Maronite Voice - Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn

The 

Maronite Voice 

A Publication of the Maronite Eparchies in the USA 

Volume 1 Issue No. 2 February 2005 

Lent 2005 

Ash Monday Reminds Us of Our Humble Origin 

Easter Sunday Cals Us To Enjoy Eternity In God’s Kingdom 

The Most Reverend Robert J. Shaheen, 

Bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady of 

Lebanon. 

Dearly Beloved in Christ, 

The Season of the Great Lent is an 

opportune time to prepare us for 

the greatest event of the Mystery 

of Salvation: Christ’s death and 

resurrection. Our Church, following a 

long tradition sets this special time of 

fasting, abstinence, almsgiving and 

prayer for spiritual rejuvenation. It 

begins with the miracle at Cana of 

Galilee where Christ changed the water 

into wine at the wedding banquet 

celebration and it finds its fulfillment 

on Holy Thursday where Christ 

changed the bread into His Body and 

the wine into His Blood for an 

everlasting commemoration of His 

sacrifice, once and for all, on our 

behalf. We are also reminded on Ash 

Monday of our humble origin: 

“Rememberthat you are dust and unto 

dust you shallreturn,”but we are called 

on Easter Sunday to enjoy eternity in 

God’sKingdom. Therefore, this is the 

journey that we are called to take to 

bring us closer to God, journey from 

the earthly celebration to the heavenly 

banquet. 

Therefore, Lent then becomes a 

time of preparation that helps us 

Christians to discipline our desires 

through fasting, to reach out to others 

through almsgiving, and to listen to our 

God through prayer. We fast from 

eating and drinking so that we have 

better understanding of the needs of 

others. We practice almsgiving towards 

the less fortunate without leting “our 

left hand know what our right hand is 

doing” (Mathew 6:3). We spend time 

in prayer so we deepen our love for our 

God Who loves us infinitely. It is a time 

for sincere repentance and conversion, 

enabling us to change our direction if 

necessary, and to reinforce our 

Christian commitment. 

I would like to encourage everyone 

to make an extra effort during this 

season to be Christlike. Some ways one 

might make this season more beneficial 

would be: 

Attend daily Liturgy when 

possible, even arrive a bit early to 

prepare for the celebration. 

Attend the Friday services. 

Approach the sacrament of 

Reconciliation (Confession) during 

Lent. 

When you are out and about, try 

stopping by a church to pay a visit 

to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. 

Some find it helpful to make a Day 

of Recollection in preparation for 

the season. 

Acts of charity, i.e. visiting the 

sick, the elderly, the homebound or 

the lonely are also wonderful ways 

to “be a Christ” for others. 

Stop gossiping. Compliment others 

and appreciate them. 

Make amends with people who 

have hurt you and try to make 

peace among others. 

We all need to take time out of our busy 

schedule and bring our lives into the 

proper perspective. Let us be truly 

ready on Holy Week and Easter Sunday 

to meet Christ who is ever present in 

the Eucharist and Who is waiting 

patiently for us. We have so much to 

thank God for, let us“Rejoice and be 

Glad!” 

Sincerely yours in Christ, 

+Most Reverend Robert J. Shaheen, 

D.D.

Schedule of Bishop Robert Shaheen 

February 4-6, 2005 

Dedication of the Parish Center, St. George Maronite 

Church in San Antonio, Texas. 

February 7, 2005 

Ash Monday Celebration at St. Raymond Cathedral, 

St. Louis, Missouri. 


Feast of Saint Maron at St. Raymond Cathedral, St. 

Louis, Missouri. 

February 19-20, 2005 

Feast of Saint Maron at St. Maron Church, 

Cleveland, Ohio. 


Cathedral meeting, St. Louis, Missouri 

March 7-8, 2005 

Liturgy Commission Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri. 

March 9-10, 2005 

Eastern Catholic Bishops’Meeting, St. 

Missouri. 

Louis, 

Schedule of Bishop Gregory Mansour 


Feast of Saint Maron at Our Lady of Lebanon 

Cathedral, Brooklyn, N.Y. 

February 12-13, 2005 

Pastoral visit to Our Lady of Lebanon Church, 

Washington, D.C. 


New York Catholic Bishops Conference 

February 19-20, 2005 

Pastoral visit to St. Maron Mission, Jackson, Fla. and 

the mission in Melbourne. 

February 26-27, 2005 

Pastoral Visit to Our Lady of Lebanon 

Church,Waterbury, Conn. 

March 1, 3005 

Day of Recollection for Byzantine Catholic priests in 

Pittsburgh, Penn. 

March 5 , 2005 

Pastoral visit to Archangel Michael Church, 

Fayetteville, N.C. 

Second Collections For Year 2005 

In the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon 

By directives of His Excellency Bishop Robert Shaheen, 

Bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, the 

following second collections are to be conducted in all 

the parishes and missions of the Eparchy on the indicated 

dates: 

January 9, 2005 

For Catholic Communications Campaign 


For the Catholic Home Missions 

March 13, 2005 

For Caritas, Lebanon 

March 25, 2005 (Good Friday) 

For the Holy Land 

May 1, 2005 (Feast of Our Lady Of Lebanon) 

For the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon, North 

Jackson, Ohio 

June 26, 2005 (Feast of Sts. Peter & Paul) 

For theHoly Father’s Colection (Peter’s Pence) 

July 17, 2005 

For Catholic University 

September 18, 2005 

Catholic Bishops’ Worldwide Charities 

October 23, 2005 

For World Missions (Propagation of the Faith) 

December 4, 2005 

For Maronite Patriarchal Charities 

Second Collections should be submitted to the Chancery 

within 3 weeks of the collection. It is essential that pastors 

forward these funds within the three-week due date so that 

the Chancery can forward these collected funds to their 

proper places. These collections were scheduled in 

conjunction with the Latin Dioceses. If you would like 

promotional materials, please contact your local Latin 

Diocese. 

The Eparchial Development Appeal is to be conducted 

between February 7 and March 27, 2005. 

Assessments will be divided into ten segments to be paid at 

the beginning of each month from February through 

November. 

March 6, 2005 

Pastoral visit to St. Sharbel Mission, Raleigh, N.C. 

The Maronite Voice Volume 1 Issue No. 2 Page 2 February 2005

Eparchy of Saint Maron 

of Brooklyn 

Holds Its Annual Retreat 

At Our Lady of Florida 

Retreat House 

Maronite Clergy Hold Their Annual Retreat 

by Msgr. Ron Beshara 

During the week of January 17-23, 

Fr. Robert Powell, a monk living 

and ministering in the Diocese of 

Fall River, Mass., led a restful and 

prayerful retreat for the forty clergy and 

the Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint 

Maron of Brooklyn. The retreat was 

held at Our Lady of Florida Center, 

owned and operated by the Passionist 

Fathers. This facility sits on twelve 

acres of beautiful prime property 

caressing the Intra-coastal Waterway, a 

water highway along the entire Atlantic 

seaboard. The private rooms are 

comfortable and feature a breathtaking 

view of the Lake Worth inlet. 

Bishop Gregory welcomed the 

priests on Monday evening during an 

Hour of Eucharistic Adoration to Jesus, 

the Bread of Life. Since Pope John Paul 

II called the twenty-two churches of the 

Catholic Church to devote this entire 

year to the Loving Christ abiding in this 

Sacrament of the Eucharist, each 

Bishop Mansour addresses the clergy 

of the Eparchy at their annual retreat 

Clergy of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn gather around their bishop, The 

Most Reverend Gregory Mansour, following the morning liturgy during their 

retreat at Our Lady of Florida Retreat House in West Palm Beach on January 20, 

2005. 

evening the Clergy Retreat included the 

special liturgy for the Service of 

Eucharistic Adoration and an hour of 

Adoration. 

Fr. Powell, the Retreat Master, 

invited the priests to be open to surprise 

and to go deeper in their lives on their 

spiritual journey to intimacy with our 

Triune God. He spoke on spiritual 

awakening and the conditions necessary 

to foster this state of spiritual 

awareness. As one journeys to the 

center of his or her life, he noted, there 

one encounters the Abiding Presence of 

the Community of Love who loves us 

unconditionally. 

The two daily forty-five minute 

conferences enhanced this theme 

through the week as Fr. Bob spoke on 

v a r y i n g t o p i c s i n c l u d i n g : 

contemplation, methods for practicing 

centering prayer, examination of 

consciousness, lexio divina (daily holy 

reading), etc. The days were delicately 

balanced with prayer, reflection, 

worship, adoration, fellowship and 

quiet time. 

The weather moved through a 

change of seasons within a matter of 

days–from rainy, cold and overcast to 

sunny and comfortable, which is typical 

for January Florida winters. Bishop 

Mansour and the clergy dedicated the 

entire week to the liturgical feast of the 

preceding Sunday, namely Deceased 

Priests. Therefore, daily Safro, Ramsho 

and Liturgy commemorated all the 

priests who ministered at the altar, 

served God’speople and have now 

crossed over to the harbor of safety. 

Each participant of the 2005 Clergy 

Retreat took away precious and 

renewed moments of shared prayer, 

intimacy with God, friendship with the 

brother priests and a drawing nearer to 

the Community of Eternal Love. 

Overall, the priests enjoyed time away 

to pray and be in the presence of their 

Brother, Jesus, the High Priest and 

Good Shepherd. 


