Maronite Voice - Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn

TheMaronite VoiceA Publication of the Maronite Eparchies in the USAVolume VI Issue No. VIII September 2010The Holy Cross is the Ultimate Victory of LoveEvery Suffering, Even Death Itself, by the Power of God, Can BringSomething Good Into Our LivesDear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:The Season of the Holy Cross is one of my favorites, forwe are called to reflect on the ultimate victory of Loveand how this victory puts everything back intoperspective. The Cross is not a symbol of resignation ordefeat, Jesus is not a helpless victim. On the contrary, heendured man’s twin enemies of sin and death, and by a divinelove and mercy so strong, and unfortunately so lacking in theworld, he overcame victoriously all that oppresses us.The Season of the Cross, when Love triumphs over sin anddeath, comes at a time when we return to school, reapplyourselves after the summer months, and reflect on the Lord’scall to examine ourselves carefully, for “we know not thetime or the hour of our Master’s return” (Matt 25:13). In thisSeason we focus on the Cross and see that our HeavenlyFather would never have allowed suffering, sin or death todistort his creation unless he could richly bestow upon us,even in the midst of our trials, that love and mercy whichmakes “all things work together for the good of those wholove him” (Rom 8:28).Thus, every suffering, even death itself, by the power of God,can bring something good into our lives, if only we allow it.This triumph of love over hate and good over evil, is what wecelebrate in the Season of the Holy Cross. By our Lord’svictory, we too affirm that there is no power on earth capableof separating us from the love of God. As Saint Paul said, “IfGod is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31).The Exaltation of the Holy Cross by Fr. Abdo Badwi, University In this Season, dear brothers and sisters, as we begin anewof Holy Spirit, Kaslik, Lebanon (USEK), Department of Sacred Art. our many responsibilities, let us once again, and withconfidence, rely completely on the love and mercy of the One“who so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might haveeternal life” (John 3:16).A Blessed Season of the Holy Cross to you.Sincerely yours in Christ,+Gregory John MansourEparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn

Schedule of Bishop Robert ShaheenSeptember 7- 8, 2010Presbyteral Council Meeting, St. Louis, Mo.September 9, 2010Clergy-Vatican displaySeptember 15, 2010Clergy Day, Detroit, Mich.September 17, 2010Wedding at St. Raymond Cathedral, St. Louis, Mo.September 18-19, 2010Saint Raymond’s Cathedral. Annual FestivalOctober 3, 2010Annual Liturgy for Daughters of Saint Paul, St. Louis, Mo.October 8, 2010History Committee Meeting, St. Louis, Mo.October 9 - 25, 2010Middle East Synod, Rome, Italy Eparchial CondolencesLulu (Abdo) Montesi, (the aunt of His ExcellencyBishop Robert Shaheen) of Danbury, Connecticut,loving wife, mother and grandmother entered intoeternal life on Friday morning, July, 23, 2010.Daughter of the late Famia (Gabriel) and Louis AbdoRishdan, Lulu was born in Olean, N.Y., on April 27, 1928. A resident ofDanbury since 1930, Lulu graduated from Danbury High School in 1946 and fromDanbury Hospital School of Nursing, Class of 1949.Lulu was employed at Danbury Hospital for many years and retired in 1989as the Assistant Director of Nursing at Glen Hill Convalescent Home.Loving wife of fifty-three years to her devoted husband, Maurice Montesi,Lulu is also survived by her children, Mark Montesi, Sharon Montesi and herhusband, Robert, Thomas Montesi and his wife, Jennifer and Mary Beth Hallisey.She is also survived by her six grandchildren, Gabriel and Emily, Daniel andJillian, Ryan and Ben.Lulu is also survived by her sisters, Edna Michael and Mary Abdo; herbrothers, Albert and his wife, Rose and John and his wife, Dolores. She was alsopredeceased by three of her sisters, Aileen Shaheen, Esther Define and MarciaTaylor. In addition, Lulu is survived by her many loving nieces, nephews andfriends.A Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, July 27, at St. PeterChurch, Danbury, conn. Condolences can be sent to His Excellency Bishop RobertthShaheen at The Pastoral Center, 1021 South 10 Street, St. Louis, MO 63104.Bishop Gregory Mansour, along with the clergy and faithful of the Eparchyof Our Lady of Lebanon and of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, extendtheir heartfelt sympathy and the promise of our prayers to Bishop Robert Shaheenand his family. May the Lord God grant Lulu eternal rest in His Kingdom andconsolation to her family and loved ones. 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 2011St. Sharbel ChurchNewtown Square, PennsylvaniaJuly 6- 10, 2011For more informationcontact the NAM officeat (914) 964-3070or visit www.Namnews.orgThe Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VIII Page 2 September 2010

Flint, MichiganOrdination to PriesthoodEucharistic procession during the ordination of Fr. TonyMassad (Msgr. David George and Fr. Vincent Farhat leadingFr. Tony and Msgr. Spinosa incensing).through the “Son” to our son.As we pledged our continued love, prayers and supportto Fr. Tony, his ministry as a brand new priest began amongus. Our Pastor, Fr. Hanna Tayar, worked very hard to preparefor this Ordination; however, he was attending his Father’sfuneral [in Lebanon], so he could not be with us for thecelebration. Fr. Tony stayed with us that first week andcelebrated daily Liturgy, his first Sacrament of the Sick, firstincense service, first funeral liturgy and first burial in thecemetery.The Maronite Church in Michigan also congratulated Fr.Vincent Farhat who was ordained June 25, 2010 in St. MaryCathedral, Lansing, Mich. After the celebration of his firstLiturgy of Thanksgiving on Saturday morning, Fr. Vincentjoined us in Flint for the Ordination of Fr. Tony. Fr. Tonyhas been assigned to St. Maron Church in Cleveland, Ohio asParochial Vicar to Fr. Peter Karam. Lansing, MichiganOrdination to Priesthoodby Mary Ann SheehanOur Lady of Lebanon Church, Flint, Michigan joyfullyand enthusiastically celebrated as Deacon TonyMassad (a member of the Parish) was raised to theorder of priesthood by the imposition of the hand of BishopRobert Shaheen, Bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady ofLebanon.In a full Church complimented by two video screens inthe hall for the overflow, the beautiful ceremonies beganaccompanied by our own choir. We were also graced bysome of the choir of Our Lady of Lebanon parish inWashington, D.C. Their voices kept us focused on the praiseand thanksgiving we offered to God the Father, Son and HolySpirit for bringing Fr. Tony to this point in his life – and forallowing us to share in his journey.His first liturgy of Thanksgiving followed Sundaymorning. We were also blessed by the large number of priestsof all ranks and several orders who welcomed Fr. Tony intothe brotherhood of priesthood. Many deacons, subdeaconsand seminarians joined us as well as the Antoine Sisters andSister Marie Marla Lucas and two postulants of the Order. Asmentioned, both of our Bishops were with us as well asChorbishop Michael Thomas, Vicar General of the Eparchyof Saint Maron and Msgr. Alfred Badawi who assistedBishop Shaheen. Msgr. Ronald Beshara, Msgr. DavidGeorge, Fr. Anthony Salim and Msgr. Anthony Spinosa, thefirst four pastors of Our Lady of Lebanon in Flint were alsoin attendance.At the end of the Liturgy, Mrs. Colette Rizk read a poemshe had written in Fr. Tony’s honor – tracing parts of hisgrowing up years to this day. She read first in English andthen in Arabic.The day began gray and overcast. As we left the church,the weather changed and the sun began to shine brightly aswe walked through Sharbel Center to the beautiful gleamingwhite tent where a meal was served to over 500 guests. Thesun shone as if a special blessing was given to all of usBishop Gregory Mansour ordains Deacon Vincent Farhat andelevates him to the Order of Priesthood.The ordination of Deacon Vincent Farhat took place onJune 25, 2010, at St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing,Michigan. The Most Reverend Gregory Mansour,Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, imposedhands on Fr. Vincent. Also in attendance were the MostReverend Bishop Robert Shaheen, Bishop of the Eparchy ofOur Lady of Lebanon; Most Reverend James Murray, BishopEmeritus of Kalamazoo, Michigan; and Most Reverend CarlMengling, Bishop Emeritus of Lansing, Michigan along withmany clergy from the Maronite, Latin, Melkite and UkranianCatholic Church. Fr. Vincent was surrounded by hisbrothers, sisters, many relatives and friends from all over theUnited States and Canada. The ordination was followed by adinner reception. Fr. Vincent celebrated his first liturgy ofthanksgiving on Saturday June 26, 2010, in loving memoryof his parents, Leo and Virginia Farhat and his sister AnnFarhat. He has been assigned to St. Anthony MaroniteChurch in Lawrence, Mass., as Parochial Vicar to Msgr. PeterFahed Azar. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VIII Page 6 September 2010

