Maronite Voice - Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn

TheMaronite VoiceA Publication of the Maronite Eparchies in the USAVolume VI Issue No. VI June 2010Tell It Like It Is!This past year I have been preaching more about thereality of marriage. I gave up talking about hownoble, how holy and how ideal marriage is andbegan talking about how really hard it is and how muchsacrifice it takes! Married couples liked what I had to say.Spouses thanked me for confirming just how hard theirideal, sacramental, holy and noble marriage actually was.My own experience of marriage has borne true: it is notfor the fainthearted!Such honesty was also faced recently by Pope Benedictwhen he spoke about the beautiful gift of priesthood. Thisis the Year of the Priest and we have so much for which tobe thankful for the good priests who serve us with somuch love and devotion. The Pope also has been speakingabout the great harm that has been done by a few priestswho used their position of trust to abuse minors. Hecalled this reality terrifying – a worse evil than the attackson the Church from outside, because this sin was fromwithin the Church.From my own personal observations, it seems that thePope prays with his eyes open, loves the Church with hiseyes open, and leads us close to God with his eyes open.The truth is that the priesthood is still a beautiful reality,even if some priests have failed.These days I am also grateful for the honesty of ourbeloved Patriarch who continues to guide the MaroniteChurch through the trials and tribulations of history. LikePope Benedict he receives positive affirmation as well asbiting criticism, and like the Pope, he accepts his role topreach the truth in season and out (2 Tim 4:2) and lead hisflock by speaking the truth in love (Eph 4:15), even if ithurts. The governance of the Maronite Church worldwideas well as the best interests of Lebanon is always on his mind. We pray for our Church leaders.To “tell it like it is” is a good thing. Saint Paul said that “whatsoever is true, whatsoever is honorable, whatsoever isgood…think about these things” (Phil 4:8). Thus, whether it is marriage, priesthood or challenges facing the Maronite Churchand Lebanon, the Church has nothing to fear and everything to gain when She lives the truth, and whatever is not good canbe made better with our help and God’s grace.+ Gregory Mansour, S.T.L.Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn

Schedule of Bishop Robert ShaheenJune 3-12, 2010Annual Maronite Bishops’ Synod, Bkerke, LebanonJune 19, 2010Wedding, St. Raymond Cathedral, St. Louis, Mo.June 25-27, 2010Ordination of Deacon Tony Massad to Priesthood, Flint, Mich.June 30 -July 4, 2010Southern Federation Convention, St. Louis, Mo.July 5 -8, 2010Eparchial Clergy Conference, Birmingham, Ala.July 7, 2010Evening Interview at EWTN Television, Birmingham, Ala.July 8- 11, 2010Maronite Convention, Birmingham, Ala.July 21 -24, 2010Maronite Youth Conference, Latrobe [Pittsburgh], Penn. Eparchial CondolencesToufic Hayek, the brother of Msgr. Sami Hayek, died inLebanon the end of February 2010. He was preceded in deathby his wife Samia a few months before him. Together theyhad five children.Condolences may be sent to Monsignor Sami, c/o SaintAnthony Church, 17 Granville Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810. Histelephone number in Lebanon is 011-961-09-738-158.Bishop Gregory Mansour, along with the clergy and faithful of the Eparchyof Saint Maron of Brooklyn, extend their heartfelt sympathy and the promise ofour prayers to Msgr. Sami and his sister Jeannette and all of his family. Maythe Lord God grant Toufic eternal rest in His Kingdom and consolation to hisfamily and loved ones.Maronite Youth ConferenceThe National Maronite Youth Workshop will be held at St. Vincent Collegein Latrobe (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania, from Monday, July 19, throughSaturday, July 24, 2010. The cost for the conference this year is $375 perperson (double occupancy); $500 per person (single occupancy-adults only). Noapplications will be accepted after June 28.For more information, please email Fr. Gary George, Director, atabounag1@hotmail.com. Eparchial AssignmentsHis Excellency Bishop Gregory Mansour, Bishop of theEparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, has made the followingEparchial appointment effective on August 1, 2010:Fr. Danny Abi Akar as Parochial Vicar at St. AnthonyMaronite Church in Glen Allen [Richmond], Virginia. A graduateof Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary, Washington, D.C., Fr. Abi Akarwas ordained on May 29, 2010 in his hometown in Lebanon by HisExcellency Bishop Gregory Mansour. The Maronite Voice4611 Sadler RoadGlen Allen, VA 23060Phone: 804/270-7234Fax: 804/273-9914E-Mail: gmsebaali@aol.comhttp://www.stmaron.orghttp://www.usamaronite.orgThe Maronite Voice, (ISSN 1080-9880) the official newsletter of theMaronite Eparchies in the U.S.A.(Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon ofLos Angeles and Eparchy of SaintMaron of Brooklyn), is publishedmonthly.Send all changes of address, news,pictures and personalcorrespondence to The MaroniteVoice at the above captionedaddress. Subscription rates are$20.00 per year. Advertising ratesare available upon request.Publishers• Most Reverend Bishop RobertJoseph Shaheen• Most Reverend Bishop GregoryJohn MansourEditor Msgr. George M. SebaaliConsultor Fr. Abdallah Zaidan,M.L.M.Editing and proofreadingMary ShaiaAnne-Marie CondlinPrinted in Richmond, Virginia.Maronite Convention 2010St. Elias Maronite ChurchBirmingham, AlabamaJuly 7-11, 2010For more informationcontact the NAM officeat (914) 964-3070or visit www.Namnews.orgThe Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 2 June 2010

Boston, MassachusettsFarewell Receptionalso be admired and appreciated for being one of the longest,actively-serving Maronite priests in the entire country! Hispastoral stewardship predates the appointment of ArchbishopZayek, the country’s first Maronite bishop in 1966 and eventhe creation of the [Exarchate] of Saint Maron of Detroit, thefirst Maronite diocese, in 1971. In fact, only [the MostReverend] John G. Chedid, Bishop Emeritus of the Eparchyof Our Lady of Lebanon, now retired in Lebanon, can boasta similar achievement.Parting is undoubtedly bittersweet, but at the very leastwe can ponder Monsignor’s imminent departure with a deepsense of gratitude and tremendous affection. Together wehave struggled; together we have persevered; together wehave built a parish worthy of distinction. Flint, MichiganMother’s Day HafliChorbishop Joseph Lahoud with young members of Our Ladyof the Cedars Church in Jamaica Plain, Mass.by Roseanne SolomonOn the feast of Our Lady of Lebanon, May 2, 2010, theparish community of Our Lady of the Cedars ofLebanon, Jamaica Plain [Boston], Massachusetts,gathered to commemorate more than forty years of tirelessdevotion and dedication given by our beloved pastor andfriend, Chorbishop Joseph F. Lahoud.Though profoundly modest, Monsignor Lahoudgraciously accepted an engraved invitation, announcing aparish-sponsored reception that would appropriatelyrecognize and acknowledge his ministry of service and selfsacrifice.Monsignor’s incredible contributions to the parish,the community and the whole Maronite Church were publiclyapplauded and joyfully appreciated.The day began with a Liturgy of Thanksgiving celebratedby Monsignor Lahoud. Monsignor Assad Awad, PastorEmeritus of Our Lady of Mercy parish in Worcester, Mass.,Fr. Denis Como, S.J. and Fr. James Hawker concelebrated.In a stirring homily, Monsignor Lahoud reflected on his closefriendship with former Pastor, Fr. David Gabriel, andchronicled his robust journey with Our Lady of the Cedars ofLebanon. He remarked about the numerous triumphs andtribulations that he personally endured alongside the parish;he offered light-hearted anecdotes, and also emphasizedelements of tradition and unity that have enabled the nation’soldest Maronite parish to thrive for over one hundredseventeenyears.An openhouse immediately followed in the CardinalCushing Maronite Community Center. Well over 250 peoplereminisced with Monsignor, extending to him their heartfeltcongratulations and best wishes; light refreshments andArabic pastries were enjoyed by all.Monsignor’s retirement is a magnificent milestone, atribute to his parish-family as well as the Maronite Church inthe United States of America. For over four decades, he hashumbly served the faithful and diaspora huddled inMetropolitan Boston. More than this, though, Monsignor canby Michelle TennisThe Maronite Young Adults (MYA) at Our Lady ofLebanon Church in Flint, Michigan, did an exceptionaljob of organizing this year’s Mother’s Day Hafli whichtook place on Saturday, May 8, 2010. Members of the MYAadvertised, sold tickets, decorated the hall, prepared the foodand chose the entertainment for this year’s affair which wasattended by about two hundred parishioners, family andfriends. Those attending the celebration danced to musicprovided by Elis Haddad and his band and enjoyed a dinnerwhich was cooked and served by MYA members. Deadline for next month’s issue of TheMaronite Voice is June 25, 2010. Sendall changes of address, news, pictures andpersonal correspondence to:The Maronite Voice4611 Sadler RoadGlen Allen, Virginia 23060Phone: (804) 270-7234; Fax: (804) 273-9914Email: Gmsebaali@aol.com.Digital pictures must be high resolution in JPEG format.The Maronite Voice is also available online in PDF format atwww.stmaron.org. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 3 June 2010

