February 2012 - Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn

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
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
First Liturgy at Heart of Jesus
Maronite Church
From left: Fr. Elie Mikhael, Chorbishop Michael Thomas
and Father Jorge Perales.
On a warm and balmy evening in Fort Lauderdale, the
doors of the new Heart of Jesus Maronite Church were
opened. Chorbishop Michael G. Thomas welcomed
the standing-room only crowd of new parishioners, family,
and friends as he offered the first Divine Liturgy on Friday,
January 6, 2012, the Feast of Epiphany. With the
newly-blessed Epiphany water, Chorbishop Thomas
sprinkled the church and the congregation and announced
that at a future date, Bishop Gregory Mansour would
appropriately dedicate and consecrate the building.
The Liturgy was concelebrated by Revenrend Elie
Mikhael of Miami and Reverend Jorge Perales of Greenacres
[West Palm Beach] as well as by Monsignor Terrance Hogan,
and Fathers Patrick O'Neill and Lazarus Govin of the
Archdiocese of Miami. Assisting were Deacons John Jarvis,
assigned to the new Mission, Simon Abi-Nader, Ian Taylor,
and Subdeacon Dennis Somerville. The choir of Our Lady of
Lebanon in Miami offered music which helped make it a
beautiful and joyous celebration where the Holy Spirit was
truly present.
The Divine Liturgy was followed by a reception that
packed the church hall. It was made possible by the hard
work of the parishioners and the Pastor of Our Lady of
Lebanon in Miami. They welcomed "Father Michael," their
former Pastor, back to Florida with good food, laughter, and
an overall wonderful evening. The new Heart of Jesus
parishioners and the people of the neighborhood are excited
about the new church and hope that it will have a permanent
place in the history of Fort Lauderdale.
The Three Massabki Brothers
(Continued from page 1)
The so called "Arab Spring" does not have to be marked by
oppression or sectarian violence. In the present, Christians
and Muslims alike have been hard at work in the streets and
in quiet political efforts to bring about change for the good.
In the past, they did this by working together, especially
during the Arab Renaissance of the late 1800s. They can do
it again today.
The good example of people like Emir Abdel Kader, the
Massabki Brothers and other persons whom we can call the
Righteous and the Just is so very important. May the prayer
of the Blessed Massabki Brothers and all the Saints intercede
for us and for all people of goodwill.
+ Bishop Gregory J. Mansour
Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn
The Maronite Voice Volume VIII Issue No. II Page 20 February 2012