Latrobe, PennsylvaniaMaronite Youth WorkshopThe MYO team: from right - Mr. and Mrs. Albert andBarbara Dohar, Fr. Gary George C.Ss.R., Deacon WilliamGeorge and Mrs. Rosa Calabria.by Fr. Gary George C.Ss.R.National Youth DirectorMy Dear Family and Friends of MYO,The theme for this year’s workshop was “Heroes”. Ashort video of comic book heroes created with the helpof digital imagery was shared as an introduction to thisyear’s theme. As the week progressed, short videos of reallife heroes were also shared. This led to a week of searchingfor the true heroes in our lives. The youth were introduced tosaints and modern day heroes who often go unnoticed butwho have done or are doing remarkable things out of love forJesus. I discovered from the youth that some of the greatestheroes in their lives were in their own families. This was veryinspirational to hear and share during group sessions. Eachgroup constructed their own hero including specialcharacteristics and traits befitting a hero. I was humbled whena group of young adults publicly stood up and said Fr. Garywas one of their heroes. I elaborated upon a famous line fromthe movie Spiderman “with great power comes greatresponsibility”. I pray each parent and leader will not take thisgift for granted.I feel this year, like so many of the past years, we wereable to accomplish something that was so unique in the worldin which we live. We were able to have a group of over 280youth gather in prayer each day around the Eucharist andagain each night to celebrate a healing service through thelaying on of hands, anointing with the oil of gladness, and themystery of penance. One of the highlights of the workshopwas spending a few minutes each evening in prayer before theBlessed Sacrament. With Bishop Robert Shaheen, BishopGregory Mansour, numerous clergy and religious supportingour youth, we became a voice for so many families and youthin need of healing. I want to encourage the small group ofyouth that attended the vocation evening session, and I offermy prayers and support for the future. Please do not hesitateto contact any of our clergy with your questions and desiresto want to serve as a priest and religious.Listening to the reports from around the country and onFacebook, this retreat truly was an experience filled withgrace. Hopefully the inspiration will continue into the monthsahead. I want to thank a dedicated group of advisors: Albert,Barbara, Marie-Elizabeth and Johnny Dohar along with RosaCalabria, Deacon William George and Samar Boulos whohelped prepare much of the materials as I was in a time oftransition. I also want to thank the parents and chaperonesthat willingly and freely gave of their time and energy to helpus keep everything together.For those who have visited Saint Vincent’s know that theBenedictines have the true spirit of hospitality and care forothers. The food was incredible! The facilities were state ofthe art. The campus set in the Laurel Mountains ofPennsylvania was serene and beautiful. The staff was mostaccommodating and helpful. Apart from getting drenched inthe rain not once but twice we were still able to be there withsmiling faces and joyful hearts. I feel a deep desire to thankeach and every person who attended and those who wanted tobut could not because of illness or other difficulties. I feel weare growing as an organization which was evident with afollow-up gathering of youth at our National Shrine during thefeast of the Assumption of Our Lady. I cannot do this ministryalone, so I am reaching out to all parents and youth who havenever attended and would love to participate. Please contactme at abounag1@hotmail.com and mention that you want tobe part of the MYO program. I will be sending out a letter tothe parishes in the next few weeks to place in your bulletin. Ithank our Bishops and clergy who have responded sopowerfully and ask that you consider joining us again nextyear at St. Vincent’s for the MYO workshop during the weekof June 27 through July 2, 2011. Please keep us in prayer andhope to speak to you on Facebook in the days ahead. You arethe Brilliant champions for Jesus. The MYO group who attended the retreat with Bishop RobertShaheen, Bishop Gregory Mansour and clergy.The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VIII Page 7 September 2010

Birmingham, AlabamaMarian Assumption Festivalby Jeanette WyrickAs our Centennial Year continues, St. Elias MaroniteChurch in Birmingham, Alabama, celebrated the Feastof the Assumption in a very special way. A 2-dayMarian Festival was the inaugural event for the new grotto ofOur Lady of Lebanon on the grounds of the church.Spiritual activities were planned for Saturday, August 14and Sunday, August 15 including talks about our BlessedMother, videos, prayer services, rosaries prayed together,candlelight processions, and a blessing with the icon of OurLady of Ilige.We invited our neighbor, St. George Greek MelkiteChurch, to participate as well as all Catholics from theBirmingham area. Talks were given by our pastor,Chorbishop Richard Saad, Melkite Archimandrite FrankMilienewicz of St. George and Reverend Mitch Pacwa fromEWTN during the two day celebration. Representatives fromtwo religious communities of Sisters, the Knights ofColumbus, the ladies of Magnificat, and Teams of Our Ladycame from the surrounding area to participate in this spiritualfestival with us.As always, participants did not leave hungry as mealswere provided at noon on Saturday and for dinner on Sundayevening. Religious articles were available for sale.We felt blessed to honor Our Lady of Lebanon is such aspecial way and we look forward to many more inspirationalevents at our grotto. The grotto is also the site for an 80-nichecolumbarium for St. Elias parishioners. Flint, MichiganVacation Bible CampSchedule of Bishop Gregory MansourSeptember 5, 2010Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral, Brooklyn, N.Y.September 11 - 12, 2010Ground Breaking for New Church, Jacksonville, Fla.September 13, 2010USCCB Pro-Life Meeting, Washington, D.C.September 14, 2010thCardinal Justin Rigali’s 25 Anniversary as a Bishop,Philadelphia, Penn.September 18 -19, 2010Dedication of St. Rafka Church and Fr. Bart Leon’sth25 Anniversary of Ordination, Greenville, S.C.September 23 -24, 2010New York State Bishops Conference, N.Y., N.Y.September 26, 2010Retirement Party for Msgr. Sharbel Lischaa,Philadelphia. Penn.September 27 -28, 2010Catholic University Board of Trustees Meeting,Washington, D.C.September 29, 2010New York Oriental Orthodox-Catholic Dialogue,New York, N.Y.September 30, 2010Finance Council Meeting, Brooklyn, N.Y.October 1 - 3, 2010Deacons/Subdeacons and Wives Retreat,Washington, D.C.October 3, 2010Installation of New Syro Malankara Bishop,Rockville Center, N.Y. (3:00 P.M.)October 6, 2010Co-host for Muslim, Jews and Christian PrayerService for Peace in the Middle East, Brooklyn, N.Y.October 7, 2010Presbyteral Council Meeting, Brooklyn, N.Y.October 9 -25, 2010Bishops Synod on the Middle East, Rome, Italy. Fr. Hanna Tayar, Pastor, blesses the children with the HolyEucharist.by Michelle TennisThirty children from Our Lady of Lebanon Church, Flint,Michigan, signed up for this year’s Summer BibleSchool which ran August 2 - 6, 2010. The focus for theweek was on animals from the Bible. The children began eachday with the Divine Liturgy followed by a lot of excitingprojects. They made posters, finger painted, and made lionmasks and swords. They also toured the church and learnedsome new songs which they shared with parishioners duringFriday’s Liturgy. They ended the week with a pizza partywhich included breaking a piñata they had made which wasfilled with candy and toys. Food for ThoughtThe Lord does us the honor of placing his confidence in usand calling us to the ministry, showing us his mercy. Thiscall is not reserved for a few; it is for everyone, each in hisown state of life.Pope John Paul IIThe Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VIII Page 8 September 2010

