November 2005 - Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn

The 

Maronite Voice 

A Publication of the Maronite Eparchies in the USA 

Volume 1 Issue No. 10 November 2005 

The Maronite Church Begins the Year of the Priest And 

Focuses on Its Seminary and National Shrine 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in 

Christ, 

This month we bring to a 

happy conclusion the Year 

of the Eucharist. We thank 

God for the abundant graces that 

have helped us draw ever closer to 

the person of Jesus Christ hidden 

yet truly present in Holy 

Communion. Bishop Shaheen and 

I have asked that this follow-up 

year be dedicated to the priests, the 

ones whose hidden sacrifices and 

personal conformity to Jesus 

Christ make it possible to celebrate 

Eucharist at the altars of our 

parishes. 

As we begin this year, I ask that 

we focus on two institutions that 

have brought many blessings to 

our Maronite people–beginning 

even before the establishment of 

the first Maronite Diocese here. 

These two institutions began in 

your hearts, you the People of 

God, working along side of your 

priests. 

I am speaking of the Seminary, 

dedicated in 1961, and the Shrine 

dedicated in 1965, both under the 

patronage of Our Lady of 

Lebanon. One has given us 

priests, the other has given us 

Mary, the Mother of Priests. 

We must thank those faithful pioneers 

who, over 50 years ago laid the 

foundations for these institutions. The 

Seminary today serves both dioceses, 

but is the financial responsibility of 

Saint Maron. The Shrine also serves 

Statue of Our Lady of Lebanon National Shrine in 

North Jackson, Ohio. The National Shrine is a 

replica of Our Lady of Lebanon Shrine in Harissa, 

Lebanon. 

both dioceses, but is the financial 

responsibility of Our Lady of Lebanon. 

Both institutions have great financial 

needs. I am in the process of a 

$350,000 fundraising effort to remodel 

and renovate the“oldsection” of the 

Seminary. Bishop Shaheen is working 

to retire a debt of over $300,000 that 

the Shrine needs to purchase a new 

roof, repave the parking lot and 

install a new septic system. 

In this issue of The Maronite Voice 

we highlight both institutions. I 

would call them the “people’s 

institutions” – for they are truly 

from you inspired by the Holy 

Spirit–and they are for you, as we 

priests are from you and for you. 

It is my hope that this issue of our 

joint diocesan newspaper will 

engender in you a real pride in 

these institutions, an investment of 

personal care and ownership in 

them, and a desire to foster 

vocations to the priesthood. 

Incidentally, my own vocation to 

the priesthood had its initial 

support at the Shrine and its 

fulfillment at the Maronite 

Seminary. I can say the same for 

Bishop Robert! 

Thank you for taking the time to 

read through this issue and for 

making the work of Christ’s 

Church your own. 

Sincerely yours in Christ, 

+Gregory John Mansour 

Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint 

Maron of Brooklyn

H 

Eparchial Assignment 

is Excellency Bishop Gregory Mansour, Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint 

Maron of Brooklyn, has made the following Eparchial appointment: 

Appointed Fr. Nagi Kiwan as Vice Rector of Our Lady of Lebanon 

Maronite Seminary in Washington, D.C., effective on November 1, 

2005. 

Fr. Nagi comes to the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn from 

the Archdiocese of Antelias in Lebanon. He in on loan to the Eparchy 

of Saint Maron for a period of three to five years. 

Chorbishop Michael G. Thomas 

A 

t 

the request of Bishop Gregory Mansour, His Beatitude 

Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir has nominated Msgr. 

Michael G. Thomas, Vicar General and Chancellor of the 

Eparchy of Saint Maron, as Chorbishop. 

Born to Attorney George M. Thomas and Rejeanne Valois on 

February 26, 1957 in New Bedford, Mass., Msgr. Thomas was 

ordained a priest for the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn on 

February 11, 1983 by Archbishop Francis M. Zayek. 

On June 22, 1992, Msgr. Thomas earned a Doctoral Degree of Canon Law 

from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, Italy. From 1997 to 2004 he served 

as Judicial Vicar for the Eparchy of Saint Maron First and Second Instance 

Tribunal. He was elevated to the rank of Periodeut with the title of Monsignor by 

Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir on April 10, 2001. 

In 2004 he was assigned as Vicar General, Chancellor and Finance Officer of 

the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn. 

Bishop Gregory Mansour will ordain Chorbishop Thomas on December 12, 

2005 at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York. 

Schedule of Bishop Robert Shaheen 

November 4-6, 2005 

100 th Anniversary of St.Anthony’sChurch, Springfield, Massachusetts 


USCCB Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. 

November 18 – 20, 2005 

St. Raymond’s Celebration, St. Louis, Misouri 

November 27-December 5, 2005 

Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon Cathedral in Los Angeles and St. John Maron 

Church in Anaheim, California 

Schedule of Bishop Gregory Mansour 


100 th Anniversary of St.Anthony’sChurch, Springfield, Massachusetts 

November 7, 2005 

Eparchial Stewardship Council Meeting, Brooklyn, N.Y. 


USCCB Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. 


Ordination of Seminarian Dominic Hanna to Subdeacon, Our Lady of 

Lebanon Seminary, Washington, D.C. 


Lebanon Day, Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral, Brooklyn, N.Y. 

December 2-4, 2005 

100 th Anniversary of St. Ann’s Church, Troy, N.Y. 

The Maronite Voice 

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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 

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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 

Michael Maynes 

Printed in Richmond, Virginia. 

Maronite Census 

Register your family in the 

Maronite Census 

www.maronitecensus.net 

email: usa@maronitecensus.net 

or call 

Eparchy of Saint Maron of 

Brooklyn 

at 1-718-237-9913 

Eparchy of Our Lady of 

Lebanon 

at 1-314-231-1021 

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The Maronite Voice Volume 1 Issue No. 10 Page 2 November 2005

The Call to Discipleship 

Our Lord Jesus Christ came on earth to transform the world, to deliver it from 

sin and confusion, and to show it the way to God the Father. He was the 

herald ofGod’skingdom on earth, a new world order outlined by His 

teaching and beginning to be implemented by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

In the person of Jesus Christ a new offer of divine salvation was made to all human 

beings, to the poor, to the outcasts, to sinners. In His name He offered forgiveness of 

sins, and He preached a gospel of love that was to extend even to one’s enemies. In 

the Beatitudes (“Blesedare those who hunger and thirst for righteousnes.;” 

“Blesedare themerciful.;”“Blesedare thepeacemakers.;”etc.), He presented 

the radical demands for the transformation of human life in God’s kingdom. 

The Vocation of all the 

Baptized 

In God’s mysterious plan, the 

establishment of the kingdom was to 

be achieved with the collaboration 

of human beings. His disciples 

throughout the centuries would be 

missionaries sent out to change the 

world. 

Through baptism and chrismation 

all believers are, in the words of the 

First Epistle of Peter, “a chosen race, 

a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a 

people of his own, so that you may 

announce the praises of him who called 

you out of darkness into his wonderful 

light.” 

Thus, every Christian is called to be 

a disciple of Christ sent into the world 

to make“disciplesof allnations.”The 

laity are called to make the Church 

present and operative in those places 

and circumstances where this can be 

achieved only through them. They are 

to work for justice and strive to imbue 

culture and human activity with moral 

values. According to the Second 

Vatican Council,“theyare to work for 

the sanctification of the world from 

within, in the manner of a leaven.” 

The Vocation to the 

Priesthood 

While all the faithful are 

designated to work for the 

kingdom of God, it was the 

Lord’splan that within the church 

certain persons would be called to a 

special role. Among them are those 

called to Holy Orders and to the 

Religious Life. In this article, I wish to 

focus on the vocation to the priesthood. 

While those called to the priesthood are 

asked to take on specific role and 

responsibility, they are selected from 

among the people of God. In the words 

of St.Paul’sEpistle to the Hebrews, 

“Everyhigh priest is taken from among 

men and made their representative 

before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices 

for sins. He is able to deal patiently 

with the ignorant and erring, for he 

himself is beset by weakness and so, for 

this reason, must make sin offerings for 

himself as well as for the people. No 

one takes this honor upon himself but 

only when called by God, just as Aaron 

was.” 

The priest carries out several roles. 

While recognizing his frailty and 

unworthiness, he is the mediator 

between humans and God. He offers 

prayers and petitions on behalf of his 

people. He is ordained to call down the 

Holy Spirit upon the Eucharistic 

sacrifice and the other mysteries. Thus 

he bringsGod’sgrace to his people. He 

is there for his people through all 

aspects of their lives. He welcomes 

infants into God’s grace through 

baptism and chrismation, and calls on 

his flock to protect them and raise them 

according to Christ’steachings. He 

offers Christ’s healing and forgivenes 

to those who have gone astray. He calls 

his people to love and fellowship 

around the table of the Lord. He brings 

God’scomfort to those sick and dying, 

and he seals the covenant of love of 

those being joined in marriage. 

The priest is also designated to 

preach the word of God in season and 

out of season. In his role as prophet he 

must challenge the conscience of his 

people and call them to moral rectitude. 

He must be the critic of society’s 

failures, and identify the amoral and 

immoral aspects of contemporary 

culture. He is called to galvanize his 

people to work in the public arena for 

justice and the rights of all people in 

our society. 

Chorbishop Seely Beggiani 

Rector 

Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite 

Seminary 

While the life’s work of every 

person is of equal value in the eyes of 

God, the priesthood is a noble calling. 

