Volume 17 | Issue 1 | February 2020 Following the words of Mary, “Do whatever he tells you.”(JOHN 2:5) the servants fill the water jars with water, preparing for the first miracle of Jesus at Cana. Maronite BISHOP’S MESSAGE The Christian Vocation to Holiness 4 by Bishop A. Elias Zaidan SCHEDULES Bishop A. Elias Zaidan 6 Bishop Gregory J. Mansour Lenten Observances 2020 Christ the Healer and Great Lent 8 by Fr. David A. Fisher Catholic Extension Society Issues Grant 13 Challenge to Maronite Eparchies in 2020 15 Ordinations WORKER IN THE VINEYARD Educator Turned Deacon: Relationships are 16 vital in schools, parishes. by Brandon Shuleeta LIVING CHURCH Saint Anthony of the Desert Church 18 Fall River, Massachusetts by Antoinette Zeina Cincinnati to Host the 57th NAM Convention 20 Cover: Mosaic from the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora. Preserved in the Kariye Museum in Istanbul, Turkey. 2 | THE MARONITE VOICE THE MARONITE VOICE A bi-monthly publication of Saint Maron Publications under the auspices of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn and Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles. ISSN 1080-9880 Publishers Caring for the Elderly in Lebanon Most Reverend Gregory John Mansour 22 Most Reverend A. Elias Zaidan Editor Msgr. Peter Vaccari to Lead Catholic Near Chorbishop John D. Faris 23 East Welfare Association Managing Editor Rev. Aaron Sandbothe Art and Design Director 24 Maronite Young Adults at the March for Life Ms. Glory Rasi — Washington, DC Production Coordinator by Hana Chemaly, MYA from Cincinnati, OH Subdeacon Michael Maynes Parish News Editors Dr. Mabel George Howard (Eparchy of Saint Maron) Visit to Caritas Lebanon’s Food Processing [email protected] 27 Plant in Deir El-Ahmar by Deacon Joseph Chebli Rev. Pierre Bassil (Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon) [email protected] Feature Writers Delicious Lenten Dish Recipe Brandon Shulleeta 28 Antoinette Zeina • In order to be considered for publication, all submissions must be Annual Clergy Retreat in electronic format and signed by the author with contact information. 29 Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon Images must be of high resolution and quality (minimal 300 dpi, jpg format). • Subscription rates are $25.00/year. Parish News 30 • Paid Advertising $150 – Quarter page full color $250 – Half page full color GOING DEEPER INTO THE SPIRITUAL LIFE… $400 – Full page full color Additional discounts for six editions Eucharistic Living (one year). 38 by Sr. Therese Maria Touma, MSCL All ads must be submitted electronically. High resolution jpg or PDF with embedded fonts required. No bleeds. Contact [email protected] From the Editor 39 Contact Us Phone: 804.346.1160 Email: [email protected] Mailing Address: 4611 Sadler Road Glen Allen, VA 23060 Office Hours Monday – Friday | 9 am – 1 pm Printed in Richmond, Virginia FEBRUARY 2020 | 3 The Christian Vocation to Holiness by Bishop A. Elias Zaidan “Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48 hroughout Francis wrote in his Apostolic history, the Lord Exhortation, Christus Vivit (Christ has constantly called Lives), “To discern our personal us to “be perfect,” that vocation, we have to realize that it is is, to be holy as He a calling from a friend, who is Jesus.” is holy. In the very beginning of the We must also understand that the Bible, God calls the calling to serve the Church as a patriarch Abraham, priest or monk or nun is not the “…walk before me, only vocation in the Church. Most and be blameless.” Christians are called to marriage To say “call” is to say and family life, some to a single “vocation,” and we life. I use the word “called” because all have a vocation to that is what it is to be married holiness. The Second or living a life as single person, Vatican Council is dedicated to leading a Christian noted for addressing life: a true vocation. Because what has come to most are called to the vocation be known as the of marriage, this state of life is of “Universal Call to utmost importance to the Church. Holiness,” a call The holy covenant of one man that is for each and one woman for life that we and every call marriage, is a source of grace one of us for the couple. Marriage is not (Lumen just a contract between a man and Gentium, 5). a woman, it is a true calling for As recently each partner of the marriage — a as 2018, Pope vocation to help the other realize 4 | THE MARONITE VOICE their individual call to holiness that brought them together in the What do we need to think about in as well. The Mystery of Holy first place. While there may be that process called discernment? In Matrimony is a covenant of love some aspects