Scottsdale, Arizona Was the Site for the Annual Clergy Retreat of the 

Eparchy Our Lady of Lebanon 

by Fr. Abdallah Zaidan, M.L.M 

January 17-21, 2005 thirty-four 

priests, three deacons and one 

subdeacon gathered with His 

Excellency Bishop Robert Shaheen for 

a spiritual retreat at the Franciscan 

Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

Fr. Jack Spaulding, a diocesan priest 

from Phoenix and author of spiritual 

books, was the Retreat Master. 

The week started with Benediction 

with the Blessed Sacrament at St. Joseph 

Maronite Church in Phoenix followed 

by a dinner hosted by the ladies of the 

parish. Fr. Ghassan Mattar, Pastor, and 

parishioners, were gracious hosts paying 

special attention to the needs of the 

priests during the retreat. 

During the day, the clergy prayed 

together the prayer of the Divine Office 

(Safro and Ramsho) as well as the 

Divine Liturgy. There was ample time 

for private prayer and meditation in 

front of the Blessed Sacrament and 

around the serene setting of the 

Franciscan Renewal Center. The 

presbyterate of Our Lady of Lebanon 

carried in their prayers the well-being 

of all Maronites and prayed for the 

repose of the souls of all faithful 

departed, especially the deceased 

priests. 

Fr. Jack Spaulding gave two 

inspiring talks every day. His 

presentations centered on priestly life 

and ministry. He emphasized the 

importance of the Eucharist in the lives 

of the priests: “Thereason for our 

priesthood is the Eucharist.” He urged 

the clergy to spend more time with the 

Lord, to“waste” time in front of the 

Blessed Sacrament so they will be able 

to listen toGod’svoice and discern His 

will in their lives. 

Fr. Spaulding was available to 

interact with the priests and answer 

their various questions. He also 

dedicated time for confession and 

spiritual direction on an individual 

basis. 

In the evening, the clergy had time 

to exchange pastoral experiences and 

discuss various issues of importance to 

their pastoral ministry. 

As always, the retreat offered the 

clergy of the Eparchy of Our Lady of 

Lebanon a time for spiritual 

rejuvenation and freshness. They are 

looking forward to meeting again next 

year for their annual spiritual 

gathering. 


THE ORDER 

OF 

SAINT SHARBEL 

Bishop Gregory Mansour Elevates The 

Maronite Community in Tampa, Florida to the 

Status of A Mission 

NEW MEMBERS 

Annual Members 

Sakr Nammour 

Nimer Nammour 

Asad Nammour 

Issa Nammour 

The Maronite Community 

Pleasantville, N.J. 

Joseph Badway 

Mary Atalla 

Donna Marie Harrison 

Mary, Mother of Light Mission 

West Palm Beach, Fla. 

*** 

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 Maronites Eparchies 

in the USA. 

For more information about the 

Order, ask your pastor or write to 

Eparchy of Saint Maron of 

Brooklyn 

Order of Saint Sharbel 

109 Remsen Street 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 11201 

Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon 

Order of Saint Sharbel 

1021 South Street 

St. Louis, MO 63104 

The Maronite Community of 

Tampa, Florida, was blessed by 

the pastoral visit of His 

Excellency the Most Reverend Gregory 

Mansour, Bishop of the Eparchy of 

Saint Maron of Brooklyn, accompanied 

by Msgr. Michael Thomas, Vicar 

General. During this visit, Bishop 

Mansour officially established the 

community as a Mission under the 

patronage of Saints Peter & Paul. 

Bishop Mansour arrived in Tampa 

on Saturday, January 15, 2005, and was 

met by Fr. Paul Damien, Administrator, 

Mr. Joe Rached, Chairperson of the 

Parish Council, and Dr. Dany Sayad, 

Parish Council member. The official 

visit began with a tour of St. Mary’s 

Roman Catholic Church, where the 

mission started and the rectory of St. 

Mary’swhere Fr. Paul resides along 

with Fr. Bob Morris, Pastor of St. 

Mary’s, and his asistant Fr. Kaz 

Nawalaniec. 

Later, Bishop Mansour toured the 

facility of the new mission site at Our 

Lady of the Rosary Parish Center and 

met with Parish Council members who 

welcomed him with their families. 

Bishop Mansour held a private meeting 

with the Parish Council focusing on the 

history and current situation of the 

Mission and the challenges for the near 

future. The Council members were 

encouraged to continue in their hard 

work to build a permanent place for the 

Church in the Tampa Bay area. 

On Sunday, January 16, Bishop 

Mansour started the day with a visit 

from the children. He talked to them 

about the Eucharist and explained what 

happens in the Mass. He also prepared 

the offering gifts with them, explaining 

the prayers and the meaning of water, 

wine and bread. Bishop Mansour ended 

with a presentation of reward plaques 

to four altar servers. 

Next, Bishop Mansour celebrated a 

Pontifical Divine Liturgy. Msgr. 

Michael Thomas; Fr. Bob Morris, 

Pastor of St.Mary’sRoman Catholic 

Church; Fr. Ron Aubin, Pastor of Our 

Lady of the Rosary Roman Catholic 

Church; and Fr. Paul Damien 

concelebrated. Deacon Simon Abi- 

Nader of Orlando assisted. 

In his homily, Bishop Mansour 

thanked the Diocese of St. Petersburg 

and its Bishop, the Most Reverend 

Robert Lynch for hosting, fostering and 

encouraging the Maronite Community. 

Bishop Mansour then preached about 

the talents and how important it is to put 

our talents into work. 

(Continues on Page 8) 


Bishop Gregory Mansour Installs Three New Members Into the Order of 

Saint Sharbel and Blesses the Land For the New Church Facility 

In West Palm Beach, Florida 

Twenty minutes before the Holy 

Mysteries on January 23, 2005, 

the Feast of the Righteous and 

Just, Bishop Gregory Mansour installed 

three new members for the Order of 

Saint Sharbel at Mary, Mother of Light 

Mission, Palm Beaches, Florida. Mary 

Atalla, Joseph Badway and Donna 

Marie (Beshara) Harrison were 

presented to the Bishop for investiture 

by Bernadette Shalhoub, Vice President 

of the Order. Following the presentation 

each new member was invested with the 

Cross of the Order and received a 

blessing and a lapel pin. Atalla, Badway 

and Harrison were welcomed into the 

Order by twelve other Order members 

from all over the country who were in 

attendance for the Pastoral Visit of 

Bishop Mansour to the Mission 

Community. 

For the Mission Church these three 

new members increase their 

membership in the Eparchy to six Order 

of Saint Sharbel participants. Over and 

above their commitment to the parish 

well-being, through the annual 

membership, they support the mission 

of the Order to educate future priests 

and help in the retirement to older 

priests. 

Blessing Of New Land 

Following the installation the twelve 

members of the Order of Saint 

Sharbel went outdoors to stand as 

the Honor Guard to the bishops and 

clergy upon entrance into the temple. 

As the procession neared the main 

entrance it paused for the traditional 

Maronite greeting at the doors for 

Bishop Gregory Mansour and retired 

Archbishop Francis Zayek. Msgr. Ron 

Beshara, Administrator of the Mission 

and Director of the Office of Outreach, 

incensed both bishops, and then the 

procession continued to the bema. The 

procession included ministers of the 

altar, Order of Sharbel, Frs. Leonard 

Basinov and Gavin Badway, and Msgrs. 

James Namie and Beshara. 

The liturgy commemorating the 

Righteous and Just was chanted in 

English, Arabic and Syriac. The first 

reading was proclaimed in English by 

Assisted by Msgr. Ron Beshara, Administrator, Bishop Gregory Mansour blesses 

the land for the new church facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., on January 23, 

2005. Also pictured are Fr. Gavin Badway (back row) and Archbishop Francis 

M. Zayek, retired Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron. 

Kevin Faris, Council President, and in 

Arabic by Dr. Anthony Atalla. The 

Holy Gospel Book was transferred and 

then proclaimed in English by Fr. 

Badway and in Arabic by Archbishop 

Zayek. During the homily Bishop 

Mansour reminded the community that 

all Catholics can and do go to church 

but not all can and do build a church. 

Preaching to a standing-room only 

crowd of about 200 people, he told 

them that Mary, Mother of Light serves 

as an example of the Gospel outreach, 

humility and service as mandated by the 

Gospel. He was referring to the 

dedication, openness and hospitality of 

this Maronite Community who 

converted a humble Pizza Hut into a 

place of worship and welcomed many 

others to their community. 

Following the final blessing Bishop 

Mansour led the community outdoors 

while carrying the Icon of Our Lady of 

Elige and the community chanting“Ya 

Om Allah.”When they arrived at the 

new land acquisition the bishop blessed 

the land for the new church facility. 

Mary, Mother of Light sold 4.5 

acres of land several months ago and 

then purchased 3.2 acres behind the 

current site on Lake Worth Rd. This 

increases the total acreage to 4.2 acres 

and affords the community ample space 

to develop its future plan of a multipurpose 

hall, church and rectory over a 

period of time. Plans are currently 

underway to initiate a Pledge Drive for 

the new building estimated to cost 

$700,000, as the Council initiates the 

important dialogue with Greenacres for 

approval of the site plans on the land. 

Mrs. Rose Bethoney and members 

of the Altar Society served a Lebanese 

luncheon and pastries to all the guests. 

The investiture, liturgy and ground 

blessing were inspirational and 

encouraging to all the parishioners and 

others attending. The pastoral visit of its 

Shepherd, Bishop Mansour, and our 

beloved retired Archbishop Francis 

Zayek proved to be a blessing for all 

that day. 