Those chosen are fortunate, for their 

work consists in bringing people closer 

to God. They are surrounded by holy 

things every day of their lives. Their 

ministry of service to others is a direct 

extension of the teachings of the 

Gospels. Their work is a constant 

reminder that Christ is to be found in 

every human being whom they meet. 

The Qualities of the 

Priestly Candidate 

It is also inChrist’smysterious plan 

that He chooses among the whole 

range of personalities to be His 

workers. Christ does not necessarily 

call the most accomplished, the most 

intelligent, or the most talented to be 

His ministers. The work of salvation 

seems to require different people from 

different backgrounds with different 

abilities. Obviously, one considering 

the work of the priesthood should be a 

person of good character and moral 

rectitude -- one who is striving to live 

a life of virtue and to deepen the quality 

of his prayer. 

(Continues on Page 20) 


“ Come, Folow Me” 

Attributes of the Priest 

There are three kinds of work in living our Christianity: Inspired by faith; prompted by love; and founded on hope 

by Fr. James Root 

Vocations Director 

Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn 

For the past eight years, since our 

church [Our Lady of Victory] 

relocated from the Brookline 

section of Pittsburgh to the suburbs of 

Scott Township in the rolling hills of 

Southwestern Pennsylvania, my 

involvement in the CAMA (Carnegie 

Area Ministerial Association) has 

become an important aspect of my 

weekly routine. Eastern Catholic, 

Orthodox, Protestants and Evangelicals 

meet regularly for fellowship and most 

importantly prayer. It truly has become 

a very important - and may I say - a 

very necessary aspect of my ministry. 

Even though we vary theologically as 

well as liturgically, our oneness in 

Christ through the Scriptures has been 

our strength. As a result we, as a 

Ministerium, have accomplished quite 

a bit. 

On a personal note, many of us 

have become very close friends as well. 

Six years ago, a new member joined 

our ranks. Fr. Rick Seiler, a Polish 

National Catholic Priest, became the 

newest member of the Ministerium. As 

a result, Fr. Rick and his wife (Pani 

Karn) are regulars at our Church. They 

attend every function we have and 

enjoy our Maronite as well as Lebanese 

culture immensely. 

This past month, Fr. Rick 

celebrated his Silver Jubilee as a Priest. 

I was asked to preach the homily at his 

Liturgy of Thanksgiving. To say the 

least, I was honored. 

Not only was I honored, but I was 

moved to write this article on Vocation 

and Priestly Life as well. The Gospel 

readings were the normal Sunday 

readings, according to the Polish 

National Catholic Lectionary, from 

Saint Paul to the Thessalonians (1:5 - 

10) and the Gospel of Saint Matthew 

(22: 34 - 40). These readings speak of 

attributes not only for a Christian to 

live by but most importantly the priest. 

Paul’sletter to the Thessalonians is 

sent to them as Church that is “in” 

Christ Jesus. Just as the air is in us and 

we are in the air and cannot live 

without it, so, too, the true Church is in 

God and God is in the true Church, and 

there is no life for the Church without 

God. Further, the God, in whom the 

Church lives, is the God and Father of 

our Lord Jesus Christ; and, therefore, 

the Church does not believe in a God 

who is a tyrant but lives in the sunshine 

of a God who is love. 

In this opening chapter, Paul speaks 

of three kinds of work in living our 

Christianity. The first speaks of work 

which is inspired by faith. Nothing tells 

us more about a man than the way in 

which he works. He may work in fear 

of the whip; he may work out of sheer 

motivation, he may work out of a grim 

sense of duty, or he may work inspired 

by faith. His faith is that this is his task 

given him by God and that he is 

working not for men but for God. 

The second is the labor which is 

prompted by love. There is a story of a 

young lady who was sewing a dress for 

hours while people were visiting her 

family. Finally, one of the guests 

stated, “Why are you doing that - don’t 

you every get tired” “No,” she 

responded.“Yousee, this work is my 

wedding dres.” Work done for love 

always has a glory. 

The third is the labor which is 

founded on hope. When Alexander the 

Great was setting out on his campaigns, 

he divided all his possessions among 

his friends. Someone said, “But you 

are keeping nothing for yourself.” “O 

yes, I am,” he said. “I have kept my 

hopes.”A man can endure anything so 

long as he has hope, for then he is not 

walking to the night, but to the dawn. 

These three ways of working 

represent the qualitites and vision of 

any good priest. Our faith brings us to 

work for the Church. This is not to say 

that the average layperson is not 

motivated to minister to the Church. 

Many do. However, for the priest, this 

is the center of his vocation. Our 

ministry impels us to a deeper faith and 

understanding of our ministry, a 

ministry that is focused on building the 

Church here on Earth in order to inherit 

the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Secondly, it is out of love, the 

unconditional love of Jesus and the 

Church, that we continue in our 

ministry. This love knows no bounds. 

Hope is what motivates us on our 

journeys of faith. 

My dear friends, these three simple 

yet important ways of working with 

faith, hope and love motivate us as 

priest. Jesus said, “Come, folow me” 

and we do. 

Beatitudes 

For Nurturing Church 

Vocations in the Family 

Blessed are the children of parents 

who . . . 

Witness love for their spouse, 

their children, their neighbor, 

and the world. 

Talk freely about the presence 

of God in the joys and sorrows 

of their lives. 

Remind their children that they 

are loved by God and have 

been given gifts to serve others. 

Lead their family in prayer. 

Speak positively about Sisters, 

Brothers, priests, and deacons. 

Participate in the lay 

ministries and activities of their 

parish and community. 

Invite a deacon, priest, Brother, 

or Sister to their home. 

Encourage their children to 

consider priesthood and 

religious life as well as 

marriage. 

Brother John Samaha 


Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary 

History and Development 

Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary located in Washington, D.C. began in 

1961 and today continues to train and ordain seminarians for service among the 

Maronite faithful throughout the United States. 

In the decade of the 1950's, various 

members of the Maronite clergy and 

laity began to work actively for the 

establishment of a Maronite seminary 

in the United States. In 1959, the 

Sacred Congregation for the Oriental 

Churches formed a committee of priests 

to collect funds for the proposed 

seminary. The site of the seminary was 

to be Washington, D.C. In addition to 

being the nation's capitol, Washington 

was chosen especially to take advantage 

of the facilities of Catholic University 

of America which grants pontifical 

degrees in theology and canon law. The 

University is also known for its 

department of Semitic and Oriental 

languages. Archbishop (later Cardinal) 

Patrick O'Boyle of Washington was 

asked to take responsibility for the 

seminary's establishment, and 

Chorbishop Mansour Stephan was 

appointed as national chairman of the 

building fund. 

In June, 1960, Archbishop O'Boyle 

called the Maronite clergy of the United 

States to a meeting in Washington 

where a goal of $500,000 was set as a 

minimum to be raised from among the 

Maronite faithful of the United States. 

This meeting was attended by twentyfour 

Maronite priests. With the 

approval of the Maronite clergy in July 

of 1961, Archbishop O'Boyle 

purchased a house at Alaska Ave., NW, 

which was renovated and to which a 

chapel, bedrooms, and recreation room 

were added. 

Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite 

Seminary opened its doors on 

September 24, 1961. Its first rector was 

Reverend Elias El-Hayek and the 

prefect of studies was Father Seely 

Beggiani. The first class consisted of 

five seminarians. During the first 

school year the seminary was visited by 

the Papal Secretary of State, Amleto 

Cardinal Cicognani, on December 3, 

1961. The seminary held an open house 

for the Maronites living in the 

Washington area on St. Maron's Feast 

Day, 1962, and this event marked the 

beginnings of a Maronite parish 

community in Washington. 

His Beatitude, Patriarch Paul 

Cardinal Meouchi formally dedicated 

the seminary on August 26, 1962. Over 

two thousand Maronite clergy and laity, 

as well as nine Latin rite bishops, 

joined in the celebration at the National 

Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. 

The nationally known television 

speaker, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, 

preached the homily. Cardinal Meouchi 

was accompanied by the future 

Patriarch and Cardinal Antoine 

Khoraiche and the future Archbishop 

Khalil Abi-Nader. 

In 1964, the building next door was 

purchased and used for seminary 

bedrooms and a library. On May 2-3 of 

that year, Archbishop Francis Zayek 

(then Maronite Bishop of Sao Paolo, 

Brazil) presided over the creation of a 

national organization of Maronite laity, 

the National Association of Maronites. 

One of its main purposes was to 

provide support for the seminary. 

On January 10, 1966, Archbishop 

Zayek became the first Maronite bishop 

of the United States. In September, 

1967, the Reverend Seely Beggiani was 

appointed Spiritual Director and 

Treasurer of the seminary and 

Administrator of the Washington parish 

which was in the process of formation. 

In May, 1968, Fr. Beggiani was named 

Rector, a post he currently holds. 

In recent times, the Order of St. 

Sharbel, an association of the laity, was 

established to provide financial 

assistance for the seminary and clergy. 

It underwrites a large portion of the 

Seminary's expenses. 

On October 16-17, 1986, Our Lady 

of Lebanon Seminary celebrated its 25 th 

anniversary. With Archbishop Zayek, a 

large number of Maronite clergy and 

laity attended the events which featured 

seminars on the future of the seminary 

and the Maronite Church. 

Under the guidance of Archbishop 

Zayek, his successor, Bishop Stephen 

Hector Doueihi, and now Bishop 

Gregory Mansour, and Bishops John 

Chedid and Robert Shaheen, the 

seminary has experienced rapid growth 

and a steady influx of vocations and 

ordinations. During its forty plus years 

of existence, sixty-four men have been 

ordained to the priesthood. 