that can be complex responding to God’s call, we must between a man and a woman. for couples, there are also graces consider the needs of the world of Holy marriage. Some of the and serving the good of society Christ is the third “partner” in rewarding parts of marriage at large. Discernment also looks every Christian marriage. As St. include building a life together, inward — to our own talents and Paul tells us in his Epistle to the children, and supporting each God-given gifts and how they can Ephesians (5:25-33), a husband other every step of life. Although best be used in service to others. and a wife are a reflection of the the realities and difficulties of We must then also consider our relationship between Christ and marriage may seem daunting, inmost and deepest desires for His Church. In every Christian couples are not alone. our own life. Through a process marriage we should see the same of discernment, along with prayer love that Christ has for us, His God does help us in our calling and honest dialogue with God and Church. Holy, strong and healthy to religious life or to marriage. with others, we can learn to trust marriages and families will Prayer is of utmost importance in these desires within us. translate into a holy, strong and discerning our vocation; studying healthy Church. Thus, every family our faith and staying close to the As we live out our lives whether becomes a “domestic church,” a Lord through the sacramental in marriage, in priesthood or school for holiness. life of the Church are also religious life, or as single persons, critical components in discerning we will have to always give priority On February 14, Valentine’s Day, our vocation. We also need to to God; we have to respond to the couples usually express their love remember that we do not do this in call to be holy, to be blameless and for each other through various a vacuum. Our family, our Church to be perfect. We also must keep ways. St. Valentine, a martyr of community, our friends also can be in mind that we will fail in some the early centuries, gave his life of immense help in understanding ways, sometimes seriously, to live for Christ. I hope and pray that our calling. These same groups up to our calling. However, we every couple will renew their will continue to support us in our should never fall to despair as the commitment to offer themselves chosen vocation as well. Lord always invites us to return for each other on a daily basis. and stand up again. Keep in mind The discernment before marriage that “a saint is a sinner who keeps There are many challenges is essential as the couple looks trying.” In the end, however, it to marriage. Whether it is into their compatibility, their does not solely rest on our own the permanence of a couple’s understanding of each other, their human efforts, but more so on relationship, the growing apart standing on the issues and the Christ’s life of grace within us. Our of a husband and wife from each essential elements of marriage and vocation in life, first and foremost, other, the temptations of daily life, family. Definitely, the virtue of love must be a response to the call to financial issues, the interference was, is and will always remain the holiness. of in-laws…each challenge could main foundation along with the undermine and shake the covenant grace of God in every marriage. FEBRUARY 2020 | 5 Schedule Bishop A. Elias Zaidan 23 February Los, Angeles, CA | Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon-St. Peter Cathedral | St. Maron Celebration 29 February San Jose, CA | Priestly Ordination of Deacon Fadi Bazouzi 1 March Orange, CA | St. John Maron Church | Pastoral Visit 2 March St. Louis, MO | Caritas Lebanon-USA Board Meeting 3-4 March St. Louis, MO | Eastern Catholic Bishops Meeting 6-8 March San Antonio, TX | St. George Church | Capital Campaign 13-15 March Minneapolis & Mendota Heights, MN | St Maron Church & Holy Family Church | Capital Campaign 20-22 March Phoenix, AZ | St. Joseph Church | Capital Campaign 27-29 March Cleveland, OH | St. Maron Church | Pastoral Visit 30-31 March St. Louis, MO | The Chancery | Presbyteral Council Meeting 8-11 April Houston, TX | Our Lady of the Cedars Church | Pastoral Visit 12 April St. Louis, MO | St. Raymond Cathedral | Feast of the Glorious Resurrection 17-19 April Birmingham, AL | St. Elias Church | Pastoral Visit LENTEN OBSERVANCES 2020 The Most Reverend Bishops Gregory J. Mansour and A. Elias Zaidan have Devotion of Lenten Fridays issued the following Lenten guidelines for the Maronites of the U.S.: All parish priests are to celebrate the Benediction with the Cross every Friday of Lent except for the Great Friday of the Crucifixion.