September 13, 2020 pg.606

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, celebrated every year on September 14, recalls three historical events: the finding of the by Saint Helena, the mother of the emperor Constan- tine; the dedication of churches built by Constantine on the site of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary; and the restoration of the True Cross to by the emperor II. But in a deeper sense, the feast also celebrates the Holy Cross as the instrument of our salvation.

According to tradition, first mentioned by Saint in 348, Saint Helena, nearing the end of her life, decided under divine inspiration to travel to Jerusalem in 326 to excavate the Holy Sepulchre and attempt to locate the True Cross. A Jew by the name of Judas, aware of the tradition concerning the hiding of the Cross, led those excavating the Holy Sepulchre to the spot in which it was hidden.

In celebration of the discovery of the Holy Cross, Constantine ordered the construction of churches at the site of the Holy Sepulchre and on Mount Calvary. Those churches were dedicated on September 13 and 14, 335, and shortly thereafter the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross began to be cele- brated on the latter date.

In the early seventh century, the Persians conquered Jerusalem, and the Persian king Khosrau II cap- tured the True Cross and took it back to Persia. After Khosrau's defeat by Emperor Heraclius II, Khosrau's own son had him assassinated in 628 and returned the True Cross to Heraclius. In 629, Heraclius, having initially taken the True Cross to , decided to restore it to Jerusalem. Tradition says that he carried the Cross on his own back, but when he attempted to enter the church on Mount Calvary, a strange force stopped him. Patriarch Zacharias of Jerusalem, seeing the emper- or struggling, advised him to take off his royal robes and crown and to dress in a penitential robe instead. As soon as Heraclius took Zacharias' advice, he was able to carry the True Cross into the church.

It's easy to understand that the Cross is special because Christ used it as the instrument of our salva- tion. But after His Resurrection, why would Christians continue to look to the Cross? Christ Himself offered us the answer: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23). The point of taking up our own cross is not simply self-sacrifice; in doing so, we unite ourselves to the sacrifice of Christ on His Cross.

When we participate in the Mass, the Cross is there, too. The "unbloody sacrifice" offered on the altar is the re-presentation of Christ's Sacrifice on the Cross. When we receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion, we do not simply unite ourselves to Christ; we nail ourselves to the Cross, dying with Christ so that we might rise with Him. the Cross, therefore, is the crossroads of history and the Tree of Life. Christianity without the Cross is meaningless: Only by uniting ourselves to Christ's Sacrifice on the Cross can we enter into eternal life.

Saint Maron Church Clergy Liturgy Schedule 7800 Brookside Rd Independence, OH 44131 Rev. Fr. Elias Yazbeck: Administrator Daily Mass: Chapel 6:00 p.m.: Tue-Thurs Office: 216-520-5081 Rev. Deacon George Khoury Fax: 216-524-2659 Subdeacon Lattouf Lattouf Saturday: Chapel at 5:00 p.m. E-mail: [email protected] Subdeacon Ghazi Faddoul Website: www.saintmaron-clev.org Subdeacon George Faddoul Sunday: Downtown 9:30 a.m.: English St. Maron Church Emergency: 612-501-6383 11:00 a.m.: Arabic-English saintmaronchurch

St. Maron’s Church Organizations Liturgy Intentions

Parish Council President: Najib Rached: [email protected] Sat. September 12: Feast of the Holy Cross 3rd Wed. of the month at 7:00 pm Finance Council 5:00 pm Chapel: Mem Lit for Richard Ganim, Sr. President: Rick Ganim: [email protected] (His wife Betty and their children and grandchildren)