Bishop Returns To His Former Parish of 

Our Lady of Mount Lebanon-St.Peter Cathedral 

by Tommy Tedros 

On December 12 th , Our Lady of 

Mount Lebanon-St. Peter 

Cathedral in Los Angeles hosted 

a "welcome home" banquet honoring 

His Excellency Bishop Gregory 

Mansour and His Excellency Bishop 

Robert Shaheen on his pastoral visit. 

Bishop Gregory served the Cathedral 

from 1994 to June, 2001. His 

honorable and modest demeanor 

endeared him to the Cathedral over the 

years, first as Chancellor and 

Chorbishop, and now as Bishop of the 

Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn. 

The day started with a Pontifical 

Divine Liturgy celebrated by His 

Excellency Bishop Robert J. Shaheen, 

Bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady of 

Lebanon. Bishop Gregory Mansour; 

Bishop Emeritus John Chedid; Frs. 

Abdallah Zaidan, Rector; Elias Sleiman; 

and Pierre Albalaa concelebrated. A 

procession of the Order of Saint 

Sharbel preceded the entrance of the 

celebrants. Bishop Gregory gave the 

homily and thanked the parish for their 

support and prayers over the years. 

The day's events culminated with 

the reception at the Wilshire Grand 

Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. A 

capacity crowd attended the luncheon 

that started with a welcoming reception 

as the guests congregated in front of the 

banquet room. A VIP reception for the 

dignitaries in attendance was held prior 

to the start of the program. There was a 

children's program in one of the nearby 

rooms where babysitting services were 

provided. Chairperson Jeanette Hollow 

organized the details with her 

committees in order to establish the 

program. Co-Masters of Ceremonies 

Tommy Tedros and Noelle Karaki 

introduced each speaker. 

Before lunch was served, Los 

Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine 

presented a commendation recognizing 

Bishop Gregory on his visit to Los 

Angeles. Mr. Zine is the first elected 

American of Lebanese ancestry to be 

represented in local office. After lunch, 

a video presentation highlighting the 

religious career of Bishop Gregory was 

shown to the guests. The program 

Fr. Abdullah Zaidan, Rector of Our Lady of Mount Lebanon-St. Peter 

Cathedral in Los Angeles presents a Christmas gift to Bishop Gregory 

Mansour on behalf of the Cathedral parishioners on December 12, 2004. 

continued with the first speaker, 

Chairperson Jeanette Hollow as she 

welcomed everyone in attendance. His 

Excellency, John Chedid spoke next 

congratulating Bishop Gregory on his 

promotion. Bishop Chedid was the one 

responsible for bringing Bishop 

Gregory to serve the Eparchy of Our 

Lady of Lebanon. Fr. Abdallah Zaidan 

spoke next and gave Christmas gifts to 

both Bishop Gregory and Bishop 

Shaheen on behalf of the Cathedral. Fr. 

Zaidan bestowed on Bishop Gregory 

Certificates of Welcome on behalf of 

U.S. Congressman Xavier Bacerra and 

City Supervisor Michael Antonovich. 

Bishop Gregory was the next 

speaker and received a resounding 

welcome from the guests showing his 

appreciation to the local community. 

He spoke of the challenges to come and 

how his heart will always remain with 

the people of Los Angeles. The 

featured speaker was Bishop Robert 

Shaheen, and he talked about the 

relationship he has with Bishop 

Gregory. It was truly an honor to have 

both Bishops of the two Maronite 

eparchies of the United States in 

attendance, and both Bishops are 

excellent representatives of the 

Maronite communities throughout the 

country. The program closed with the 

table centerpieces given to one lucky 

person sitting at each table and the 

guests were given the opportunity to 

meet with the Bishops in a reception 

area following the conclusion of the 

program. 


A Touch of Cleveland in Lebanon by Jeannie and Samir Farah 

This article was recently printed in Maronites Today, former newsletter for the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon. 

Errors contained in the article, however, have made it necessary to reprint it with corrections in The Maronite 

Voice, the Newsletter of the Maronite Eparchies in the U.S.A. We extend our apologies for any misunderstandings 

that may have resulted from the first printing. 

Little did Chorbishop Bernard 

Khachan, Pastor of St. Maron 

Church in Cleveland, Ohio, know 

that a simple invitation to some of his 

parishioners to join him in visiting 

Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir 

in Diman on July 12, 2004, would 

bloom into a beautiful experience for 

his parishioners who were visiting 

Lebanon. 

After baptizing the son of Melia and 

Norman Saadeh, members of St. Maron 

parish, on Saturday, July 10, 2004 in 

Derya, Lebanon, Chorbishop Khachan 

asked his parishioners attending the 

baptism to extend an invitation to all 

members of St. Maron Church visiting 

Lebanon to meet on Monday morning at 

the Sawary Hotel and Resort in 

Batroun. 

The cell phones began working and 

by the time we finished, some seventyfive 

men, women and children appeared 

Monday morning, ready to go. Fifteen 

loaded cars formed a convoy and 

followed Msgr. Khachan up the 

mountain roads of Lebanon. 

Upon arrival, we were ushered into 

the Grand Salon of the Patriarchal 

Residence. One could not help but be 

impressed knowing that we were 

standing in the very place where Heads 

of State, dignitaries and other prominent 

people from around the globe had also 

met with the Patriarch. 

A sense of awe and silence fell over 

us when we saw the picture of Saydat 

Elige [Our Lady of Elige] above the 

chair of the Patriarch flanked by chairs 

in a circular pattern around the room 

giving it an air of warm welcome and 

peace. Silence was replaced with 

applause when the doors opened and the 

Patriarch entered. He greeted us with 

radiant warmth and with a smile that 

could melt an iceberg. 

He thanked us for coming and 

encouraged us to be faithful and to keep 

Lebanon, the only Christian nation in 

the Middle East, in our prayers. He 

then addressed the children and 

reminded them that they are the future 

of the Maronite Church. The children 

Parishioners of St. Maron Church in Cleveland, Ohio, visiting Lebanon accompanied 

their Pastor, Chorbishop Bernard Khachan, to visit His Beatitude Patriarch Nasrallah 

Peter Cardinal Sfeir at the summer Patriarchal residence in Diman, Lebanon on July 

12, 2004. 

sang the Marian song, “Fi Zelli 

Himayatiki”, which the Patriarch 

enjoyed greatly. 

After the visit we toured the 

building, the Church of St. John Maron 

within the residence, and the grounds. 

Afterwards, we were treated to lunch by 

Chorbishop Khachan at Rachana 

Palace. 

Truly, it was a“Touchof Cleveland 

inLebanon”that all of us will treasure 

and remember. 

Sts. Peter & Paul 

Mission 

Continued From Page 5 

At the end of the liturgy, Bishop 

Mansour blessed the icon of the two 

Apostles, Saints Peter & Paul, and gave 

a special blessing for the Parish Council 

members. After the Divine Liturgy, a 

banquet was held in honor of Bishop 

Mansour. 

Parishioners and Administrator of 

Saint Peter & Paul Mission would like 

to extend their gratitude to all friends 

and guests who shared with them this 

important moment of their history and, 

above all, a special thank you to Bishop 

Mansour for the wonderful memories he 

left in their hearts. 


The Maronite Catholic Community of Melbourne, Florida (MCCM) 

Makes Steady Progress 

by John Khoury Ph.D., Secretary 

In the summer of 1998, the Christian 

Lebanese community of Melbourne 

was very appreciative to have Fr. 

Peter Boulos visit the Community of 

about twenty-two families and conduct 

a monthly Maronite Divine Liturgy at 

Our Lady of Lourdes, a local Roman 

Catholic Church. Melbourne is a 

medium size city located in Central 

Florida. 

Later that year after Fr. Boulos was 

transferred, Maronite priests assigned to 

the Maronite Parish in Orlando, 

occasionally celebrated the Maronite 

Divine Liturgy for the Community. 

In June 2003, Bishop Stephen 

Hector Doueihi appointed a highly 

dedicated priest, Fr. Elie Abi-Chedid, 

Administrator of St. Maron Mission in 

Jacksonville, Fla., as Visitor to the 

Maronite Community of Melbourne. 

Fr. Elie has shown unprecedented 

effort and devotion to the Community. 

He travels from Jacksonville, a threehour 

drive, once a month to celebrate 

the Maronite Liturgy at Saint Joseph 

Roman Catholic Church. 

Our premise is simple. We believe 

that Our Lord Jesus Christ has called us 

together as one Maronite Family to 

worship God and celebrate the 

Eucharist in our precious Eastern 

tradition. Our goal is to promote the 

teachings of our Church in our 

community, and to address the social 

needs within our community. We are 

aware of the need to be nurtured by the 

Word of God and the Eucharist. We 

also feel the need of spiritual growth in 

order to fully live and witness the 

Gospel in our world. 

In November, 2003 a Church 

Committee was formed as follows: Mr. 

Milad Chakhtoura, President; Mr. Joe 

Wakim, Vice President; Mr. George 

Dagher, Treasurer; Dr. John Khoury, 

Secretary; and Mr. and Mrs. Edgar 

Noah, Mr. Jean Semaan, Mr. and Mrs. 

Simon Najjar, Mr. Elias Wanna, and 

Mr. Mussa Zenati, trustees. 

For two consecutive years, our 

community organized a very successful 

NewYear’sEve Party which attracted 

more than two hundred people. All 

Members of the Maronite Community of Melbourne with Father Elie Abi-Chedid. 

proceeds from social activities, in 

addition to a generous gift from Bishop 

Mansour, went towards the Church’s 

Building Fund. 

A choir led by Mrs. Grace Noah, a 

violin player, was formed and consisted 

of seven members. 