Thanks to a generous contribution 

by Mr. Anthony Abraham of Miami, 

Florida, a new wing was added to the 

Seminary in 2001. Patriarch Nasrallah 

Peter Cardinal Sfeir, dedicated the new 


structure on March 6, 2001. 

The new wing features a library, 

computer area, seminar rooms, and 

housing for faculty and seminarians. It 

can also serve as a nucleus for a 

Maronite research center. 

On March 15-16 2005, His 

Beatitude Nasrallah Peter Cardinal 

Sfeir met President George W. Bush at 

the White House, and visited the 

Seminary to meet with bishops and 

priests from both eparchies. 

The Rector, alumni, and students of 

the Maronite Seminary have played a 

prominent role in the diocese by 

producing texts on Maronite liturgy, 

catechetics, theology, spirituality and 

history. Over the years, many Maronite 

and Latin Rite church officials and civil 

dignitaries have visited the seminary. 

These have included Patriarch 

Khoraiche in 1981 and Patriarch 

Nasrallah Sfeir in 1988, 2001 and 

2005, a number of Maronite Bishops, 

several Prefects of the Sacred 

Congregation of the Oriental Churches 

and every Apostolic Delegate and Papal 

Pro-Nuncio to the United States. 

Visitors have also included former 

presidents of Lebanon, Charles Helou, 

Bashir Gemayel (before his election) 

and Amin Gemayel. 

Requirements 

Before entering the Seminary a 

candidate must complete an 

a p p l i c a t i o n o f g e n e r a l 

information, must obtain his pastor's 

recommendation, have a current 

medical examination and a 

psychological evaluation. The pastor, 

physician and psychologist should mail 

their information directly to the 

Vocations Office. This information is 

then forwarded to the bishop for 

evaluation and a decision on 

acceptance. 

Undergraduate students desiring 

admission to the Maronite Seminary 

should have graduated from high 

school and be above average in their 

studies. They must provide their high 

school transcript and College entrance 

examination scores. Undergraduate 

students transferring from another 

institution must have a cumulative 

point average that is higher than the 

average student, and provide all their 

transcripts. 

Foreign students must provide 

documents indicating that they have 

During his visit to Washington, D.C., to meet with President George Bush, 

Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir visited Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary and 

met with bishops and clergy of both eparchies. From left to right: Bishops Gregory 

Mansour, Stephen Hector Doueihi, Patriarch Sfeir, Msgr. Michael Thomas, and 

Bishops John Chedid, Roland Abou-Jaoude and Robert Shaheen. 

fulfilled the equivalent of the 

requirements listed above. They must 

also give evidence that they have 

successfully passed the TOEFL 

Examination. 

Curriculum 

Classes at the seminary are offered 

in spirituality, liturgy, history, 

and traditions of the Maronite 

Rite. Also pertaining to the Maronite 

Rite are lessons in the liturgical and 

vernacular languages, Syriac and 

Arabic. The students take a weekly 

class in music where they learn the 

hymns and chants which 

are used in the Liturgy 

and other services of the 

Rite. Special classes are 

given to candidates as 

t h e y p r e p a r e f o r 

ordination to Minor and 

Major Orders of the 

Priesthood. 

Our Lady of Lebanon 

Maronite Seminary 

accepts students on both 

the graduate and the undergraduate 

levels. Undergraduate students may 

attend classes at the Catholic University 

of America and Montgomery College. 

It is recommended that a seminarian 

will receive his Bachelor's degree in the 

humanities, with a preference given to 

a major in philosophy. All 

undergraduates are expected to have a 

substantial background in philosophy. 

This should include courses in 

scholastic metaphysics and the history 

of ancient, medieval, and modern 

philosophy. 


Donations for Seminary Renovations can be 

made to: 

Eparchy of Saint Maron 

109 Remsen Street 

Brooklyn, NY 11201 

(A letter will be sent to all Priests and Order of 

Sharbel Members in the Eparchy of Saint Maron) 


THE MAKING OF A VOCATION 

Questions were directed to Fr. sharbel Maroun on his vocation. Fr. sharbel is the Pastor of 

Saint Maron Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Vocation Director for the Eparchy of 

Our Lady of Lebanon. 

Q. When did you become aware that 

you were called to become a priest 

and how was your experience 

At the early age of twelve years, I 

started exploring the idea of the 

priesthood. My Dad took me to a minor 

seminary. After my test, they informed 

me that I flunked my French and was 

rejected, but did not lose hope; I 

thought that God had a different plan 

for me. At the age of seventeen, I went 

by myself to the bishop and informed 

him about my desire to become a priest. 

He though I was running away from the 

war to the seminary. Thus I was 

rejected, but did not lose hope. At the 

age of nineteen, I went to a monastery 

to explore the religious life. They also 

thought, I was running away from the 

war to the Monastery. Thus, I was 

rejected, but did not lose hope. After 

working for a bank for three years, I 

was sent to the U.S.A. in 1983 to study 

computer science. Ten months later, I 

informed my employer that I am 

becoming a priest in the U.S.A. 

Q. What was yourparents’reaction 

Was the vocation encouraged in 

your home 

My parents and siblings were very 

happy for me as well as most of my 

friends and relatives, although some 

thought that I was out of my mind. 

Overall, they have been extremely 

encouraging and supportive of me. 

Yes, vocation was encouraged in 

our home. As a matter of fact my two 

great-grandfathers were priests, years 

back. My younger brother Maroun was 

also in the seminary before me, but felt 

that he was called to another vocation. 

Now, I have a nephew, Fr. Jean who 

was ordained recently and another 

nephew, Roger, who will be ordained 

for the Eparchy of Our Lady of 

Lebanon two years from now. 

Q. Are you optimistic about the future 

of vocations in the Eparchy 

Yes, I am! I feel that God sometimes 

tests His Church with the decrease of 

vocations. But I am optimistic and feel 

that we are at the verge of coming out 

of this crisis. I feel that many young 

men and women are opening their ears 

and eyes to God wider than before. 

Young people are searching for a 

deeper way to serve God and to make a 

difference in the world. 

Q. What common questions do young 

men who are considering the 

priesthood have 

Those who do not understand the gift of 

vocation ask questions such as: How 

much does it pay What are the 

benefits…etc.But those who are 

serious about their vocation ask 

questions that deal with the prayer life, 

the length of studies and where, the 

place of assignment, the meaning of 

sacrifice or how would they know that 

they are called 

Q. How many men today are studying 

in your Eparchy 

Presently, one in Washington, D.C., 

and one in Lebanon studying for our 

Eparchy. Please, pray for them as they 

discern God’s special cal. 

Q. What about the vocation of 

deacons How many men are 

studying for this position 

Deacon Lou Peters of St. Louis 

Missouri is in charge of the Ministry 

Office. Those interested in the 

deaconate or sub-deaconate program 

may contact him at (314) 352-5660. 

Q. How many priests will the Eparchy 

need to prepare in the next ten 

years 

We need many priests to serve the 

parishes and missions that we have in 

the U.S.A. With the exception of a 

couple of parishes, we have only one 

priest per parish. There are many 

missions and we can open many more if 

we have priests available. 

Ask yourself, who will be serving 

your altar ten years from now 

Q. What education do seminarians 

receive How much does the 

education cost 

Our seminarians receive some of the 

best education available whether in 

Washington or abroad. It costs close to 

$30,000 annually per seminarian. Our 

Eparchy and the generous Order of 

Saint Sharbel help support in this 

sacred task. Please, consider joining the 

Order of St. Sharbel. Ask your Pastor 

for details. 

Q. What is the greatest obstacle facing 

young men who are hesitant about 

answering the call to the 

priesthood 

T h e main o b s tacle is the 

commercialism that poisons the minds 

of many young men as well as the peer 

pressure that they face. Another big 

obstacle is the lack of commitment we 

see around us. 

Q. What is the greatest joy a 

seminarian can expect 

I am not a seminarian anymore, but 

when I was a seminarian I experienced 

much joy from the prayer life, the 

exciting education I was getting and the 

love and support that I got from so 

many people. 

Q. If a young man is considering a 

vocation, what advice would you 

give him to help him decide if the 

priesthood is right for him 

Pray, and pray more, ask the Holy 

Spirit to enlighten your heart and mind. 

Discuss your desire with a friend that 

you trust and who loves you, as well as 

with your Pastor. Attend a retreat, seek 

a spiritual director, and stay close to the 

Altar. God will show you what to do at 

that time. 


Q. Not every man can serve the 

priesthood, right Tell us who can 

be a viable candidate. 

A prospect candidate to the Priesthood 

is a loving man, generous and close to 

the Altar. He is a man who wants to 

make a difference in the world and who 

is gifted with the charisma of 

leadership. He is a man who is willing 

to be a soldier of Christ and to go 

wherever He calls him. 

Q. In nearly every parish, there is at 

least one young man who shows a 

sparkling interest, love and 

devotion to the church. Some may 

be acolytes ... some may be 

rambunctious young boys who 

fidget in their seat during Liturgy. 

How can you sense that a young 

man may be a candidate for 

vocations Or can you Is a career 

as a priest something we should 

encourage, just as we might 

encourage strong math students to 

be 

You can spot the young man in your 

parish who would be a good priest from 

the way he prays, acts and serves the 

Altar. He often has a question in his 

eyes or on his lips and is often 

presenting his opinion about certain 

issues. 