2nd Wed of the month at 7:00 pm 5:00 pm Chapel: Mem Lit for John Kroyer & Henry Ayoub Immaculate Conception Sodality (ICS) (Brian & Jeanette McQuinn and Alice Kroyer) President: Bernadette Faddoul: [email protected] 1st Mon. of every month at 7:00pm Sun. September 13: Feast of the Holy Cross Sons of Mary (Men’s Club) President: Joey Faddoul: [email protected] 11:00 am: CHAPEL Mem Lit for Alma Fagher, George Fagher, 1st Mon. of every month at 7:00 pm Peter Fagher, Rasheed Fagher Maronite Christian Formation Program (MCFP) Sunday (Randa Fagher and family) Director Maroun Kattar: [email protected] Sundays (except Holy Days) 10:45 am to 11:30am Maronite Christian Formation Program (MCFP) Thursday Next Week Director Michelle Nin: [email protected] Thursdays 7:00 pm Parish Center, Independence Maronite Young Children (MYC) Sat. September 19: First Sunday After the Holy Cross President: Rita Kanaan: [email protected] Maronite Youth Organization (MYO) 5:00 pm Chapel: Parishioners Intentions

Coordinator: George Shamatta: [email protected] Sun. September 20: First Sunday After the Holy Cross 1st and 3rd Saturday : 5pm with Liturgy/Meeting Maronite Young Adults (MYA) 11:00 am: CHAPEL: Parishioners Intentions President: Aleina Soueidi: [email protected] Meeting/Event: Third Friday of each month Maronite Mothers Club (MMC) Coordinator: Tina Chamoun: [email protected] Arabic School: Coordinator: Jihad Kawkabani: [email protected] Classes Sat. Oct-April (except Holy Days) 10 am -12noon 50+ Social Club Mary Ann Watson: [email protected] 1st Friday of each month. Liturgy: 10:00 am DUE TO THE RECENT ROOF FIRE Book & Cine Club Katia Abboud: [email protected] WE EXPERIENCED AT OUR Rosary Prayer Group DOWNTOWN CHURCH: Daad Chamoun: [email protected] WEEKEND LITURGY SCHEDULE IS

Mystery of Crowning SATURDAY: 5:00 PM CHAPEL (Sacrament of Matrimony) SUNDAY: 11:00 AM CHAPEL MANDATORY you contact and meet with Father Elias at least 8 months in advance of your desired date. Couples are required to participate in our Pre-Cana classes. Once a couple has met with Fr. Elias their date will be se- cured. THIS SCHEDULE WILL REMAIN IN Call the office to schedule a weekday appointment EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. between 10:30am—3:00 pm 216.520.5081

ARABIC SCHOOL

THIS YEAR OUR ARABIC SCHOOL WILL BE ON ZOOM. ARABIC SCHOOL IS FOR THOSE AGES 9+

IF INTERESTED CONTACT JIHAD KAWKABANI [email protected]

عيد ارتفاع الصليب المقدّس The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

رسالة القدّيس بولس إلى اهل كورنتوس From the letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, I-1:18-25 يا إخ َوتِي، ُ إِ َّن َك ِل َمةَ ال َّص ِلي ِب ِع ْندَ الـ َها ِل ِكي َن َح َما َقة، أَ َّما ِع ْندَنَا نَ ْح ُن الـ ُم َخ َّل ِصي َن فَ ِه َي قُ َّوةُ هللا؛ ألَ َّنه ُ َم ْكتُو: » َسأبِيدُ ِح ْك َمةَ الـ ُح َك َماء، وأَ ْرذُ ُل َف ْه َم الفُ َه َماء.«! َفأَ ْي َن الـ َح ِكيم؟ وأَ ْي َن َعا ِل ُم ال َّش ِريعَة؟ وأَ ْي َن البَا ِح ُث في أُ ُمو ِر هـذَا الدَّ ْهر؟ أَ َما َجعَ َل هللاُ ِح ْك َمةَ هـذ َا العَالَ ِم َح َما َقة؟ َفبِ َما أَ َّن العَا َل َم بِ ِح ْك َمتِ ِه َما َع َر َف هللاَ بِ َح َس ِب ِح ْك َم ِة هللا، َر ِض َي هللاُ أَ ْن يُ َخ ِّل َص بِ َح َما َق ِة البِ َشا َرة ِ ا َّل ِذي َن يُ ْْ ِمنُون؛ ألَ َّن اليَ ُهو َ يَ ْ ُلبُو َن ايآيَا،، واليُونَانِ ِّيي َن يَ ْلتَ ِم ُسو َن الـ ِح ْك َمة. ُ أَ َّما نَ ْح ُن َفنُنَا َِي بِ َم ِسيحٍ َم ْصلُو:، ُه َو ِعثَا ٌر ِلليَ ُهو َِ و َح َما َقةٌ ِلأل َمم. وأَ َّما ِلل َم ْد ُع ِّوي َن أَ ْنفُ ِس ِهم، ِم َن اليَ ُهو َِ واليُونَانِ ِّيين، َف ُه َو َم ِسي ٌح، قُ َّوةُ هللاِ َو ِح ْك َمةُ هللا؛ َف َما َي ْبدُو أَ َّنهُ َح َما َقةٌ ِم َن هللاِ ُه َو أَ ْح َك ُم ِم َن ال َّناس، و َما يَ ْبدُو أَ َّنهُ ُض ْع ٌف ِم َن هللا ِ ُه َو أَ ْق َو ِم َن ال َّناس.. والتسبي ُح هللِ َائماً. Brothers and sisters, The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. Praise be to God always!

