Maronite Voice.pdf - Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn

The
Maronite Voice
A Publication of the Maronite Eparchies in the USA
Volume V Issue No. VIII September 2009
The Hand of the Priest is With Us from Our Birth to Our Death
Dear friends,
During the “Year of the Priest” we must all try
to understand the love and the friendship, that
Jesus Christ calls us to, and to share with one
another His Gifts.
Our priests are called into a deeper relationship
with our Lord Jesus Christ. Our priests acting
in the “person of Christ,” must have a deeper
relationship with Jesus, and by the example of
John Vianney, live the special relationship
with the Lord. All priests need the prayers of
our people, to work hand and hand with them,
so that together, they may truly grow in the
friendship with Christ.
Christ has given us so much through the Holy
Priesthood. The hand of the priest is with us in
all aspects of our life from our birth to our
death.
At birth we are born from the womb of our
mother, and we are born as brothers and sisters
to Jesus Christ from the womb of the baptismal
font. As we are nursed by our mother and
given earthly food, the hand of the priest gives
us the Holy Eucharist that is the Food of Life.
The hand of the priest anoints with the sacred
Chrism asking the Holy Spirit to straighten us
as we mature and grow.
As we get a little older and make mistakes that
separate us from the love and friendship of our
Lord Jesus Christ, it is the hand of the priest
that absolves us and restores our friendship
with the Lord. As we pledge ourselves to each
other in Holy Matrimony, it is the priest who
places his hand above ours, joining husband
and wife in a lifelong covenant. When it comes
time for us to pass to eternal life, there is the
hand of the priest that anoints us and gives us the Eucharist that assists us on our final journey to eternal life.
The mystery of Holy Orders is granted by the imposition of the hand of the Bishop, so that the work of Christ continues to
the end of time. If there is no priest, there is no Eucharist, and if there is no Eucharist, there is no priest.
(Continues on page 20)

Schedule of Bishop Robert Shaheen
September 12 - 13, 2009
Ordination of Seminarian Tony Massad to the Order of Deacon at Our Lady
of Lebanon Church, Flint, Mich.
September 16, 2009
Knights of Columbus Dinner at Saint Sharbel Church, Warren, Mich.
September 19 - 20, 2009
Re-dedication of Our Lady of the Cedars Church, Houston, Tex.
September 26 - 27, 2009
Ordination of George Ghosn to the Order of Deacon at St. Ephrem Church, San
Diego, Calif.
October 3 - 4, 2009
Visit to Saint Theresa, Tulsa, Okla.
Eparchial Condolences
Joseph Abi Sarkis, brother of Fr. Elias Abi Sarkis, Pastor of St.
Therese Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away on August 6,
2009, in Lebanon. He is survived by his wife, Najat, his son,
Habib, his daughter, Rita Abi Younis, and four grandchildren.
He also leaves behind two brothers, Fr. Elias and Louis and a
sister, Therese Havel. Condolences may be sent to Fr. Elias Abi
th
Sarkis 8315 South 107 E. Ave. Tulsa, OK 74133.
Fr. Abi Sarkis had also lost his sister Marie Rose on July 17, 2009.
Bishops Robert Shaheen and Gregory Mansour, along with the clergy and
faithful of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon and the Eparchy of Saint Maron
of Brooklyn extend their heartfelt sympathy and the promise of our prayers to Fr.
Elias and his family. May Almighty God grant his servants Joseph and Marie Rose
eternal rest.
Project Roots
The Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn and the Eparchy of Our Lady of
Lebanon join together to help people reconnect with their Christian spiritual
roots in Lebanon and the Middle East. An office in Los Angeles, California,
under the responsibility of Father Abdallah Zaidan M.L.M. will assist those
interested to:
Obtain their sacramental records from their country of origin
Connect with family members living in their place of origins and throughout the
world where they emigrated
Obtain Lebanese citizenship if desired
Obtain immigration records if desired
Remain connected with the Maronite Church here and throughout the world.
No eparchial funds will be used, but the office will accept financial help from those
willing to help. For more information contact:
Father Abdallah Zaidan, MLM
333 South San Vicente Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90048
310-275-6634
The Maronite Voice
4611 Sadler Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060
Phone: 804/270-7234
Fax: 804/273-9914
E-Mail: gmsebaali@aol.com
http://www.stmaron.org
http://www.usamaronite.org
The Maronite Voice, (ISSN 1080-
9880) the official newsletter of the
Maronite Eparchies in the U.S.A.
(Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of
Los Angeles and Eparchy of Saint
Maron of Brooklyn), is published
monthly.
Send all changes of address, news,
pictures and personal
correspondence to The Maronite
Voice at the 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
For more information
contact the NAM office
at (914) 964-3070
or visit www.Namnews.org
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 2 September 2009

Maronite Youth Organization Holds Its Annual Conference
“The Righteous shall Flourish like a Palm Tree, and Will Grow like a Cedar of
Bishop Gregory Mansour addresses the youth.
by Marie-Elizabeth Dohar
The 2009 Maronite Youth Retreat
brought together 232 youth,
advisers, clergy and religious
leaders in an effort to become more
familiar with their Maronite roots. The
theme of the retreat, which took place
July 21 through July 26 at Antiochian
Retreat and Conference Center in
Ligonier, Penn., was from Psalm 92:18:
“The righteous shall flourish like a
palm tree, and will grow like a cedar of
Lebanon.”
During the week, the youth
participated in activities, listened to
talks and attended liturgies and services
meant to give them a better
understanding of the Maronite faith. To
help the youth get to know their peers
better, participants were divided into
small groups; each group selected a
name, designed a logo and wrote a
slogan or song, which were later
presented in front of everybody. The
groups met several times and also
discussed issues such as prejudice and
diversity, and the effect of these issues
in the participants’ daily lives.
Each night, Father Gary George,
Youth Director, planned a healing
service for the youth. He stressed the
importance of healing the roots as a
Lebanon”
means of strengthening one’s faith.
Through music and video clips and
using important components of the
Catholic faith as the focus for the
missions, the youth were called to make
changes that would heal their roots and
their hearts.
The youth placed their hands on the
Bible on Tuesday evening to signify the
importance of the Word of God in their
daily lives. On Wednesday night, the
priests laid their hands on the youth,
and prayed for the participants and their
personal intentions. The Eucharist was
the focus of Thursday’s mission
service; the youth prayed for healing
during the adoration and benediction of
the Blessed Sacrament. Friday evening
culminated the services; the youth, who
had gone to confession earlier that day,
were anointed with holy oils.
In addition to the daily workshops
and activities, the youth were treated to
nightly socials. The youth roasted
marshmallows and made s’mores on
Wednesday evening and had wings and
ice cream at their party on Thursday
evening. Friday evening, the
parishioners at St. George Parish in
Uniontown, Penn., had a luau-themed
party for the youth.
On Wednesday, July 22, after
morning prayer presented by Our
Lady’s Maronite Parish in Austin,
Texas, Bishop Gregory Mansour spoke
to the youth about the persecution of
Christians in the early Church and
throughout history, and the effect this
has on the Church’s roots. The Bishop’s
presentation was intense and
encouraged the youth to engage in great
discussion. He also brought a relic of
St. Sharbel that he passed around for
the youth to hold and pray with.
Unfortunately, Bishop Robert Shaheen
was unable to join the youth on retreat,
so the youth called the Bishop to send
warm wishes.
Following this talk, Bishop
Mansour celebrated the Divine Liturgy
with the group. During his homily, the
bishop used Michael Jackson’s song
“Man in the Mirror” to help the youth
reflect on both the concepts of change
and self-satisfaction. Later that day, the
youth participated in an icebreaker
called “Walk the Line,” where they
were able to see the many differences,
but yet the many commonalities, they
share with their friends and peers.
The youth from St. Anthony Parish
in Glen Allen, Va., led the group in
morning prayer on Thursday, July 23.
After morning prayer, motivational
speaker David Kahout, of the “Talk Is
Cheap” organization in Youngstown,
Ohio, spent time with the group. During
his talk, Kahout expressed the belief
that he was “standing in the presence of
greatness,” and he encouraged the
youth to find the talents and abilities
that make them special and use them
for the glory and praise of God.
The youth were overwhelmed by
Kahout’s presentation, which was both
humorous and moving. The youth then
had the opportunity to ask questions of
the priests, nuns, and seminarians
present following a lively and
entertaining vocation presentation made
by Father Armando ElKhoury.
Friday morning began with the
Divine Liturgy for vocations. The youth
then departed for Mount Saint Macrina,
where they had the opportunity to go to
confession. During the confession
service, participants were encouraged to
write down their sins and the things
they feel hold them back; these papers
were then nailed to a large cross, and
later burned.
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 3 September 2009

