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Feast of the Holy Cross 14 SEPTEMBER BISHOP’S MESSAGE the Conception and Birth of the 4 Blessed Virgin Mary by Bishop Gregory J

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Feast of the Holy Cross 14 SEPTEMBER BISHOP’S MESSAGE the Conception and Birth of the 4 Blessed Virgin Mary by Bishop Gregory J Volume 17 | Issue 4 | August 2020 Feast of the Holy Cross 14 SEPTEMBER BISHOP’S MESSAGE The Conception and Birth of the 4 Blessed Virgin Mary by Bishop Gregory J. Mansour 6 Bishops Schedules The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: 8 Her Praises in the Ancient Church by Father David A. Fisher 11 NAM News The Old Testament and Our Maronite Church 12 (Part 1) by Father Anthony J. Salim WORKER IN THE VINEYARD Families turn to nuns to help elderly in 14 North Jackson, Ohio by Brandon Shulleeta LIVING CHURCH The Basilica and National Shrine of 16 Our Lady of Lebanon: A Reminder in America of Lebanese Devotion to Our Lady by Anna Salloum Front Cover: Apse mosaic of the Crucifixion, Basilica San Clemente; Rome, Italy 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 Most Reverend Gregory John Mansour MYA to Hold Virtual Retreat Most Reverend A. Elias Zaidan 18 Editor Chorbishop John D. Faris Managing Editor 19 Ordinations Rev. Aaron Sandbothe Art and Design Director Ms. Glory Rasi Production Coordinator Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon Subdeacon Michael Maynes 22 2019 Financial Reports Parish News Editors Dr. Mabel George Howard (Eparchy of Saint Maron) Our Eastern Code of Canon Law Turns 30 [email protected] 28 by Father Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv. Rev. Pierre Bassil (Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon) [email protected] Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn Feature Writers 30 Anna Salloum 2019 Financial Reports Brandon Shulleeta • In order to be considered for publication, all submissions must be Parish News in electronic format and signed by 34 the author with contact information. Images must be of high resolution and quality (minimal 300 dpi, jpg format). 37 National MYO Virtual Retreat 2020 • Subscription rates are $25.00/year. • 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 Adoration (one year). 38 by Vivian M. Akel, LCSW 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 AUGUST 2020 | 3 The Conception and Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Bishop Gregory J. Mansour ost of us are familiar with the Marian and birth, as well as Mary during her heavenly life stories from the four Gospels and the throughout history, is God’s way of telling us that Acts of the Apostles: Mary at the Mary brings sublime consolation, peace, guidance and annunciation, visitation, birth of our protection to those who ask. Lord, his presentation in the Temple, his finding in Mthe temple, the wedding of Cana, her following of his Jacob of Serug describes God’s subtle work with Mary preaching, his death on the Cross, his resurrection this way: appearances, and the descent of the Holy Spirit. Mary’s role in the Scriptures is intertwined with that of our “Our Lord, descending to earth beheld all Savior. women; he chose one for himself who among them all was pleasing. Nonetheless, there are also two feasts in the Church’s calendar that come to us, not from Sacred Scripture, He searched her and found humility and but from Tradition. They pertain to the beginning of holiness in her; limpid impulses and a soul Mary’s life and are hidden and subtle: her conception desirous of divinity. and birth. 8 September, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is exactly nine months after From her childhood, she stood firm in her conception in the womb of her mother which we unblemished uprightness; celebrate on 8 December. she walked in the way without offenses.” (Homily I; Hymns on the Mother of God) The conception and birth of the Blessed Virgin show that God’s work in Mary is often hidden and These verses, from the 5th century Syriac poet, priest, grace-filled, like most good things that happen in and monk, remind us of why we so often turn to life. This subtle work of God in Mary is also true of Mary, who discreetly intercedes for us, as she did at her appearance or devotion in Guadalupe, Fatima, the wedding of Cana, “Son, they have no more wine” Aparacida, Lourdes or Lebanon. Mary at her conception (John 2). 