Somerset, New JerseyThe Best is Yet to ComeMsgr. Maroun Asmar, Subdeacon Joseph Chebli, BishopGregory Mansour and Chorbishop Michael Thomas.by Tony Loubnan, Council PresidentOn April 25, 2010, the Parish of St. Sharbel Church ofSomerset, N.J., held a banquet in honor of their Pastor,Msgr. Maroun Asmar’s retirement. The day beganwith Divine Liturgy presided by His Excellency BishopGregory Mansour, celebrated by Msgr. Maroun Asmar andconcelebrated by Chorbishop Michael Thomas, Msgr. IgnaceSadek, Msgr. Sami Hayek, Rev. Joseph Akiki, and Rev.Joseph Kerrigan. Deacon Anthony Khoury, Deacon VincentFarhat, Deacon Tony Massad, Seminarian George El Hage,and Subdeacon Joseph Chebli also participated.Honored Guests included His Excellency AntoineAzzam, Consul General of Lebanon; Mayor James Cahill ofNew Brunswick; Mayor Brian Wahler of Piscataway;Catherine Nicola, City Council President of NorthBrunswick; and Rev. John Develder, Director of RobertWood Johnson Hospitals’ Pastoral Care Program.Following the Liturgy a banquet was held at the PinesManor of Edison with nearly four hundred attendees.Subdeacon Joseph Chebli served as Master of Ceremonies.Rev. James Root, Rector of Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedralof Brooklyn, N.Y., attended along with a large group of theCathedral parishioners. Following the invocation byChorbishop Michael Thomas a presentation by Fahed andSager Nammour of Our Lady Star of the East Mission inPleasantville, N.J., honoring their Administrator Msgr.Asmar. Deacon Anthony Khoury of Our Lady of LebanonChurch, Easton, Penn., then read a poem celebrating Msgr.Asmar’s lifelong service of serving others.Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler issued a proclamationto Msgr. Asmar from the City of Piscataway. NorthBrunswick Council President Catherine Nicola presented aproclamation on behalf of Mayor Mac Womack and thepeople of North Brunswick. A young group of parishchildren presented Msgr. Asmar with songs of poetry (zajal)expressing their gratitude through singing.Speeches were given by Msgr. Asmar’s grandchildren,Jackie and Joseph Smith, Tony Loubnan, Council President,and Parish Subdeacon Joseph Chebli. His Excellency BishopGregory Mansour spoke about Msgr. Asmar’s human touchin reaching out to serve others. He said that “God chiseledMaroun Asmar from the mountains of Jezzine, Lebanon, andHe continues to chisel him as he enters the new role of aChaplain for hospitals to serve Christians and non-Christiansalike.” He spoke of the Year of the Priest and acknowledgedthe three seminarians present, two of whom, Deacon Massadand Deacon Farhat, to be ordained to the Holy Priesthood inJune.Attendees were surprised with special visitors fromLebanon via video clips played on a large screen. HisExcellency Bishop Roland Abou Jaoude, Patriarchal VicarGeneral, addressed the attendees and expressed his sinceregratitude for the many years of friendship and service Msgr.Asmar has given to the Church and thanked him and theparishioners for their strong support for TeleLumiere. Msgr.sharbel Maroun, Pastor of St. Maron Church in Minneapolis,Minn., also sent a video of congratulations, thanks and bestwishes to Msgr. AsmarJacque Kallasi, President of TeleLumiere, later sent hisvideo message of gratitude to Msgr. Asmar and the Parishstating that “it was their first fundraiser which raised $60Kthat allowed TeleLumiere to begin broadcasting in the U.S.”He said that “Msgr. Maroun and the parishioners of St.Sharbel Church are remembered in our daily Liturgy for theirstrong support of TeleLumiere.”Msgr. Ignace Sadek, who is Msgr. Asmar’s SpiritualAdvisor, said the Benediction and spoke of their long termfriendship.Msgr. Asmar expressed gratitude to the banquetcommittee, all those who attended and said that all of hisaccomplishments were made possible thanks to hisparishioners. He told his parishioners to always rememberthat the best is yet to come! Project RootsThe Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn and theEparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon join together to helppeople reconnect with their Christian spiritual roots inLebanon and the Middle East. An office in Los Angeles,Calif., under the responsibility of Fr. Abdallah Zaidan,M.L.M., will assist those interested to:Obtain their sacramental records from their country oforiginConnect with family members living in their place oforigins and throughout the world where they emigratedObtain Lebanese citizenship, if desiredObtain immigration records, if desiredRemain connected with the Maronite Church here andthroughout the world.No eparchial funds will be used, but the office will acceptfinancial help from those willing to help. For moreinformation contact:Father Abdallah Zaidan, M.L.M.333 South San Vicente BoulevardLos Angeles, CA 90048310-275-6634 The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 4 June 2010

Peoria, IllinoisSurprise CelebrationLombard, IllinoisGraduates Award DinnerMsgr. Alfred Badawi, Pastor, with the MYO high schoolgraduates and their parents.Left to right: Fr. Bechara Awada and Chorbishop FaouziElia.by Laurice JosephThe Parish of St. Sharbel Church in Peoria, Illinois,thcelebrated a surprise 60 birthday party for its pastorChorbishop Faouzi Elia. Even though Chorbishop Eliais so very keenly and perceptively “tuned in” to everyone andtheverything, the surprise 60 birthday party was really asurprise.This gala event took place on Friday evening, May 21,2010, at the Grand Hotel, owned by two of our parishioners.They prepared a banquet befitting all that Chorbishop Eliahas accomplished: Immigration assistance; public seniorhousing – phase I and phase II; numerous humanitarian visitsto increase and assist peace in the Middle East;accompanying Bishop Shaheen for a myriad of duties; as wellas assisting many people in a variety of areas.Father Bechara Awada served as M.C. of this event. Heintroduced various parishioners who, in turn, toastedChorbishop Elia. Parishioners reminisced and reminded usof Father’s favors to all of us. Verbal acclamations,performed in the traditional Lebanese folklore fashion,(I’taba – Meejanah) were sung to honor Chorbishop Elia.The Men’s Club and the Ladies Sodality presentedChorbishop Elia with a handsome set of luggage for futuretrips. Several “gag gifts” were also presented to him.Truly, love makes the world go round, and, allparishioners present hopefully made Chorbishop Elia’s worlda more “loveable” world in which to live. by Lena DaouOn Friday May 21, 2010, Our Lady of Lebanon inLombard [Chicago], Illinois, hosted a special dinnerfor its MYO high school graduates and their parents.After dinner, graduates watched a special presentationprepared for the occasion by Dr. Siham Ibrahim, D.M.,discussing work ethics: transparency, confidentiality, andhonesty.Each graduate received a $500 Grant funded by Mr. Samand Dr. Siham Ibrahim. “What the mind of man/woman canconceive and believe, the mind of man/woman can achieve.”Family NightOn April 18, 2010, Our Lady of Lebanon Church hosted asuccessful Family Night attended by over two hundredparishioners and friends.After dinner, and while the young adults were busyparticipating in a Wii competition, the younger generationhad fun coloring and playing board games. Some olderparishioners also enjoyed playing cards and a backgammontournament.May CrowningOn Sunday, May 16, 2010, Our Lady of Lebanon Churchhosted its annual May Crowning during the morning Liturgy.All the children present were invited to join the FirstCommunicants in crowning the Statue of the Blessed Motherwith roses while the choir sang Marian songs. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 5 June 2010