Saint Louis, MissouriOrder of St. SharbelFall RetreatAFall Retreat, sponsored by St.Raymond Cathedral in St. Louis,Missouri, will be held for themembers of the Order of Saint Sharbel;their spouses and guests, who may beinterested in the Order, on October 29 -31. 2010 at the Drury Plaza Hotel inSaint Louis.The weekend promises to be filledwith spiritual richness and joyfulfellowship. All of the retreat activitieswill be held at the Pastoral CenterComplex of the Eparchy of Our Lady ofLebanon.The weekend package which includes all meals andactivities is $200 per person. Please make check payable toSt. Raymond’s Cathedral.thThe Drury Plaza Hotel is located at 4 and Market Streetand is five minutes from St. Raymond’s Cathedral. The roomrate is $99 per room. To make reservations please call theHotel at (314) 231-3003 and mention the Order of SaintSharbel.Please Fax your arrival/departure information to theEparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon at (314) 231-1418 or byemail to: Mdenny@usamaronite.org.NameDate ArrivingAirlineFlight No.Arrival TimeDate LeavingAirlineFlight No.Departure TimeEmailCell PhoneMaronite Book of Hymns according to the Antiochian SyriacChurch, published in 2008 by the Patriarchal LiturgicalCommission, contains Maronite Syriac tunes for the MaroniteQurbono; psalms as well as various Maronite and Marianhymns.This 569 page hard cover book is available from SaintMaron Publications for $25 plus $5 shipping.Maronite Syriac Hymns CD of the Maronite Qurbono,prepared by the Patriarchal Liturgical Commission in 2008with Fathers Nassim Hagge and Youhana Geha, soloists, ona double CD is available from Saint Maron Publications for$25 plus $5 shipping.The Maronite Icons according to the Maronite LiturgicalYear and the Feasts of the Saints was prepared by the IconsWorkshop at the Maronite Eparchy of Cyprus. It consists of60 icons (41 for Sundays and Holy Days and 19 for MaroniteSaints). This collection of icons (14" x 20") along with abooklet explaining each icon is available from Saint MaronPublications for $100 plus $10 shipping.Mary in the Maronite Church, by Archbishop BoutrosGemayel and translated by Fr. Georges El-Khalli, is nowavailable from Saint Maron Publications for $15 plus $4shipping.The Prayer of the Faithful, three volumes of morning andevening prayer of the faithful in English, is available fromSaint Maron Publications.Volume One (Sundays of the Church; Season ofAnnouncements; Birth of the Lord and Epiphany) is availablefor $40 plus $5 shipping.Volume Two (Seasons of Great Lent and Resurrection)is available for $40 plus $5 shipping.Volume Three (Seasons of Pentecost and Holy Cross) isavailable for $30 plus $5 shipping.The Maronite Pontifical by His Excellency Bishop StephenHector Doueihi, Bishop Emeritus of the Eparchy of SaintMaron of Brooklyn.The Maronite Pontifical contains all rites delegated to thebishop in the liturgical celebrations. It describes the actionswhich the pontiff, as a celebrant, performs and the prayers hesays during these celebrations. It includes mainly the rites ofordination to the priesthood and the solemn consecrationsreserved to the bishop in the Christian worship.The Maronite Pontifical is available for $20 plus $5shipping.To order your copy, please write to:Saint Maron Publications,4611 Sadler Road,Glen Allen, VA 23060.For further information, call (804) 762-4301. For a completelisting of publications carried by Saint Maron Publications,please visit www.stmaron.org. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VIII Page 9 September 2010