After a lunch prepared by the parishioners of St. George
Parish, the youth were given the opportunity to explore the
grounds at Mount Saint Macrina. That evening, the
parishioners also treated the youth to a beautiful feast and
party. The youth were overwhelmed by and thankful for the
hospitality shown by the parishioners.
On Saturday, July 25, the youth participants attended
Divine Liturgy and then headed out for a day of swimming
and relaxation at either Idlewild Amusement Park or Ligonier
Beach. When the youth returned for the evening, they were
treated to a grand banquet and formal hafli; the participants
had a brilliant time dancing into the early hours of the
morning.
The retreat drew to a close Sunday morning as the stillsleepy
youth gathered for Divine Liturgy. Following liturgy,
the youth said their goodbyes during breakfast, and departed
for their respective homes. The retreat was a beautiful and
blessed event for all who attended this year, and the youth are
grateful to Father Gary and his team and both Bishops Robert
Shaheen and Gregory Mansour for all they do to prepare for
this event.
by Wanda Elkourie
Birmingham, Alabama
Centennial Celebration
Chorbishop Richard Saad, Pastor, with the Centennial
Committee.
St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church is celebrating its 100 th
Year in the City of Birmingham, 1910 – 2010, “100
Years of Faith in Birmingham.” Centennial Chairperson
Jeanette Wyrick and her committee are working diligently to
prepare for this momentous occasion. The faith community
will observe a special year of celebrations including spiritual,
social, and educational events.
The kickoff for the celebration year will begin on
November 15, 2009 with a special focus on honoring the
older parishioners and thanking all who contribute to the life
of the parish. Bishop Shaheen will join us on this special
date at which time he will dedicate the church and the new
addition.
There will be a hundred hours of Eucharistic Adoration
in December 2009, the St. Maron’s Day Banquet in February
2010, a special 2010 Lenten Mission, the Parish picnic in
July, an extended celebration of the Feast of the Assumption
in August and other spiritually enriching opportunities for
th
all. The 12 Annual Lebanese Food and Cultural Festival,
April 9 and 10, will be one of the highlighted events of the
year-long celebration. Another major event will be July 7 –
11, when St. Elias hosts the National Apostolate of
Maronites Annual Maronite Convention. The closing Gala
event will be on November 6, 2010.
Schedule of Bishop Gregory Mansour
September 6, 2009
Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral, Brooklyn, N.Y.
September 10, 2009
Ramadan Iftar, Brooklyn, N.Y.
September 13, 2009
Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral, Brooklyn, N.Y.
September 14, 2009
USCCB Pro Life Committee, Washington, D.C.
Evening Liturgy at Our Lady of Lebanon Church,
Washington, D.C.
September 20, 2009
Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral, Brooklyn, N.Y.
September 21, 2009
Eparchial Finance Council Meeting, Chancery Office,
Brooklyn, N.Y.
September 27, 2009
Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral, Brooklyn, N.Y.
September 28 -29, 2009
Catholic University Trustees Meeting, Denver,
Colorado
September 30 – October 1, 2009
Catholic - Oriental Orthodox Dialogue, New
Rochelle, N.Y.
October 4, 2009 (11:00 am)
Liturgy, Saint Sharbel, New Brunswick, N.J.
(2:30 pm) Pro Life Service and Talk, Princeton
University, Princeton, N.J.
October 7, 2009
Presbyteral Council Meeting Chancery Office,
Brooklyn, N.Y.
October 9-11, 2009
Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary - Deacon-Subdeacon
Retreat and Ordination of John Jarvis to Diaconate
October 16 -18, 2009
Order of Saint Sharbel Retreat, St. Louis, Missouri
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 4 September 2009

CNEWA Pilgrimage
Visit with Pope
Deacon Steven Marcus with Pope Benedict XVI.
D
eacon Steven Marcus of St. Maron Maronite Church
in Torrington, Connecticut, along with his wife,
Renee, and his two sons, Steven and Ben, traveled to
Rome on June 25, 2009, on a pilgrimage sponsored by the
Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA). While
in Rome the pilgrims met in a private audience with Pope
Benedict XVI who said to them: “I renew my prayer and my
appeal for no more war, no more violence, no more injustice.
I wish to assure you that the Universal Church remains at the
side of all our brothers who reside in the Holy Land … I
exhort your … agencies to continue their charitable activities
with zeal and with fidelity to the Successor of Peter.”
CNEWA, founded by Pope Pius XI in 1926, has been
dear to each Successor of Peter since, as the agency who
cares for Catholics in places where they are in a minority and
often the poorest of the poor – in the Middle East, northeast
Africa, India and eastern Europe. Often it is not only
Catholics who seek help from the hospitals, clinics, schools
and orphanages supported by CNEWA; in acts that live the
gospel over and over again, no one who needs services is
ever turned away. In letting need, not creed, decide,
CNEWA brings Christ’s love to everyone.
To carry out the never ending (and often overwhelming)
mission Pope Pius XI entrusted to it, CNEWA partners with
local churches in tackling projects no one else is doing.
Without a Vatican supported budget every penny must come
from donations. Even when a Pope specially requests a
project, such as Pope Paul VI did in 1971 by asking CNEWA
to build a school in Bethlehem for the many congenitally deaf
children in the region, the money to do so did not come from
the Vatican, but from donations. Steven Marcus, the chair of
CNEWA’s development council says: “If the Holy Father
wants something, we always find a way.”
The huge variety of projects under CNEWA patronage
can sometimes make it hard to understand exactly what the
organization does: from helping children to helping whole
villages obtain a water supply, there is always an interesting
story to be told. Ana Dias, CNEWA’s Deputy U.S. National
Secretary sees the variety as a blessing and recalls a recent
conversation with a donor who told her: “You know,
whatever you’re interested in, CNEWA has a project for you.
If you are interested in education, they have schools; if you
are interested in healthcare, they have hospitals and clinics;
if you want to support children, or the elderly, there are
programs. You can support the formation of priests and
sisters. Or if you are just interested in a special region of the
world, you can always find a project to help there.” Because
CNEWA is involved in so many different things, the best
way to see their scope is to check out the CNEWA website
(www.cnewa.org) or to subscribe to their bimonthly (and
award winning) magazine ONE.
A big fan of the magazine is Archbishop Timothy Dolan
of New York, who calls ONE “the National Geographic of
the Catholic Church.” ONE regularly brings the rich heritage
of the peoples and churches of the East alive, and at the same
time reminds us that whether we are from the east or from
the west, we are all members of one church. Helping us to
remember this is perhaps another mission of which CNEWA
can be proud.
The CNEWA members had meetings that were held at
the Vatican, June 23 - 25, 2009, with Cardinal Leonardo
Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental
Churches; Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the
Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity; and
Cardinal John Foley, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order
of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. The focus of these
meetings was to highlight the works of CNEWA and to plan
for the upcoming year. Liturgy was celebrated each day by
Monsignor Archimandrite Robert L. Stern, Secretary General
and President of CNEWA.
Flint Michigan,
Summer Bible Camp
Twenty-eight children from Our Lady of Lebanon
Church in Flint, Michigan, gathered August 3- 7, 2009
to take part in Summer Bible School. The children
began each day with morning Liturgy. During the week, they
learned about various church icons and heard stories about
Saints Rafka, Maron, and Sharbel. They made handprints and
swords as well as a piñata that was filled with candy toys for
their pizza party on Friday. They finished off the week with
a noon Liturgy on Friday where they sang Oh Come & Dwell
in Arabic, which Dee Gardner,choir director, taught them.
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 5 September 2009