Eparchy of Saint MaronEparchial NewsHis Excellency Bishop Gregory Mansour has assignedJohn Kurey as the new Stewardship Director for theEparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn effective on May4, 2010. His hiring was endorsed by the Eparchial FinanceCouncil at its April meeting.John is a lawyer, having practiced corporate law for tenyears, John also has a Master’s in Business Administration.In 2002, he decided to leave his law practice in order tobecome the President of the Ukrainian Catholic EducationFoundation. During his seven year tenure as UCEFPresident, he turned the foundation into the largest source offinancial support for the Ukrainian Catholic Church in theworld.The UCEF was understandably disappointed when Johntold them that he wanted to expand his activity to help otherparts of the Catholic Church. John is a Maronite Catholic:his father is of Lebanese ancestry and his godmother is aregular parishioner at St. Theresa Maronite Church inBrockton, Massachusetts. John visited Lebanon for the firsttime last year, and he sought us out because he wanted tohelp the Maronite Church.John brings to our Eparchy tremendous motivation, skillsand experience. He will be working on cultivatingrelationships with individual donors, applying to foundationsfor grants, sending mailings to supporters, and occasionallyplanning special events. He will also systematize our fundraisingmethods and resources so that our Eparchy will beorganized in this area for years to come.He has the potential to help move our Eparchy’sfinancial situation to a different plane, and he is fullycommitted to doing this. Every Latin Diocese and now someEparchies have full time or part time Stewardship Offices.Our Eparchy has finally come of age. John will be workingwith the clergy and with our faithful for the good of ourEparchy.John will work part time for us and will spend about oneweek each month in the Chancery Office in Brooklyn, andsome time traveling. He can be reached by email atjohnkurey@yahoo.com or on his mobile telephone at 312-545-8820.Pilgrimage SitesBishop Gregory has designated the following parishes asofficial Pilgrimage Sites to commemorate the “Year of SaintMaron,” proclaimed by Patriarch Sfeir in his Lenten letter of2010:• Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York• Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary Chapel in Washington,D.C.• Saint Anthony Church in Lawrence, Massachusetts• Saint Louis Gonzaga Church in Utica, New York• Saint Anthony Church in Glen Allen, Virginia• Saint Jude Church in Orlando, Floridagroups from their parishes and missions to make a pilgrimageto one of these sites, in celebration of the Jubilee of the 1600 thyear of the death of our Father, Saint Maron. Anyone makingone of these pilgrimages, from June 29, 2010 – March 2,2011, will receive an Indulgence according to the usualconditions.Parish HaflisIn the past few years, the Chancery has noticed an increase inparishes having haflis during Lent and has received requestsfor weddings during Lent. As priests, it is up to us to teachthe faithful that Lent is a Penitential Season. Haflis and otherparties should not be celebrated at all during Lent. TheLenten Season in 2011 is from March 7 – April 23(inclusive). The only exceptions to haflis next Lent would beon March 19 and March 25. Weddings are not to becelebrated during Lent at all without prior dispensation. Schedule of Bishop Gregory MansourMay 26 - June 16, 2010Annual Maronite Bishops’ Synod, Bkerke, Lebanon,and Pope’s Visit to CyprusJune 20, 2010Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral, Brooklyn, N.Y.June 21, 2010New York Catholic Bishops’ Meeting, New York,N.Y.June 25, 2010Ordination of Deacon Vincent Farhat to Priesthood,Lansing, Mich.June 26, 2010Ordination of Deacon Tony Massad to Priesthood,Flint, Mich.July 4, 2010Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral, Brooklyn, N.Y.July 5 - 8, 2010Annual Clergy Conference, Birmingham, Ala.July 7 -11, 2010Maronite Convention, Birmingham, Ala.July 18, 2010Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral, Brooklyn, N.Y.July 22, 2010Annual Youth Conference, Latrobe (Pittsburgh),Penn. Pastors are strongly encouraged to promote and/or organizeThe Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 6 June 2010

Effective Ways You Can Help yourEparchyPlease consider the following ways in which you can helpthe Maronite Church!Planned Giving: Consider Your LegacyThis is a creative way to support the Church. Planned givingcan involve contributing through your will, insurance policy,or retirement assets. Also, it can be a way to make a donationand to provide yourself with a steady source of income; acharitable reminder trust is one example.Suggested wording for a bequest to the Eparchy ofSaint Maron of Brooklyn:“I give and bequeath to the Eparchy of Saint Maron ofBrooklyn, located in Brooklyn, New York, _______% of theresidue of my estate [or: the sum of $________].”Suggested wording for a bequest to the Eparchy of OurLady of Lebanon:“I give and bequeath to the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon,located in St. Louis, Missouri, _______% of the residue ofmy estate [or: the sum of $________].”Tax-Smart Giving of Appreciated Stock orother AssetsThe gift of an asset such as common stock or mutual fundshares is a smart way to make a contribution and receivemaximum tax benefits based on the value of the asset. Giftsof other appreciated assets, such as land, antiques, andhomes, can also be utilized as potential gifts with valuable taxbenefits. Gifts of these assets should be considered on a caseby-casebasis.For more information on any or all of these options, pleasecontact Eparchy of Saint Maron Stewardship Director JohnF. Kurey, Esq., at 718-237-9913 or by e-mail atjohnkurey@yahoo.com; or Eparchy of Our Lady of LebanonVice-Chancellor, Mrs. Mary Denny, at 314-231-1021 or byemail at mdenny@usamaronite.org. North Jackson, Ohioth45 AssumptionPilgrimageAugust 13, 14, and 15, 2010,thmark the 45 AnnualPilgrimage to the NationalShrine of Our Lady of Lebanon inNorth Jackson, Ohio. The years havepassed quickly and many visitors andpilgrims have come to Mary’s homefor many reasons. All have left with God’s blessings andgraces,” says Monsignor Anthony S. Spinosa, Rector.Friday, August 13Pilgrimage ScheduleThe Very Reverend James A. Root, Rector of Our Lady ofLebanon Cathedral in Brooklyn, N.Y., will conduct aspiritual conference at 4:00 , followed by a 7:00 p.m. DivineLiturgy in the Roman Rite celebrated by Bishop Roger W.Gries OSB, Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland and a CandlelightProcessionSaturday, August 1410 a.m. Maronite Divine Liturgy12 p.m. Tridentine Mass celebrated by Fr. DennisBouchard, FSSP, of Queen of the Holy Rosary,Vienna, Ohio2 p.m. Melkite Divine Liturgy by St. Elias Church,Cleveland, Ohio4 p.m. Conference titled “Mary, Icon of the Church’sPrayer” by Sister Mary Brendon Zajac SND,Notre Dame Education Center7 p.m. Archbishop Basil Schott, D.D., O.F.M., for theByzantine Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh willcelebrate a Byzantine Rite Liturgy followed bya Paraclesis to the Blessed Virgin Mary led byMonsignor George Appleyard.Sunday, August 15Feast of the Assumption10 a.m. Maronite Divine Liturgy with Anointing of theSick celebrated by Bishops Robert J. Shaheen,D.D., Bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady ofLebanon, and Bishop Gregory Mansour S.T.L.,Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron ofBrooklyn11 a.m. Spiritual Conference by Fr. Gary George C.S.s.R2 p.m. Maronite Divine Liturgy4 p.m. Maronite Vespers chanted by the AntonineSisters7 p.m. Maronite Pontifical Liturgy celebrated byBishop Robert Shaheen and Bishop GregoryMansour. Candlelight procession will follow.The National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon will open allfour days at 9 a.m. The Cedars Dining Hall will be open threedays from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. with many varieties of ethnicfoods and desserts.The National Shrine is located at 2759 North Lipkey Roadin North Jackson, Ohio. For further information on theShrine call (330)-538-3351 or visit the websitewww.ourladyoflebanonshrine.org. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 7 June 2010