Discovering Our Faith of the Mountainby Cathy GeorgeTheFaith of the Mountain series was written specificallyfor our Maronite children in the United States. In 1980Chorbishop Dominc Ashkar, then Pastor of SaintMaron Church in Youngstown, Ohio, wrote a series ofmimeographed booklets for the children of his parish inhonor of the Year of the Family. They were distributed to hisparish and to youth in diocesan youth workshops. In 1982,they were rewritten under the leadership of His ExcellencyArchbishop Francis Zayek by Bruce L. Brown and CarolBoasi Brown in coordination with Chorbishop SeeleyBeggiani. These books became the official religiouseducation texts for Maronites in the U.S. In 2000, theseries was revised again by Chorbishop Ashkar and JanieGustafson, Ph.D, for grades one through eight. Ageappropriatestories and situations were added and religiousvocabulary words were defined. The series was approved bythe U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office of theCatechism.By 2010, the series needed revision. Two Maronitecatechists and a non-Maronite catechist were asked to reviewthe series and give suggestions with input from MonsignorGeorge Sebaali and Bishop Gregory Mansour. The revisedseries offers more options for teachers and parents. It allowsteachers to choose activities that best fit the situation of theparish as well as the needs of the students. Some of thebooks were rearranged according to Church Year. Some ofthe grades were rewritten to be more age-appropriate. TheMaronite liturgical vocabulary and prayers were checked sothat they would be correct and consistent throughout all thegrade levels.The title of this series, Faith of the Mountain, refers tothe faith of our ancestors, unshakable as the Lebanesemountains. Chorbishop Ashkar called the series this becausethe mountains are mentioned in Scripture and liturgy, thedwelling place of God, where he communicates with hispeople. There are eight books in this series. Each grade levelhas twenty-four lessons arranged in six units. Each grade hasan overall theme. Each grade level has an introduction toliturgy. Each also has what it means to be a MaroniteCatholic today and encourages pride in Maronite heritage.There are three components of the revised series: anactivity book, a student manual, and a teacher’s manual. Theactivity book, new this year, has at least nine activities foreach chapter that are age-appropriate and thought-provoking.The teacher has the option to use as many as he or shewishes. The teacher also has the option to send activitieshome to be done with the parents. Some of the activities inthe older levels require research online with parental help.For each lesson in the student manual there is a story oractivity to stimulate curiosity or interest in a topic. Theexplanation of the chapter topic also includes religiousvocabulary words and concepts, related Scripture passages,and related parts of the liturgy. For each chapter there is afocus on a particular saint or holy person who has applied thechapter’s topic to his or her everyday life.In the Teachers’ Manual, there is an overview of thewhole series. A detailed description of what is covered inevery grade level is at the beginning of the book. A scopeand sequence chart of grades one through eight is alsoincluded. A list of objectives, references to the Catechism ofthe Catholic Church, Scripture references, church vocabulary,parts of liturgy, and saints or role models are included in thechart. Topics include the Trinity, the seasons of the MaroniteChurch, Jesus as the Good Shepherd, Christian Morality, theMysteries, The Church’s Liturgy, the Bible, our MaroniteFaith, Church History and organization, and saints.A planning sheet for a 25-week schedule is also includedin the Teacher’s Manual. It gives the teacher plenty ofoptions. There is also a minute by minute break down for a45-minute lesson plan for each chapter.At the beginning of each chapter there is an introductorypage that explains lesson objectives. It also gives a summaryof chapter concepts. There is a link to an aspect of faith thatthe students should explore, related Scripture passages, afocus on a particular part of liturgy, church vocabulary and astudy of a saint or holy person. There is also a list ofmaterials needed to teach the lesson.In this revision, an effort was made to ensure that theseries was more user-friendly to both the catechist andstudent. For our students: we wanted to make sure that thetext was understandable and on their level, and that therewere enough activities to make the religious educationsession educational and enjoyable. For our catechists: ourteachers wanted to teach their lessons in order of the churchliturgical seasons and on the students’ educational level andwe tried to accommodate that. First grade curriculum wassimplified. Sacramental preparation was increased in secondgrade and further grades.The Faith of the Mountain series also has a high schoolseries. It was written by Carole A. Buleza and published in1996. There are four books of twenty loose leaf lessons. Thebooks are topical and can be used in any order. There arefour consistent themes that are present in the core sections:liturgy, theology, spirituality, and morality. Book one dealswith culture, liturgy, and history. Book two deals withreligion, theology and non-Christian religions. Book threedeals with marriage, spirituality, and art and literature. Bookfour deals with science and technology, morality and church.The Teacher Resource Manual includes lesson objections,backgrounds to the lessons, references and lesson plans foreach chapter. It also has the student booklets in the back ofthe manual. We recommend that it should be revised next.We have used the whole package in our parish of St.Anthony in Glen Allen (Richmond), Virginia, since thebeginning. In getting feedback from our catechists, we areexcited about the new revision for grades one through eightfor a variety of reasons. Teachers and parents may not seehuge changes in the student texts. In fact, it looks rathersimplified compared to the older version. But in the revision,we are glad to see section references to the Catechism of theCatholic Church; the simplified text for the lower grades ; theinclusion of more sacramental preparation; and updatedmaterial on the Church and the saints. The activity book is anincredible plus! It gives teachers many more opportunities toexplore the subject matter which is exactly what the teachershave been requesting. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VIII Page 10 September 2010

Austin, TexasAdults Become Sons and Daughters of SaintMaronby Msgr. Don SawyerThe life of Our Lady’s Parish is theDivine Liturgy and its religiouseducation of adults and children.They are the life blood of any parish.This year five adults joined theChurch. They were made up of peoplecoming from different places in life. Afew were Mormons, Baptists,Methodists and some from no tradition.Their journey into the MaroniteChurch started when friends invitedthem to come and see. A few heard ofEastern Christianity and were intriguedwith the idea of learning of aChristianity that is rooted in the HolyLand, that was Semitic (Judaeo-Christian) and was linked to the Churchof Antioch as mentioned in the Acts ofthe Apostles. They came to check outwhat we Easterners have to offer andwere immediately attracted to theDivine Liturgy which emphasizesGod’s mercy and love. Instead ofjudgment the visitors find love and joy.They were delighted to hear of God’slove of everyone.The parishioners of Our Lady’s arevery supportive and receptive of peopleand do not try to change or condemnanyone. They are present for thenewcomers and, knowingly orunknowingly, teach them by example.Once anyone comes to the parish, allethnic and family affiliations are left atthe door. No one asks anyone fromwhat country their family comes. It istruly the spirit of Saint Maron whodraws people of many nations together.Our Lady’s Parish is made up of peoplefrom over twenty-seven differentcountries with varying backgrounds andexperiences.In July Monsignor Sawyer invitedpeople personally to join the class thatwas starting in August. Everyone in theparish was invited, but he spokeparticularly to non-Catholics who hadbeen attending the Liturgies to comestudy the Bible and see what theChurch teaches.The Adult Classes began in Augustwith the Bible, studying Genesis andExodus. Much attention was given tostudying the temple worship inJerusalem and Judaism. The curriculumgave the students the background withwhich to understand our own DivineLiturgy. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrewsis studied in depth because Jesus is theHigh Priest. Chorbishop SeelyBeggiani’s Commentary on the DivineLiturgy is excellent material tounderstand the what’s and the whys ofthe Maronite Liturgy. It goes step bystep of what is being prayed and why.The entire emphasis is prayer andworship of the Holy Trinity.One month into the classes thosewho had never been baptized receivedthe Anointing of Oil of theCatechumens during the DivineLiturgy. The parishioners were asked topray for those individuals who theninscribed their names in the Book of theElect. At every Divine Liturgy thecatechumens and those who were to bebrought into the church would go up fora blessing given with aprayer that God “wouldenlighten their minds toHis mysteries and bringto completion what Hebegan in them”.Father AnthonySalim’s “Captivated byYour Teachings” servedas the text forunderstanding theCatholic Faith throughEastern and Maroniteeyes. The class workedits way paragraph byparagraph through thebook. Each class was different and wasfilled with laughter and the joy of theLord. Questions were an integral partof the curriculum. The “cradleCatholics” learned that they had to shifttheir thinking and approach to theFaith. It was wonderful seeing how thepeople started to understand their Faithand connect the dots. The classes werenot just assimilating information, but agrowth of each person’s walk with theLord. It was a building on thefoundations that were there in eachperson’s life. It was a continuum oftheir individual walks with the Lord.The class grew in “the wisdom of theLord” and became a great supportsystem for the people.On Pentecost Sunday, the birthdayof the Church, Carolyn Cunningham,Greg McBroom, Donna Parsons andElizabeth Velasquez were all baptized,confirmed and received FirstCommunion. Robert Rogers wasalready baptized, so he was confirmedand received First Communion. In anunprecedented occasion, three coupleshad their marriages blessed: Mike andCarolyn Cunningham, Gene and DonnaParsons, and Elizabeth and RubenVelasquez.The Maronite Church’s mission isto abide by the commandment of itsLord and Savior, “Go baptize allnations in the Name of the Father andthe Son and the Holy Spirit and teachthem all that I have commanded” (Mat20:19). If we do not follow Hiscommand then we cease to have areason to exist. The Syriac Church ofAntioch was a missionary church fromthe beginning, reaching as far as toIndia and to China. At the end of theLiturgy we pray that the Churchremains “a way of salvation and thelight of the world.”Our Lady’s Parish is privileged tohave been chosen as an instrument tobring these men and women to theMaronite Church. Pentecost 2010 wasa great day for us. We witnessed matureadults being baptized, chrismated,crowned and receiving the Eucharist.We welcome our brothers and sistersfrom different backgrounds into theMaronite Church. They are nowchildren of the Church of Antioch,holders, guardians, sharers andpromoters of the Syriac tradition,followers of Saint Maron. They areMaronites!! The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VIII Page 11 September 2010