In August, 2003, we were honored 

by a visit from Monsignor Beshara, 

from West Palm Beach, Florida, who 

gave a presentation about the particular 

religious and cultural aspects of the 

Maronite Church. He emphasized the 

fact that the success of the community 

does not come from the size but the 

dedication and the hard work of the 

people. 

On December 5, 2004 the following 

new Church committee was elected: Mr. 

George Dagher, President; Mr. Elias 

Wanna, Vice President; Mr. Simon 

Najjar, Treasurer; Dr. John Khoury, 

Secretary; and seven trustees. 

With divine blessing and guidance, 

and with the work of the Holy Spirit, 

the Maronite Community of Melbourne 

and vicinity has been steadily growing 

in both size and quality. 

May the Lord grant our Maronite 

Church continuous growth throughout 

the world. 

If the Lord 

is Calling 

You, The 

Church 

Needs 

You! 

If you feel that you have a vocation 

to the Priesthood or religious life, 

please contact your Pastor or write 

to: 

Fr. Sharbel Maroun, Director 


Office of Vocations 

C/o St. Maron Church 

600 University Ave NE 

Minneapolis, MN 55413 

Or 

Fr. James Root, Director 

Eparchy of Saint Maron 

Office of Vocations 

C/o Our Lady of Victory Church 

1000 Lindsay Road 

Carnegie, PA 15106 


Women in the Ministry of Jesus 

Jesus’ Atitudes Toward Women Reflected in His Actions 

by 

Ben Witherington III 

Jesus’view of women has become in 

the last two decades a subject of 

increased discussion both inside and 

outside the Church community. It 

should be said at the outset that this 

discussion is limited to the material 

dealing withJesus’words and deeds 

during his earthly ministry. Thus, the 

material in the birth and resurrection 

narratives will not be treated. The main 

focus of this study isJesus’view on 

women. 

Jesus’interactions with women 

brought to light several fundamental 

principles which seem to have guided 

him in his dealing with the opposite sex. 

•Jesus’outright objections of rabbinic 

ideas of sin and sickness leading to 

ritual impurity or defilement allowed 

him to relate to many women He 

might not have reached otherwise. 

•Jesus’implicit rejection of the idea 

that a blood flow in a woman caused 

her to be defiled or a source of 

defilement removed the rabbinic 

basis for excluding women from 

synagogue worship and periodic 

feasts and functions of faith. This 

perhaps paved the way for women to 

travel with Jesus and to be full-time 

followers of their Master without 

special restrictions (Lk 8: 1-3). 

•Christ’srejection of certain rabbinic 

Sabbath restrictions also allowed him 

to serve and to accept service at the 

hands of grateful women when 

normally such activities were 

forbidden (Mk 1: 29-31). In Jn 4:4-42 

and Mk 7: 24-30 we see clear 

examples of Jesus’willingness to 

relate openly to women who were not 

fully Jewish or, in the case of the 

Syro-Phoenician woman, perhaps not 

Jewish at all. Jesus did not reserve 

His preaching to the lost sheep of 

Israel, rather He did not reject and 

thus accepted anyone even if non- 

Jewish and a woman. Perhaps this 

explains the influx of women into the 

Christian community as reported in 

the Acts of the Apostles. 

•The Gospels reveal a pattern of 

presenting women as examples of 

faith, and in one case a witness (Jn 

4), often at the expense of other good 

male Jews or even Jesus’ male 

disciples. This reversal pattern, while 

in part due to the gospel writers, is 

traced back to Jesus himself as one 

manifestation of His teaching that the 

last and the least shall be the first to 

be liberated as the Kingdom breaks 

into history with His ministry. There 

is a tendency on the part of Matthew, 

Mark and Luke to pair male–female 

healing stories, perhaps to stress 

Jesus’ equal concern for both. 

•Throughout the gospels we seeJesus’ 

concern for women as persons, rather 

than as sources of potential 

temptation or defilement. It is 

significant that Jesus was willing to 

perform extraordinary miracles and 

to violate the rabbinic Sabbath 

regulations even in the presence of 

rabbis and in the synagogue in order 

to help women. 

•Jesus did not pas over a woman’s 

sins, rather by bringing some women 

to confession and pronouncing their 

sins forgiven, He revealed His desire 

to heal the whole person and His 

recognition that women were as 

capable of many sins as men (Jn 4, 

Lk: 7: 36-50). 

•All of this revealsJesus’attitude that 

women wereGod’screatures, even 

daughters of Abraham, and thus as 

worthy as men to receive benefits of 

God’s love and salvation. 

The women most often mentioned in 

the gospels as associates of Jesus were 

His mother Mary, his friends Mary and 

Martha, and his female traveling 

companions. 

Mary, His Mother 

T 

he 

gospels portray Jesus 

distancing Himself from His 

biological family (Jn 2,4) or at 

least from their authority over Him. The 

gospel evidence testifies in a unanimous 

way to the fact that Jesus’ first 

allegiance was to His family of faith 

and doing Hisfather’swill, not only the 

will of His earthly mother. This 

distancing revealsJesus’belief that He 

had a special mission in life and a 

special relationship to His heavenly 

Father, and human relationships and 

authorities were not to be allowed to 

interfere with that mission and 

relationship. Thus the texts do not 

necessarily indicate any antipathy of 

Jesus toward His mother as a woman or 

as a mother, but indicate a rejection of 

Her authority over Him when that 

authority interfered with the principles 

and priorities ofJesus’mission. All four 

gospels indicate that Mary, Jesus’ 

mother, failed at some point to 

completely understand or honor her son 

(Mt 13:57, Mk 3:21, Lk 2:50, Jn 2:4). 

Moreover, Jesus distanced Himself 

from her in the process of 

distinguishing His physical from His 

spiritual family. 

No Evangelist made a concerted 

effort to give Mary more significance 

that she actually had in the ministry of 

Jesus. No Evangelist attempted to paint 

a purely idealized portrait of Mary. No 

Evangelist attempted to portray a 

strictly Christian picture of Mary. 

Martha and Mary 

They did not travel with Him but 

were important and prominent 

women in Jesus’life after His 

own mother (Lk 10:38-42, Jn 11:1-44, 

Jn 12: 1-11). Martha appears to be the 

older sister and mistress of the house. 

She takes charge of preparing for the 

guest, and she feels she has a right to 

hersister’sassistance. Mary is sitting at 

the feet of the Master (a formula 

meaning to be a disciple of) and 

listening to the Master or being a hearer 

of the Word. 

While women could attend 

synagogue to learn, for a rabbi to come 

to awoman’shouse to teach her was 

unheard of, and to be in the company of 

two woman would have been 

considered questionable behavior by 

Jesus. 


While Mary is taking on the not so 

traditional role of disciple, Martha is 

engaged in what some would call 

‘woman’s work,’ i.e., providing 

hospitality to their guests. But in a 

Jewish context women were NOT 

allowed to serve at meals if men were 

in attendance, unless there were no 

servants to perform the task. Hence her 

desire to serve Jesus may be atypical 

and reflective of discipleship. 

Some suggest contrasting the 

contemplative life (Mary) with the 

active life (of Martha), rather it is a 

matter of contrasting the importance of 

listening to and learning the Word of 

God to anything else. 

In the Gospel of John (Jn. 11: 1-44) 

the account of the raising of Lazarus for 

his two sisters reveals that faith and 

knowledge are insufficient, for Jesus is 

more than both as the Resurrection and 

Life. Both women are learning the true 

nature of Jesus and are becoming his 

true disciples. This event reveals not a 

portrait of two women disciples but one 

of two women capable of faith and a 

confession of Jesus and recipients of 

Jesus’ teaching about Himself. 

Women Who Followed 

Jesus 

In Lk 8: 1-3 the list of women is 

traditional but perhaps Joanna and 

Susanna were added. These women 

traveled with and served Jesus and the 

disciples. This was conduct that was 

unheard of and scandalous in Jewish 

circles. 

We know women were allowed to 

hear the Word of God in Synagogues 

but never could be disciples of the rabbi 

(unless a wife to a rabbi husband) and 

even then they would not be taught 

rabbinic explanations of the Torah. 

Jesus’companions are all eligible for 

healing and teaching. 

Mary Magdelene and Joanna (wife 

of Chuza–manager of Herod’sestate) 

are long-standing disciples present at 

the tomb and upper room and bearing 

witness thereafter. Both left their home 

and family to become followers and 

traveling companions of Jesus. This 

conveys a breaking down of calls, 

economic and social barriers between 

men and women from all walks of life 

into the one spiritual community. 

Women may have supported rabbis 

from their own money, property and 

foodstuffs, but it was unheard of to 

accompany them. Here the traditional 

roles of hospitality and service are seen 

by them as a way to serve not only a 

physical but spiritual family of faith. 

Therefore, Jesus gave these roles new 

significance and importance for now 

this service to the Master and family of 

faith is a sign of discipleship. 

These women (Mk 15: 40) served 

Jesus: Two followed Him, three 

witnessed to crucial events. 

Jesus felt free to have close 

relationships and ties with women who 

probably were not related to Him. Jesus 

was unafraid to show love to these 

people. 

Jesus was willing to accept service 

that was either typical or even beneath 

the level of women, and that Jesus 

thought the first task necessary in this 

life for all who seek to please God is to 

hear and do God’s Word. 

Conclusions 

Jesus was willing to teach women, 

as a rabbi would teach a student and 

allowed them to follow Him. Jesus 

is not afraid to do this in private when 

alone with women. 