Glen Allen, VirginiaLebanese Food Festival DrawsOver 25,000 Guestsby Chester Wadefood, the entertainment and a more familyfriendlyenvironment” is how one attendeeth"Thedescribed her reasons for attending the 26 annualLebanese Food Festival held by St. Anthony MaroniteCatholic Church in Glen Allen, Va.A lot of people apparently agreed with her as the 2010edition of the festival broke all records. Blessed with threedays of near-perfect weather, this year’s festival attracted anestimated 25,000 people from the Richmond area andbeyond. By the time the three-day festival ended at 8 p.m.Sunday, May 16, virtually every item prepared for the festivalhad been sold.“The fact that the festival has become so popular is atestament to the many, many hours of hard work put in by somany members of our parish as well as friends from outsidethe parish,” said Monsignor George M. Sebaali, churchpastor. “People know that when they come to St. Anthony’sfestival, they will enjoy homemade food, great entertainmentand a place where we want our guests to share in the love andjoy of our church and our culture.”Among the most popular items were the shawirma/falafelsandwiches where nearly 8000 sandwiches were soldaveraging one every fourteen seconds; or the meat, cheese,spinach, and spinach and cheese pies. Parishioners prepared22,000 pieces.While final numbers are still being compiled, ingredientsincluded more than 6,000 pounds of beef, chicken and lamb;4,000 pounds of flour; 1,800 pounds of rice; 1,400 pounds ofcabbage; 1800 pounds of spinach; and 18,000 pita breadloaves.Other popular items included stuffed grape leaves,stuffed squash, cabbage rolls, roasted lamb and chicken,shrimp and beef shish kabob, homus bi tahini, tabouli,bubbaghanooge, and loubiyeh served over rice pilaf. Dessertsincluded zalabia, katayif and a large selection of baklava.Lebanese beer and wine also were popular.Some attendees were already waiting when the festivalopened each morning at 10 a.m. By noon each day, crowdsspread out across St. Anthony’s 15-acre complex. Mostenjoyed making their selections ala carte, then sitting at thepavilion or in other outdoor seating, or spreading out blanketsunder the trees. Others opted for sit-down dinners served inthe social hall.About 100 young parishioners – including some preschoolersparticipating in their first festival – performedtraditional Lebanese folk dances. Live Lebanese music wasperformed all three days by the Mazloom Family band.Hundreds of other parishioners staffed the kitchen, foodand drink booths and dining room, and handled otherlogistics.Preparations for the festival began in late January withorganizing meetings. Shortly after that, cooking began twodays a week. Volunteers from the 300-family parish alsoworked on other preparations, such as lining up tents,lighting, seating and other items as well as publicity. Duringthe week before the festival, preparations occurred almostaround the clock. Dancers rehearsed weekly for three monthsto get ready for the festival. The event is held traditionally theweekend after Mother’s Day, so the dates for next year’sfestival are already set – Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May13-15, 2011. Easton, PennsylvaniaFood Driveby Marta Boulos GabrielDuring the month of April, 2010, the children in theMaronite Program at Our Lady of Lebanon Church,Easton, Penn., held a food drive to collect items for theless fortunate in the area. Several hundred pounds of foodwere collected and donated to a local social service agencynear the church. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 8 June 2010

New Castle, PennsylvaniaMay CrowningLeft to right: Amanda Beers, Emme George, Sadie Demko,Breanna Beshero, Ashleigh Rubis, May Queen LeahPiccione, Lindsay Beshero, Father Kevin Beaton, MaryOmer, Cecilia Hanna, and Taylor Tanner.On Sunday, May 9, 2010, St. John the Baptist MaroniteChurch, New Castle, Pennsylvania, held its annualMay Crowning during the Liturgy. Under the directionof Ms. Kathy George, May Queen Leah Piccione, her Courtand this year’s First Communicants, crowned the BlessedMother. A reception followed the Liturgy to honor the MayQueen and her Court. Uniontown, PennsylvaniaMother of the Year AwardRonda serves as the Director of Religious Education forSt. George. She and her husband, Joseph Risha, are theparents of four daughters, Sandy Jo, a 2010 graduate of PennState, Brandy, a student at Cornell University, Danielle, ajunior at Uniontown Area High School, and Karleigh, a thirdgrade student at Menallen Elementary School in Uniontown.Ronda is also a teacher in the Uniontown Area SchoolDistrict. In her presentation to the honoree, Devona Unice,Altar & Rosary Society President, stated that Ronda has aspecial bond with everybody's children even though she hasfour daughters of her own. She always shows compassion,courage, dignity and sincerity in all that she does (and shedoes a lot!). Ronda was presented with a wooden wall rosaryby the president and a corsage by her daughter Danielle, whosang a special song dedicated to her mother as well as a hymnto the Blessed Mother.The luncheon was held at a local restaurant and wascoordinated by Bobbi Fetsko and Valerie Cortis. Maronite Servants’ NewsletterSister Marla Marie and postulants attended a fundraiserhosted by Fr. Rudy Wakim in Aliquippa, Penn.by Joanne JohnBobbi Fetsko, Co-Chairman, RondaRisha, the honoree and Devona Unice,PresidentAt its annual Mother's Day Luncheon, St. George Altar& Rosary Society of Uniontown, Penn., named RondaRisha its choice for the Mother of the Year award.The summer issue of “Radiate His Light News” of theMaronite Servants of Christ the Light is available onlinevia the website and blog maroniteservants.org orradiatehislight.blogspot.com). The Maronite Servants shareabout their past and upcoming events which include theirparticipation at the NAM Convention in Birmingham. Theywill be part of a panel presentation on “How to FosterReligious Vocations in Your Family.” Also, take a fewminutes to view their updated Photo Gallery on their website.Several photos are presented from the mission travels ofSister Marla Marie and the postulants, Tresa Van Heusen andTherese Touma. Food For ThoughtBe submissive to good, unbending to evil,gentle in generosity,untiring in love, just in all things.St. ColumbanThe Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 9 June 2010