Orlando, FloridaMYO Retreat Hits All the NotesFr. Dany at his first Liturgy of Thanskgiving.characteristics and language proved me otherwise, andfinally, because of the kindness of Bishop Gregory, sittingwith the Patriarch, the Bishop and Dany for a while in Bkerke(wow, that was a BIG one).I would sum up my story this way: I've lived my wholelife thinking I was called to the table and for the most partalways feeling that I had been given more than enough. Inretrospect I think that I had been called to be a priest when Iwas younger, but my adolescent logical mind told me that Icouldn't and that I had to provide for my family in order toget us out of the circumstances that I was born in. At somepoint, I forgot how to hear His call and I thought my vocationwas as a dentist or a physician. Dentistry has been a superprofession, and I have been able to do well by any standards.However, there was a greater calling that I think I missedearlier in life, and He was gracious enough to keep callingmy name until I could reply, "here I am Lord". Now he isstarting to show me that the crumbs that I had been given atthe table were maybe what I required were not what he'dintended. He'd intended to serve me as a king (or as aunknown visitor) would be in Lebanon. He'd called me toHis table to enjoy a feast. Now that question is left for me,"can I continue to answer His call, and be worthy of the giftsand treatment He lavishes?" Pray for my vocation, and me asI pray for those who inspire me and help me! by Jennie SimonIt's been a month since we returned to Orlando from theannual 2010 National MYO retreat in Latrobe, Penn., atSt. Vincent College and Monastery. "You're shiny andbrand new," my husband says welcoming us home on July24. "I feel completely full and overflowing with the HolySpirit!" I proclaim. Our daughter glows naturally. She isready for a nap after a week of praising, eating, learning andfun. She has made new friends and will be busy with photosharing and staying in touch as we come back to earth froma power packed week with Jesus and many "celebrities" ofour Maronite faith.So spiritually intense; so joyful; so contemplative; soreflective; so valuable was the experience that the heart andsoul relive the moments in some form every day since July19, day 1. We will carry the moments forward as we becomethe people God intends us to be. We have been fortified bythe MYO workshop and mission. We are sharing next year'spossibilities with family and friends.Our mind revisits the quiet rolling hills surrounding aHoly wonderland. We could not have imagined, nor can it beproperly explained, the spiritual treasures we would find onour five day hiatus with the Maronite youth groups and theirleaders. Like the finest of symphonies the week's events werecarefully orchestrated by our spiritual directors. The HolySpirit corralled all into one. Not one voice was unheard. AtThe Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VIII Page 13 September 2010

the altar we were daily reborn into the moment when Christconsecrated Himself for His believers. How awesome to startour day with prayer too, in the Mary, Mother of WisdomChapel.Each day, as the symphony played out, the image ofChrist was more visible in each one. Banners were read in thestudent center: "We are the children of God." "We are Hisservants." "We are called to live Holy lives by His example.""We will study, learn, and grow in faith." "Let us celebrateGod's love in and around us!"We rejoiced with laity, bishops, priests, and religiousfrom our country and foreign lands. Bishop Robert andBishop Gregory impressed us with their jubilance andhumility, as they mingled with us in chapel, study halls anddining areas. What great joy to be surrounded by crowds ofyouth who will continue to grow our Maronite faith andtraditions!We connected the God and the human spirit, gatheringknowledge of Saints in heaven and on earth, and soaking upthe Gospel of Christ as it relates to the challenges of thehuman condition. We laid down our weaknesses and gatheredstrength. We cast away fear and reeled in courage. We setdown inhibitions and secured ourselves with laughter. Weshed tears and were humbly united.Over 300 voices rallied to become renewed in Christ,realizing the dignity in knowing Him personally. We foundundeniable peace and joy in recognizing Him in others. Wewere given spiritual tools to take home so that we cancontinue a mission to lead souls to Christ. The high, middle,and low notes of a week of praises were played with suchgrace that each voice was heard celebrating the joy that onlyChrist can give. It remains with us!To God, Father Gary George, his dedicated MYO teamof spiritual leaders, and Father Bassam Saade, a resoundingnote of thanks and praise for the miracles of MYO whichwere rightly seen by our hearts. It must be a never ending andextremely rewarding process from one MYO retreat toanother in putting together a symphony for Christ such asthis. We will play it forward! by Janet HudakDanbury, ConnecticutLebanese Festival 2010St. Anthony Maronite Church in Danbury, Connecticut,hosted its Annual Mahrajan [festival] on Friday, August13 and Saturday August 14, 2010. It was a beautiful,sunny weekend which brought visitors from all over theDanbury area as well as other parts of Connecticut, NewYork, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to join in the festivities.Traditional Lebanese foods and desserts were served. Over75 parish volunteers cooked the food and desserts for theevent which hosted over 3,000 guests. Entertainment wasprovided by the St. Anthony’s MYA Dance Troupe and theNader Band.Families and friends of St. Anthony’s parish enjoyed twodays of fellowship, eating, drinking and dancing into thenight! As always the youth of the parish volunteered manyhours to provide excellent service to the guests as hosts, foodservers and clean up committee. They also providedentertainment for the children such as an inflatable bouncehouse, face painting and jewelry making along with cottoncandy, popcorn and ice cream.Most importantly, St. Anthony’s celebrated the Feast ofthe Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a Liturgy onSaturday evening which was open to all parishioners, guestsand friends of the parish. In addition, the Church was openfor adoration and there were blessed oils and literatureavailable to all who came to visit the Church.Many dignitaries from the Danbury area such as theMayor, City Clerk and assorted state senators andrepresentatives came to spend time with their neighbors andfriends. Several of our local politicians mark their calendarseach year to be sure and attend the St. Anthony’s Mahrajanbecause they love the home made food, desserts and friendlywelcome provided by the parish. We thank everyone fortheir continued support!The 2011 St. Anthony’s Annual Mahrajan will be held,August 12 -13 from 12 noon until Midnight. New Bedford, MassachusettsAnnual Festivalby Sarah ThomasAglorious day greeted the festival-goers of Our Lady ofPurgatory Church’s annual Mahrajan in New Bedford,Massachusetts. Billed as an event to celebrate theLebanese community and its spirituality, the Lebanesefestival attracted visitors from all over Southern CoastMassachusetts and Southern Rhode Island. Riding on themomentum provided by the last two festivals, this year’sthAugust 7 Mahrajan showcased Lebanese food and dessert,as well as the traditional dance of Lebanon.“It was a wonderful time, that really brought thecommunity together,” said Our Lady of Purgatory’s PastorReverend Jack Morrison. “On that day we were really afamily.”Encouraged by blue skies and mild weather, visitors fromthe area took the scenic ride to the Holy Ghost Grounds inSouth Dartmouth and sampled a variety of LebaneseThe Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VIII Page 14 September 2010