4 | THE MARONITE VOICE “Our Blessed Mother’s conception and birth, often hidden from our view, give us one more subtle and sublime opportunity to seek her intercession in prayer.” Throughout my battle with Covid-19, she was my Our Blessed Mother’s conception constant companion. This is also true for every soul and birth, often hidden from our seeking her help, desiring a deeper union with Christ. view, give us one more subtle When Saint James was discouraged in his effort to and sublime opportunity to seek preach the Gospel of Christ in Spain, Mary appeared to her intercession in prayer. him. One truly finds in Mary a trusted companion and intercessor. O Mary, full of grace, pray for us! From that first century when Mary appeared to the discouraged Saint James until today, we find in Mary a + Bishop Gregory J. Mansour subtle, sure and sublime intercessor. Here is how one of our monks in Petersham, Brother Ephrem, chose to invoke the Virgin’s intercession: “O come, like the early morning, holy and serene: full of grace, immortal, as you behold the living God. O come, like the mild air, like the time of gentle rains: we yearn to hear your voice, your song, pure as silence, until we breathe forth the fragrance of that anointing. Look tenderly on us sinners, that we may be raised up in your likeness, and open up our hearts with yours to his everlasting Light.” AUGUST 2020 | 5 Schedule Bishop Gregory J. Mansour 13-15 August North Jackson, OH | Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon 16 August Pittsburgh, PA | Pastoral Visit 19 August Order of St. Sharbel Virtual Meeting 23 August New Brunswick, NJ | Pastoral Visit 27-31 August Michigan | Family Wedding 4-6 September MYA Leadership Virtual Workshop 26 September Danbury, CT | Ladies Retreat 1 October Online Benefit Dinner 3-4 October Brooklyn, NY | Cathedral Family Retreat 10-11 October Providence, RI | Ordination to Diaconate of Farid Zarour 16-18 October North Jackson, OH | Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon | Deacon and Subdeacon Retreat SAVE THE DATE The Most Reverend Gregory J. Mansour OCTOBER 1, 2020 has made the following decisions with regard to THE EPARCHY OF SAINT MARON’S the appointment of priests: FIRST-EVER VIRTUAL BENEFIT EVENT Accepted the request of Reverend Samuel Najjar, JD, to retire from Please email the pastorate of Saint Michael the [email protected] Archangel Church in Fayetteville, NC, for more information effective 1 July 2020. Appointed the Reverend Adib Salameh as Temporary Administrator of Saint Michael the Archangel Church Christians in Lebanon in Fayetteville, NC, effective are suffering. 1 July 2020. Please pray for Lebanon! If you are able to relieve some of the suffering, please visit: www.stmaron.org/how-you-can-help 6 | THE MARONITE VOICE Schedule Bishop A. Elias Zaidan 19 August St. Louis, MO | Caritas Board Meeting 25 August St. Louis, MO | Installation of Most Reverend Mitchell Rosanski, Archbishop of St. Louis, MO 4-6 September MYA Workshop, Online 28-30 September USCCB Subcommittee Catholic Home Missions Meeting 6-7 October USCCB International Justice and Peace Committee Meeting 16-18 October North Jackson, OH | Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon | Deacon and Subdeacon Retreat Vivian Akel Appointed to National Review Board of U.S. Bishops Conference Four new members have been appointed to serve on the National Review Board (NRB) by Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The NRB advises the bishops’ Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People and was established as part of the Charter for Protection of Children and Young People, a comprehensive set of procedures established and adopted by the U.S. bishops in 2002 to address allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy. In his letter to the newly appointed members, Archbishop Gomez reminded them, “The National Review Board plays a vital role as a consultative body assisting the bishops in ensuring the complete implementation and accountability of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. As it states, ‘The whole Church, especially the laity, at both the diocesan and national levels, needs to be engaged in maintaining safe environments in the Church for children and young people.’” Among the appointees is Vivian Akel, LCSW, the Safe Environment Coordinator for the Eparchy of Saint Maron. Vivian is a retired Clinical Social Worker currently holding the position (volunteer) of Safe Environment Coordinator for the Maronite Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn as well as Pre-Cana facilitator. Her prior experience includes 21 years with the New York City Department of Education as a School Social Worker providing all aspects of Social Work Services with school age children, parents and educators. In addition, Ms. Akel held the position of Director of Social Work in an acute care medical center supervising social workers providing services to patients, families and medical personnel.
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