The Fathers of the Church and the Problem of a Suffering Godby Fr. David A. FisherOne of the greatest hurdles thatconfronted the Fathers of theChurch was how to reconcile theidea of a suffering God with the Greco-Roman philosophical tradition ofdivinity, where change and sufferingare foreign and impossible to theSupreme Being. With the possibleexception of the early Syriac Fathers,whose roots were more Semitic andbiblical than Hellenistic, this probleminvolved a great re-working of the1classical heritage. Platonic tradition,Aristotelians, Stoicism, andEpicureanism were all in agreementthat God could not have anger, love,hatred, compassion, envy, or mercy, hedid not change, and he did not suffer.The context for the Eastern Fathersis on the one hand the defense of theirfaith and on the other hand theexpanding of the classical traditionthrough their own theologicalreflections. St. Ignatius of Antioch forexample in his letter to the Ephesiansreminds them that Jesus is God andMan, eternal God and born of Mary,and therefore is without suffering andhas suffered.Another Apostolic Father, St.Irenaeus of Lyons, affirms the CatholicFaith against the Gnosticism of his day:God is therefore one, as I have shown,the Father and Jesus Christ is one, OurLord, who traveled through the wholeorder of salvation and gathered allthings in himself. Man, too, one ofGod’s creatures belongs to this “allthings”; thus he has also gathered allhuman beings in himself, and to do sothe Invisible One became capable ofsuffering, and the Logos became man.2He gathered all things in himself.1Cf. Brock, Sebastian, The SyriacFathers on Prayer and the Spiritual Life,Cistercian Publications Inc., Kalamazoo,Michigan, 1987. pp. x-xi. “Although SyriacChristianity, like Latin Christianity, sooncame under the very strong influence ofGreek-speaking Christianity, its earliestliterature is usually expressed in a mannermuch more characteristic of the Semitic –and biblical – world out of which it grew.”2St. Irenaeus, Adversus Haereses,[SC 211, 312-15; FC 8/3, 200 – 203]Melito of Sardis from the second half ofthe second century is the first to use theexpression “deicide”, in which he wasattempting to address the Christologicalquestion did God suffer in Christ or justthe humanity of Jesus. He writes:The non-suffering one suffers and doesnot avenge himself, the immortal onedies and utters not a word, the heavenlyone is buried and endured it. What canthis new mystery be? The creature isastonished. Jesus’ resurrectionresolves this astonishment, for now themystery is revealed: the invisible onebecomes visible, the inconceivable onebecomes conceivable, theimmeasurable one becomesmeasurable, the non-suffering onesuffers, the immortal one dies, and the3heavenly one is buried.In the late third century Lactantius inhis refutation of the Stoics even goes sofar as to say God has passions, althoughthey are particular to his divinity andnot like human passions. He wants tomake it clear that the removedpassionless idea of God held by thepagans was incorrect, and that theChristian God was not so unaffected.Moving further ahead in thePatristic tradition to GregoryThaumaturgus we find in his dialogueagainst a certain pagan namedTheopompus his use of the biblicaltradition to attack the pagan Hellenisticview of divinity. Gregory writes:He passed through death without fearand thus demonstrated his immortality;he became the death of death, for deathcould not hold him prisoner. Withoutthis battle, we would not really knowthat God is not defeated by suffering.Thus, God eliminated suffering andbrought death low. Like a competitor,he won his crown by trial. Hissuffering was not subject tohumiliation, but instead made manifesthis godliness. 43Melito of Sardis, On Soul andBody, fragment 13, [SC 123, 238f.]4Figura, Michael, “The Sufferingof God in Patristic Theology”, inCommunio: International Catholic Review,vol. 30, Fall 2003. p. 375.The pagan philosopher Celsus with hisvehement attacks on Christianity leadOrigen to refute him in eight booksentitled Contra Celsus. In his responseto Celsus, Origen “holds fast to theChristian paradox: Although Godremains unchanging in his essence,nevertheless, by reason of hisprovidence and plan of salvation, he5descends to human affairs.”Origen believed that while thedivine Logos was unchanging thehuman soul of Jesus was subject to thechanges of his human body. This was aresult of God’s infinite love forhumanity – he became man. In hisHomily on Ezekiel, Origen addressesthe question of the Father’s suffering:What sort of suffering was it that theRedeemer underwent for our sake? Thesuffering of love: and the Fatherhimself, the Lord of all, who islongsuffering and rich in mercy (Psalm102 [103]:8) and compassion – does henot suffer as well in some respect? Ordo you not know that when he dealtwith human affairs he underwenthuman suffering? For the Lord yourGod has taken your ways upon himself,just as a man carries his son (Dt. 1:31).God thus takes our ways upon himself,just as the Son of God bears oursuffering. The Father himself is notwithout suffering. When one begs him,he has mercy and takes pity, he suffersin a sense from love, he places himselfin a position that is impossible for himaccording to the greatness of hisnature, and undergoes human sufferingfor our sake. 6Lastly, St. Athanasius justifies thisparadox of the suffering God in relationto Scripture. In 1Corinthians 15:23 itstates: “for that which passes awaymust be clothed with permanence andthat which is mortal with immortality.”The paradox is intimately bound toGod’s saving action and thetransformation of his human children.The mystery of the non-suffering Godwho suffers is bound up in theIncarnation, Cross, and Resurrection ofJesus. 5Ibid. p. 377.6Origen, Homily on Ezekiel, 6.6:SC 352, 228 – 231.The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 10 June 2010

Beatification of Brother NehmeFrom Lehfed to Kfifane, Following the Steps of BrotherEstephanOn March 27, 2010, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, approved recognition of a miracle obtained throughthe intercession of the Servant of God Stephen Nehme (born Joseph), Lebanese professed religious of the Orderof Maronites (1889-1938).Who is Brother Estephan Nehme?Born in March 1889 as the youngest child to EstephanNehme and Christina Badwi, both from Lehfed,Byblos, Lebanon, he was given the name Yousef(Joseph) and had three brothers and two sisters. He receivedhis elementary studies in Arabic and Syriac at an institutionbelonging to the Maronite Order in nearby village SaqiRashmayya. He was marked by being very quiet and calm;often retiring to prayers and adoration.In 1905, at the age of sixteen, Yousef headed to theMonastery of Kfifane [Batroun, Lebanon] for the MaroniteOrder, to begin his monastic life. A week later, he receivedthe beginner’s robe and took the name, Estephan, after hisfather and in honor to his hometown’s patron saint. In Kfifanehe was tutored by Abbott Ignatious Dagher al- Tannouri.After his ordination on August 23, 1907, he wastransferred to numerous monasteries, where he took chargeof their fields, including Our Lady of Mayfouq, St. Anthoniosof Hoob in Tannourin, and Mar Challita in Qattara.In the summer of 1938, his health quickly deteriorated,and led to his passing on August 30. He was buried at theMonastery of Kfifane. Twelve years later, his body wasdiscovered uncorrupt. Ever since, people started visiting hisburial site to pray and ask for his intercession.His PersonalityBrother Estephan was distinguished for his simple andevangelical life. He spent his life serving the Lord and hismonastic brothers. He loved everyone without anydiscrimination, and was very instrumental in saving morethan twelve children from famine during the First WorldWar.CuresMany cures in various parts of Lebanon and filed with theMonastery’s records were credited to the intercession ofBrother Estephan. Sister Claire Abou Habib, Mr. SamirHalim Chewayri, Sister Marina Nehme (his niece), and otherstestified to their cures after visiting Brother Estephan’s tomb.Doctors reports confirm the cure and the disappearance of theonce terminal and cancerous illnesses. Since theannouncement of his veneration, Brother Estephan’s tombwitnesses continuous visits. Faithful from all over Lebanoncome to pray and ask for his intercession to the Lord. TheBeatification will take place in Lebanon on June 27, 2010.Beatification ScheduleMonday, June 21, 20107 p.m. Evening Prayer and Liturgy in the house ofBrother Estephan in LehfedTuesday, June 22, 20107 p.m. Evening Prayer and Liturgy in the house ofBrother Estephan followed by a discussion onChristian growth by His Excellency BishopBechara Rahi, Bishop of the Eparchy of ByblosWednesday -Thursday, June 23 - 24, 20107p.m. Evening Prayer and Liturgy in the house ofBrother Estephan, followed by prayers beforethe Blessed SacramentFriday, June 25, 20107 p.m. Evening Prayer and Liturgy in the house ofBrother Estephan followed by a discussion onBrother EstephanSaturday, June 26, 2010 ( The night of Beatification )7 p.m. Evening Prayer in the house of Brother Estephan9 p.m. Recital by Notre Dame University (NDU) Choir,directed by Fr. Khalil Rahmé10 p.m. Procession starts from the Shrine of St. Charbel,Annaya towards Brother Estephan’s house12:00 am The procession will resume from Lehfed toKfifane, where the body of Brother Estephan laySunday, June 27, 2010 (The day of Beatification)10 a.m. Liturgy celebrated in Kfifane, by His BeatitudePatriarch Nassrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir and HisEminence Cardinal Angelo Amato, the Presidentof the Beatification Committee, during which theBeatification decree will be announcedWednesday, June 30, 20107 p.m. Thanksgiving Liturgy at St. Stephan Church,Lehfed, followed by a procession to BrotherEstephan’s houseThursday, July 1, 20107 p.m. Evening prayer at the old monastery of St. Saba inLehfed, that used to be frequented by BrotherEstephan for prayers, followed by a discussion onthe role of prayers in Brother Estephan’s life as wellas our lives(Continues on page 20)The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 11 June 2010