Yes, we need to encourage 

vocations from the pulpit and at home, 

but not as a career, but rather as a 

CALL. It is not a 9-to-5 job, but a call 

to love and serve at any time. 

Q. Some parents may say, "Yes, we 

need more priests, but not MY 

SON." What do you say to that Is 

it not a vocation for a father or 

mother, to offer their son or 

daughter to the full-time service of 

God 

It seems that some people want what is 

best but not at their cost. Parents whose 

son might be called to become a priest 

should become the happiest people 

because God has chosen their own son 

for this call. I ask the mother who says 

“Iwant my son to be a doctor”or 

whatever,: “Who ever told you that 

God is calling him to thisvocation” 

Parents should help their children find 

out what they are called to be, and the 

Priesthood should be on their list as a 

consideration. 

“Ifyou don’thave children, go 

after others’ children, as Chorbishop 

Seely Beggiani says. 

Q. Speaking of daughters, I don't hear 

about the Eparchy calling for 

vocations for women. If a woman is 

considering a call to become a 

sister, who does she call 

Girls also have a great ministry in the 

church, especially by serving as nuns. 

We are lucky to have three orders of 

nuns in our eparchies in the U.S.A. If a 

young girl feels that she is called to this 

ministry of religious life she should 

contact her pastor for more information. 

The harvest is good but laborers are 

scatered,” said Jesus. “Pray that the 

Master of the harvest may send more 

laborers into his vineyard.” 

Prayer For Priestly 

Vocations 

Father, in every generation You 

provide ministers of Christ and the 

Church. 

 

We come before You now, asking that 

You call forth more men to serve our 

eparchies in the ministerial 

priesthood. 

 

Give us priests who will lead and 

guide Your holy people gathered by 

Word and Sacrament. 

 

Bless us with priestly vocations so 

that we can continue to be a truly 

Eucharistic Church, 

strengthened in our discipleship of 

Jesus Christ, Your Only Son. 

 

Raise up, we pray, men who are 

generous in their service, 

willing to offer their lives and all their 

gifts for Your greater glory and for the 

good of Your people. 

 

We make our prayer in the presence 

and power of the Holy Spirit, through 

Christ, our Lord. 

Amen. 

Year of Prayer for Priestly Vocations 

November 4, 2005–November 4, 2006 

If the Lord 

is Calling 

You, The 

Church 

Needs 

You! 

A priest is a man of faith and prayer 

who: 

is called to be a church minister 

proclaims the Word of God and 

administers the sacraments 

A priest is called to: 

be a servant, teacher, and 

missionary 

build a parish community that 

works to bring healing, justice 

and peace to all 

preside at Eucharist 

administer the sacraments 

 

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 

Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon 

Office of Vocations 

c/o St. Maron Church 

600 University Ave., NE 

Minneapolis, MN 55413 

Or 

Fr. James Root, Director 

Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn 

Office of Vocations 

c/o Our Lady of Victory Church 

1000 Lindsay Road 

Carnegie, PA 15106 


“You Are A Priest Forever” 

Deacon Gaby Hoyek Is Ordained A Priest For the 


Left to right: Bishop Robert Shaheen; newly ordained Fr. Gaby Hoyek; Bishop 

Youssef Dargham, Maronite Bishop of Egypt; Bishop Gregory Mansour; and 

Chorbishop Seely Beggiani, Rector of Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary. 

by Diana Hanna 

Saint Joseph Mission 

Riverside, Calif. 

On September 14, 2005, Feast of 

the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 

Deacon Gaby Hoyek was 

ordained a Priest for the Eparchy of Our 

Lady of Lebanon at Saint Steven's 

Cathedral in Batroun, Lebanon . Over 

900 faithful including priests and nuns 

joined Their Excellencies Bishops 

Youssef Dargham, Maronite Bishop of 

Egypt; Robert Shaheen of the Eparchy 

of Our Lady of Lebanon; and Gregory 

Mansour of the Eparchy of Saint Maron 

of Brooklyn. 

Fr. Raymond Bassil, a close friend 

since childhood and a classmate of Fr. 

Gaby, was the Master of Ceremonies. 

Fr. sharbel Maroun, Pastor of Saint 

Maron’sChurch in Minneapolis Minn., 

and the Vocation Director in the 

Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, was 

Fr.Gaby’sSponsor in the Priesthood. 

Fathers Antoine Salameh and Fadi 

Hachem led an extraordinary choir that 

the congregation was solemnly 

enthralled in this holy ceremony. The 

event was broadcasted live by 

Telelumiere International as was Fr. 

Gaby's first Liturgy on Sept. 18, 2005. 

When he was twelve years old Fr. 

Gaby, the great-grandson of a priest, 

began to consider the priesthood. After 

High School he studied Commercial 

Sciences and accounting at Fr. Nader 

College in Lebanon. In 1994 he entered 

Saint Maron Seminary in Ghazir, 

Lebanon. After graduating from the 

seminary, Fr. Gaby spent three years 

assisting many priests at various 

parishes in the Batroun Eparchy while 

continuing his spiritual direction under 

the guidance of Fr. Edmond Khacham, 

a monk in the Maronite Lebanese Order 

(O. L. M.). 

In September of 2001 with the 

assistance of his cousin Chorbishop 

Bernard Khachan, Seminarian Gaby 

than applied to join the Eparchy of Our 

Lady of Lebanon in the United States. 

His visa was approved and he moved to 

the U.S.A. in March of 2004. On 

November 17, 2004 he was ordained a 

Subdeacon at Our Lady of Lebanon 

Maronite Seminary in Washington, 

D.C. and elevated to Deacon at Saint 

Raymond's Cathedral on April 7, 2005 

by the imposition of the hands of 

Bishop Robert Shaheen. 

Between March 4, 2004 and until 

his priestly ordination Fr. Gaby served 

and had his formation at SaintMaron’s 

in Minneapolis, Minn., Maronite 

Seminary in Washington D.C., Saint 

Raymond’sCathedral in Saint Louis, 

Mo., and Saint Elias Church in 

Birmingham, Alabama. 

Father Gaby is the eldest of four 

children. His parents are Youssef and 

May Hoyek. His siblings are Rita 

Hoyek Moobayed and Rima and 

Sharbel Hoyek. After the ordination 

ceremony the guests were invited to the 

church hall for the celebration where all 

greeted and congratulated the newly 

ordained Fr. Gaby. Fr. Gaby has been 

assigned as Assistant Pastor to Fr. Tony 

Bakh at Saint John Maron Church in 

Anaheim, California, and to serve at 

Saint Joseph Mission in Riverside, 

California. 

Please keep Father Gaby in your 

prayers, and let us pray for the increase 

of vocations. 

History of the 

Maronite Seminary 

Continued from Page 6 

Graduate students usually attend classes 

at the various schools of theology in the 

W a s h i n g t o n a r e a . M a r o n i t e 

seminarians, pursuing a Master's or 

Doctoral degree, may attend classes at 

Catholic University, the Washington 

Theological Union, or the Dominican 

House of Studies. The Washington area 

offers a wealth of research and cultural 

facilities. In the area of research, there 

are the Semitics library of Catholic 

University, the Library of Congress, 

and the Dumbarton Oaks Library, 

among others. 

Material for this article is taken from 

www.maroniteseminary.org. The 

official website for Our Lady of 

Lebanon Seminary. 


MEET OUR SEMINARIANS 

Thomas Craven, Jr. 

Sacred Theology. Dominique received the orders of cantor 

and lector in 2004 and will be receiving the order of 

Thomas Craven is a 57 year old subdeacon on November 16, 2005. 

seminarian studying for the Eparchy of Dominique was born in Douwar, Lebanon. He has two 

Our Lady of Lebanon. He is in his older brothers and an older sister. Dominique thought about 

deacon year at the Maronite seminary and is priesthood from an early age, but began to give it serious 

studying theology at the Washington consideration after graduating from high school. While 

Theological Union pursuing the degree of continuing the process of discernment, he studied architecture 

Master of Theological Studies. Thomas was for two years at the University of the Holy Spirit. As the call 

ordained to the subdiaconate in 1994 and to to the priesthood became stronger, he entered the seminary at 

the diaconate on August 12, 2005. 

Ghazir, Lebanon in 2000. After three years, he came to the 

Thomas was born in Youngstown, Ohio. United States to continue his studies at the Maronite 

He has one brother and three sisters. Seminary for the Eparchy of Saint Maron. During the past 

Originally of the Latin Rite, Thomas became two years, Dominique has had summer parish assignments at 

affiliated with the Maronite Church in St. Anthony of the Desert parish in Fall River, Massachusetts 

Youngstown, Ohio over thirty years ago. and St. Maron parish in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

After being ordained to the subdiaconate, Thomas was active 

in all forms of the pastoral ministry at St. Maron parish in 

Youngstown, Ohio for a number of years. Thomas also 

Reflection On Vocation 

completed the program of formation for the permanent 

diaconate. However, having thought about being called to 

the priesthood since he was a young boy, Thomas petitioned Avocation is a divine 

Bishop Robert Shaheen to enter the seminary and was 

invitation to a higher life; 

accepted. Thomas’ parish asignment last summer was at 

a calling to a life in which 

Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon Cathedral in Los Angeles, 

not only we observe the Ten 

California. 