Scranton, Pennsylvania
Subdeaconate Ordination
Chorbishop Joseph Kaddo, Pastor of St. Anthony of the
Desert in Fall River, Mass., ordains Robert Rade to the
minor orders of Cantor, Lector and Subdeacon on July 25,
2009 at St. Ann Church in Scranton, Penn.
by Dr. Joseph J. Soma
O
n July 25, 2009, 106 years after the start of the Saint
Ann Maronite Church in Scranton, Penn., the first
ordination took place at the church. Parishioner Robert
Rade was ordained as Cantor, Lector and Subdeacon by
Chorbishop Joseph F. Kaddo, Pastor of St. Anthony of the
Desert in Fall River, Mass. Fr. Francis J. Marini, Sponsor
and Pastor for Mr. Rade; Msgr. Peter Fahed Azar, Pastor of
St. Anthony Church, Lawrence, Mass; Fr. Jack Morrison,
Director of the Office of Ministries and Pastor of Our Lady
of Purgatory Church, New Bedford, Mass., concelebrated.
Fr. Alex Hazzouri; Msgr. Vincent J. Grimalia, Vicar General
of the Diocese of Scranton; Fr. Francis Laudry, C.P., Pastor
of St Ann Basilica Parish in Scranton; and Rev. Christopher
Manuele, Administrator; and Deacon Michael Tolley, Deacon
of St. Joseph Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Scranton
were also present at the ceremony,
The Rite of Ordination took place during the Divine
Liturgy, after the Communion for the Bishop, concelebrants
and other priests present and before the Communion of the
faithful. It began with prayers for Robert who sat with his
family awaiting the Imposition of Hand. The Chorbishop,
wearing his mitre and holding his pastoral staff, sat on his
Throne. Robert then presented himself to the Chorbishop, and
kneeling before him, asked for his blessing.
The Order of Cantor was called and the Chorbishop
blessed Robert on the forehead three times. After a Diaconal
Proclamation there was the Imposition of Hands on his
temples and cutting of hair in the form of a Cross. Robert
was then announced as Ordained as a Cantor and processed
with the Book of Psalms. Upon returning, Robert then
chanted a text from the Book of Psalms.
Next came the ordination as Lector or Reader. Robert
was again presented by his sponsor Fr. Marini. After
blessings and Imposition of Hands he was vested by
Chorbishop Kaddo with the Lector’s stole. Robert again
processed with the Book of Prophets, being led with a stole
around his neck. He then read a text from the Book.
Then came the Rite of Ordination of Robert as
Subdeacon. After Diaconal proclamations he was presented
by his sponsor, Fr. Marini. Robert was then elevated to the
Order of Subdeacon by the laying on of Hands. After prayers
came the announcement of Ordination and vesting with the
Tunic of the Order. Robert again processed to the back of the
church to ceremonially open and close the church doors and
to ring the bells. After prayers and Diaconal proclamations
an announcement was made by Robert who carried a lighted
candle. Communion of Robert and of the people followed.
Throughout the Ordination service, Msgr. Azar acted as
Deacon.
The choir was led by Jeanette Soma Wagner, the Cantor
was Sonia Haddad El Ghazal and the organist was Georgia
El Ghazal. Robert Rade’ s daughter Meghan read the Epistle
and his son Robert served as an altar boy. With Robert was
his wife Marguerite, her parents Adeeb and Lorraine Deeb
Hazzouri, the Hazzouri and the Rade families, many friends
and Saint Ann parishioners.
Following the ordination a reception was held in the
church hall in honor of the new Subdeacon Robert.
Eparchial Assignment
C
horbishop Joseph F. Kaddo, Pastor of
St. Anthony of the Desert Church in
Fall River, Massachusetts, has been
asked by Their Excellencies Bishop Robert
Shaheen, Bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady
of Lebanon, and Bishop Gregory Mansour,
Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of
Brooklyn, to serve as Chaplain of the Order
of Saint Sharbel for both eparchies.
D
eadline for next month’s issue
of The Maronite Voice is
September 25, 2009. Pictures
have to be original. Digital pictures
must be in “JPG” format.
The Maronite Voice is also
available online in a pdf format at
www.stmaron.org.
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 6 September 2009

Fall River, Massachusetts
Scholarship Award
From left to right: Scholarship Award recipients Jordan
Nasiff, Mikala Grimo and Charles Boustany with Chorbishop
Joseph Kaddo and Karl Hetzler, Chairman.
by Karl Hetzler
O
n August 9, 2009, following the Sunday liturgy,
Chorbishop Joseph Kaddo and the parish of St.
Anthony of the Desert Church in Fall River, Mass.,
awarded scholarships for $500 to each of three graduating
high school seniors in their congregation:
Jordan Nasiff, the son of Douglas and Nellie Nasiff,
received the Parish’s scholarship. He will be attending the
University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth studying business.
Mikala Grimo, the daughter of Michael and Sandy
Grimo, received the 2009 Chorbishop Norman J. Ferris
Memorial Scholarship. She will be attending Bridgewater
State College studying elementary education
Charles Boustany, the son of Pierre and Maria
Boustany, received the 2009 Mary Ann Hallal Memorial
Scholarship. He will be attending the University of
Massachusetts/Dartmouth studying electrical engineering.
The scholarship program, now in its seventh year, is
intended to further strengthen the bond with parish youth.
The only criteria for selection is that the recipients be active
parishioners and submit a short essay on their best memories
of growing up in the parish.
by Pierrette Malek
Chicago, Illinois
Team Kid Care
G
alatians 5:22 explains, “But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness…” Team Kid Care, a well-known
Chicago charity, brings this verse to life in their mission. The
organization makes an enormous impact on more than 700
Members of Our Lady of Lebanon Church’s Young Adults
and Youth participate in their annual Team Kid Care
Kickball Tournament.
children facing cancer every month. While doctors and
nurses work hard to provide the best care possible for these
children, Team Kid Care offers the support, love and
kindness every child needs in difficult times. The foundation
customizes its services based on the needs of every unique
individual. Chicago’s Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Youth
and Young Adults supports this organization’s mission and
pushes its efforts forward every year by participating in their
annual Team Kid Care Kickball Tournament.
The teens learned the importance of working together, as
a team, to contribute to a noble cause. We would like to
thank all those who participated, the MYO, MYA advisors,
and the Shaker family for making an impact on the lives of
children facing medical hardships. We hope that our
participation will lift these children’s spirits and bring them
the joy, peace, patience and faithfulness that will guide them
to recovery.
Information Exchange
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Coordinators
We are interested in exchanging ideas (Calendars,
policies, activities) with Maronite Parishes
throughout the United States.
We will share our information with you. We have been
focusing on integrating Maronite tradition and
spirituality into our Ministry. We are eager to learn
from others.
St. George Maronite Church
Pasquale and Judy Perillo
6070 Babcock Road
San Antonio, Texas 78240
Perilloj1512@yahoo.com Phone 210-364-3603
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 7 September 2009