Eparchy of Saint Maron of BrooklynPolicy on Sexual Abuse of MinorsBy Priests or DeaconsThe Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn publishes its Policy on Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons.The same policy is also available online at http://www.stmaron.org/policy_sexual_abuse.html.The Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon has its own policy and it is also available online athttp://www.usamaronite.org/statement.html.A s Christians and Maronites we consider the welfare andprotection of our children a sacred responsibility. We herebypromulgate the following Eparchial norms as animplementation of Essential norms for Diocesan/EparchialPolicies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minorsby Priests or Deacons approved by the Congregation forBishops on December 8, 2002.DefinitionSexual Abuse of a minor includes sexual molestation orsexual exploitation of a minor and other behavior by whichan adult uses a minor as an object of sexual gratification. Thenorm to be considered in assessing an allegation of sexualabuse of a minor is whether conduct or interaction with aminor qualifies as an external, objectively grave violation ofthe sixth commandment.Response• The healing of victims, their families and their communityfrom the effects of sexual abuse by church leaders beginswhen the allegations of such abuse are received. Whenvictims decide to disclose the abuse, it is important that theresponse they receive is compassionate and nonjudgmental.• Anyone receiving an allegation of abuse will respond in apastoral, supportive manner, leaving investigative concernsto those who serve in that role.• An allegation will be received without initial judgment asto the truth of the complaint. No intimation of blame willbe made by the initial recipient of information.• Individuals making allegations will be supported positivelyin their decision to disclose.• The Eparchial Bishop will designate a competent person tocoordinate assistance for the immediate pastoral care ofpersons who claim to have been sexually abused when theywere minors by priests or deacons. This "assistancecoordinator"will assess and respond to the immediate andlong term needs of the alleged victim and family, thealleged offender, parish communities and others that areaffected by the disclosure of sex abuse.• The assistance-coordinator will serve as a consultant to theeparchial bishop and the review board regarding thetreatment needs of clients.Review BoardThe review board is a predominantly lay board composed ofa variety of professionals duly appointed to assist the bishopin a strictly confidential consultative capacity. It will have nofinal, decision-making authority, which authority willcontinue to reside exclusively with the bishop.Board Functions1. To advise the eparchial bishop in his assessment ofallegations of sexual abuse of minors and in hisdetermination of suitability for ministry;2. To review eparchial policies for dealing with sexual abuseof minors;3. To offer advice on all aspects of sexual abuse cases,whether retrospectively or prospectively.MembershipThe review board, established by the eparchial bishop, will becomposed of five members of outstanding integrity and goodjudgment in full communion with the Church. The majorityof the board will be lay persons who are not in the employ ofthe eparchy. These will include:a person with particular expertise in the treatment of sexualabuse of minors;a parent;a parish priest;an attorney; andan individual with investigative experience.The bishop may deem it desirable that the Promoter of Justiceparticipate in the meetings of the review board.AppointmentMembers appointed by the eparchial bishop will serve a fiveyear term. All board members will adhere to the rules of strictconfidentiality with regard to all deliberations andinformation received.ReportingIn all cases of alleged or suspected or known child abusecommitted by a cleric, the Eparchy will comply with allapplicable civil laws in respect to reporting the allegationsThe Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 12 June 2010

and will cooperate with civil authorities in the investigation.Any cleric, who knows from the external forum that a minorhas been sexually abused is required to report that knowledgeor suspicion to the Eparchial Bishop and to the civilauthorities in accordance with the norms of canon law.Investigation• When an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by a priestor deacon is received, a preliminary investigation inharmony with canon law will be initiated and conductedpromptly and objectively (Code of Canons of the EasternChurches [CCEO], c. 1468). The purpose of the eparchialinvestigation is to ensure that the bishop has a complete,thorough, and accurate report of the alleged incident. Theinvestigation will be conducted by an investigatorappointed by the review board. The investigator will reporthis findings in writing to the Eparchial bishop and to thereview board.• The accused will immediately be called by the EparchialBishop and made aware of the allegation against him andthe identity of the accuser. The accused will remain in hisposition until the initial investigation is completed, whichis to be done as expeditiously as possible. All appropriatesteps shall be taken to protect the reputation of the accusedand the accuser during the investigation. The accused willbe encouraged to retain the assistance of civil andcanonical counsel and will be promptly notified of theresults of the investigation.• When there is sufficient evidence that sexual abuse of aminor has occurred, the eparchial bishop will notify theCongregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. The EparchialBishop shall then apply the precautionary measuresmentioned in CCEO, c. 1473 -- that is, remove the allegedoffender from the sacred ministry or from anyecclesiastical office or function. The bishop may impose orprohibit residence in a given place or territory, and prohibitthe public participation in the Most Holy Eucharistpending the outcome of the process.• In every case involving canonical penalties, the processesprovided for in canon law will be observed, and thevarious provisions of canon law will be considered. (1)Unless the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith,having been notified, calls the case to itself because ofspecial circumstances, the Eparchial Bishop will follow thedirections of the Congregation on how to proceed. (2) Ifthe case would otherwise be barred by prescription,because sexual abuse of a minor is a grave offense, theEparchial Bishop shall apply to the Congregation for theDoctrine of the Faith for a dispensation from theprescription, while indicating appropriate pastoral reasons.• For the sake of due process, the accused is encouraged toretain the assistance of civil and canonical counsel. Whennecessary, the eparchy will supply canonical counsel to thecleric.• The Eparchy will conduct a judicial process of the caseaccording to the appropriate canons and practice of theChurch.• The alleged offender may be requested to seek, and may beurged voluntarily to comply with, an appropriate medicaland psychological evaluation at a facility mutuallyacceptable to the Eparchy and the accused.• In every instance, the Eparchy will advise and support aperson's right to make a report to public authorities.Ministry/Service• No cleric removed from an eparchial position forallegations of sexual abuse of a minor will return toministry or service before their case is assessed and fitnessis determined by the Eparchial Bishop in consultation withthe review board. The safety of children is the paramountconsideration governing the formation ofrecommendations regarding the future ministry of oneaccused of abuse.• An allegation of sexual abuse of a minor made against acleric will be deemed established if, with due respect forthe provisions of canon law:• The accused individual admits to conduct defined by thispolicy as sexual abuse; or• A civil court of criminal law finds the accused guilty of acrime that consists of conduct defined by this policy assexual abuse, or the accused pleads guilty or no contest toa crime that consists of conduct defined by this policy assexual abuse; or• The appropriate church tribunal finds the accused guilty ofthe crime.• When an act of sexual abuse by a priest or deacon isadmitted or is established after an appropriate process inaccord with canon law, the offending priest or deacon willbe removed from ecclesiastical ministry, not excludingdismissal from the clerical state, if the case so warrants.• If the penalty of dismissal from the clerical state has notbeen applied (e.g., for reasons of advanced age orinfirmity), the offender ought to lead a life of prayer andpenance. He will not be permitted to celebrate the DivineLiturgy publicly or to administer the mysteries. He will beinstructed not to wear clerical garb, or present himselfpublicly as a priest.• At all times, the Eparchial Bishop has the executive powerof clerical governance, through an administrative act, toremove an offending cleric from office, to remove orrestrict his faculties, and to limit his exercise of priestlyministry. For the sake of the common good and observingthe provisions of canon law, the Eparchial Bishop shallexercise this power of governance to ensure that any priestwho has committed an act of sexual abuse of a minor asdescribed above shall not continue in the active ministry.The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 13 June 2010