•These women included Mary, a 

woman of Jesus’physical family, 

women who were His friends but did 

not travel, and women companions 

who followed in Galilee and 

Jerusalem. 

•Jesus reveals a new freedom and 

equality in the midst of His 

community. 

•The women disciples, including His 

mother Mary, are depicted in the 

gospels as in the process of becoming 

disciples. Even for these women, 

learning from Jesus takes precedence 

over awoman’srole of preparing a 

meal and her responsibility of 

hospitality. 

•These women are remembered 

chiefly for their crucial role during 

the time of Jesus’death, burial, - 

when all men disciples ran–and the 

events after the resurrection. All 

these testify and witnes to Jesus’ 

acceptance and the community of 

faith’sacknowledgment of women as 

valid witnesses and genuine disciples 

of Jesus. 

Jesus’words and deeds differed 

from His contemporaries even though 

He never left His immediate Jewish 

environment for any length of time, and 

more importantly directed His mission 

to His fellow Jews. 

Jesus’rejection of divorce outright 

would have offended practically 

everyone of his day.Jesus’view that 

the single state was a legitimate and 

normal calling for those to whom it was 

given went against Roman and 

Palestine duty to marry and procreate. 

This teaching also made it possible 

for women to assume roles other than 

those of wife and mother in Jesus’ 

community. Moreover, we do not find 

negative remarks about the nature, 

abilities and religious potential of 

women in comparison to men onJesus’ 

lips in contrast to his contemporaneous 

Jewish authors. 

There is reason to believe that 

Jesus’estimation of the word and 

validity of a woman’s word of 

testimony was higher than that of most, 

if not all, of His contemporaries (Jn 4: 

27-42). Jesus taught that the family of 

faith’sclaims took priority over the 

claims of the physical family on both 

men and women. 

This teaching did not lead Jesus to 

dismiss either the traditional family 

structure outright or the patriarchal 

framework which existed to one degree 

or another in all the Mediterranean 

cultures of that day. Jesus’ teaching on 

the matters of Qorban, honoring 

parents, divorce, and children makes 

clear that he was not advocating a 

rejection of the traditional family 

structure (Mt 5: 27-32, Jn. 7: 53-8:11). 

Jesus’attitude toward awoman’sright 

to religious training and to be a disciple 

of a religious leader, while no doubt 

shocking to Jews, would not have 

seemed radical to many Romans or 

Greeks of that day. In fact, Jesus 

appears to be a unique and sometime 

radical reformer of the views of women 

and their roles that were commonly 

held among His people. 

Judaism offered women proselytes 

a circumscribed place at best, for they 

were faced with the rabbinic traditions 

that limited their participation in 

religious functions. While women were 

unable to make up the quorum 

necessary to found a synagogue or to 

receive the Jewish covenant sign, these 

limitations did not exist in the Christian 

community. 

(Continues on Page 20) 


Reflections On the Season Of Great Lent 

by Msgr. Igance Sadek 

Lent has been, 

and still is, in 

all religions. 

Fasting was 

observed even in 

t h e p a g a n 

religions, in Rome, 

Athens, as well as by the Hindus 

and the Buddhists. The Muslims also 

fast scrupulously the entire month of 

Ramadan. 

Lenten Observances 

2005 

Lent, the penitential season of the 

Church year, begins on Ash 

Monday, February 7, 2005 and 

lasts until Easter. Traditionally, the 

Lenten season is a time of sacrifices 

throughout the Universal Church. 

The Most Reverend Bishops Robert 

Shaheen and Gregory Mansour have 

issued the following Lenten guidelines 

for the Maronites of the United States: 

All Maronites who are physically 

capable are to abstain from meat 

on Ash Monday (February 7) and 

all Fridays of Lent. 

Ash Monday and the Great Friday 

of the Crucifixion are also days of 

fasting. Fasting in the Maronite 

Church involves eating and 

drinking nothing at all (except water 

and medicine) from midnight until 

noon. The rest of the day normal 

meals can be taken but without 

meat. All Maronites who are 

physically capable are to fast on 

these two days. 

Distribution of Ashes 

All parish priests are to bless and 

distribute ashes on Ash Monday 

during the celebration of the Divine 

Liturgy as indicated in our liturgical 

books. This ceremony may not be 

celebrated on the vigil of Ash 

Monday (Cana Sunday). For the 

convenience of some faithful of the 

Latin Church who may come to 

Mass at a Maronite Church on their 

Ash Wednesday, ashes that were 

In the Church, the Lenten Season is 

a sacred time. Pope Benedictus XIV 

(+1785) says: “A negligence in 

observing Great Lent would be a great 

loss for the glory of God, a shame for 

the Catholic faith and a danger for the 

faithful people.” 

The Lenten Season always existed 

in the church, but varied in number 

according to the different rites. In the 

Latin church, it is exactly forty days if 

we exclude Sundays, because the 

blessed on Monday may be given to 

them after the Mass. However, 

ashes are not to be blessed again on 

this day. 

Devotion of Lenten Fridays 

All parish priests are to celebrate 

the Benediction with the Cross 

every Friday of Lent except for the 

Great Friday of the Crucifixion. 

This service may be preceded by 

other popular devotions such as 

Evening Prayer (Ramsho), Stations 

of the Cross or even the Divine 

Liturgy. Benediction with the 

Blessed Sacrament should not take 

place on Fridays of Lent. 

Personal Devotion 

Clergy, religious and laity who wish to 

observe the more traditional Maronite 

practice of fasting and abstinence are 

encouraged to do so. That practice is 

summarized in the following taken 

from the Synod of Mt. Lebanon 

(1736): 

Every weekday of Lent (Monday 

through Friday) is a day of fasting and 

abstinence from meat and dairy 

products (eggs, butter, milk etc.) 

Fasting involves eating and drinking 

nothing at all (except water and 

medicine) from midnight until noon. 

The rest of the day normal meals can 

be taken but without meat or dairy 

products. Dairy products are excluded 

because they are animal byproducts. 

Saturdays and Sundays are exempt 

from fasting and abstaining, as are the 

following three feast days: St. Maron- 

February 9, The 40 Martyrs-March 9, 

St. Joseph-March 19. 

number forty is a biblical number: The 

deluge lasted forty days, the Israelites 

wandered forty years in the desert, 

Moses fasted forty days, the prophet 

Elias fasted forty days, the Ninevites 

fasted forty days and Christ himself 

fasted forty days before starting His 

public life. Fasting is then a church law 

based on biblical foundations. 

In the Maronite church, Lent is 

exactly fifty days if we include Cana 

and Easter Sunday and it is called the 

“LentofFifty.” But it is still forty 

days if we exclude Holy Week, which 

is also called“PasionWeek”and the 

first two days of Lent which are 

common to the Eastern churches. 

In Egypt, still today the Orthodox 

Coptes fast seventy days, probably in 

commemoration of the seventy 

authors of the“Septuagint”which is 

the translation into Greek of the 

Hebrew and Aramaic Old Testament 

made in Egypt between 250 and 100 

B.C. The Season of Lent is called 

“GreatLent”because until recently 

there were periods of fasting before 

the Great Feasts of the Church. 

Surprisingly every period of Lent was 

preceded by days of rejoicing, Great 

Lent in the Western churches is 

preceded by what they call “Mardi 

Gras.” In the Maronite church it is 

preceded by“CarnivalWeek”between 

“TheFaithful Departed Sunday and 

Cana Sunday.” The Lent for 

Christians used to start on December 

5 th and, on December 4 th , they 

celebrated“LaSainteBerba”which is 

the equivalent of Halloween. 

In the Maronite church, Ash 

Monday marks the beginning of Great 

Lent. During the ceremony the 

Church tries to set the tone for Lent 

and to get our observance off on the 

right foot. As someone said, “We 

need abeginning.”The church invites 

us to “returnto the Lord with our 

whole heart, with fasting and weeping 

and mourning,” for the Lord is 

“graciousand merciful, slow to anger, 

rich in kindness, and relenting in 

punishment”(Joel 12). Psalm 51, 

which is the plea for God’s mercy, is 

the most profound of the penitential 

psalms of the Old Testament. The 

supplication of Saint James, which 

begins the ceremony of blessing of 

Ashes, is the equivalent of Psalm 51, 


“Iyearn for your pardon, come to me, 

Lord. While there is still time give me 

tears to beg for your mercy... I have 

sinned, O Lord, and I now implore you: 

accept my petition and remove my 

sins.” 

This supplication of Saint James 

reminds us of the Confessions of St. 

Augustine where he says, “Woe to me, 

for I have sinned so much during my 

life.” He said this when he thought 

over his past life. “Oh, my Lord,” he 

exclaimed,“Ihave lived without loving 

you; Oh, my Lord, how many precious 

years I have lost! Deign, O Lord, I 

implore you, to efface from your 

memory my past faults!” 

This reminds us also of the story of 

Saint Jerome, the famous doctor of the 

church, who translated into Latin the 

Greek version of the Bible. His Latin 

version, called “Vulgate”is still the 

only Latin version used in the church. 

He lived in the fourth century. First he 

gave himself up to the world. 

Converted, he was very sorry for his 

sins and was extremely troubled 

because of them. It is said that Christ 

appeared to him and had with him this 

dialogue:“Jerome,you are not offering 

me any importantgift.”“Ioffered you 

myproperties.”“Itis notenough.”“My 

heart.”“Notenough,”“Mybody and 

soul.”“Notenough.”“Mymind and 

inteligence.”“Notenough.”“OLord,” 

said Jerome,“Ihave nothing else to 

ofer.” “Jerome,” said Jesus, “you 

forgot to offer me yoursins.” “Lord,” 

said Jerome, “stop and let me cry for 

your mercy and tendernes.” 

