل ي س ه ن ا. وه ا ه و الم ك ان ال ذي و ض ع وه ف يه. أ ال ٱذ ه ب ن و ق ل ن ل ت الم يذ ه و ل ب ط ر س: إ ن ه ي س ب ق ك م إ لى ل م و م ن خ و ف ه ن الج ل يل. وه ن اك ت ر و ن ه ك م ا ق ال ل ك م ". ف خ ر ج ن م ن الق ب ر و ه ر ب ن م ن ش د ة الر ع د ة والذ ه ول. ي ق ل ن أل ح د ش ي ئ ا... حق ا واألمان لجميعكم.