Danbury, Connecticut
Youth Day Out
Worcester, Massachusetts
MYO At Six Flags
Members of St. Anthony’s youth enjoy themselves at Six
Flags in New Jersey.
by Alyssa Najm
Y
our heart is throbbing, and the adrenaline is rushing
through your body so fast you can hardly breathe as
you speed down the 215 foot drop at 80 miles per hour
on Nitro at Six Flags in New Jersey. You dare open your eyes
at first, but as soon as you realize you are in ‘God’s hands, so
to speak, a simple prayer eases your temporary fright. And
just like that, the youth of St. Anthony Church from Danbury,
Connecticut, enjoyed an entire day in absolute rollercoaster
heaven on Thursday, August 6, 2009. The annual trip was
organized by Chip Jowdy and Fr. Jean Younes to show
appreciation for the youth group’s efforts put forth each year
to reenact the Passion Play on Palm Sunday and Good Friday.
The group ranges in age from about twelve years to about
twenty years old. Each individual involved with the
emotional show is a dedicated member of the church and/or
a member of the Danbury community.
The trip to Six Flags was an exciting day that began early
and ended when the park closed. This year the group of kids
was accompanied by Fr. Jean, Chip, and the other adults who
are a constant help throughout the year. Although Fr. Jean
was skeptical of the roller coasters, he did agree to go on a
few water rides that day. While waiting in the water rafting
line, the line seemed to grow shorter as the laughs grew
louder and conversations sparked, and entertaining one
another with clapping games and singing made them enjoy
the time waiting that much more! All of the adventures of
waiting in line for a quick two-minute ride and spending time
with fellow Maronites at Six Flags Great Adventure
undoubtedly made up for all of those late hours rehearsing for
the annual play which continues to be a success!
The teenagers of Our Lady of Mercy Church in
Worcester, Massachusetts, celebrated the formation of
their new MYO with a day at the amusement and water
park Six Flags down the road in Agawam on Saturday,
August 22, 2009. Those able to enjoy the day are pictured
above from left to right: Fr. Paul Mooradd, Ashley Bonin,
Zachary Besse, Ashley Tran, Anthony Thomas, Jordan
Besse, Bianca Thomas and their Advisor, Alexandra Khoury.
The young people are already planning a 50/50 Raffle to be
held at Our Lady of Mercy's Hafli coming up on October 3,
2009 to help fund their future activities. There is great
excitement among the teens, and they are all looking forward
to meeting MYO from other parishes at the annual retreats
and workshops.
Promoting Maronite Vocations
by Sister Marla Marie Lucas
A
new vocations resource for our Maronite Church in
the United States is the website Vineyard of the Lord
(Vineyardofthelord.com). The site's title is taken from
Luke 10:2 where Jesus asks that we pray to God to send
more laborers into his vineyard. "The harvest is plenty, but
laborers are few..."
Creating and maintaining the website is the work of Fr.
Armando El-Khoury, Pastor of St. Rafka Church in
Lakewood, Colorado. With the assistance of Fr. Dominique
Hanna and Sister Marla Marie, the site features several
Maronite resources to educate and promote vocations to
priesthood and religious life, including videos, articles,
essays, blogs, and photos. There are links to the Maronite
Seminary, Vocation Directors of each Eparchy, and Maronite
religious communities of men and women.
Visit the site and spread it to your mail list, especially to
the MYO and MYA of your parish. Consider joining our
national prayer effort for vocations explained on the site's
link “Get Involved.
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 8 September 2009

Flint, Michigan
Mid East Festival
Father Hanna Tayar, Pastor, with Lieutenant Governor John
Cherry and festival committee members.
by Michelle Tennis
O
ur Lady of Lebanon Church in Flint, Michigan, hosted
a Mid East Festival July 10 -11, 2009. Over 4,000
people from Flint and the surrounding communities
came to enjoy a taste of Mid Eastern Cuisine and to share in
traditional music, song and dancing. The event began with a
kick-off luncheon which was attended by the Lieutenant
Governor of Michigan, John Cherry. Church tours, cooking
demonstrations, and dance lessons were offered during the
two-day event, as well as a wide variety of children’s games.
Most importantly, the festival achieved three major goals of
the parish: bringing the parishioners together to work side by
side to achieve a common goal, sharing our culture and
church with the community of Flint, and raising money for
the church. Community response was extremely positive and
those who attended are looking forward to next year’s
festival.
Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
th
Knights of Columbus 4 degree
by Lillian Shahade
O
n Sunday, May 29, 2009, Fr. Paul Mouawad, Pastor of
St. Sharbel Church in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania,
th
received the 4 Degree of Exemplification at the
Dolce Hotel and Resort in nearby Valley Forge,
Pennsylvania.
Fr. Paul was one of six priests along with 192 other men
(six were from his own council) who received this distinction
and the baldric which is a large belt worn over the shoulders
th
from right to left. The triad emblem of the 4 Degree features
the blue globe (God the Father, Creator of the Universe), the
red Cross (God the Son, Redeemer of mankind) and the white
dove (God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of humanity). The
Pictured with Fr. Paul is Grand Knight Thomas P. Scanlon of
Council 4129, offering congratulatory words of welcome on
th
his attaining his 4 Degree of Exemplification.
colors are of the flag of the U.S. in which the Order
originated. On February 2, 1882, while an assistant pastor at
Saint Mary’s in New Haven, Conn., Fr. James McGivney
founded the Knights of Columbus with a small group of
parishioners. The order now has over 1.7 million member
families and thirteen thousand councils. During the 2004-
2005 fraternal year, $134 million and 68 million man-hours
were donated to charity by the order.
The Degrees in order are: 1. Charity, 2. Unity, 3.
th
Fraternity, and the 4 and highest rank denotes a strong sense
of Patriotism.
Fr. Paul has been the Chaplain of Knights of Columbus,
Council 4129, Matre Dei, in Newtown Square since arriving
here as Pastor of St. Sharbel Church in June of 2006. Fr. Paul
has had many spiritual group meetings with the Knights as
well as several retreats held at the council and at St.
Sharbel’s as well as having the recitation of the rosary for the
women’s auxiliary.
The Maronite Pontifical by His Excellency Bishop
Stephen Hector Doueihi, Bishop Emeritus of the
Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn.
The Maronite Pontifical contains all rites delegated to
the bishop in the liturgical celebrations. It describes the
actions which the pontiff, as a celebrant, performs and
the prayers he says during these celebrations. It includes
mainly the rites of ordination to the priesthood and the
solemn consecrations reserved to the bishop in the
Christian worship.
The Maronite Pontifical is available for $20 plus $5
shipping. To order your copy, please write to: Saint
Maron Publications, 4611 Sadler Road, Glen Allen,
VA 23060.
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 9 September 2009

