January 2014

The Maronite Voice A Publication of the Maronite Eparchies in the USA Volume X Issue No. I January 2014 Pope Francis To Bishops, Priests and All of Us his past December, I sent a letter to the priests of the The Joy of the Gospel, is an inspiration to everyone. He calls Eparchy with a Christmas gift of Pope Francis' Post each of us to a more radical and loving following of Christ. TSynodal Apostolic Exhortation on the New Some of the Cardinals were asked why they chose him to Evangelization. I wrote this: Pope Francis serves the Church be the next Pope. They answered, because he was so inwardly as if he were a parish priest, and the whole world were his free in following Jesus and so intent on living the Gospel’s parish! That is how much he loves the Gospel and the challenges. invitation by Jesus to follow Him. He calls people on the May we, all of us, the clergy, religious and laity, follow phone; goes out among them; overlooks their uncomfortable Jesus more radically, more freely and more lovingly in 2014 features; forgives those who have offended him; manages the and always. And may we also do as our Holy Father has many administrative duties he has; reaches out to those who asked us to do: to go beyond our comfort zone to serve the do not believe in Christ and in the midst of everything, is poor, the imprisoned, the refugee, the needy, and to reach out relatively happy doing so! In a word, he sounds a bit like you, to those who deserve our mercy and care. Happy New Year. his brother priests! However, the Holy Father’s example is not just for +Gregory J. Mansour priests, but for all of us. His Apostolic Exhortation, entitled Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron Schedule of Bishop Elias Zaidan The Maronite Voice January 4 - 5, 2014 4611 Sadler Road St. Jude Mission, West Covina, Calif. Glen Allen, VA 23060 January 10 - 12, 2014 Phone: 804/270-7234 th Fax: 804/273-9914 Msgr. sharbel Maroun’s 25 Anniversary to the Priesthood, Minneapolis, E-Mail: [email protected] Minn. http://www.stmaron.org January 14, 2014 http://www.usamaronite.org Pastoral Council Meeting, St. Raymond Cathedral, St. Louis, Mo. January 17 - 19, 2014 The Maronite Voice, (ISSN 1080- 9880) the official newsletter of the St. George Maronite Church, San Antonio, Tex. Maronite Eparchies in the U.S.A. January 20 - 24, 2014 (Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Annual Clergy Retreat, Phoenix, Ariz. Los Angeles and Eparchy of Saint January 31 - February 2, 2014 Maron of Brooklyn), is published Our Lady of the Cedars Maronite Church, Houston, Tex. monthly. February 7 - 9, 2014 Send all changes of address, news, St. Maron Church, Cleveland, Ohio p i c t u r e s a n d p e r s o n a l February 15 - 16, 2014 correspondence to The Maronite Our Lady of the Rosary Maronite Mission, Carmichael, Calif. Voice at the above captioned February 16, 2014 address. Subscription rates are $25.00 per year. Advertising rates St. Sharbel Maronite Mission, Stockton, Calif. are available upon request. Publishers • Most Reverend Bishop Gregory Warren, Michigan John Mansour • Most Reverend Elias Zaidan, Prayers for the Christians in the Middle East M.L.M. n Thursday, November 21, 2013, hundreds of Christians from different Editor Msgr. George M. Sebaali denominations gathered together at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed OSacrament in Detroit, Michigan, to pray for Christians in the Middle East. His Excellency the Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron, Archbishop of Detroit, Editing and proofreading presided along with priests and ministers from the Maronite, Chaldean, Melkite, Mary Shaia Latin and Armenian Rites, including Chorbishop Alfred Badawi of St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church, Warren, Michigan. As the intentions were entrusted Printed in Richmond, Virginia. to the prayer and protection of the Holy Mother of God, Help of Christians and Queen of Peace, different choirs performed a variety of hymns in their native languages. The Choir of St. Sharbel Maronite Church was privileged to be among Maronite Convention 2014 those asked to participate and sang a Marian hymn, Houbouki Ya Maryam, in Arabic with choir director Christiane Bousho. Our Lady of Victory Maronite Children's Christmas Recital Church Pittsburgh, Penn. he St. Sharbel Children’s Choir held a Christmas Recital on Sunday, December 15, 2013. The story of Saint Nicholas was read and Christmas July 2 - 6, 2014 Tcarols were chanted in English, French and Arabic. Christiane Bousho led the Choir and Sandy Harb played the organ. Chorbishop Alfred Badawi, Pastor, enjoyed the festivities and thanked the choir and those in attendance. For more information contact the NAM office at (914) 964-3070 No one, whether shepherd or wise man, can approach God here below except or visit www.Namnews.org by kneeling before the manger at Bethlehem and adoring him hidden in the weakness