• The priest or deacon may at any time request adispensation from the obligations of the clerical state. Inexceptional cases, the Eparchial Bishop may request of theHoly Father the dismissal of the priest or deacon from theclerical state ex officio, even without the consent of thepriest or deacon.• Care will always be taken to protect the rights of all partiesinvolved, particularly those of the person claiming to havebeen sexually abused and the person against whom thecharge has been made. When an accusation has proved tobe unfounded, every step possible will be taken by thebishop to restore the good name of the priest or deaconfalsely accused.• No priest or deacon who has committed an act of sexualabuse of a minor will be transferred for ministerialassignment to another eparchy/diocese or religiousprovince.• Before a priest or deacon is transferred for residence toanother eparchy/diocese or religious province, theEparchial Bishop shall forward, in a confidential manner,to the local eparch/bishop or religious ordinary of theproposed place of residence any and all informationconcerning any act of sexual abuse of a minor and anyother information indicating that he has been or may be adanger to children or young people.• The Eparchial Bishop will not consider receiving a priestor deacon into the eparchy from another jurisdictionwithout previously obtaining the necessary informationregarding the moral and civil record of the priest or deaconin question.PreventionThe Eparchy of Saint Maron will publish a code of ethics andintegrity in ministry to be adhered to by all the clergy andpersons in positions of trust in the Eparchy.All eparchial programs designed to certify clerics, eparchialemployees, and volunteers who serve children on a regularbasis will include segments that address child sexual abuse.The training curriculum will include information concerning:signs and symptoms, dynamics of child abuse, impact ofchild abuse, intervention strategies, reporting requirementsand community resources.ScreeningThe Eparchy will study the psychological screening currentlyundertaken to assess all potential candidates for thepriesthood and diaconate. The tests given will be reviewedfrom the perspective of identifying, to the extent possible,potential problems in the area of sexuality. Problemcandidates will be disqualified.A protocol or procedure, including a psychologicalevaluation, is to be developed to screen clerical personnelfrom outside the Eparchy before an assignment is given orconfirmed by the Eparchial Bishop to minister within theEparchy of Saint Maron.SupplementPolicy on Sexual Abuse of Minors bySeminarians, Religious, EparchialEmployees or Regular VolunteersThe Norms listed above regarding sexual abuse of minors bypriests or deacons, with the exception of those that dealspecifically with priests or deacons according to canon law,are also to be applied to seminarians, religious, eparchialemployees and regular volunteers of the Eparchy. In addition,there are these following norms.ReportingIn all cases of alleged or suspected or known child abusecommitted by a seminarian, religious, eparchial employee orvolunteer of the Eparchy, the Eparchy will comply with allapplicable civil laws in respect to reporting the allegationsand will cooperate with civil authorities in the investigation.InvestigationBesides any actions taken by the civil authorities, theEparchy will conduct its own investigation of the allegedabuse.Based on the results of the civil disposition, the eparchy'sown investigation, and the advice of the Review Board, theEparchial Bishop will determine the continued workingrelationship of the accused with the Eparchy.During the investigation, the accused will be relieved fromhis or her responsibilities, and removed from any contactwith minors.ScreeningThe background of all eparchial and parish personnel whohave regular contact with minors will be evaluated.Administrators must take due precautions to assure that onlypersons who are psychologically and temperamentally suitedare chosen to work with children.No applicant with a history of a felony or misdemeanor sexoffense conviction will be considered for placement or hire.Applicants for employment or to volunteer in a position withchildren contact in parishes and institutions of the eparchymust provide the hiring agent personal information adequateto assess their suitability for contact with minors. They mustsign a waiver to conduct a criminal background check. Theymust supply names of three references, at least one from themost recent employer and none from close friends orrelatives. And they must complete the screening interviewprocess.Hiring agents and/or volunteer coordinators must speak withall references provided by applicants for employment andexamine and verify the employment history. The hiring agentThe Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 14 June 2010

is to conduct a criminal records check of any person seekingemployment or to volunteer at their facility. Any applicantwho has not lived continuously for five years in the state ofthe eparchial parish or institution must also provide an FBIidentification record or a waiver allowing the hiring agent toobtain it.Pastors will require that any person or group who is hiredthrough a third party contract, and who will haveresponsibility for the care, custody, or control of a child, mustprovide proof of a criminal background check.Each parish or institution of the eparchy must establishprocedures for gathering the information and completing thereference checks mentioned above. All information gatheredwill be retained in a confidential file at the location ofemployment for as long as legally required.Code of Ethics and IntegrityGeneral Norms7• Church personnel will exhibit the highest Christian ethicalstandards and personal integrity.• Church personnel will conduct themselves in a manner thatis consistent with the discipline and teaching of theCatholic Church.• Church personnel will not physically, sexually oremotionally abuse a minor or an adult.• Church personnel will not engage in physical,psychological, written or verbal harassment of employees,volunteers, or parishioners and will not tolerate suchharassment by other Church personnel.• Church personnel shall provide a professional workenvironment that is free from physical, psychological,written, or verbal intimidation or harassment.• Church personnel will report any suspected abuse to theproper civil authorities.• Church personnel will accept their personal responsibilityto protect minors and adults from all forms of abuse.• Houses used for residences of priests and religious areexclusively for the use of the religious. With the exceptionof occasional visits from immediate family members,minors are not permitted to be overnight guests in theresidence of a priest or a religious.Eparchial Review BoardMembers of the Eparchial Review Board• Dr. Martha Rashed (Psychologist, Washington, D.C.)• Fr. Bassam Saade, St. Jude Maronite Church, Orlando,Florida• Attorney Richard Hibey (Attorney), Our Lady of LebanonMaronite Church, Washington, D.C.• Anthony J. Shaia, MD, St. Anthony's Maronite Church,Glen Allen (Richmond), Virginia• Lieutenant Michael Zohab, St. Anthony's MaroniteChurch, Glen Allen (Richmond), Virginia.Victim Assistance CoordinatorRoseanne C. SolomonTelephone: (781) 828-5183Mrs. Solomon can also be reached at:c/o Our Lady of the Cedars of Lebanon Maronite Church61 Rockwood StreetJamaica Plain (Boston), Massachusetts 02130Telephone: (617) 522-0225 Fax: (617) 522-0194. • Church personnel shall not engage in sexual intimacieswith the persons they counsel. This includes consensualcontact, forced physical contact and sexually explicitconversations not related to counseling issues.• Church personnel assume the full burden for setting andmaintaining clear, appropriate boundaries in all counselingand counseling-related relationships.• No counseling sessions should be conducted in privateliving quarters.• Church personnel will share concerns about suspicious orinappropriate behavior with their pastor, the Vicar-Generalof the Eparchy, or the Eparchial Bishop.Church personnel includes priests, religious,7permanent and transitional deacons, seminarians, all paid andvolunteer personnel who are employed by or work ineparchial parishes or institutions.The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 15 June 2010

The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 16 June 2010

Workshops UpdateThe definition of stewardship is “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.” Themoment we are Baptized and Confirmed into the Maronite Church, we become responsible for its teachings. We becomeresponsible for living our lives as Maronites. We challenge everyone to walk away from Birmingham, Alabama thisyear as true stewards of the Maronite Church.Wednesday Evening “EWTN Live” Father Mitch PacwaWe have a rare opportunity to be a part of Father MitchPacwa’s LIVE studio audience on his internationallyacclaimed show as he interviews Bishops GregoryMansour and Robert Shaheen.Make your advanced reservation on your registration formsince seating is limited!!Thursday MorningstLebanese Language in the 21 Century : AntoineFaddoul, M.S., AIAAThe interactive presentation will give the audience anoverview about the Lebanese language, its history,teaching methods and the proposed system for writing it.The presentation will chronicle the linguistic and structuraldevelopment of modern Lebanese from its ancientCanaanite/Aramaic roots to modern days. The audiencewill be briefed on the methods developed by the LebaneseLanguage Institute to provide resources for learning andteaching Lebanese. The presentation will discuss the roleof IT in spreading of the Lebanese language anddeveloping the modern Lebanese Latin Letters system[LLL] to make Lebanese a globally accessible language.The interactive component will include implementation ofthe LLL system in daily life for communication, learningand teaching. Samples exercises as well as a demonstrationof an automated verb conjugation program will also bepresented.Thursday Afternoon Maronite Music: Fr.Geoffrey Abdallah and The Inter-Eparchial Music CommissionThe songs that fill our hearts during Divine Liturgy and thepoignancy of their lyrics are incredible testaments to therichness of our culture. Come sit with us as we fill yoursenses with the beauty that is the Maronite Church. Youwill also be able to experience the first ever compilation ofthe Inter-Eparchial Music Commission. Come let thepoetry that is our music fill your senses and soothe yoursoul.Discovering Our “Faith of the Mountain”: DeaconLouis Peters, Jeanette Wyrick and Cathy GeorgeAs parents, we are the caretakers of our children’seducation; we are entrusted to carry the Church’s teachingsinto our family life. The “Faith of the Mountain” catechismseries, which our churches use for our Maronite ChristianFormation classes, has been updated. Please join us toreview the materials that guide your children’s religiouseducation through the school year. The series is designedfor all school-aged children from pre-school through highschool. Included in the series are the following topics: theTrinity, the Holy Mysteries, our Church family, thecommandments, Maronite liturgy, First Reconciliation andEucharist, the Bible, the Creed, Church history, and theworld’s religions. As parents, grandparents andgodparents, we are responsible for the education of thenext generation of Maronites.Friday MorningA Maronite Legacy: How to Foster ReligiousVocations in Your Family: Monsignor sharbel Maroun,Sister Marla Marie, and the Antonine SistersOur Bishops cry out to us, “Send Out, O Lord, Laborersfor Your Harvest!” Many young people hear this call, butare met with resistance. As stewards of our MaroniteFaith, we need to understand how to be open andunderstanding to our children’s desire. The challenge isours, young and old, women and men, to respond to God’svocation, and thereby find our way home to the Kingdomby being divinized and divinizing the world as disciples ofthe Lord. Each person must offer the gifts, talents, skills,knowledge and experience of his/her life in the service ofthe human family, and for the glory of God, whom we callFather, Son and Spirit.Friday AfternoonIdentity of the Maronite Church: Father ArmandoElKhouryFor those of us who grew up in the Maronite Church, wethink nothing of the fact that we spend the majority of ourtime with fellow Maronites. They were our classmatesgrowing up, our family members on joint vacations, ourMYO buddies, fellow NAM conventioneers, etc. OurMaronite family becomes a seamless part of our lives; avery blurry line separates our spiritual home from ourphysical address. In his article, “Crisis in the Life of theMaronite Church,” Father Armando ElKhoury tells us that“the Maronite Church is going through an identity crisis.In fact, this is a worldwide phenomenon and not specificto the United States. Is the Maronite Church an ethnicChurch? Is it a Lebanese Church or an Arabic Church?Does the Maronite Church serve only those who comefrom Lebanon or the Middle East and by extension thoseThe Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 17 June 2010