God’s Mysterious Ways
by Tresa Van Heusen
Lord works in mysterious
ways.” A phrase we often
“The
hear, or often say ourselves.
This phrase may seem truest when you
are able to look back over certain
events in your life and see how the
Lord has guided your life to help follow
His will for you. I find this phrase
comes to mind frequently these days as
I examine events over the past eight
years of my life and how they have lead
me to this day on a discernment retreat
with Sister Marla Marie and the
Maronite Servants of Christ the Light.
All of this came to be with the help of
my parents, three priests in the
Maronite Church, and the guidance of
the Holy Spirit.
A little over eight years ago, if you
had asked me what a Maronite is, I
would have had no idea! In 2001 my
parents moved to Fayetteville, North
Carolina. As whenever they move,
they were quickly looking for a
Catholic Church to call their new
parish. At first they worshiped at one
of the many Latin Rite Catholic
Churches in the city, but for different
reasons my father did not feel at peace
in the church. My father noticed a
small sign leading off the main road
near their house that read “Catholic
Church” and he was intrigued. So, one
Sunday my parents decided to attend
this small church, Saint Michael the
Archangel, nestled inside a residential
neighborhood. Following the Liturgy,
my parents greeted the pastor of the
church, Fr. Jack Morrison, and were
immediately asked to volunteer in
different ways. My parents enjoyed the
Liturgy, the closeness of the parish and
pastor, and found their new home at St.
Michael the Archangel.
When my mother first informed me
they were attending a Maronite
Catholic Church, my first response was:
“You can’t go there, it’s an Eastern
Orthodox Church.” My mother then
began to educate me that Eastern Rite
Churches are members of the Catholic
Church and in full communion with the
Pope.
Over the next five years I began to
learn about this beautiful jewel in our
universal Catholic Church – the
Maronite Church. It was fascinating to
learn about the
richness of our
Catholic Church and
I enjoyed attending
Divine Liturgy
whenever I was
visiting my parents
in North Carolina. I
never had any
intention of seeking
out a Maronite
Church for myself,
but I always enjoyed
worshiping at St.
Michael during my
visits.
In August 2006,
I was in the middle
of a move and
visiting with my
parents in North
Carolina for a few
weeks before
departing to my new
home in Atlanta,
Georgia. I was due
to depart early in the week, but because
of car troubles I had to stay a few extra
days. The night before I finally left, the
new pastor at St. Michael held a parish
meeting. Interested in meeting the new
priest, I went to the meeting with my
mother. The new pastor, Fr. Sam
Najjar, gave an opening talk with some
information about himself. A few times
in the night he mentioned his home
parish in Atlanta – Saint Joseph
Maronite Church. I was excited to hear
there was a Maronite Church in Atlanta
and sought out Fr. Sam at the end of the
evening to ask him about this. While
my first thoughts were that I would
enjoy visiting the church and possibly
go to Divine Liturgy every so often, I
was surprised when I discovered the
parish was located right where I
intended to live in the city.
I arrived in Atlanta on a Thursday.
My first Saturday I went in search of St.
Joseph’s Maronite Church, introduced
myself to the pastor, Fr. Peter Boulos,
and it was there that I came to
understand the Maronite Liturgy. I
quickly fell in love with the spirituality
and beauty of the liturgy and found my
new home.
Now, three years later, I find
myself reflecting upon these events
while I visit with Sr. Marla Marie in
Tresa Van Heusen with Sister Marla Marie of the Maronite
Servants of Christ the Light.
discernment to join the Maronite
Servants of Christ the Light. At the
time these events took place over the
years, I was not aware they were part of
any bigger picture for my life. I
thought it was interesting to learn more
about the Catholic Church, but did not
realize it was all leading me to this
moment where I feel strongly the Lord
is calling me to serve in life. Although
these events seemed as mere
coincidences, I now see more clearly
that there are no coincidences in life
and I recognize these events as great
blessings from God. It is with great joy
that I continue the application process
in the hope to enter the Maronite
Servants of Christ the Light in February
2010.
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 10 September 2009

THE ORDER
OF
SAINT SHARBEL
Perpetual Members
Stacy N. Dennig
Our Lady of Mount Lebanon
Cathedral
Los Angeles, Calif.
Ellen A. Saad
St. Ephrem Church
San Diego, Calif.
M. Charlotte Mike
St. Maron Church
Youngstown, Ohio
Annual Members
Maurice N. EL Karaan
Nawal EL Karaa
Pia Maria Eid
Henry Abi Nakad
Maroun Boutros
Paula J. Hariz
Amine H. Klaeb
Imad El Asmar
Our Lady of Mount Lebanon
Cathedral
Los Angeles, Calif.
The Order of Saint Sharbel is an
organization of lay people and
clergy who have pledged their
spiritual strength and financial
support for Our Lady of Lebanon
Seminary and the retired Maronite
clergy of the Maronite Eparchies
in the USA.
Praying the Rosary with the Smiling Pope
by Brother John Samaha
W
hile some misinterpreted the
Second Vatican Council as
downgrading devotion to Our
Lady, Bishop Albino Luciani of
Vittorio Veneto, Italy (later Pope John
Paul I), was concerned about his people
that no longer prayed the rosary. He
continued to promote devotion to Our
Lady and to the rosary. But he urged
more than superficial devotion.
At times Bishop Luciani he was
approached by simple faithful who
asked him out of pious curiosity what
title of Our Lady he liked best.
Without satisfying their curiosity he
would reply with a twinkle in his eye,
“If you would let me give you some
advice, may I suggest that you have
devotion to Our Lady of the Pots and
Pans, or Our Lady of the Broom. You
see, Our Lady became a saint as a
simple housewife, washing the dishes,
preparing meals, peeling the potatoes,
or things like that.”
“What I was trying to tell them,” he
explained to his priests, “was that, yes,
they should have great devotion to Our
Lady, they must pray to her and have
great confidence in her, but above all,
they must imitate her virtues.”
Albino Luciani, now affectionately
remembered as “The Smiling Pope”
and recognized as a superb catechist,
loved the rosary and was frequently
seen with it in his hands. In 1972 he
wrote, “The rosary becomes a look at
Mary, which grows in intensity little by
little as one proceeds. It ends by being
a refrain which springs from the heart
and when repeated sweetens the soul
like a song….When I speak with God
and Our Lady, I prefer to think myself
a child rather than a grown-up. The
miter, the zucchetto, the ring disappear.
I send the grown-up on vacation, and
the bishop with him, and abandon
myself to the spontaneous tenderness
that a child has for its papa and mama.
To be for a while before God as I am in
reality, with the worst of myself and the
best of myself; to let rise to the surface
from the depths of my being the child I
once was, who wants to laugh, to
chatter, to love the Lord, and who
sometimes feels the need to cry so that
he may be shown mercy, helps me to
pray. The rosary, a simple and easy
prayer, helps me to be a child, and I am
not ashamed at all.”
People’s Prayer for
Priests
Dear Lord,
We pray that the Blessed Mother
wrap her mantle around your
priests
and through her intercession
strengthen them for their ministry.
We pray that Mary will guide your
priests to follow her own words,
“Do whatever He tells you”
(Jn 2:5).
May your priests have the heart of
St. Joseph,
Mary’s most chaste spouse.
May the Blessed Mother’s own
pierced heart inspire them to
embrace all who suffer at the foot
of the cross.
May your priests be holy,
filled with the fire of your love
seeking nothing but your greater
glory and the salvation of souls.
Amen.
Saint John Vianney, pray for us.
© 2009 United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C.
Permission is granted to reproduce
this text in whole or in part without
adaptation for non-commercial use.
Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated
Life and Vocations.
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 11 September 2009