Lent is there to remind us of 

repentance, of mercy and of sacrifice. 

In fact, the ways to salvation are many 

but all must pass by the way of Calvary. 

A soul which is not marked by the seal 

of the Cross cannot go very far on the 

road to sanctity. If you want to be 

perfect,“Caryyour cross and follow 

me.” Life is planted with thorns. 

Anyone, rich or poor, cannot avoid 

suffering and pain. Better to be 

prepared than to be surprised. 

The Personal Face Of Abortion 

by Fr. Kevin Beaton. 

Director of pro-Life Office for the Eparchy 

of Saint Maron of Brooklyn 

Anyone who takes the time to 

study carefully the facts about 

pre-natal life will soon discover 

that it is impossible to separate biology 

from personhood. When husband and 

wife engage in the reproductive act, 

they cannot reproduce something other 

than what they are: human beings. The 

genetic reality which constitutes a 

human being is not given at birth but at 

conception. In other words, the tiny 

boy or girl who enters into the postnatal 

environment on a particular day of a 

particular month in a particular year 

must be the same being and person who 

began his or her life’sjourney at 

conception. 

People are dismissive about the evil 

of abortion only when theydon’treflect 

seriously upon the metaphysical 

situation common to every member of 

the human race. No one is the cause of 

his or her own existence; none of us 

willed himself into being. No human 

person who is truly grateful to God and 

to his parents for the gift of life can, at 

the same time, deny to any pre-born 

baby the right to be born. Everyone 

who is indifferent to the culture of 

death, of which abortion is the supreme 

and unholy sacrifice, takes his or her 

life for granted:“Ideserve to be in this 

world. I deserve to be alive. For those 

who did not make it to birth . they’re 

not my problem.” 

Many of us may not live anywhere 

near an abortion clinic or a hospital 

where so-caled “abortionservices” are 

provided. Nevertheless, every act of 

abortion has a personal face: the face of 

a mother, the face of a father, the face 

of a baby, the face of an abortionist. If 

the mother and father have agreed to 

end the life of their pre-born child, their 

faces, sooner or later, will reveal their 

deed. The face of the abortionist is the 

face of a liar: his eyes are troubled, his 

face has no peace because the 

abortionist knows that every physician 

worthy of the name seeks to heal and 

preserve life, never to destroy it. The 

face of the baby is the face of a victim, 

innocent and vulnerable: the dawn of 

day which ought to have smiled upon 

him marked instead the moment of his 

execution. 

The greatest tragedy in the history 

of the United States was set in motion 

by the Supreme Court rulings of Roe 

vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton (January 

22, 1973). The number or pre-born 

infants who have been legally killed is 

now approaching 50 million. 

When we consider how Thomas 

Jefferson feared a judgment upon 

America because of the injustice of 

slavery and how his fears would be 

realized in a terrible Civil War (1861- 

1865), we can well imagine the author 

of the Declaration of Independence 

crying out from sea to shining sea:“My 

fellow Americans, you lose your 

‘liberty’and fail in your ‘pursuitof 

happines’ unless you once again 

respect the‘inalienableright tolife’!” 

Plenary indulgences for 

Year of the Eucharist 

Pope John Paul II has granted a 

plenary indulgence for Catholics 

who participate in veneration of 

the Blessed Sacrament during the Year 

of the Eucharist. He has also granted a 

plenary indulgence to those who recite 

Vespers and Night Prayers before the 

tabernacle. 

These indulgences were announced 

by the Vatican on January 14. The 

formal decree granting the indulgences 

was dated December 25-- Christmas 

Day-- and issued by the Apostolic 

Penitentiary. Cardinal James Francis 

Stafford, the penitentiary major, 

announced that the decree was 

approved by Pope John Paul II on 

December 17, 2004. 

A plenary indulgence is the 

remission of all temporal punishment 

due to sin. The indulgences are subject 

to the usual conditions: that the 

individual seeking the indulgence must 

make a full sacramental Confession, be 

free from all attachment to sin, receive 

the Eucharist, and pray for the 

intentions of the Holy Father. 

The decree notes that the faithful 

may obtain the indulgence "each and 

every time they participate attentively 

and piously in a sacred function or a 

devotional exercise undertaken in honor 

of the Blessed Sacrament, solemnly 

exposed and conserved in the 

tabernacle." (Continues on page 18) 


Christmas Retreat 

Busy Season For Uniontown MYO 

Front row: Bob and Michelle Sante, Advisors, David Macar, 

Twenty-three members of the Saint Charbel Family 

Jim Jenkins, Matthew Macar and Anthony Howard. (Back 

prayer group in Jacksonville, Florida attended a one 

row): Sandy Risha, Anna Howard, Courtney and Mallory 

day Christmas retreat on Saturday December 18, 2004, 

Sanner, Jillian Guthrie, Sara and Emily Brower, Brandy 

at Marywood Retreat Center, Switzerland, Fla. Fr. Elie Abi- 

Risha, Fr. Joseph David, Pastor and Joanne John, 

Chedid gave a presentation on “Corelation Between the 

coordinator/advisor. 

Mystery of Incarnation and the Eucharist”; another 

presentation on“Christmasin thewritings of Saint Ephrem” 

was given by Fr. Selwan Tappouni from the Syriac Catholic The Maronite Youth Organization (MYO) of St. George 

Church in Jacksonville. 

Maronite Church in Uniontown, Penn., had a busy 

Christmas season. They decorated the library in 

Christmas Camp 

Nemacolin Castle, a nearby historical home, as their 

community service project; performed a musical program for 

the Altar & RosarySociety’sChristmas party and some 

members assisted in decorating the Church for Christmas as 

wel as participating in the Children’s Christmas program. 

The MYOgroup also “adopted” two needychildren this 

Christmas as they participated in a parish project called 

“Love the Children”. 

In January they held an“afterChristmasparty”at Mt. St. 

Macrina Retreat Center. They ended the evening singing 

Silent Night, both in English and in Arabic, around the 

Christmas tree. 

AChristmas camp organized by SaintMaron’sWomen’s 

Guild for children from ages 4 to 12 took place at 

Saint Maron’s Church, Jacksonvile, Fla., from 

December 20 -23, 2004. Twenty-two children participated in 

the camp which included Art, Craft, Science and Religious 

Education. Mrs. Joyce Bahri, President of the Women’s 

Group, was the organizer and Mrs. Adele Clemente and Mrs. 

Rosalyn Assi assisted in the program. 

Expanded Time For Adoration of 

The Blessed Sacrament 

The usual Friday one-hour adoration of the Blessed 

Sacrament at St. George Maronite Church in 

Uniontown, Penn., expanded to all day adoration in 

recent months. 

Hourly adorers begin their visits at 10:00 A.M. and 

conclude with the Maronite Benediction of the Blessed 

Sacrament at about 5:00 P.M., led by Fr. Joseph David, 

Pastor. 

St. George Maronite Church is very thankful for the 

response to this expanded time for adoration. Friends of the 

parish from other churches also come and visit. 


Dover, New Hamsphire 

Lost Artifact Returned 

St. George Maronite Catholic Church in Dover, New 

Hampshire, may have received its most important 

Christmas gift in over a decade, after a person or 

persons placed a missing Station of the Cross on the doorstep 

and walked away Friday. For fourteen years, there has been 

a replacement icon marking the space where the 12 th Station 

of the Cross, which depicts JesusChrist’sdeath on the cross, 

was once displayed on the Church’s wal. 

In 1990, the Stations were taken down and placed in the 

attic space while the church was repaired, cleaned and 

painted. In 1993, Church staff prepared the Stations to be 

placed back on the Church’s wals. It was then that they 

noticed Station number 12 was missing. The members of the 

church spent years looking for it before finally giving up. 

Father Joseph Khoueiry, Pastor of St. George’s Church 

for the past year, was in the church that morning when he 

heard a noise by the doorway. When he went outside, all that 

was there was the Station propped on the steps and draped in 

a garbage bag. Father Khoueiry had been trying to find a way 

to replace the Station the past year. The difficulty had been 

finding the original maker or any craftsman who could make 

one that matched the other thirteen Stations. 

The Station was in good condition without any chips or 

cracks though a bit dusty. Unconcerned with how it 

disappeared or reappeared, the return of the Station is seen as 

a blessing and the parishioners appreciate the person or 

persons who returned it, said Father Khoueiry. 

Uniontown, Pennsylvania 

St. George Maronite Church 

Responds to Christ’s Poor 

The Society of St. Vincent dePaul, a Catholic lay 

organization, lead women and men to join together to 

grow spiritually by offering services to the needy and 

suffering in the tradition of its founder, St. Vincent dePaul. 

In connection with this spirit of giving, Fr. John Sedlak, 

along with several lay members, started St. Vincent dePaul 

Thrift Store in Uniontown, Penn., in 1991. St. George 

Maronite Church was more than eager to respond to this 

calling. The volunteers from St. George work every 

Wednesday at the store. While pastor for St. George, Fr. 

Gregory Mansour, now Bishop, visited the store every 

Wednesday to pray for his parishioners and the poor. By 

providing food, clothing, education funds, and special needs 

as required, the volunteers have devoted their time to the less 

fortunate people of Fayette County for the past fourteen 

years. 

The Thrift Store is staffed daily by volunteers from local 

Catholic churches, and all items sold are donated from the 

community. Today, the store has moved to a bright new 

building with a statue of St. Vincent dePaul at the entrance 

thanks to the efforts of the volunteers from St. George and Fr. 