New Bedford, MassachusettsMYO Fall Retreatspecialties.The crowd was treated to traditional Lebanese dancesorganized by Joan Thomas-Mello and Flora Coury Azar.Dressed in the customary costumes of Lebanon, parishchildren showed off their dabke and capped off theentertainment by encouraging everyone to join in the fun.“It was such an incredible day,” said event co-organizerRachael Thomas Higgins. “Everyone worked together toguarantee a success. We were blessed to have all thevolunteers and the dancers made it even more special.” Eventorganizers are already planning for next year. Easton, PennsylvaniaAnnual Heritage Dayby Naomi Karam KoerwitzOur Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church inrdEaston, Penn., celebrated its 33 annual LebaneseHeritage Day festival on Saturday, July 31st andSunday, August 1, 2010. The festival was established in1978 to recognize and commemorate the rich traditions of theLebanese-American community in Easton.The Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the church onSaturday afternoon and on Sunday morning. Sunday’sLiturgy was celebrated by His Excellency Bishop GregoryMansour, Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn.Afterward, Bishop Mansour, joined by his family, ate lunchwith the community and attended the festivities. In addition,the Most Reverend John Barres, Bishop of the Diocese ofAllentown , Penn., attended the festival Saturday evening.This marked the first time a Roman Catholic bishopparticipated and attended the festival.Rain or shine, Lebanese Heritage Day has become one ofdowntown Easton’s leading summer events. Each year, thefestival draws thousands of people to the church parking lotthat 4 and Ferry Streets, festooned with brightly colored tentsand replete with the aroma and sounds of a traditionalLebanese celebration… and this year was no different.In addition to the delectable Lebanese fare the groundscame alive this year to the music of George Kouz and hisensemble. All in all, the festival was a huge success, and theparish community of Our Lady of Lebanon looks forward tonext year, when they come together to celebrate again. by Fr. Jack MorrisonWe are excited to announce the dates of and locationfor the MYO regional conference of New England.The conference will be held at Wisdom HouseRetreat and Conference Center: 229 East Litchfield RoadLitchfield, Connecticut 06759 Phone: (860) 567-3163, fromFriday, October 22 to Sunday October 24, 2010. We areexcited to welcome back all of our youth, advisers, andclergy for a time of spiritual growth and recreation.The cost for the conference this year is $200.00 perperson (double occupancy); $225.00 per person (singleoccupancy - adults only). Final payment is due by September30, 2010. Make check payable to the Office of YouthMinistry. All applications received after September 30, 2010will require an additional $25.00 late registration fee perparticipant.All applications forms and documents are to be filled outand printed from the website, www.stanthonydanbury.com .It is imperative that the applications be completely filled out.Please verify that all pages are printed and included in anysubmitted applications. Also, please remind all participantsto fill out the health Statement accurately and to include acopy of their current insurance card. Please mail applicationsto Our Lady of Purgatory Church 11 Franklin Street NewBedford, MA 02740. The Fax number is (508) 996-2744If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate tocall or to e-mail father Jean Younes atstanthonyoffice@yahoo.com or by phone at (203) 744-3372or Father Jack Morrison at aboonajack@aol.com or by phoneat (508) 996-8934. Minneapolis, MinnesotaOn the Steps of Saint MaronJoin Msgr. sharbel Maroun, Pastor of St. Maron Church inMinneapolis, Minn., on a tour to Lebanon and Syria inthhonor of the 16300 anniversary of St. Maron, October 4-14, 2010.The cost is $1855 for hotel stay for nine nights; breakfastand dinner; air conditioned bus; English speaking guide andentrance fees. This price does not include the airline ticketfrom your city; lunch; tips and all extras at the hotel or visa.American citizens need a visa into Syria from the SyrianConsulate in Detroit, Michigan, or the Embassy of Syria inWashington, D.C. For more information visit the website ofthe Syrian embassy at www.syrianconsulate.org.To make your ticket reservation, please call Berit at (978)469-0786. For more information email Msgr. sharbelMaroun at abouna@stmaron.com or call him at (612) 379-2758. Seats are limited, call today if you want to join thistour. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VIII Page 15 September 2010

San Francisco, CaliforniaEnd of School Yearin Troy and Utica, but a new tradition was born whenparishioners from St. Anthony in Danbury joined thecelebration. A Divine Liturgy was concelebrated by Fr. JeanYounes, M.L.M. of Danbury and Fr. George Bouchaaya,M.L.M. of Troy. Chorbishop John D. Faris was unable toparticipate because of a death in his family.A pavilion on the beautiful grounds was reserved for theparishioners and friends of the three parishes. The day wasfilled with prayer, fun, food and music. Old friendships werere-kindled and new friendships established. Springfield, MassachusettsBirthday BlessingOur Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church, San FranciscoBay area, ended the school year which included manysuccessful programs, for our children and youth, toname a few of them: Religious Education; Youth Ministry;Arabic Language; and children Choir. Our church plans tocontinue all those programs and many more for our childrenthis coming school year.Our motto is ‘keeping the tradition alive’, by teaching ourchildren our Faith through different means: service, language,songs.. Thanks to all the volunteers who spent countlesshours and donated their talents to support our church. Maronite Sunday at Shrine of OurLady of MartyrsOn Sunday, June 27, 2010, Fr. George Zina, Pastor ofSt. Anthony Maronite Church in Springfield, Mass.,blessed Nora Blaisdell, a long time parishioner, on theevent of her 90th birthday. Congratulations, Nora. Newtown Square, PennsylvaniaWeekend Summer CampThe sister parishes of St. Ann of Troy, New York, St.Louis Gonzaga of Utica, New York and St. Anthony ofDanbury, Connecticut, joined in the annual celebrationof Maronite Sunday at the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs(also known as the Shrine of the North American Martyrs),Auriesville, New York, on Sunday, August 8, 2010.The celebration of Maronite Sunday has been along-standing tradition shared between the Maronite parishesThe First Weekend Summer Retreat for the twenty-fivechildren that attended was a huge success thanks to Fr.Paul Mouawad, Houda Abboud, Rima Schewliet,Fairouz Muaddi, Norma Muaddi and Hilda Hourani. Thiswas a weekend retreat held at St. Sharbel Church inNewtown Square, Penn., with lots of food, arts and crafts,Arabic classes and religious education, Liturgical musicappreciation and cultural dancing which were only a few ofthe workshops offered to the chidren.The explanation of the Divine Liturgy and the importanceof morning prayer and evening prayer were stressed to all thechildren. Needless to say all survived the weekend and hada great time. Next year it plans to be bigger and better. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VIII Page 16 September 2010