St. Louis, Missouri,
Order of Saint Sharbel Retreat
A
Fall retreat will be held for the members of the Order
of Saint Sharbel, their spouses and guests (who may
be interested in the Order), October 16-18, 2009, at the
Drury Plaza Hotel in Saint Louis, Mo., hosted by St.
Raymond Cathedral.
The weekend promises to be filled with spiritual richness
and joyful fellowship. In addition to the weekend scheduled
events, you will be invited to tour the Chancery office of the
Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon and the new Heritage
Center which is in the process of being completed.
The weekend package which includes all meals and
activities is $200 per person. Please make your check
payable either to the Order of Saint Sharbel or to St.
Raymond Cathedral.
Special Room rate at the Drury Plaza Hotel is $99 per
room. For reservation call the hotel at (314) 231-3003 and
mention the Order of Saint Sharbel. For further information
you may call Mary Denny at the Maronite Pastoral Center at
(314) 231 - 1021 or Roxie Rask at (314) 621- 0056 or (314)
277- 0452 (cell).
by Wanda Elkourie
Birmingham, Alabama
Donation to Charities
A
portion of the proceeds of the Eleventh Annual
Lebanese Food & Cultural Festival that was held at St.
Elias Maronite Catholic Church, April 17-18, 2009,
has been given to local, national, and international charities.
$25,000 was given to various charities, as follows:
• $5,000 to Patriarchal Charities
• $2,500 to Tele-Lumiere
• $2,500 to the Maronite Heritage Center
• $2,000 to Birmingham Catholic Charities
• $2,000 to the Birmingham Catholic Center of Concern
• $2,000 to neighboring St. Andrew Episcopal Church
• $2000 to Birmingham YMCA Strong Kids Campaign
• $2,000 to the Big Oak Ranch (a Christian home for abused,
neglected, orphaned or abandoned children)
• $2,000 to Camp Smile-A-Mile (a non-profit organization
for children with cancer)
• $2,000 to St. Jude’s Research Hospital
• $1,000 to Southeastern Diabetes Education Services.
St. Elias started its Lebanese Food & Cultural Festival in
1999 to showcase the rich heritage, culture and food that is a
part of this Christian Lebanese community to the citizens of
Birmingham. The festival has always given a part of the
proceeds to charity—over $195,000 in the last eleven years.
This is one way that its church family is working together to
help with Christian causes here and abroad.
Be sure to mark your calendars for the Twelfth Annual
St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church Lebanese Food &
Cultural Festival which is scheduled for Friday and Saturday,
April 9 - 10, 2010.
Columbus, Ohio
Mission Bids Farwell to Pastor
Members of Our Lady of Lebanon Mission in Columbus,
Ohio, honor Msgr. Frank Lane on his retirment.
by Adele Knieser Busch
O
n Sunday, July 11, 2009, the parishioners of Our Lady
of Lebanon Maronite Mission in Columbus, Ohio,
gathered with the parishioners of St. Margaret of
Cortona Roman Catholic Church to bid farewell to their
pastor, Msgr. Frank Lane, who is retiring after forty-two
years in the priesthood.
For the past four years, Msgr. Lane and his parishioners
have graciously shared St. Margaret Church and Parish Hall
with the Columbus Maronite Mission for the celebration of
the Divine Liturgy and for festivities. Our Lady of Lebanon
parishioners presented Msgr. Lane with an engraved granite
plaque as a token of remembrance and personally thanked
him in the name of our Mission community, our Bishops
Robert Shaheen and Gregory Mansour and the Maronite
faithful for his friendship, hospitality, generosity and ministry
to our Mission.
The Maronite Community has been truly blessed to have
Msgr. Frank Lane as a friend and supporter of our Maronite
Rite here in Columbus, Ohio. Our thoughts and prayers go
with him always.
Waterbury, Connecticut
Annual Festival
O
ur Lady of Lebanon Church in Waterbury, Conn., will
th
hold its 10 Annual Taste of Lebanon Festival on
September 18-20, 2009: Friday from 6 p.m.- midnight;
Saturday from noon - midnight; and Sunday from 11a.m. –
5p.m.
For more information please call the Church’s office at
(203) 753 - 6633 or visit www.ourladyoflebanon-ct.org.
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 12 September 2009

Wheeling, West Virginia
Visit to Church
Members of The Friends of Wheeling Organization visit Our
Lady of Lebanon Church
O
n Wednesday evening, July 1, 2009, "The Friends of
Wheeling Organization" gathered at Our Lady of
Lebanon Church in Wheeling, West Virginia for a tour
of the facility. The group recently awarded the church with
"The Outstanding Sympathetic Award" for the new addition.
About thirty members of the group attended along with Fr.
Bakhos Chidiac, Pastor, the architect, Larry Siebieda, and his
wife, Lillian, parish council members Lou Khourey, Linda
Duffy, Tom George, Carol Dougherty and their spouses. A
delightful evening was spent touring the church’s old social
hall, the newly painted church and the new and beautiful
addition. The group was fascinated by the way the new
addition complemented the original structure and took many
photos of the church and of the exterior facades. Parish
council members Linda Duffy and Carol Dougherty then
treated the group to a dessert and coffee bar that included
many homemade items. It was a very rewarding evening that
presented us with an opportunity for showcasing Our Lady of
Lebanon Church to some in the community who were
unfamiliar with it.
th
76 Annual Mahrajan
U
pon arriving in Wheeling, West Virginia, in June of
2001, Fr. Bakhos Chidiac, Pastor of Our Lady of
Lebanon Church, wrote, “The parishioners of Our
Lady of Lebanon Church told me about the Mahrajan. They
were very proud of this event. When I realized the
magnitude of this event and the manpower that would be
needed to run it, not to mention the cost of bringing such an
event to fruition, I asked myself. ‘How in the world is this
small parish able to do this task’”
Now after nine years, I have come to the conclusion that
this festival is unique. It is different from all of the other
festivals that I have ever seen in my life. This Mahrajan is
like a huge tree, its trunk and roots are still in Wheeling, but
its branches have expanded to the many corners of the United
States, from Texas, Florida, California and Maine and from
Cleveland, Miami, Austin and Seattle. The parents and
grandparents who are still living in Wheeling are the trunk
and their children and grandchildren, sisters and brothers are
the branches which spread all over the United States. When
the Mahrajan approaches, they leave everything and travel to
Wheeling to reminisce about their childhood memories.
They also come to serve and to extend a helpful hand to their
relatives, parents and friends – our volunteers who work
tirelessly to keep the Mahrajan alive and vibrant. That's why
people put their hearts and hands together to keep the
Mahrajan a "first-class" event. It is to honor the Blessed
Mother on her Assumption and to build memories for the
generations to come. For these reasons, I say that if only one
parishioner of Our Lady of Lebanon remains, he or she
should keep this Mahrajan alive and running year after year.
As the only Maronite church in the state of West Virginia,
the parishioners take great pride in the continuation of the
Mahrajan. They give our visitors a taste of the well-known
"Lebanese Hospitality." The Mahrajan opens with our
beautiful Maronite liturgy which is held in the beautiful
outdoor setting at Oglebay Park. First-time visitors marvel
when the Consecration is chanted in Aramaic, the language
that was spoken by Christ. It is truly awe-inspiring.
After the conclusion of the Liturgy, children are delighted
by the variety of amusements that are offered for their fun,
and the adults treasure the food of their childhood. They can
then browse the many booths that offer a variety of items and
activities to suit individual choices. The excitement of the
people attending is palpable, especially when the lively, nonstop
entertainment begins. It continues throughout the day
alternating between Dabke and the professional "Alhambra"
dance troupe of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Once you experience the sights, sounds, aromas and
th
hospitality of this 76 Wheeling tradition, you will surely
return. It is the oldest event held at Oglebay Park and one to
be remembered.
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 13 September 2009