إنجيل القدّيس يوحنا From the Holy Gospel according to Saint John 12:20-32 قا َل يوحنا الرسول

َكا َن بَي َن ال َّصا ِع ِدي َن ِليَ ْس ُجدُوا في ال ِعيد، بَ ْع ُض اليُونَانِيِّين. َفدَنَا ه ُْال ِء ِم ْن فِي ِلبُّ َس ا َّلذي ِم ْن بَ ْي َت َص ْيدَا ال َج ِليل، و َسأَلُوهُ َقائِلين » َيا َسيِّد، نُ ِريدُ أَ ْن نَ َر يَ ُسوع.« َف َجا َء فِي ِلبُّ ُس و َقا َل ألَ ْند َرا ُوس، و َجا َء أَ ْند َرا ُو ُس وفِي ِلبُّ ُس و َقاال ِليَ ُسوع. َفأَ َجابَ ُه َما يَ ُسو ُع َقائِالً » َل َق ْد َحانَ ِت ال َّسا َعةُ ِل َكي يُ َم َّجدَ ٱ ْب ُن ا ِإل ْن َسان. أَل َح َّق ٱل َح َّق أَقُو ُل َل ُكم إِ َّن َحبَّةَ ال ِح ْن َْة، إِ ْن لَ ْم تَ َق ْع في األَر ِض وتَ ُم ْت، تَ ْب َقى َوا ِحدَة. وإِ ْن َماتَ ْت تَأْتِي بِثَ َم ٍر َكثِير. َم ْن يُ ِح ُّب َن ْف َسهُ يَ ْف ِقدُ َها، و َم ْن يُ ْب ِغ ُض َها في هذَا العَا َل ِم يَ ْح َف ُظ َها ِل َحيَاةٍ أَبَ ِديَّة. َم ْن يَ ْخدُ ْمنِي َف ْليَ ْتبَ ْعنِي. و َح ْي ُث أَ ُكو ُن أَنَا، َف ُهنَا َك يَ ُكو ُن أَ ْي ًضا َخا َِ ِمي. َم ْن يَ ْخدُ ْمنِي يُ َك ِّر ْمهُ ايآ:. َن ْف ِسي ايآ َن ُم ْض َْ ِربَة، َف َماذَا أَقُول؟ يَا أَبَ ِت، نَ ِّجنِي ِم ْن ه ِذ ِه ال َّسا َعة؟ ول ِك ْن ِم ْن أَ ْج ِل هذَا بَ َل ْغ ُت إِلى ه ِذ ِه ال َّسا َعة! يَا أَبَ ِت، َم ِّج ِد ٱ ْس َم َك .« َف َجا َء َص ْو ٌ، ِم َن ال َّس َما ِء يَقُول » َق ْد َم َّج ْد ُ،، و َسأُ َم ِّجد.«و َس ِم َع ال َج ْم ُع ال َحا ِض ُر َف َقالُوا » ِإ َّنهُ َرعد .«و َقا َل آ َخ ُرون »إِ َّن َمال ًكا َخا َطبَ ُه .«أَ َجا َ: يَ ُسو ُع و َقال » َما َكا َن هذَا ال َّص ْو ُ، ِم ْن أَ ْج ِلي، بَ ْل ِم ْن أَ ْج ِل ُكم. ِه َي ايآ َن َ ْينُونَةُ هذَا العَا َلم. أَيآ َن يُ ْ َرَُ ُس ْل َْا ُن هذَا العَا َل ِم َخا ِر ًجا. وأَنَا إِذَا ُرفِ ْع ُت َع ِن األَرض، َجذَ ْب ُت إِل َّي ال َج ِميع« حقاًّ واألما ُن ل َجمي ِع ُكم The evangelist John writes, Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told An- drew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say — ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” This is the truth! Peace be with you.