Commandments but also serve 

Almighty God in our daily life; 

Michel Nadim Kassas 

witness to His world as the 

disciples did; and sanctify our 

souls and bodies through prayers 

and serving the Altar. Therefore, 

all the faithful will be sanctified 

as well. A vocation is a calling to 

Fr. Gaby Hoyek, a newly a life of greater intimacy with the 

ordained priest for the Lord. 

Eparchy of Our Lay of Priests, monks and nuns are 

Lebanon offers his not the only ones with vocations. 

reflection on vocations Each of us receives a personal 

invitation from God to walk 

through life totally devoted, totally committed, totally in love 

with the Divine will. It is a call to follow Jesus in His life and 

Michel Kassas is a 34 year old 

seminarian studying for the Eparchy 

of Saint Maron of Brooklyn. He is 

a special student at Our Lady of Lebanon 

Maronite Seminary having received his 

graduate degree in Sacred Theology from the 

University of the Holy Spirit in Kaslik, 

Lebanon. His degree is a License in 

Theology according to the Lebanese system. 

Michel was born in Bmaryam, Lebanon. 

He has two older brothers and two younger 

sisters. At the age of three, Michel’s father 

was kidnapped and killed. Michel began 

seriously thinking of the priesthood in 1990. 

After doing his theological studies in Lebanon, he was 

accepted as a seminarian for the Eparchy of Saint Maron and 

arrived at the Maronite Seminary in January, 2005. He 

studied intensive English at Howard University Continuing 

Education for seven months. After a summer assignment at 

St. Joseph Parish in Atlanta, Georgia, Michel returned to the 

seminary to pursue additional courses in theology and 

pastoral ministry at the Washington Theological Union and 

Dominican House of Studies. 

Dominique Hanna 

Dominique Hanna is a 26 year old 

seminarian studying for the Eparchy of 

Saint Maron of Brooklyn. He is in his 

third year of theology at the Maronite Seminary 

and is studying at Catholic University of 

America, where he is pursuing a degree in 

work. Jesus is calling each one of us, but the problem 

sometimes is in our human response and discernment of 

God’swill in our life. Priesthood starts but never ends. It is 

a perpetual understanding ofGod’swill through the intimate 

relationship we build with Him, and the discerning of His 

voice in this world. Priesthood is a long journey with Jesus. 

It is like a trip on a boat facing strong storms and big waves, 

looking over the horizon instead of staying on the harbor. 

Brothers! are you ready to listen to God’s voice and to 

answer Him Are you ready to discern your vocation such as 

many young men did before they got ordained I am a young 

newly ordained priest writing to you, encouraging you to 

have enough faith in God, to sit down and have enough time 

with Him, so He can lead you to the right way, and help you 

to take the right decision in your life in whatever you do. 

This is what I did, what I do all the time, and how I discerned 

my vocation as well, since this is the only way to listen to 

God’svoice in our life. Open your hearts, listen to God, trust 

Him and don’t be afraid. 



Our Lady of Lebanon National Shrine in North Jackson, Ohio, 

Celebrates 40 th Assumption Pilgrimage 

by Msgr. Anthony Spinosa, Rector 

This year marked the 40 th 

Anniversary of the founding of 

the National Shrine of Our Lady 

of Lebanon in North Jackson, Ohio, 

with great joy and thanks to God for so 

many years of wonderful ministry. 

The celebration this year included 

a day of preparation with an evening of 

Eucharistic adoration to mark the Year 

of the Eucharist. Monsignor George 

Appleyard, Pastor of St. Ann’s 

Ukrainian Catholic Church gave a 

beautiful homily on the eastern 

devotion to the Body and Blood of 

Christ. 

The first day of the Pilgrimage was 

celebrated with a Byzantine Liturgy and 

the beautiful Paraklesis to the Mother 

of God offered by Bishop Nicholas 

Samra. The evening Divine Liturgy 

was offered by Archbishop Basil Schott 

and Bishop Nicholas Samra. The 

magnificent Byzantine chant was 

provided by the Archeparchial Choir 

from Pittsburgh. 

Monsignor Robert Siffrin, 

Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese 

of Youngstown, was the celebrant for 

the second evening with the choir of 

Our Lady of Mount Carmel 

accompanying. 

The Feast of the Assumption was 

welcomed with numerous Liturgies 

celebrated during the day and a special 

Liturgy celebrated by Bishop Gregory 

Mansour with the anointing of the sick 

following. This Liturgy with anointing 

has become very much a part of the 

Assumption celebration. 

The final Feast Day Liturgy was 

celebrated outdoors at the entrance of 

the Prince of Peace Chapel with an 

estimated two thousand in attendance. 

Bishop Robert Shaheen was the 

principal celebrant and offered the 

homily. 

Every evening the Divine Liturgy 

concluded with the traditional outdoor 

candlelight procession, the singing of 

the Ya Oum Allah by the Antonine 

Sisters and the blessing with the icon of 

Our Lady of Lebanon. 

The celebration climaxed after the 

singing of the Hail Holy Queen when 

the sky above the statue of Our Lady lit 

up with glorious fireworks given in 

honor of Our Lady and in memory of 

Sam Abdallah. It was a glorious sight. 

This year there was an eleventh 

hour surprise when a concert of 

Maronite liturgical music was 

performed by Dr. Jake Jorishie 

(keyboard) and Meray Boustani 

(Soprano) in the Prince of Peace 

Chapel. Dr. Jake and Meray are 

parishioners of Saint Teresa Maronite 

Mission in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 

concert included many of the traditional 

Maronite hymns and chants which are 

very familiar to us. The performance 

was beautiful and resembled more of a 

meditation than a concert. Those in 

attendance were very impressed with 

the beauty of the music and the 

performers. We thank Dr. Jake and 

Miss Boustani for their beautiful gift of 

music to Our Lady. 

In addition to the spiritual 

activities, there were outdoor activities 

for the children who enjoyed crafts, a 

petting zoo and a demonstration by the 

local fire department on fire safety for 

children. 

The Cedars Hall was a hub of 

activity with musical entertainment and 

delicious food prepared by the ladies 

from St. Maron, Youngstown and St. 

John the Baptist, New Castle. 

It was a wonderful 40 th Anniversary 

celebration that was filled with joy and 

blessings for all. May Our Lady of 

Lebanon continue to keep her Shrine 

under her continued protection. 

The Altar of the Prince of Peace Chapel at Our Lady of Lebanon Shrine in 

North Jackson, Ohio. 


A view of Our Lady of Lebanon National Shrine in North Jackson, Ohio. 

Our Lady of Lebanon National Shrine in North Jackson, Ohio 

A Place Dedicated to Honor Mary, Mother of God 

History and Development 

In June of 1960, the Maronite priests 

in the United States met with 

Archbishop Patrick O'Boyle in 

Washington, D.C. It was there that the 

Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon was 

first publicly proposed; however, it did 

not happen. On the way home, Father 

Peter Eid suggested the Maronites in 

Youngstown, Ohio and the surrounding 

areas would buy a large piece of land 

and build a large shrine. One day, 

while driving along Lipkey Road, Fr. 

Peter noticed a sign,“Property for Sale, 

80 Acres.” “That’s it,” he said. 

The owner of this property told Fr. 

Eid that she “wilnever sell to a 

Catholic.” He tried to explain that a 

house of prayer would be much better 

than a junkyard or a supermarket, but to 

no avail. After three visits, Fr. Eid told 

her,“This is my last visit. But, I am 

going to call my friends and we will 

pray for nine days so that God will tell 

you to sell us the land to build a 

Sanctuary for His Mother, Mary.” 

Fr. Peter then called upon his 

brother, Fr. Maroun; Fr. Maroun Abi 

Nader; and his brother Father Elias to 

pray a novena for this very intention. 

Surprisingly, before the nine days were 

over, the owner called Fr. Eid and 

declared, “Priest, come and take the 

land. Your Lady is bothering me in my 

sleep!” 

In 1961 Msgr. Peter Eid purchased 

eighty acres of land in North Jackson, 

Ohio, for the intent of building a shrine 

in honor of Our Lady of Lebanon. The 

entire Shrine project was initiated in 

1963 when it was proposed to the St. 

Maron Holy Name Society. 

With the cooperation of the 

Maronite parishes in Akron, Ohio, and 

New Castle, Penn., the Youngstown, 

society became the leader of the 

program. The Shrine project received 

the approval of Pope John XXIII and 

Bishop Emmet M. Walsh, Bishop of 

Youngstown, and the association was 

incorporated as a non-profit 

organization of Ohio. 

Ground was broken on August 16, 

1964 for the construction of a $200,000 

replica of the Shrine of Our Lady of 

Lebanon at Harissa, Lebanon. This 

was to be the first shrine of its type in 

the United States, and would be built of 

stone matching the original. 

On July 20, 1965, the statue of the 

Virgin Mary was placed atop the tower. 

Just when the statue was put into place, 

a large cloud overhead turned brilliant 


shades of pink, blue and other colors of 

the rainbow. The onlookers took it as a 

sign that the Blessed Virgin was 

smiling on the project. 

The dedication of the complete 

Shrine took place on Sunday, August 

15, 1965, Feast of the Assumption. 

Bishop James Malone, Auxiliary 

Bishop of Youngstown, blessed the 

Shrine, gave the homily at the Mass 

afterward, and spoke at the closing 

banquet. 

On August 12, 1967 the third 

annual pilgrimage drew an estimated 

2,000 people. The previous two 

pilgrimages were cancelled due to 

water shortage. 

The financial condition of any 

organization is a factor that can never 

be overlooked. Sources of income, 

besides the generosity of pledges, had 

to be thought of by those involved and 

concerned. 