San Antonio, Texas
Catechists Retreat
Saint Louis, Missouri
Deacon Ordination
Gloria Saliba and Ameen Al-Bahloly create their earthen
vessels.
by Judy Perillo
St . George catechists gathered August 8, 2009 for a day of
renewal and planning. The theme of the day was: “This
treasure we possess in earthen vessels, to make it clear
that its surpassing power comes from God and not from us”(2
Cor. 4: 7). We are called by virtue of our Baptism to share our
gifts for the good of the entire community.
“We are Maronite” is the central emphasis of our
ministry. Using the Faith of the Mountain series, many
Maronite traditions and customs are highlighted. Additionally,
Catechists in each Faith Sharing Group will also have Fr.
Anthony Salim’s book, Captivated by Your Teachings, to add
information and inform adult catechists in the Maronite spirit
of catechesis.
This year we are adopting the team teaching approach by
having two catechists in each Faith Sharing Group. Working
as a team assures greater attention to each young person, and
supports catechist enrichment of ideas by learning from one
another.
At least once a month, an expert in a variety of topics will
address parental concerns in a faith context. Some topics are:
teaching children and teens safety skills and internet safety,
using mediation in family conflicts, and the faith experience
of a parent who served in Iraq.
Washington, D.C.
Clergy Day
Bishop Robert Shaheen, assisted by Msgrs. Alfred Badawi
and Gibran BouMerhi, ordains Wissam Akiki to the Order
of Deacon.
O
n August 19, 2009, His Excellency Bishop Robert
Shaheen ordained Wissam Akiki to the Order of
Deacon at St. Raymond Cathedral in Saint Louis, Mo.
Deacon Akiki assists the Bishop in the Chancery Office and,
on occasion, accompanies him when traveling. He has been in
the U.S., for the past eight years. He is married to Manal
Kassab-Akiki and they have one daughter, Perla. Deacon
Wissam serves weekly at St. Raymond Cathedral. We wish
Deacon Wissam all the best as he begins his ministry.
Th e Clergy of both Eparchies are invited to celebrate
ordinations to the diaconate and minor orders at the Our
Lady of Lebanon Seminary in Washington, D.C., and to
participate in the annual "clergy day" on November 18-19,
2009. This occasion gives the clergy an opportunity to gather
together for worship, for encouragement and support of the
seminarians and of each other, and to enjoy each other's
company. This year’s meeting takes on the added dimension
of the Church's celebrating the "Year of the Priests." Rev.
Melvin Blanchette, S.S., Rector of Theological College, is the
Guest Speaker. He is a nationally known author and lecturer
and has collaborated on books regarding priestly spirituality
and pastoral counseling. His talk is entitled: "Ten Principles
on Being a Priest: Balancing Pastoral Ministry and Self-
Care."
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 14 September 2009

Summary of NAM Award Winners for 2009
Th e National Apostolate of Maronites (NAM) sponsors
annual contests that are widely participated by Maronite
youth throughout the country. The scholarships and
vocation contests take place during the year and the results are
announced at each convention. At this year’s national
convention in Los Angeles, Calif., the following winners were
recognized for their achievements and contributions.
NAM Scholarship Winners
The scholarship committee is pleased to announce the winners
of the NAM MYO Scholarships for the 2009-2010 school
year. Each winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship pending
notification of enrollment in college. This scholarship may be
renewed for one additional year provided the recipient
maintains a 3.0 or better average on a 4.0 scale and enrolls for
an additional year in college.
John A. Solomon Memorial MYO Scholarship
Christine Zaccak Our Lady of Lebanon, Washington,
D.C.
Curtis Michael Taylor Our Lady of the Cedars, Fairlawn,
Ohio
Naomi and Paul Kassouf NAM Scholarship
Kimberly Ababseh Our Lady of Lebanon, San
Francisco, Calif.
Maurice Hajjar St. Jude, Orlando, Fla.
Thomas and Jennie Ayoob Memorial NAM
Scholarship
Michael Saba
Our Lady of Victory, Pittsburgh,
Penn.
Regarding the five scholarship winners from last year, please
contact the NAM office at (914) 964-3070 or
nam@namnews.org for verification that each will qualify for
the second $1,000.
NAM 2009 Vocations Awareness
Contest Winners
Essays
Kindergarten / Grade One
Write a prayer thanking God for a priest, deacon,
subdeacon or religious
Grades Two And Three
Write a prayer thanking God for those studying for the
priesthood.
Melanie Safi Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral,
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mary Chorlupnik St. Ephram, San Diego, Calif.
Noah Lutz St. George, Uniontown, Penn.
Grades Four Through Six
Write a letter of thanks to a priest, deacon, subdeacon or
religious.
Melissa Safi Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral,
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Maya Massmart St. Ephram, San Diego, Calif.
Janelle Jones St. Jude, Murray, Utah.
Grades Seven Through Nine
Write an essay describing an event in your life, where a
priest, deacon, subdeacon or religious made a difference.
Makiya Johns
Tanesha Johns
George Salah
Grades Ten Through Twelve
St. Jude, Murray, Utah
St. Jude, Murray, Utah
St. George, San Antonio, Tex.
Write an essay describing the process of discernment
needed to discover if one has a vocation [subdeacon,
deacon, priest or religious].
Marie Karam
Kevin Weisson
St. George, San Antonio, Tex.
St. George, San Antonio, Tex.
NAM 2009 Vocations Awareness
Contest Winners
Poster Winners
Kindergarten / Grade One
Priest, Deacons, Subdeacons, Religious Having Fun!
Ben Ferris St. Elias, Birmingham, Ala.
George Saikali St. Sharbel, Newtown Square, Penn.
Hannah Sutton St. George Church, Uniontown, Penn.
Hunter Fodill
Grace Elias
Jillian Winfree
St. Anthony, Glen Allen, Va.
St. Ephram, San Diego, Calif.
St. Ephram, San Diego, Calif.
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 15 September 2009

Grades Two And Three
Families “Grow” Vocations
Kayla Kaleel St. Jude, Murray, Utah
Sydney Filipe St. Anthony of Desert, Fall River,
Mass.
Matthew Moradian St. Maron, Youngstown, Ohio
Grades Four Through Six
God Is Calling, Are You Listening
Claudia Aboudinian St. Sharbel, Somerset, N.J.
Barbara Favorite St. Maron, Minneapolis, Minn.
Maurice Semaan St. Elias, Birmingham, Ala.
Grades Seven Through Nine
God Needs You to Lead His Flock
Stepanie Moeller St. Ephram, San Diego, Calif.
Alexandra Goins St. Jude, Murray, Utah
Luke Blankenship St. Ephram, San Diego, Calif.
Maronite Book of Hymns according to the Antiochian Syriac
Church, published in 2008 by the Patriarchal Liturgical
Commission, contains Maronite Syriac tunes for the Maronite
Qurbono; psalms as well as various Maronite and Marian
hymns. This 569-page hardcover book is available from Saint
Maron Publications for $25 plus $5 shipping.
Maronite Syriac Hymns CD of the Maronite Qurbono,
prepared by the Patriarchal Liturgical Commission in 2008
with Fathers Nassim Hagge and Youhana Geha, soloists, on
a double CD is available from Saint Maron Publications for
$25 plus $5 shipping.
The Maronite Icons according to the Maronite Liturgical
Year and the Feasts of the Saints was prepared by the Icons
Workshop at the Maronite Eparchy of Cyprus. It consists of
60 icons (41 for Sundays and Holy Days and 19 for Maronite
Saints). This collection of icons (14" x 20") along with a
booklet explaining each icon is available from Saint Maron
Publications for $100 plus $10 shipping.
To order your copy (ies) please write to: Saint Maron
Publications, 4611 Sadler Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060.
For a complete listing of publications carried by Saint
Maron Publications, please visit www.stmaron.org.
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 16 September 2009