who are married into a Lebanese or Middle Easternfamily? Or is it the Church of Christ, in which there is nodistinction between Lebanese and non-Lebanese? TheMaronite Church is a worldwide Church whose doors andcommunities must be open to anyone who comes to ourchurches and falls in love with God according to theworldview of the Maronite Church.”Commission on Lebanon and Project Roots:Chorbishop Seely Beggiani and Father Abdallah ZaidanDuring the serious crisis in Lebanon in the 1980 aCommission for Lebanon was established by the Eparchyto rally support for the Maronites in Lebanon. Thepurposes of the Commission were: to provide informationand education regarding the status and future of theMaronite Church and its people in Lebanon to Maronitesand interested persons in the United States; to workactively on all levels of the American government so as toensure the continuation of American ties with Lebanon andthe perpetuation of Lebanon's pluralistic character; and toprovide financial and material support to the needy inLebanon. The Commission sought to keep Lebanon, itssovereignty and freedom on the American foreign policyagenda giving testimony to Congress and maintainingcontacts with the White House and the States Department.Through pamphlets and articles, it has endeavored to keeppeople informed about the threats facing the Maronites andother religious communities in Lebanon. During the timeof the fighting in Lebanon, it was able to raise over$200,000 to help the needy. The work of the now twoCommissions for Lebanon of the two Eparchies continues,because complete sovereignty and freedom for Lebanonhave not yet been achieved.Saturday MorningUnderstanding the Similarities and DifferencesBetween the Maronite and Latin Churches: ChorbishopJohn FerrisEvery day, we are called to fulfill the duties of ourSacraments, of our Mysteries. It has been forty years,since the first Maronite Bishop came to the United States.It has been decades since we have been told that kneelingis unacceptable in the Maronite Church. Many of us sendour children to local Latin Diocesan schools and think thisprecludes them from attending Maronite ChristianFormation classes and being excused from receiving theSacrament of Communion at their Maronite Church. Thesesubjects really touch upon the theme of being “stewards.”From the moment we receive the Sacraments of Baptismand Chrismation, an indelible mark has been stamped onour souls. If we are to participate in the Qurbono, we mustunderstand its importance to us as Maronites. We cannotexcuse it from our presence merely out of convenience.Come and understand the differences that affect us all onsuch a personal level.Saturday AfternoonthThe 1600 Anniversary of Saint Maron and OurPursuit of Another Canonization: The MassabkiBrothers” Father John Paul Kimes & Louis RagyOur faith has brought forward some very remarkableindividuals who have brought miracles to those whosefaith does not waiver. This year we celebrate the 1600thAnniversary of Saint Maron. Since the founding of theChurch, we have had the honor of having saints liveamong us, including Saint Sharbel Makhlouf, SaintNimatullah El-Hardini, and Saint Rafqa Choboq El-Rayes.NAM has taken up the staff to bring the Blessed MassabkiBrothers to the level they deserve. Come learn why WEhave the responsibility of guaranteeing their canonization.Bridging the U.S. and Lebanon Through HigherEducation: A Presentation by Notre Dame University-Louaize: Assad Eid & George AbdelnourThis workshop introduces the important role that MaroniteCatholic universities play in Lebanon today by focusing onthe mission of Notre Dame University-Louaize. Foundedby the Maronite Order of the Holy Virgin Mary in 1987,NDU is the sole Lebanese Maronite institution to offer anAmerican-style curriculum and the only one whoselanguage of instruction is English. In keeping with theUniversity’s mission of universal education as the key toa rewarding and productive life, the workshop willhighlight the University’s contribution to social progressand stability in Lebanon, as well as ongoing efforts toforge lasting links with the Lebanese community in NorthAmerica. The workshop will seek feedback from attendeesas to best ways to foster links between the Maronitecommunity and Lebanon, and will highlight opportunitiesfor involvement with NDU. These include academicprograms such as study abroad, NDU’s summer LebaneseArabic and Cultural Immersion program, graduate study invarious disciplines, as well as professional and academicpartnership opportunities for Lebanese expatriates. Theworkshop will also introduce the work of NDU’s LebaneseResearch and Emigration Center (LERC) in preserving thehistory of Lebanese immigration worldwide. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 18 June 2010

The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 19 June 2010

The Maronite VoiceSt. Anthony’s Maronite Catholic Church4611 Sadler RoadGlen Allen, Virginia 23060-6108NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE PAIDPERMIT NO. 1370GLEN ALLEN, VIRGINIAScranton, PennsylvaniaMother/Daughter Tea(From left): Ann Abbott Bryant, Prefect; Joanne AzzeVancosky, Co-Chair; Kathy Karam Cawley, Chair; andFather Francis Marini, Pastor.by Fr. Francis MariniMay 16, 2010 marked the fourth annualMother/Daughter Tea, held in the Church Hall ofSaint Ann Maronite Church, Scranton, Penn.,following the morning Divine Liturgy. The brainchild of AnnAbbott Bryant, Prefect of Our Lady Queen of Peace Sodality,the annual gathering affords the opportunity for greatgrandmothers,grandmothers, mothers, daughters and friendsto gather. Attendance has grown every year as the annualevent offers the opportunity for women of the parish to sharethe tradition of strong families...a core Maronite principle. Williamsville, New YorkLebanese FestivalatSt. John Maron ChurchImmerse yourself in the best of Lebanese culture when St.John Maron Church in Williamsville, N.Y., celebrates itsth12 Annual Western New York Lebanese FestivalSaturday, August 7, from 12 noon to 11p.m. and Sunday,August 8, 2010, from 12 noon to 5p.m. The festival featurescontinuous live Lebanese music, dancing, authentic Lebanesecuisine and a gift shop. Raffles, children's games, and theannual backgammon tournament all add to the festivities ofa weekend that promises to be fun-filled and exciting. Thechurch will be open to give visitors an opportunity toexperience our Maronite Religious Display. The DivineLiturgy will be celebrated during the festival at 5 p.m. onSaturday and at 11 a.m. on Sunday morning. The festival isheld on the Church’s grounds. For further information visitthe church website at www.stjohnmaron.org. Beatification ScheduleContinued from page 11Friday, July 2, 20107 p.m. Evening prayer at the old Monastery of Our Ladyin Lehfed where Brother Estephan was baptized. Adiscussion on the gift and responsibility ofBaptisim will follow.Saturday, July 3, 20107 p.m. Evening Prayer and Liturgy in the paternal houseof Brother Estephan in Lehfed. A discussion on thegift and responsibility of Family will follow. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VI Page 20 June 2010