The 25 Club is a group of people 

who purchased tickets for $25 which 

entitle them to a weekly prize drawing 

for a period of six months. At the end 

of these six months, a banquet was held 

where larger money prizes were given. 

This fundraiser first started in 1968 and 

was a really successful program. It was 

only recently that the price was raised 

to $30 due to the increased cost of food. 

The first couple of years these funds 

from the 25 Club were used to pay all 

the utilities. 

During the first years of the Shrine, 

thepriest’srectory was a trailer with an 

addition of a living room and garage to 

help disguise the trailer. In 1980, an 

addition was added on to allow for 

guest rooms and to expand the garage 

as a workshop when needed. Just 

recently, within the last year, a patio 

was added. Even after all the additions, 

the main part of the rectory is still a 

trailer! 

There have been three 

Administrators since the Shrine was 

founded: Msgr. Peter Eid (1965 to 

1969); Msgr. Peter Tayah (1971 to 

Donations for the Shrine 

can be made to: 

Our Lady of Lebanon 

National Shrine 

2759 North Lipkey Road 

North Jackson, Ohio 44451 

1973); and Msgr. Dominic Ashkar 

(1975 to 1983). 

Directors included the Rev. Ronald 

Zidian (1965 to 1969 and 1972 to 

1974); Msgr. George Webby (1969 to 

1972) with Fr. Joseph Thomas as his 

assistant; Fr. Mike Kail (1974 to 1976); 

Fr. Bill Bonczewski (1976 to 1978); Fr. 

Bill Decker (1978 to 1980); Fr. Bill 

Bonczewski (1980 to 2002); and Msgr. 

Anthony Spinosa from 2002 to present. 

One of the first projects that Msgr. 

Bonczewski started was with a group of 

people to do fundraising for the 

renovation of the barn on the Shrine 

property. These people came to Mass 

on Saturday evenings and so the name 

“SaturdayNight Barn People”stuck 

with them as they had a Barn Sale and 

other functions to raise money for this 

worthy project. 

On the Feast of the 

Assumption, August 15, 1998, 

in anticipation of the Jubilee 

Year, the Holy Doors leading 

into the Tower Chapel were 

sealed by Maronite Bishop 

John Chedid. The doors were 

sealed until Christmas Eve at 

Midnight Mass on December 

24, 1999. 

The Rosary Group at the National 

Shrine was formed in 1980 to pray for 

vocations. It was at this time that Msgr. 

Bill was made Diocesan Vocation 

Director. The Mission of the Rosary 

Group had two parts: to pray for the 

increase of vocations and to raise some 

funds for Fr. Bill, for the trips he would 

make to the Seminary in Washington, 

D.C. and to treat the seminarians to a 

meal. Today the group has taken on 

more needs of the Shrine. They pray for 

vocations, the needs of the Shrine, for 

petitions from all over the country 

during the first nine days of each 

month, for the needs of the group, and 

finally for their own personal needs. 

The group leads the Rosary during the 

Assumption pilgrimage each hour from 

1-6 p.m. on the eve of and on the Feast 

Day. The Rosary Group also does 

much volunteer work and is the nucleus 

for the Shrine. 

In 1982, Cedars’ Hall was 

dedicated as theShrine’sbanquet hall. 

From the beginning, adequate space 

in which pilgrims could worship was of 

paramount importance. Plans for a 

larger facility were set in motion in 

1983 with the approval of Archbishop 

Francis Zayek. He suggested that the 

new chapel be named in honor of 

Christ, the Prince of Peace. On August 

15, 1985 Archbishop Zayek and 

Archbishop Pio Laghi, Papal Pro- 

Nuncio to the U.S., blessed the site of 

the new chapel. The chapel is designed 

in the form of a cross. 

On December 8, 1987, the Feast of 

the Immaculate Conception, the Chapel 

to Christ the Prince of Peace, was 

solemnly dedicated by Archbishop 

Zayek. 

The Blue Room, which was the 

former offices of the Shrine Staff, was 

remodeled when the mills were closed 

in this area. The volunteers who were 

out of work came every day to finish 

this project. The day the project was 

completed was the day they were 

called back to work. 

The St. Joseph Prayer Garden was 

completed in 1981 and Mass was 

sometimes held outside. 

The priests who envisioned this 

sanctuary to Mary dreamed of many 

things. One facility they hoped for was 

apriest’sretirement home. A home 

with two units presently exists on the 

Shrine grounds. It was eventually 

completed in 1988. Since the retired 

priests showed no interest in renting 

the house, the Antonine Sisters used it 

to start their Adult Day Care Center. 

After the Sisters moved to their new 

and larger facility, the Bishop agreed 

that the units could be rented out so as 

to pay expenses. 

On June 28, 1988 Maronite 

Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Sfeir made a 

visit to the Shrine. In September of 

1991, the New Cross was blessed for 

the top of Christ, Prince of Peace 

Chapel. The Cross is eight feet tall; the 

arms of the Cross are four feet; and it 

weighs 125 pounds. 

In December of 1992, Our Lady of 

Guadeloupe Shrine was dedicated. 

On May 5, 1996, Patriarchal Vicar, 

Bishop Francis Baissari of North 

Lebanon led the Feast Day Celebration. 

On Sunday, July 13, 1997, the Icon 

in honor of the Divine Mercy was 

blessed and enthroned at the Shrine by 

Fr. Serafim Michaelenco from the 

Shrine of Divine Mercy in 

Massachusetts. 

A renovation project to make the 

Tower Chapel more beautiful was 


THE ORDER 

OF 

SAINT SHARBEL 

NEW MEMBERS 

Perpetual Members 

Kathleen Rose Campbell 

Saint Elias Church 

Birmingham, Alabama 

*** 

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 

Order of Saint Sharbel 

109 Remsen Street 

Brooklyn, NY 11201 

Or 


Order of Saint Sharbel 

1021 South Street 

St. Louis, MO 63104 

started in 1998. The project included 

new lighting to make way for a future 

painting of the Crowning of Our Lady 

in Heaven. An Icon of St. Maron and 

one of Our Lady of Lebanon were also 

added. Also proposed for the future will 

be painting of various events in the life 

of Our Lady. 

On the Feast of the Assumption, 

August 15, 1998, in anticipation of the 

Jubilee Year, the Holy Doors leading 

into the Tower Chapel were sealed by 

Maronite Bishop John Chedid and 

assisted by Maronite Bishops of 

Canada, Mexico and Brooklyn, New 

York. The doors were sealed until 

Christmas Eve at Midnight Mass on 

December 24, 1999. 

The former Glass Chapel, which 

was used for a storage area after the 

Christ, Prince of Peace Chapel was 

built, was turned into a Shrine to honor 

deceased Priests of all Rites of our 

Catholic Faith. This took place on May 

2, 1999, on the Feast of Our Lady of 

Lebanon. 

The offices here at the Shrine were 

remodeled and finished after the 

Holidays of 1999 and blessed and 

dedicated on February 25, 2000. On 

June 4, 1999, the newly remodeled Gift 

Shop had a Grand Opening, honoring 

the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

On the Feast of the Epiphany, 

January 6, 2000, the Shrine had a 

ceremony of“burningof themortgage” 

in thanksgiving for the end of debt 

incurred by building the chapel. Due to 

the generosity of many good people, 

who gave over the years, and a last 

appeal that was sent by Msgr. Bill to 

have 100 people send a donation of 

$1,000 to complete the last $100,000 

balance of the debt, this chapel was 

finally paid off. 

Shrine Facts 

Our Lady of Lebanon National 

Shrine in Jacksonville, Ohio has 

a 55-ft high tower with an 

exterior spiral stairway of sixty-four 

steps leading to a 16-ft statue of the 

Virgin Mary at the top carved of Rose 

Granite by an Italian sculptor and 

weighting seven and a half tons. 

How the Original 

Shrine in Lebanon 

Began 

In 1904 as the Catholic world was 

preparing to celebrate the Fiftieth 

Anniversary of the dogma of the 

Immaculate Conception as defined by 

Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854, 

Patriarch Hoyek and the Apostolic 

Delegate, Archbishop Carlos Duval, 

thought of installing a religious 

monument that would perpetuate the 

memory of confirmation of this dogma 

and praise the love of the Lebanese for 

Mary throughout the generations. 

After consulting several bishops 

and priests, the two prelates decided to 

name this monument "Our Lady of 

Lebanon." 

A site called "The Rock" on the 

Summit of Harissa was chosen. The 

"Rock," a splendid hill, overlooks the 

city of Jounieh and the Mediterranean 

Sea as well as Beirut and the 

mountains. It is located in the 

neighborhood of the apostolic embassy 

and at a near distance from the 

residence of the Maronite Patriarch in 

Bkerke. 

The monument (statue) is made in 

France from molded bronze. It has a 

height of eight and a half meters, a 

diameter of five meters, and weighs ten 

tons. It is, hence, unique in its beauty. 

The Virgin Mary stretches her hands 

towards the capital, Beirut. 

The pedestal of the statue is built 

from natural stone. It has a height of 

twenty meters, a lower periphery of 

sixty-four meters and a higher 

periphery of twelve meters. To reach its 

top at the statue's feet, one has to climb 

a spiral staircase of one hundred four 

steps. 

The small sanctuary and the 

pedestal of the statue were achieved by 

the end of 1907. 