The Maronite Convention in Los Angeles Exceeds All Records
Maronite Clergy from both eparchies at one of their meetings during their
annual conference.
by Tommy Tedros
T
th
he 46 annual Maronite
Convention sponsored by the
National Apostolate of Maronites
took place in Los Angeles on July 1 - 5,
2009. Our Lady of Mount Lebanon
Cathedral in Los Angeles was the host
community and the festivities took place
at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century
City, bordering Beverly Hills. The
caliber of guests was unprecedented as
these special dignitaries arrived from all
parts of the world. Attendance records
were broken at each evening event that
was part of the convention schedule.
The souvenir book generated the most
income to date and was given out as a
remembrance of this convention. Many
conventioneers extended their vacations
by coming out early and staying later as
they enjoyed the sights and landmarks
the city had to offer.
Clergy of the Eparchy of Our Lady
of Lebanon and of the Eparchy of Saint
Maron of Brooklyn started arriving the
Sunday before the convention as they
had their Clergy Conference from
Monday through Thursday noon. On
Monday night, there was Divine Liturgy
at the Cathedral and a reception in the
hall welcoming the clergy, NAM board
committee members and special guests.
The NAM Board of Directors held their
meeting on Tuesday and assisted in
whatever preparations were needed as
the convention started. On Wednesday,
the registration desk officially opened
and many volunteers assisted the
conventioneers. People picked up their
tickets and packets and patronized the
many exhibits and displays of religious
and business interest. The hospitality
room opened on Wednesday and the
doors stayed open until Saturday. It
became a great meeting place with an
abundance of Lebanese food and
desserts available for the balance of
each day. That evening, a “Welcome to
L.A.” reception was held outdoors by
the pool patio where there were plenty
of buffet stations to keep everyone full.
The late night gatherings for the young
people started Wednesday and ran
through Saturday night for those that
wanted to continue to dance the night
away to DJ music. Also, the annual
tradition of the “Lebanese Lounge”
started that night thru Saturday night
where priests and parishioners sang
religious hymns and traditional Arabic
songs accompanied by those talented
individuals that doubled as musicians.
There were so many events that
kept all ages busy like never before. A
lot of these events really got going on
Thursday and beyond. For the first
time, there was a special program for
the children where they had outings and
events at the hotel. The MYO had a
Raging Waters Water Park visit and
His Eminence Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Oriental Churches,
addresses the Maronite Convention in Los Angeles, California.
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 17 September 2009

Bishop Robert Shaheen (left), Cardinal Sandri (center), and Bishop Gregory
Mansour celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Convention.
beach and pool parties. The MYA had
a Hollywood by Night evening function,
a Long Beach yacht trip, and beach and
pool parties as well. The young adult
professionals had a cocktail reception
Saturday evening. The adults and
seniors had game hours and tours of
various Los Angeles attractions. Also,
the argileh café each evening kept all
ages smoking away into the evening.
These activities, in addition to the daily
Liturgies and workshops, kept everyone
busy.
Thursday’s workshops included
“Teaching Business Principles Using
the Bible” and “Maronite Identity.” The
highlights included the luncheon with
His Eminence Cardinal Leonardo
Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for
Eastern Churches. It was an honor to
have him here as he spoke about and
witnessed the Maronite way of life. He
stayed with us for the duration of the
convention and was the main celebrant
at the Sunday Liturgy. That evening a
spiritual concert highlighted the
wonderful talents and abilities of
Joumana Mdawar. She put on a
captivating show singing spiritual songs
and crossover hits of other popular
artists. Her organist accompanied her
and the rhythms and musical tunes were
absolutely memorable making that
evening special.
On Friday, workshops included
“The Registration for Lebanese
Citizenship,” “The Maronite Outreach”
and “The Noursat Presentation of the
Network.” The highlights included the
luncheon with Carlos Slim Helu, one of
the richest persons in the world,
originally from Mexico. He presented a
business theme on how to deal with
today’s economy and the steps it takes
to become a successful businessperson.
Many companies with and without a
Lebanese background attended this
luncheon. He met the youth who were
attending the “Theology on Tap”
workshop by the pool patio later that
afternoon, and there he attended
Friday’s “Hollywood Night with the
Stars” before his Saturday morning
departure. Friday evening a talent show
was part of the entertainment where the
finalists performed and the winners
were announced. The auditions had
been held earlier in the convention and
it turned out to be a success. The main
performer was Shadi Sayegh and his
band. In addition Yari Mori and his
band also performed as did The Our
Lady of Mount Lebanon Cathedral
Dabke Troupe . There was also an
interactive salsa dance exhibition with
many guests filling the dance floor to
pick up new moves.
On Saturday, workshops included
“Investment Strategies” and “The
Commission for Lebanon.” The
featured speaker was Secretary of
Transportation Ray Lahood from the
Obama administration. He joined us for
the majority of the convention and
beyond and it was a pleasure to have
him in our presence. He’s a current
parishioner of Saint Sharbel Maronite
Church in Peoria, Illinois. That
morning, the NAM general assembly
was held in the morning where the
board and delegates conducted their
annual business. The Order of Saint
Sharbel and NAM board held their own
separate events such as breakfast
meetings, delegate meetings and
dinner/cocktail receptions. That
evening, the convention activities
peaked with the grand banquet. The
many dignitaries sat at the head tables
where speeches were given and
presentations were made. During
dinner, a spectacular video presentation
was given highlighting the Maronite
contributions made in the United States.
That added to the patriotic theme of the
th
evening as it was held on the 4 of July.
The entertainment was provided by
Lebanese star Ghassan Saliba and
ensemble. It was an amazing evening
enjoyed by many.
On Sunday, the Pontifical Divine
Liturgy was held. Along with Cardinal
Sandri, the other key celebrant was
Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop of
Los Angeles. He gave a stirring homily
and we were thankful to have him at the
grand banquet as well as at Sunday
Liturgy. Tommy Tedros was sworn in
as NAM President and spoke to the
parishioners in attendance. Brunch
th
followed the Liturgy. The 46 annual
Maronite Convention was certainly a
spectacular event and we hope that you
will participate in this annual tradition
next year in Birmingham, Alabama.
Details will soon be available so we
hope to see you there next year.
For more information on the
National Apostolate of Maronites and
all of NAM’s programs and events visit
WWW.NAMNEWS.ORG or call
(914) 964-3070 or by email at
NAM@NAMNEWS.org.
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 18 September 2009

The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 19 September 2009

The Maronite Voice
St. Anthony’s Maronite Catholic Church
4611 Sadler Road
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6108
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT NO. 1370
GLEN ALLEN, VIRGINIA
Birmingham,
Alabama,
Receives NAM
Banner from
Our Lady of
Mount
Lebanon-St.
Peter Cathedral
Ayoub at the farewell liturgy of the NAM Convention in Los
Angeles on July 5, 2009. Chorbishop Richard D. Saad, Pastor
of St. Elias, extends a warm welcome to all to attend the 47 th
Annual Maronite Convention to be held in Birmingham,
Alabama, July 7 -11, 2010. St. Elias is also celebrating its
th
100 anniversary during 2010 and is especially honored to be
hosting the national convention. Chairpersons Mark and
Kimberly Albert Boackle and their committees are hard at
work to ensure a good and rewarding time is had by all. The
combination of Lebanese and Southern hospitality can NOT
be beat. Please visit our webpage at www.naminbham.com
for reservation and travel information, convention highlights,
schedule, Birmingham highlights and more. Ahlan Wa
Sahalan Y’All!!
The Hand of the Priest
(Continued from page 1)
The words of Lacordaire are still true:
Wanda and Paul Elkourie and Mike Naber, NAM Executive
Director.
by Wanda Elkourie,
Public Relations Chairman
T
he NAM Convention Banner was passed from the 2009
host parish to the 2010 host parish. Paul and Wanda
Elkourie accepted the NAM banner from Dr. Eli and Mireille
“To live in the midst of the world without wishing its
pleasures; to be a member of each family, yet
belonging to none, to share all sufferings; to penetrate
all secrets; to heal all wounds; to go from men to God
and offer Him their prayers; to return from God to
men to bring pardon and hope; to have a heart of fire
for charity and a heart of bronze for chastity; to teach
and to pardon, console and bless always, My God,
what a life! And it is yours, O Priest of Jesus Christ!”
Let us all continue to pray for one another and especially for
vocations to the Holy Priesthood.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Robert J. Shaheen
Bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon
The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VIII Page 20 September 2009