Joseph R. David, Pastor. The dedicated Maronite volunteers 

make no distinction in those they serve, remembering that 

Vincentians see the face of Christ in everyone. 

Pawtucket, Rhode Island 

MYO Kicks Off Fund-raising 

Projects 

The Youth Organization (MYO) of St. George Maronite 

Church in Pawtucket, Rhode Island held its first 

Annual MYO Bake Sale on November 21, 2004. The 

prior evening, a dozen members met in the church hall and 

baked pies, prepared plates of pastries and cookies, and set up 

the hall. Not only was it a very successful event, but the 

group had a great time baking and hosting the event! It was 

the first of many events the group has planned for the year. 

Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 

Christmas Pageant 

On December 19, 2004, the children of St. Sharbel 

Maronite Church, Newtown Square, Penn., reenacted 

the Nativity during the Liturgy and showed everyone 

that there is “plentyof room”in our hearts for Jesus. 

Afterwards, a Christmas party was held in the hall for all the 

children. Santa arrived and gave each child a gift. 


St. Paul, Minnesota 

Holy Family Church Happenings 

by Jackie Gubash-Mueller 

Télé-Lumière Lebanese Television 

Station Fundraiser 

On Sunday, November 14, 2004, the Holy Family 

Society sponsored a breakfast and bake sale to 

benefit Tele-Lumiere, Television Station. Advanced 

orders were taken for homemade Lebanese food and 

pastries. Members of the group began preparations just a 

few days prior to the breakfast and were ready to go! 

Parishioners donated other baked goods for sale as well. 

Proceeds from sales and generous donations were combined 

to raise $3,000 for Tele-Lumiere. 

Annual Children’s Christmas Party 

Come and study with us 

In a truly American School 

in 

Lebanon 

Sagesse High School 

Mary Mother of Wisdom 

Ain Saadeh, Metn Lebanon. 

Children and adults alike were treated to a Christmas 

cupcake breakfast on December 19, 2004, sponsored 

by the Cedars Club. A special surprise visit by Santa 

set everyone cheering! The children (and some adults!) sat 

onSanta’slap to give him their list, and they each received 

a stuffed toy and treat bag. 

Tsunami Relief Benefit Breakfast 

Concern for the tsunami victims in Indonesia, Eastern 

Africa and South Asia was turned into action at the 

Holy Family Maronite Church in St. Paul, Minn. 

On Sunday, January 30, 2005 The Holy Family Society 

prepared a breakfast to raise money for the many 

survivors of this terrible natural disaster. During times of 

adversity, our Catholic faith blossoms abundantly and, 

more than ever, we are proud to be Lebanese Maronites. 

Proceeds will be distributed through the Catholic Relief 

Fund. We hope our financial contribution will alleviate at 

least one person’s pain and sufering. Moreover, we are 

confident that spiritual support is as important as any gift 

we can give. 

Only Private Catholic School 

offering 

Day and Boarding 

K to 12 American School Diploma 

& 

1 st authorized School offering 

International Baccalaureate 

Diploma 

In Lebanon 

Tel: 961 1 872145-6-7 

Fax: 961 1 872149 

Email: sagesse@sagesse.com 

Website: www.sagesse.com 


Number of Catholics 

Rises by 15 Million 

The 2005 Pontifical Yearbook reveals that 

there are 1.086 billion Catholics in the 

world, 15 million more than last year. 

Half of all Catholics live in the Americas. The data of the 

volume -- presented today by the members of the Central 

Office of Church Statistics to John Paul II, despite his bout 

of flu -- give a statistical picture of Catholicism. 

"The number of baptized faithful has increased, from 1.071 

billion in 2002 to 1.086 billion in the year 2003," explained 

a statement issued by the Vatican. 

"In Africa, an increase of 4.5% of the faithful has been 

recorded, in Europe there has been, practically speaking, a 

situation of stability. Note must be taken of significant 

increases in Asia (up 2.2%), Oceania (up 1.3%) and America 

(up 1.2%)," the Vatican note explained. 

"A reading of the data on the distribution of Catholics in 

the diverse geographical areas reveals that America 

embraces 49.8% of Catholics worldwide, while Europe has 

25.8%. Lower percentages are found in Africa (13.2%), Asia 

(10.4%) and Oceania (0.8%)," it added. 

In 2003, the statement said, priests totaled "405,450, of 

whom 268,041 were members of the diocesan clergy and 

137,409 of the religious clergy; in 2002 they numbered 

405,058 divided in 267,334 diocesan priests and 137,724 

religious priests. 

"The total number of priests in 2003 in relation to 2002 

increased, therefore by 392 units, an increase of 707 in the 

diocesan clergy and a decrease of 315 in the religious." 

"Priestly ordinations were 9,317 in 2003 while in the 

previous year they were 9,247; in particular, dioceses went 

from 6,534 in 2002 to 6,582 in 2003, and religious 

[ordinations] from 2,713 to 2,735," it explained. 

The number of men who pursue vocations is decreasing, 

according to the study. "Seminarians registered in 

philosophy and theology seminars decreased from 112,643 

in 2002 to 112,373 in 2003." 

The largest number of seminarians is found in the 

Americas: 37,191. Asia follows with 27,931, Europe with 

24,387, Africa with 21,909 and Oceania with 955. 

In 2003, the Pope "established 10 new episcopal sees 

and one apostolic vicariate. Six metropolitan sees were 

constituted. He named 171 bishops in total." 

The Pontifical Yearbook, a volume of more than 2,100 

pages, lists the names and essential information on all the 

bishops and dioceses of the Catholic Church. It also lists 

persons who work in organizations of the Holy See, 

religious congregations, and educational and ecclesiastical 

institutions. 

Vatican City Jan.. 31, 2005 (Zenit.org). 

Pope's Lenten Message Urges 

Respect For Elderly 

In his annual Lenten message, Pope John Paul II appeals 

to all Christians, and all people of good will, to respect 

the life of elderly people until the time of natural death. 

The Pope's message, released by the Vatican on January 

27, points out that modern medicine has helped to produce 

a society in which there are more and more elderly people. 

He calls for more attention to the "third age" of a human 

lifetime, and a greater recognition that the elderly constitute 

a great resource for modern society. 

Christians should recognize the blessings of old age 

along with the difficulties, writes Pope John Paul, who at the 

age of 84, clearly falls into the category himself. He 

encourages believers to make this recognition a theme of 

their Lenten meditation, opening his message with Scriptural 

references to reach the conclusion: "Longevity appears, 

therefore, as a special divine gift." 

Secular society sometimes views elderly people as a 

burden, the Pope notes. Christians must counteract that 

tendency, by promoting public awareness of the key gifts 

that old age can bring. The elderly can help younger people 

to understand the history of their society, he observes. 

Moreover, John Paul says: "Knowledge of the nearness of 

the final goal leads the elderly person to focus on that which 

is essential, giving importance to those things that the 

passing of years do not destroy." 

The Pope reminds his readers that respect for human life 

still applies when the elderly are sick and suffering. He 

repeats the Church's absolute opposition to euthanasia, and 

urges Christians to guard against a tendency toward assisted 

suicide. 

As he introduced the Pope's message to the press in 

Rome, Archbishop Josef Cordes, the President of the 

Pontifical Council Cor Unum, noted that "the social cost of 

caring for the elderly constitutes a danger for the younger 

working population." The Pope's message, he said, may help 

to ease the tensions that arise between the generations. 

Glossary 

Cor Unum 

Vatican, Jan. 30 (CWNews.com) 

Founded by Pope Paul VI in 1971, Pastor Bonus explains 

that Cor Unum expresses "the care of the Catholic Church 

for the needy, thereby encouraging human fellowship and 

making manifest the charity of Christ." This office--in 

essence, the Pope's charitableagency–asiststhe Pontiff by 

helping him conduct humanitarian actions when disasters 

occur. It encourages the charitable endeavors of the faithful, 

and it does what it can to help Catholic organizations 

involved in the field of human development. 


St. Ephrem Maronite Church Celebrates Catholic Schools Week 

by Rima Abi-Najm 

Students at the St. Ephrem 

Academy in San Diego, California 

celebrated Catholic Schools 

Week, which began on Sunday, January 

30, 2005. Students and teachers 

enjoyed opening their doors to the St. 

Ephrem parishioners for an open house 

on Sunday after Mass in honor of this 

celebration. 

Both Father Nabil Mouannes and 

the St. Ephrem parish are proud to offer 

the only Maronite Catholic School in 

the United States. St. Ephrem Maronite 

Catholic Academy was founded in the 

Great Jubilee Year 2000 as a parochial 

school operating under the jurisdiction 

of the Eparchy of Our Lady of 

Lebanon. The Academy is dedicated to 

the education of children for the glory 

of God and the salvation of souls. St. 

EphremAcademy’sguiding principle 

in pursuing its mission is faithful 

adherence to the truths of the One, 

Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church 

and making those truths known and 

loved by its students. St. Ephrem 

Academy is also dedicated to the great 

Saints of Lebanon, including St. 

Ephrem, St. Maron, St. Sharbel, and St. 

Rafka. It is consecrated to the Sacred 

Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate 

Heart of Mary. 

The advantages of having such a 

school include a challenging academic 

curriculum, sound religious instruction, 

small class sizes, disciplined 

atmosphere, and qualified staff. St. 

Ephrem Academy is committed to the 

education of the whole individual. 