Sacrament of Baptism and Confirmation

If you are a new parent and wish to have your child baptized at Saint Maron Church or Chapel you must call the office at least two months in advance. We try very hard to have only one baptism per Saturday and Sunday. Times are after the 5pm Saturday liturgy (Chapel) or following the 11am Sunday liturgy (Church).

Mystery of Crowning (Sacrament of Matrimony)

MANDATORY you contact and meet with Fr. Elias at least 8 months in advance of your desired date.

Couples are required to participate in our pre-Cana classes. Once a couple has met with Father Elias their date will be secured. Call the office to schedule an appointment.: 216.520.5081

House Blessing Please call the office if you would like your home blessed 216-520-5081

Communion and Anointing of the Sick Clergy is available to administer Communion or for anointing of the sick to those homebound or hospitalized. Call the office if you or a family member is in need. For emergency only call: 612-501-6383

The Cleveland MYA is raffling off baskets in order to raise money for Caritas Leba- non and The Lebanese Red Cross. There will be six baskets raffled off and a grand prize of Air Pods. There will be more information posted on the Church Facebook page and the Cleveland MYA Instagram (@clemya). Thank you to all of our donors who helped make this possible, we could not have done it without you!

Gift of the Altar: September 2020 HOW DO I SUPPORT ST. MARON CHURCH DURING THE CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC

BREAD in Memory of: 1. Make your offering via Pay Pal www.saintmaron-clev.org/donate Deceased members of the Richards & Nofel families (Edward P. Richards, Jr.) 2. Make your offering through Nancy Bird, Gary Ganim and Jack Mezatasta Square (Douglas Ganim & family) https://stmaronschurch.square.site Thomas and Mary Hassey (Theresa & Sam Gantous & family) 3. Mail your envelope or donation to 7800 Brookside Road Independence, Ohio 44131

WINE in Memory of: 4. Physically drop off your envelope at the Deceased members of the Richards & Nofel families Parish Office weekdays. (Edward P. Richards, Jr.) Thomas and Mary Hassey (Theresa & Sam Gantous & family) George T. Gordon (Mrs. Judith T. Gordon & Miss Katherine Gordon) Louis & Pauline Peters (Lorrie & John Peters)

CANDLES in Memory of: September, 2020 Deceased members of the Richards & Nofel families (Edward P. Richards, Jr.) GENERAL DEPOSIT $ 5,528.00 Jacob & Juliette Saad & the deceased members Sunday Collection $ 2,528.00 of the Saad & Elzeer families: (Thomas Saad & family) Online Donations $ 180.00 George & Roma Sessin Parking (Their children & their families) $ 265.00 Thomas and Mary Hassey Rental $ 2,500.00 (Theresa & Sam Gantous & family) Catholic University $ 55.00 ______

GIFTS OF THE ALTAR FOR THE YEAR 2021 PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

The gifts of the Altar in HONOR or in MEMORY of a loved one or in THANKSGIVING and may be for more than one person.

ALTAR BREAD ($45.00) JANUARY-FEBRUARY-MARCH-APRIL-MAY-JUNE-JULY-AUGUST-SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER-NOVEMBER- DECEMBER

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