Fall River, MassachusettsScholarship AwardSan Fernando Valley, CaliforniaBusy Time at Sts. Peter and PaulMissionSaints Peter and Paul Feast DayThisthyear, the 29 of June, Saints Peter and Paul FeastDay, fell on Tuesday, Fr. Jean Yammine, Pastor of Sts.Peter and Paul Mission in San Fernando Valley, Calif.,insisted on having the celebration of our Patron Saints on thatsame day. The Liturgy was celebrated by Fr. Jean, assisted bySubdeacons Dib Tayar and Albert Constantine. During theLiturgy, Father Jean blessed the water and sprinkled thefaithful people with the holy water. The Liturgy was followedby a karaoke night, with sajj cheese, zaatar and hookah. Alarge number of people attended both ceremonies. Thank youto the big group of volunteers who worked tirelessly aroundthe clock to make that night a memorable one.Left to right: Giulia Khoury, Chorbishop Joseph Kaddo,Michael Massoud and scholarship committee member KarlHetzler.by Karl HetzlerOn July 18, 2010, following the Sunday liturgy,Chorbishop Joseph Kaddo, Pastor, and the parishfamily of St. Anthony of the Desert Church in FallRiver, Mass., awarded scholarships of $500.00/each to twograduating high school seniors, Giulia Khoury and MichaelMassoud. The scholarship program, now in its eighth year,is intended to further strengthen the bond with parish youth.The only criteria for eligibility are that the recipients beactive parishioners of the church and submit a short essay oftheir best memories growing up in the parish. One of thescholarships is given each year in memory of ChorbishopNorman J. Ferris, while another is given in memory of MaryAnn Hallal.Giulia Khoury, the daughter of Tom and CharleneKhoury will be attending Rhode Island College studyingvoice and music. Giulia has participated in the Parish MYO,Holy Family, Choir and CCD programs. She is the recipientof the 2010 Chorbishop Norman J.Ferris MemorialScholarship.Michael Massoud, the son of Clifford and Holly Massoudwill be attending the University of Massachusetts,Dartmouth, majoring in Nursing /Nurse Practitioner. Michaelwas active in MYO, Holy Family and was a volunteer forCCD activities. He received the 2010 Mary Ann HallalMemorial Scholarship. Summer Camp 2010Over forty children and twenty volunteers met in the parkingthlot of the church on June 25 . The children were put intogroups and were loaded in four buses to head to the campabout an hour and a half away from the church. The campwas from Friday to Sunday, and the children and volunteerswere excited for the weekend to begin. Upon arrival, thechildren engaged in various activities such as horsebackriding, repelling, paint-balling, rock climbing, and even amassive water balloon fight! Of course there was time forprayers and Divine Liturgy. They all had smiles on their facesand their laughter never subsided during the talent shows theyparticipated in, making crafts and having free time to explorethe camp site in the beautiful Lake Castaic area. The campwas a wonderful success but would not have been possiblewithout the help of Father Jean, the camp leaders, support ofthe parents, and volunteers.Family Kermis:On May 16, Sts. Peter and Paul Mission in San FernandoValley California organized their first Family Kermis Day.The event started with an outdoor Liturgy, celebrated by Fr.Jean Yammine, Pastor, and assisted by Monsignor WilliamLesser and Subdeacon Dib Tayar. During the Liturgy Fr. Jeandistributed certificates of completion to forty children of theArabic and Catechism program of the Mission. He alsopresented thank you cards and a memorable picture of theVirgin Mary to each of the teachers. He blessed their effortsand sacrifices in making the past year a wonderful one. At theend of the Liturgy, Fr. Jean announced the opening of theFamily kermis Day. His ultimate goal was to gather all thefamilies and have fun. The Kermis was a big challenge forour small community. It included games, entertainmentbooths, a ping pong tournament, kids’ jumpers, football andbackgammon, as well as food, refreshments and ice cream.Also there was a raffle that included precious prizes. With thesmile of sixty volunteers, the will of God, and over 500attendees, the kermis was a big success. The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VIII Page 17 September 2010

San Diego, CaliforniaPro-Life Center for the Eparchy ofOur Lady of Lebanonby Pat HansenNew statistics show that abortion often leaves anothersilent victim other than the infant and mother… that ofthe father of the aborted child! Post abortioncounseling services are seeing an increasing number of mencome forward, grieving their aborted children. Many of thesame dynamics of post-abortion distress that are seen inwomen are also present in men (Priests for Life).The laws of the United States do not acknowledge theright of a father to stop the abortion of his own child, butrather places that act solely within the decision of the mother.This raises a multitude of problems. On the one hand, thefather who wants to defend the life of his child is oftenaccused of meddling in something that is not his business.On the other hand, the father who wants to leave the(mistaken) decision of abortion in the hands of the motheralone is often accused of being uncaring and distant. This inturn can create feelings of isolation in the mother, which inturn make it easier for her to resort to abortion.Furthermore, the law is a powerful teacher. It says thefather has no rights in the abortion decision. And on the otherside of the coin of "rights" is "responsibilities". The currentstate of the law regarding fathers and abortion can easilyfoster a sense of irresponsibility in young men."The Pill" 50 Years LaterthThis past Mother's Day 2010 marked the 50 anniversary ofthe birth control pill. What irony! The pill, along with itspartner abortion, has made the womb the most unsafedwelling for new life. The very word used for the pill,contraceptive, in its etymology announces that it is there tostop life because conception means "beginning" and theprefix contra means "against".A quick look at history shows that the beginnings foracceptance of destruction of life in the womb started back in1916 and moved at a snail's pace forward until people startedbelieving the idea that denying a life created by God wasperfectly agreeable. Margaret Sanger and her Birth ControlLeague (later becoming Planned Parenthood) made a littlehole in the dyke so the water could run through. Then thepressures from the culture of death widened that hole until ithas become a rushing torrent in 2010. Now over 3,000 babiesa day are killed through abortion and uncountable numbersfrom the effects of the pill.Besides the death and harmful effects on unborn childrenthe hormones in the pill taken for extended periods increasesthe risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer. They alsoincrease the likelihood of blood clots, which can lead tothrombosis, heart attacks or strokes. Recent studies havefound that the hormonal contraceptives affect skeletalformation making the users of these pills more susceptible tobone fractures. The hormones in the birth control pill havealso proved harmful to the environment. When we violateGod's commandments, the consequences can prove deadly.Let us remember to pray for fathers suffering from thepain of abortion. St. Joseph, foster father of Our Lord Jesus,pray for us. And let us keep in mind that with the gift offreedom comes the responsibility to be informed andinvolved citizens. We must vote our values in each election.By electing candidates that defend life, we are helping to savethe lives of unborn children and protect the sanctity of allhuman life until natural death. God will only bless America,when we bless God by following His Will. Vatican to Muslims:Let's Fight Violence TogetherThe Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue sent amessage to Muslims, underlining the need for a jointeffort against violence. The message, published onAugust 27, 2010 by the Vatican, was sent to all Muslims onthe occasion of the end of Ramadan, which this year will takeplace September 10."Throughout this month, you have committed yourselvesto prayer, fasting, helping the neediest and strengtheningrelations of family and friendship," the message affirmed."God will not fail to reward these efforts!"The message, which was signed by the Council President,Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, and Secretary, Archbishop PierLuigi Celata, centered on the theme, "Christians andMuslims: Together in overcoming violence among followersof different religions."The prelates noted that this theme is, "unfortunately, apressing subject, at least in certain areas of the world." Theyacknowledged that "the Joint Committee for Dialogueinstituted by the Pontifical Council and al-Azhar PermanentCommittee for Dialogue among the Monotheistic Religionshad also chosen this topic as a subject of study, reflection andexchange during its last annual meeting," which took place inCairo last February.In their message, the Vatican officials underlined someof the conclusions published at the end of this meeting."There are many causes for violence among believers ofdifferent religious traditions," they noted. The messageoutlined some of these causes, such as: "the manipulation ofthe religion for political or other ends; discrimination basedon ethnicity or religious identity; divisions and socialtensions.""Ignorance, poverty, underdevelopment are also direct orindirect sources of violence among as well as within religiouscommunities," it added.Common GoodThe prelates exhorted: "May the civil and religiousauthorities offer their contributions in order to remedy somany situations for the sake of the common good of allsociety!"May the civil authorities safeguard the primacy of thelaw by ensuring true justice to put a stop to the authors andpromoters of violence!" The message also highlighted some"important recommendations" published after the Februarymeeting. (Continues on page 20)The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VIII Page 18 September 2010