The shrine was inaugurated on the 

first Sunday of May, 1908. On that 

historical day, the Apostolic Delegate 

Frediano Giannini blessed the sanctuary 

and the statue. Afterwards, his 

Beatitude the Patriarch celebrated a 

Pontifical Divine Liturgy and in his 

homily declared the First Sunday of 

May as the Feast Day of Our Lady of 

Lebanon. 

(Material is taken from 

www.opuslibani.org.lb ) 


St. Anthony’s 15 th 

Annual Golf 

Tournament 

On October 2, 2005, a beautiful and sunny Sunday 

afternoon, St.Anthony’sMaronite Catholic Church in 

Glen Allen, Va., held its 15 th annual Golf Tournament 

to benefit some of the orphaned children in Lebanon. Once 

again, the tournament held at the Hunting Hawk Golf Course 

in Glen Allen (Richmond), Va., and raised $16,000 which 

was sent to His Excellency Bishop Gregory Mansour for this 

purpose. In his letter of acknowledgment, Bishop Mansour 

thanked St. Anthony Church for“thewonderful spirit to 

spread good wil to others in the name of Christ.” He also 

enclosed a copy of a letter he sent to His Beatitude Patriarch 

Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir along with the check to help 

the orphaned children. 

First, second, and third prizes were awarded, and door 

prizes were given. Lunch and drinks were served before the 

tournament. Following the tournament, a dinner of Lebanese 

and American food was served. 

The Golf Tournament was the first phase of the annual 

charitable drive at St. Anthony to benefit orphaned children 

in Lebanon. The second phase is the annual benefit dinner 

planned for December 10, 2005. 

Bishop Frederick Campbell Visits 

Our Lady of Lebanon Mission in 

Columbus, Ohio 

by Rose Sahyoun 

NAM Regional Vice President, Midwest Region 

On Sunday, September 11, 2005, Our Lady of Lebanon 

Mission in Columbus, Ohio celebrated a Maronite 

Liturgy at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown 

Columbus at the invitation of Bishop Frederick Campbell and 

the members of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher. The Liturgy 

was celebrated by Fr. Pierre Bassil along with Fr. Anthony 

Salim of St. Anthony of Padua Maronite Church, Cincinnati, 

Oh., as concelebrant. Music was provided by the choir of the 

St. Ignatius of Antioch Church in Dayton, Ohio. 

Bishop Campbell, who is no stranger to the Maronites, 

spoke highly of the Maronite faith and its people to a packed 

church. Many came from far and near to express their faith 

and hope in God and to support a future Maronite Church in 

Columbus. Fr. Bassil presented the Bishop and the leaders of 

the Order of the Holy Sepulcher with a cedar wood plaque in 

gratitude for their efforts to support the Maronites. 

Afterwards, a reception was held in the cathedral 

undercroft of the second oldest church in Columbus. 

Homemade Lebanese foods and pastries were served. 

As a Regional Vice-President of NAM in the Eparchy of 

Our Lady of Lebanon, I was in attendance and congratulated 

them on their efforts to gather and develop their Mission as 

people of Faith. It was a beautiful event and one in which 

they could reach out to the community around them. I also 

encourage anyone in the area to contact the Mission if you 

have any questions or if you would like to become a member 

of their Mission. Please contact Fr. Pierre Bassil at 937-256- 

3134. 

Patriarchal Visit 

by Mary Asmar Smith 

His eminence Cardinal Estephanos II, the Patriarch of 

the Coptic Catholic Church, paid a visit to his flock in 

New Jersey from September 2 through September 5, 

2005. St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church in Somerset, 

N.J., participated in a luncheon in his honor on Saturday, 

September 3, 2005, at the Ramada Hotel in East Brunswick, 

N.J. 

On behalf of Bishop Gregory Mansour, Fr. Maroun 

Asmar extended an invitation to the Patriarch to celebrate the 

Divine Liturgy at St. Sharbel and then a reception in his 

honor. However, due to his busy schedule, he was unable to 

accept. 

Fire Destroys St. George Church 

in Pawtucket, Rhode Island 

On Tuesday October 25, 2005, an early-morning fire 

completely destroyed Saint George Maronite Church, 

hall, educational facilities and offices in Pawtucket, 

Rhode Island, after burning for nearly eight hours. 

Pawtucket Fire Chief Timothy P. McLaughlin said that 

the morning's fire was probably the largest and most intense 

the department had seen this year. The fire spread quickly, 

and in the end required the efforts of the entire Pawtucket 

Fire Department, as well as units from the Central Falls, 

Providence, and North Providence fire departments. St. 

George Church was built in the 18 th century. 

Those interested in helping St. George Maronite Church 

rebuild, may send their donations to: 

St. George New Church Fund 

c/o 50 Summit St. 

Pawtucket, RI 02860. 

In a related story, Hurricane Wilma severely damaged the 

roof of Our Lady of Lebanon Church and Rectory in Miami, 

Florida. 


Pastoral Visit and Statue 

Dedication at St. John the Baptist 

Church 

Uniontown, Penn. 

MCF And MYO Harvest Outing 

During his pastoral visit to St. John the Baptist Church 

in New Castle, Pennsylvania, on August 13 -14, 2005, 

Bishop Gregory Mansour dedicated the statue of St. 

John the Baptist immediately after Divine Liturgy. The statue 

was donated by The Altar & Rosary Society President, Mrs. 

Rose Gabriel Byers, in memory of her husband. (Pictured left 

to right) George Gabriel, Sally Gabriel Kahrer, Rose Gabriel 

Byers, Bishop Gregory Mansour, Mrs. Mary Gabriel and Fr. 

Kevin Beaton, Pastor. 

Members of the Maronite Christian Formation (MCF) 

and the Maronite Youth Organization of St. George 

Maronite Church in Uniontown, Penn., enjoyed a 

harvest outing to a local farm where they were treated to a 

hay ride and bonfire. Hot dogs and s’mores were the hit of 

theevening’sactivities which also included fun in a corn 

maze and picking out pumpkins for everyone. Pictured are 

some of the participants who made the trip. 


Maronite Patriarchal Synod Declares a Flourishing 

Future 

by Doreen Abi Raad 

Beirut, Lebanon 

The Maronite Patriarchal Synod 

completed its third and final 

session on September 17, 2005 

declaring “thevictory of unity over 

division, hope over despair and 

confidence over doubt and a flourishing 

future after our critical present.” 

Among the thirty-five bishops 

participating in the six-day synod 

presided by Maronite Patriarch 

Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir at Our 

Lady of the Mount in Fatka, Lebanon, 

were Bishop Robert Shaheen of the 

Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon in 

Los Angeles and Bishop Gregory 

Mansour of the Eparchy of Saint Maron 

of Brooklyn. 

This final session of the Maronite 

Synod focused on approving the 

twenty-four texts studied and reviewed 

in the first session, held in June 2003, 

and the second session, held in October 

2004. The final texts will be declared 

official during the Bishops’ annual 

Synod in June of 2006. 

The three-phase synod, according 

to the final text – of importance equal 

to that of the Great Lebanese Synod of 

1736–“laysthe foundation for a new 

period in the history of the Maronite 

Church.’The last Maronite Synod was 

held in Lebanon in 1818. Among the 

recommendations proposed at this 

meeting is that a Maronite Synod be 

held every five years. 

The twenty-four texts tackled 

during the synod covered a range of 

spiritual, social, educational and 

economic issues, including: The 

Maronite Church in its Worldwide 

Presence; Maronite Youth; the 

Maronite Church and Politics; the 

Maronite Liturgy; and the Maronite 

Church and Education. 

Among the recommendations under 

the heading“IdentityandMision,”the 

bishops called for: encouraging 

Christian-Muslim dialogue based on the 

unique Lebanese experience; devising 

a comprehensive plan to consolidate 

unity between Maronites in countries of 

expansion and those in Lebanon; 

finding the means of cooperation 

between Maronites in Lebanon and the 

diaspora in order to promote the 

mission of Lebanon and dialogue to 

establish peace, justice and love among 

all nations. 

In the ten texts reviewed in the 

“Renewalin theChurch”portion, the 

Synod recommended establishing 

“listeningcenters”in eparchies, with 

the aim of addressing family issues, 

particularly the issue of working 

mothers“whilepreserving their mission 

at home and in society.” 

Regarding the youth --“thehope of 

ourChurch”-- the Synod recommended 

that a Worldwide Maronite Youth 

Meeting be held every four years under 

the patronage of and participation with 

the Maronite Patriarch. 

In the education section, the 

bishops recommended spreading the 

social teachings of the Maronite Church 

with the aim of building fair societies 

and an economy that does not 

undermine values for the sake of 

individual or collective self-centered 

intentions. 

The final statement of the synod 

pointed out that the synod “renews the 

commitment of Lebanese Maronites to 

the entity, land, precious heritage and 

prosperous future of their dear country. 

It also renews the adherence of 

Maronites abroad to their homeland and 

all that it embodies in the form of 

civilizational and spiritual values, 

strongly needed by the world.” 

Theworld’sMaronites are totally 

committed to their new homelands and 

are totally loyal to them. This is the 

way it should be. Nevertheless, they 

also conserve for the land of their 

fathers and ancestors a longing, a 

nostalgia, for the spiritual self that does 

not change but develops and intensifies 

with time. Thus, their spiritual identity 

becomes a starting point for the special 

mission they have to carry to the 

countries in which they live, a mission 

that adopts the language of dialogue of 

cultures between East and West and 

makes their spiritual adherence to the 

Eastern Antiochean Church a source of 

honor and pride. 