Rooted in Catholicism, the learning 

environment allows students to reach 

their spiritual, intellectual, physical, 

social, and emotional potential in order 

to attain the end to which every person 

was created: Eternal happiness with 

God. 

Both the parish and academy of St. 

Ephrem Church anxiously await your 

presence at the upcoming 42 nd Annual 

National Maronite Convention 

sponsored by NAM and hosted by St. 

Ephrem Church in San Diego, 

California, from July 20-24, 2005. The 

host hotel, the Town and Country 

Resort & Convention Center is ready to 

accept your reservations at 1-800-77- 

ATLAS or through their website at 

www.towncountry.com. Special NAM 

Convention rates are $118.00 

(single/double/triple/quad). Deadline 

for this special rate is July 1, 2005. 

Fr. Nabil Mouannes, the NAM 

2005 Convention Committee, and the 

St. Ehprem Academy are working 

diligently on the various committees to 

ensure that your convention experience 

will be an enjoyable and memorable 

one. To learn more about the Academy 

or the upcoming NAM Convention, we 

encourage you to visit our Website, 

www.stephrem.org. 

Plenary indulgences for 

Year of the Eucharist 

Continued from Page 13 

Similarly clerics, religious, and others 

who pray the Liturgy of the Hours can 

obtain the indulgence "each and every 

time they recite-- at the end of the day, 

in company or in private-- Vespers and 

Night Prayers before the Lord present in 

the tabernacle." 

For those who "through illness or 

other just cause" cannot visit a church to 

venerate the Eucharist, the decree allows 

a plenary indulgence if they "make the 

visit spiritually and with the heart's 

desire,… and recite the Our Father and 

the Creed, adding a pious invocation to 

Jesus in the Sacrament." 

The Apostolic Penitentiary instructs 

all pastors to inform Catholics about 

these indulgences "in the most 

convenient manner," and asks priest to 

be prepared to hear confessions and lead 

services of veneration in order to help 

the faithful receive the indulgences. The 

decree also reiterates the Pope's 

instruction for local churches to make 

their own special plans for veneration of 

the Blessed Sacrament during the Year 

of the Eucharist. 

(Vatican, Jan. 14 (CWNews.com) 


St. Ephrem Maronite Church Invites Everyone to San Diego 

For 2005 Annual NAM Convention 

By: Rima Abi-Najm 

As many of you know, the NAM Conventions have been 

an annual opportunity for the Maronite Church in the 

U.S.A. to gather together for spiritual renewal, 

education, and socializing. San Diego Maronites are pleased 

to announce that the 42 nd Annual National Maronite 

Convention sponsored by NAM will be hosted by their 

Church of St. Ephrem in San Diego, California from July 20- 

24, 2005. 

Maronite clergy and laity; young and old, Lebanese and 

American-born, and people of several other ethnic 

backgrounds who have become a part of the Maronite Church 

will gather together in San Diego for their "family reunion" of 

Bet Maroon. The schedule, dedicated to both the Glory of the 

Maronite Church and the Virgin Mary, is a full mix of prayer 

services, workshops and seminars, business meetings for both 

clergy and laity, and, of course, many evenings of fun, food, 

music, and dancing. 

In 2003 St. Ephrem Church welcomed and celebrated the 

arrival of the Mariam Mother of Life Shrine dedicated in 

honor of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. It is our anticipation that 

everyone who comes to San Diego will visit the Shrine and 

witness its glorious mysteries. 

The host hotel, the Town and Country Resort & 

Convention Center is located in Mission Valley, the heart of 

San Diego, and has been welcoming guests for over forty 

years with its luxurious accommodations, countless amenities, 

and a devoted attention to vacationers and convention 

delegates alike. Your stay will be truly unforgettable with 

over 1,000 guestrooms, 165,000 square feet of flexible 

meeting space, and experienced hospitality professionals to 

care for every detail. You can indulge in one of the many 

amenities offered to guests, including sparkling pools, spa 

facilities, golf, and nearby tennis/racquetball courts. Grab a 

bite to eat in one of the five delectable restaurants or take a 

walk to the Fashion Valley Mall for some of the finest 

shopping in San Diego. 

Be sure to plan for a few extra days either before or after 

the convention to make the most of your stay in San Diego. 

San Diego has a number of world-famous attractions like the 

SeaWorld Adventure Park, the World-Famous San Diego 

Zoo, LEGOLAND California, and the San Diego Wild 

Animal Park. There are approximately 70 miles of sundrenched, 

white sandy beaches and over 85 challenging golf 

courses in San Diego County. Discover some of San Diego's 

history by visiting Old Town San Diego, Gaslamp Quarter or 

one of the region's many missions. The kids will enjoy a 

roller coaster ride at Belmont Park or a day at a water park. 

For the adventurer, there is a day trip on the trolley down to 

Tijuana, Mexico. And for those with more refined tastes 

you'll enjoy San Diego's Balboa Park, botanical gardens, 

museums, and galleries. 

Be sure to make hotel reservations soon. Please contact 

the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center at 1-800- 

77-ATLAS or directly at (619) 291-7131, or visit their 

website at www.towncountry.com (Attendee Code: NAM). 

Special NAM Convention rates are $118.00 

(single/double/triple/quad). Deadline for this special rate is 

July 1, 2005. 

A team of dedicated, talented, and energetic people are 

working diligently on the various committees to ensure that 

your convention experience will be an enjoyable and 

memorable one. You are encouraged to visit the Church 

website (www.stephrem.org) for more information. Father 

Nabil Mouannes and the parishioners of Saint Ephrem look 

forward to having you join them for NAM 2005 in San 

Diego. 

Maronite Census 

The Most Reverend Bishops 

Robert Shaheen, Bishop of the 

Eparchy of Our Lady of 

Lebanon, and Gregory Mansour, 

Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron 

of Brooklyn, are asking that all Maronites 

register with the Maronite Census. The 

purpose of this census is threefold: “First, we have been 

asked by the Holy See to compile a census of Maronites 

within our Eparchies. This request stems from years of 

religious persecution in Lebanon and the fleeing of Christians 

to other countries, searching for a better life. Secondly, this 

census is to make the Eparchy aware of Maronites in areas in 

which we now have no presence. Third, the database will 

help the local parish/mission with better outreach and 

communication with Maronites within their area who are not 

yet involved with parish life and who would like to be.” 

If you are active in your Maronite parish, check with 

your pastor for registration forms. If you live in a city where 

there is no Maronite parish, a separate website has been set 

up for this purpose. To register with the Maronite Census 

online, go to www.maronitecensus.net or call the Eparchy 

of our Lady of Lebanon at 1-314-231-1021 or the Eparchy of 

Saint Maron of Brooklyn at 1-718-237-9913 to receive a 

census form by mail. For more information email the census 

office at usa@maronitecensus.net. 


The Maronite Voice 

Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn 


4611 Sadler Road 

Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6108 

NON-PROFIT ORG. 

U.S. POSTAGE PAID 

PERMIT NO. 1370 

GLEN ALLEN, VIRGINIA 

Women in the 

Ministry of Jesus 

Continued From Page 11 

The reason for this difference is that 

Jesus broke with both biblical and 

rabbinic traditions that restricted 

women’sroles in religious practices. 

Moreover, He rejected attempts to 

devalue the worth of a woman or her 

word of witness. Thus, the community 

of Jesus, both before and after Easter, 

granted women, together with men, an 

equal right to participate fully in the 

family of faith. 

Jesus’teachings on the priorities of 

discipleship, His willingness to accept 

women as His disciples and traveling 

companions (Lk 8:1-3, 10:38-42), and 

His teaching on eunuchs for the 

kingdom and what defiled a person, 

effectively paved the way for women to 

play a vital part in His community. 

Anyone could have faith in and follow 

Jesus–He did not insist on any other 

requirements for entrance into His 

family of faith. Luke gives evidence 

that women often enough simply 

resumed their traditional roles of 

providing hospitality or material 

support, though now it was in service to 

the community of Jesus. 

It is interesting and significant that 

the major female figures in the Gospels 

are depicted as being in the process, of 

full-fledged disciples, a process, which 

involved learning how to reorientate 

their traditional roles so that the 

priorities of the family of faith were 

heeded. Thus we see Mary learning to 

be a mother as a disciple, Martha 

learning to be as hostess as a disciple, 

and Mary Magdelene and others 

providing material aid as followers of 

Jesus. In the post-Easter community 

we find women assuming a greater 

variety of roles, some of which were 

specifically religious in natureprophetess 

(Acts 21:9), and some of 

which were forbidden to a Jewish 

woman as teacher of men (Acts 18: 

24-26 –Prescilla, mother of John, 

Mark, Tabitha, Lydia, etc.). 

For a Jewish woman, the 

possibility of being a disciple of a 

great teacher, a traveling follower of 

Jesus, remaining single for the 

kingdom, or being a teacher of the 

faith to people other than children, 

were all opportunities that did not exist 

prior to entrance into the community 

of Jesus. For Gentile women, the 

Christian faith and community offered 

salvation from sin, starting life with a 

new self-image and purpose, actively 

participating in a community whose 

Master had directed His mission to the 

marginalized. This new statute and 

these new roles are factors which 

explain the influx of women into the 

community of Jesus. 

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 

$15.00 per year. Advertising rates 

are available upon request. 

Publishers 

•Most Reverend Bishops Robert J. 

Shaheen 

•Most Reverend Gregory John 

Mansour 

Editor: 

Msgr. George M. Sebaali 

Editing and proofreading 

Mary Shaia 

Anne- Marie Condlin 

Michael Maynes 

Printed in Richmond, Virginia.

Maronite Voice - Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn

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