thThe 47 Annual Maronite Convention Finishes on aHigh Noteby Seminarian Gaby GubashTheth47 Annual MaroniteConvention (NAM 2010), heldJuly 7-11, 2010, at the SheratonBirmingham Hotel, was sponsored bythe National Apostolate of Maronitesand hosted by St. Elias MaroniteChurch in Birmingham, Alabama,which is commemorating a century as aparish this year. Chorbishop RichardSaad, St. Elias' pastor, brought southernand Maronite hospitality together underthe theme of Stewardship of ourMaronite Church by graciouslyproviding many workshops, culturalexcursions, entertaining haflis, and,most importantly, celebration of theHoly Mysteries in the Divine Liturgyand community prayer of Ramsho andSafro with our Maronite Bishops,Robert Shaheen and Gregory Mansour.All of this was in the setting of theSouthern city of Birmingham, aparticularly unique culture of smalltown South within a large modern city.Workshops included everythingfrom our identity as Maronites, how tofoster religious vocations, pursuit of thecanonization of the Massabki brotherswith a showing of a film that was sowell received that an encorepresentation was offered, handing onour Faith of the Mountain to futuregenerations, to a beautiful exhibition ofMaronite Music from the first evercompilation of the Inter-eparchialMusic Commision. Many participantsleft feeling inspired to learn more andrequested additional workshops onthese important topics. Culturalexcursions included being a part of thelive studio audience for a worldwideEWTN broadcast of host Fr. MitchPacwa interviewing our very ownMaronite Bishops, a visit to the worldrenowned Civil Rights Institute, touringthe Birmingham Museum of Art, and apilgrimage to Mother Angelica's Shrineof the Blessed Sacrament.The Sheraton Ballroom held greatSouthern dinners, entertainment, andlate night haflis, which includedauthentic Southern bands, the AminSultan Band, DJ U.B., dabke by the St.The Opening Liturgy of the Clergy Conference and Maronite Convention washeld at St. Elias Church on Monday evening July 5, 2010.Elias Lebanese Dancers, and aperformance by the Fred AstaireDancers with Fabian Sanchez from“Dancing with the Stars.” The late nightSing Alongs were another draw, wheretalented priests and parishioners sangthe night away with religious hymnsand Arabic songs. Ahlan Wa SahalanY'All was the greeting offered to themany conventioneers visiting thehospitality room to enjoy Lebanesefood, informational displays, variousperformances, and additionalopportunities to connect with ourMaronite community.Unique excursions were catered toth thMaronite juniors (5 to 8 grade),youth (9th to 12th grades), young adultsand young professionals (ages 18 to35). These excursions included visits toa water park, beach, pool club, mixers,and Theology on Tap with the Bishops.The Theology on Tap was a greatopportunity for Maronite young adultsto seize their role as leaders of theChurch and reflect on theology in theirown lives with our two MaroniteShepherds. One powerful reflectioncommented on how Jesus was not apassive pacifist in simply turning theother cheek or walking the extra milefor Roman soldiers who had enslavedJews to carry equipment for one mile.Jesus, rather, reverses roles of powerby freely offering to go the extra milein order to become the giver. Becominga giver then allows you to enter into aposition of power over the receiver,take away the aggressor's power, andfight injustice with love. Maroniteyoung adults are similarly called torespond to evil with love and never torespond with evil, by offering ourselvesin clever ways that make us stand out assalt of the earth and a light to the world.NAM 2010 continued to be an idealopportunity for national Maroniteadministration beginning with theClergy Conference, the Order of SaintSharbel Annual Breakfast meeting,TéléLumière Board of Directorsmeeting, NAM Delegates meeting, andNAM Board of Directors meeting.Much business was done along withgreat networking opportunities. Ipersonally treasure the opportunities Ihad to meet with Maronites from acrossthe country that serve our Church sogenerously.(Continues on page 20)The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VIII Page 19 September 2010

The Maronite VoiceSt. Anthony’s Maronite Catholic Church4611 Sadler RoadGlen Allen, Virginia 23060-6108NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE PAIDPERMIT NO. 1370GLEN ALLEN, VIRGINIATroy, New YorkFeast of St. AnnthThe 47 Annual MaroniteConvention Finishes on a HighNoteContinued from page 19by Fr. George BouchaayaOn Sunday, July 25, 2010, the community of St. Ann inTroy, New York, concluded nine days of prayer witha Divine Liturgy to celebrate the feast of its Patroness,St. Ann.Father George Bouchaaya, M.L.M., led the congregationin reciting the prayer before a statue of St. Ann. At thebeginning of the Divine Liturgy, the saint’s banner wascarried down the aisle in procession, followed by theDaughters of St. Ann, each bearing a white rose. An icon ofSt. Ann, along with her relics, were given a place ofprominence in the Sanctuary. The Daughters each placedtheir rose in a vase before the icon. Midway through theliturgy, Fr. Georges asked the Daughters to stand and recitean Act of Consecration to Saint Ann.The feast day culminated with a parish picnic on thegrounds of the new church in Watervliet, N.Y. Parishionersand friends shared tasty delicacies and conversation under abalmy summer sky. The convention closed with the Pontifical Divine Liturgy,where the reason for us all to gather was offered in the HolyEucharist. A final brunch was provided where farewells weregiven until we meet again in the City of Brotherly Love,NAM 2011 in Philadelphia.thThe 47 Annual Maronite Convention in Birminghamwas a terrific event and we hope to see you again inPhiladelphia for NAM 2011. For more information on theNational Apostolate of Maronites and all of NAM’s programsand events visit www.namnews.org or call (914) 964-3070 oremail nam@namnews.org. Continued from page 18Vatican to MuslimAmong these, it included: "to open our hearts to mutualforgiveness and reconciliation, for a peaceful and fruitfulcoexistence; to recognize what we have in common and torespect differences, as a basis for a culture of dialogue; andto recognize and respect the dignity and the rights of eachhuman being without any bias related to ethnicity or religiousaffiliation."The message underlined the "necessity to promulgate justlaws which guarantee the fundamental equality of all."It also recommended recalling "the importance of educationtowards respect, dialogue and fraternity in the variouseducational arenas: at home, in the school, in churches andmosques." "Thus," the prelates urged, "we will be able tooppose violence among followers of different religions andpromote peace and harmony among the various religiouscommunities." Zenit.org, August 27, 2010The Maronite Voice Volume VI Issue No. VIII Page 20 September 2010