“Moreover,Maronites in Lebanon, 

like their brothers therein, aspire to the 

future of the country and are ready to 

sacrifice everything in solidarity with 

them for the sake of reforming 

Lebanon, restoring the free decent life 

on its land, and overcoming the 

deteriorating conditions it is enduring. 

They eagerly hold on to the hope that 

the heritage of their fathers and 

ancestors in Lebanon is itself the yeast 

that will induce the change they seek 

and restore the natural course of 

national life. 

“AlMaronites agree with what 

Pope John Paul II recommended in his 

Apostolic Exhortation,‘NewHope for 

Lebanon,’namely that they should 

change what needs to be changed in 

their country while keeping on its 

historic mision.’ 

“It is the hope needed to give life, 

the hope that lives in the minds of 

Maronites and Lebanese alike and 

enlightens them in the midst of 

tribulations that must undoubtedly 

vanish one day.” 

Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Sfeir, in 

his homily in the Liturgy which 

concluded the Synod, ended with “Let 

us ask God, through the intercession of 

His mother, the Virgin Mary, and our 

two fathers Sts. Maron and John 

Maron, the first Patriarch of our 

Maronite Church, to sustain us with His 

heavenly lights, so that we may apply 

what we have accomplished in our 

Synod with all the sobriety, seriousness 

and love that this deserves.” 



Counting Blessings: 

A Personal Account 

Maronite Outreach 

Dedicated to the 

presevation of Christianity 

in Lebanon 

by Antoinette Balta 

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry 

Christmas to all! It is during this 

time of year that families sit 

around the Thanksgiving Table and 

reflect upon the many blessings for 

which they are thankful. Among the 

many blessings the Lord has bestowed 

upon me, I am particularly grateful for 

my sense of belonging to a community 

with a rich heritage and my ability to 

freely celebrate my faith. Every year, 

Christmas midnight Liturgy is packed 

from wall to wall in every Maronite 

parish. Midnight Liturgy has always 

been a favorite time to celebrate among 

the young and old. In fact, it is a 

tradition in many families to attend 

midnight Mass when they may not 

regularly attend church throughout the 

year. While we are freely practicing 

our beliefs without burden, others with 

the same faith are restricted from doing 

so. Some are restricted because public 

worship of Jesus Christ is not allowed, 

such as in Saudi Arabia. Others are 

unable to attend church for midnight 

Mass because they do not have a 

structurally fit building to congregate 

in. This is the case in parts of Lebanon 

that were affected by the war and 

displacement, especially the regions of 

Chouf and Aley. 

As Thanksgiving and Christmas 

quickly approach, I find myself 

reflecting on my own challenges as 

well as the challenges of my larger 

community. It is not uncommon for my 

thoughts to take me back to Lebanon, 

my place of origin. I remember the 

daily struggle that many of the 

Christians continue to endure. Some 

villages, poor and still damaged from 

the war, are forced to send their faithful 

to celebrate their Christmas Mass at a 

neighboring village. Their church may 

be a remnant from the war, in rubble, or 

unsafe to use. It may have four walls 

but may lack insulation or a heating 

system to shield midnight parishioners 

from the cold. Even worse, it may not 

be there anymore because it was 

destroyed during the war, and there are 

no funds to restore it. There are 

countless villages and communities that 

have cried out for help and received no 

answer and I feel a sense of frustration 

and an urgency to respond. 

The spiritual health of our family 

and friends in Lebanon is vital to us as 

a community. It is important for them 

to find serenity in their own parishes 

and to be able to come together as a 

community. This includes having a 

place to pray, a place to marry, a place 

to bury the dead, and a place to hold 

social events and spiritual classes. This 

Christmas, small churches in rural 

villages will be less crowded and more 

comfortable to pray in because they 

will have fewer visitors from 

neighboring villages. Over the last five 

years, donations collected by the 

Maronite Outreach have been sent to 

six different villages in Lebanon. Their 

churches have been rebuilt or 

remodeled. Most are very humble and 

not fully finished-- but they are fit for 

worship and for bringing the 

parishioners together as a family. 

Small donations from Christians across 

the United States coupled with the 

dedication of the local parishioners in 

Lebanon have lead to these deeply 

significant achievements. Once again, 

midnight Mass is being celebrated in 

towns and villages that had been 

ravaged by hatred and destruction. For 

this, our community should be thankful, 

because a blessing upon any member of 

our worldwide family is truly a blessing 

for us all. 

The Maronite Outreach has 

identified many other villages and 

communities in Lebanon that are in 

need of assistance to rebuild their 

churches. As an organization active in 

parishes across the United States, the 

Maronite Outreach has relied on the 

generosity of readers like you to offer 

them the support that they need. A 

donation towards the rebuilding of a 

church goes beyond the stones and 

walls; it reaches the hearts of our 

brothers and sisters in Lebanon who are 

trying to re-establish their parishes 

because they are dedicated to our 

common faith and heritage. Perhaps 

Khalil Gibran illustrated this type of 

community best when he described the 

art of giving in The Prophet as such: 

There are those who give and know 

not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, 

nor give with mindfulness of virtue; 

They give as in yonder valley the 

myrtle breathes its fragrance into 

space. Through the hands of such as 

these God speaks, and from behind 

their eyes He smiles upon the earth. 

To learn more about these projects 

or to contribute to the Maronite 

Outreach, please visit our website at 

www.maroniteoutreach.org or contact 

Dr. Anthony El-Khoueiry at 

213.458.0580. 

Convention 

2006 

Make your plans now to Join NAM 

for the Annual Family Reunion of Bet 

Maroon 

Celebrate the 4 th of July 

“Chicago Style” 

And then get ready for a spectacular 

convention 

July 5-9, 2006 

At the beautiful and elegant 

Palmer House Hilton 

In the center of Downtown Chicago, 

Illinois 

and the closest hotel to Lake 

Michigan !! 

Call (312) 726 -7500 for reservations 

Special NAM Convention rate: $129 

(Sing/Dbl/Trip/Quad) 

Deadline for reservations is June 11, 

2006 

For more information on the Maronite 

Convention of 2006 and al of NAM’s 

programs and events visit 

WWW.NAMNEWS.ORG . 


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 

The Call To 

Discipleship 


originally published in The Maronite 

Voice, Volume 8, issue No. 8, April 

2002. However, due to its continued 

importance, The Maronite Voice 

decided to republish it to shed some 

light on priestly vocations. 

countries of expansion,” said 

Archbishop Bechara. 

“Thedream that for long has been 

on the minds of many of the children of 

the Maronite Church has become a 

reality,” said Archbishop Bechara. 

The demands oftoday’sworld require 

that the potential candidate have above 

average intelligence and the motivation 

and discipline to succeed in the 

academic requirements for priesthood. 

A very positive sign is a desire for 

service to others, a generosity of spirit, 

and a commitment to spreading the 

Gospel. On the other hand, it is to be 

hoped that the call to priestly ministry 

is directed to human beings who love 

life and people, who enjoy the same 

things that normal human beings enjoy. 

When He was on earth, our Lord 

observed that the harvest is great, but 

the laborers are few. The same 

situation exists in today’s church. 

Christ is issuing His call to help Him to 

continue the work of transforming the 

world. Today more that ever, there is 

the need to bring people closer to God 

and to each other. The world cries for 

justice and humaneness. The priesthood 

more than any other calling offers the 

greatest opportunity to make a 

difference in this world. Those 

responding to this call will experience 

a life filled with daily satisfactions and 

the joy of an abiding special 

relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Editor’sNote: The Call to Discipleship 

by Chorbishop Seely Beggiani was 

Maronite Patriarchal 

Synod Declares a 

Flourishing Future 


“Maroniteshave proven once again 

they are capable of organizing, and of 

being organized, for they all love their 

Church, and they support her with all 

their gifts–spiritual and otherwise–so 

that the face of Christ would remain 

shining through her,” said Archbishop 

Youssef Bechara, Secretary General of 

the Maronite Patriarchal Synod in his 

concluding address. 

“A Church that can meet, think, 

criticize herself, make decisions and 

implement them is the Church of hope 

–the Church of the future–and not the 

Church of museums and of bygone 

history which has no future,” he said. 

“Whatwe have achieved together, 

and what we will be achieving in a 

spirit of brotherhood, responsibility and 

love, will remain a shining landmark in 

our history, wherever we may be, 

within the patriarchal domain or in the 

Doreen Abi Raad, an American 

journalist married to a Lebanese, 

writes from Bikfaya, Lebanon. 

Eparchial Condolences 

Joseph Baz, the 

father of Msgr. 

Louis Baz, Pastor 

of Our Lady of the 

Cedars, Akron, 

Ohio, died in Ghazir, 

Lebanon on October 24, 2005. In 

addition to Msgr. Louis, he is survived 

by his wife, Rose, two daughters, Adiba 

and Najat, one son, Francois and many 

grandchildren. 

Those wishing to send condolences 

may write to Msgr. Louis Baz, Our 

Lady of the Cedars Church, 507 S. 

Cleveland-Massillon, Fairlawn, Ohio 

44333-3019. 

Their Excellencies Bishop Robert 

Shaheen and Bishop Gregory Mansour 

join the clergy and faithful of the 

Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon and 

the Eparchy of Saint Maron in 

extending heartfelt sympathy and the 

promise of our prayers to Msgr. Baz. 

May Almighty God grant His servant 

Joseph eternal rest.

November 2005 - Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn

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