of a new-born child." (Catholic Catechism, 563) The Maronite Voice Volume X Issue No. I Page 2 January 2014 Houston, Texas Bishop’s Pastoral Visit by Alberto G. Tohmé he community of Our Lady of the Cedars in Houston, Texas, Texpressed much joy, excitement, and pride in welcoming His Excellency Bishop Elias Zaidan to Houston at the end of November. In usual fashion, a banquet committee organized a banquet event at the Omni Hotel to honor Bishop Zaidan on November 23, 2013. In attendance were His Excellency Bishop Paul Marwan Tabet from the Maronite Eparchy in Montreal, Canada; Fr. Elias Sleiman, Rector at Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon - St. Peter Cathedral in Los Angeles, Calif., and new Superior of the Maronite Lebanese Missionaries in the United States; local Orthodox clergy; Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop George Sheltz; Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Vincent Rizzotto; Dr. Nicolas Nammour, Parish Council President, presents Bishop Zaidan with hand other local Roman Catholic clergy; embroidered vestments. Bishop Zaidan's brother and sister from Lebanon, Salah and Bernadette; and establish our church parish in the early and involvement in the parish other local dignitaries. Fathers Milad 1990s and for his continued support to community in Houston throughout the Yaghi, Pastor, and Pierre El Khoury the community since that time. In an years. hosted this event. The ballroom was equally touching speech, Mr. Fares filled to capacity with parishioners and thanked Bishop Zaidan for his Bishop Zaidan delivered his speech friends of the community. remarkable service to the Maronite with lots of humility and expressed his Church in the United States over the deep gratitude to the entire Houston The banquet program offered a variety years and specifically for his support of community for its sustained efforts in of events, including a poem recital, a the church community in Houston. building this parish over the years. He presentation of pastoral gifts, a touching stressed that it was the community, not speech by Fr. Milad and remarks by Mr. Bishop Zaidan was honored with he, who built this parish. He pledged Nijad I. Fares, video presentations, and several gifts, including a hand his continued strong support for the a keynote speech by Bishop Zaidan. embroidered mitre from Mr. and Mrs. community in the future and offered an Joseph Dow, a ring from Mr. and Mrs. open door policy as the new spiritual Mr. Joseph Rouhana recited a poem in Karl Morrow, a cross from Mr. Mark El leader. He emphasized his motto of Arabic in which he honored Bishop Fadi on behalf of the family of the late "Thy Will Be Done" as his main Zaidan for his contributions as original Antonios El Fadi, and hand spiritual platform for service to his founder of our church community, his embroidered vestments from the Parish eparchy. multiple accomplishments as a priest in Community represented by Dr. Nicolas the Maronite Church in the United Nammour, Parish Council President. The following morning, Bishop States in the past twenty-three years, Bishop Zaidan accepted all gifts with Zaidan celebrated the Liturgy of and his recent ascent into the role as great humility and gratitude and Annunciation to the Virgin Mary with Bishop. Mr. Rouhana's poem touched displayed them to the audience proudly. all the visiting Maronite clergy and all attendees deeply. clergy from the Galveston-Houston The first video presentation showed Roman Catholic Archdiocese, including Fr. Milad Yaghi delivered a passionate clips from Bishop Zaidan's ordination His Eminence Daniel Cardinal speech in which he discussed his fond in Lebanon in late September and DiNardo, and Bishops Sheltz and memories of Bishop Zaidan who was installation in St. Louis in late October. Rizzotto. In his homily, Bishop Zaidan his "big brother," mentor, and friend The second presentation included a emphasized the importance of since the time they both joined the well-organized and nostalgic accepting and honoring God's will in seminary in their early adolescence. In documentary of Bishop Zaidan's life, one’s life as our Blessed Mother did, a heartfelt pitch, he thanked Bishop priesthood, and service in the United Zaidan for his relentless efforts to States, with emphasis on his support (Continues on page 20) The Maronite Voice Volume X Issue No. I Page 3 January 2014 Washington, D.C. Christmas Pageant Santa Claus cuts a cake while children from St. Sharbel Church in Warren, Mich., watch. sent down to us on Christmas. Santa led the children in a Cast members of the Christmas Pageant at Our Lady of celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus. Just as Mary and Lebanon Church in Washington, D.C. Joseph faced a challenging journey to celebrate the birth of their son, Jesus, parishioners braved the snow storm for the by William J Prather, Ed.D.

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