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April 22 2018.Pages Saint Rafka Maronite Catholics of the East in the Upstate! 1215 S. Highway 14, Greer, SC 29650 864.469.9119 saintrafka.org [email protected] Saint Rafka Maronite Church is a Catholic Parish of the Antiochene Syriac Maronite Church, Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, NY, Most Rev. Gregory John Mansour, Bishop, 109 Remsen Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, 718.237.9913. [email protected] April 22, 2018 Rev. Bartholomew Leon, Administrator, [email protected] Pastor’s Advisory Council Ramiz Askar, 4th Sunday of Easter Marlene Saad Secretary Richard Sleiman, Chairman “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” said Christ to His Paul Sleiman, Linda Wickett, disciples, appearing to them for the third time after Jack Yacu His Resurrection. When they answered ‘no’ Christ Finance Committee instructed them, like when He first met them (Matt. George Azan, Joseph Chebeir, Chairman Tony Sleiman, Paula Howard-Casby 4), to cast their nets again. To their amazement the disciples pulled in a catch full to the seams of the Administration net –153 fish to be exact. If that seems like an oddly specific number, it is meant to be. In the Richard, Wickett, Financial Secretary ancient world it was believed that there were exactly 153 species of fish, so by Christ’s command Joseph Chebeir, Scott Herr, Administrative Assistants to the Pastor Peter caught every fish in the sea. When Christ first called Peter He said, “I shall make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19) and many believed salvation was limited to the People of Israel. But here Christ emphasizes, in His mercy, the Apostles are to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19). One of the common themes of the writing of the Syriac Father Aphrahat, who was possibly Continued next page previously a Jew himself, is the idea of the peoples becoming the People. To Israel God promised “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God” (Ex. 6:7) and established with them through Moses His covenant for their protection and deliverance. He established the Law to teach the People obedience and proper worship. But God loves all mankind as His creation made in His image, and so the People were established as an example and foreshadowing of the peoples who would later be called when He would come Himself. Previously, it was by the human womb that one became part of the saved People – being born of a Jewish woman made one part of Israel. But Christ came to grant salvation to all those who seek Him, and so He commanded the Apostles to make disciples of all nations by “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19). One is born into the true Israel by the womb of baptism, which is what Christ means when He tells Nicodemus he must be born again by Spirit and water (John 3). In the waters of baptism one buries their old self – sin is put to death – and what rises out of the tomb of the womb of waters with the resurrected Christ is a new man, the Christian. Christ first established Israel as an example for following His commands, but sent His Apostles out to make all peoples His People and ensure that in love and worship of Him they come to eternal life and forgiveness of sins. So great is the love of our God that although we have sinned He calls us all to Himself, not simply to serve but to rejoice with Him. But one people is not sufficient, nor one hundred, but He desires that every people on earth should share in His eternal life and holiness. He has called us, His disciples, to participate in His mercy by going out into the world and bringing people to the womb of new life, baptism, that they may participate in His Resurrection. His Resurrection has delivered us from the sting of death and sin, freeing us, though we have sinned. With great joy, let us go out and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, bringing others to the true faith. The Lord has given us the command to cast our nets – to courageously invite a friend or coworker to church on Sunday or knock on our neighbor’s door and visit with them. If we have gratitude and joy for the gift we have unworthily received let us freely share it with others as Christ has freely given it to us. Let us eagerly spread the Gospel of the Resurrection for love of Christ and fellow man so that on the last day when we stand before the throne of God with all our deeds before us and we are asked, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” we may respond, “Yes, all 153!” Seminarian Michael Shami © 2018 Saint Rafka Maronite Catholic Church, Greer, SC. All rights reserved. Abouna’s Corner Dear Parishioners and Friends, Happy Easter Season and welcome to Springtime??!! Last weekend was quite eventful at Saint Rafka and this weekend will follow suit! On Sunday, I awarded the first Saint Rafka Award to Greg and Mary Anne Lepak. Greg and Mary Anne worked for unseen hours preparing for a convention that was small, but mighty. They helped put Saint Rafka on the Maronite map as a community of prayer, diversity and energy. It was only fitting to give them a public recognition for their dedication. The physical award was a painting The Ecstasy of Saint Rafka by Judy Soma, given to our community by the NAM Board at the end of the convention. Next year, at the beginning of Great Lent, a form will be sent to registered parishioners asking for names of those we should consider honoring and the award will given at the solemn celebration of Saint Rafka after Easter. Last weekend we also hosted Camille Harmouche and Walid Nassar and their wives at the 11 AM liturgy. Camille and Walid spoke about the upcoming Hafli, a benefit for Saint Stephen Maronite Church, in Charlotte. Saint Stephen is a growing Maronite community and they are our closest Maronite neighbors. If you can make the Hafli, please do so. I plan to attend and help this vibrant community. This weekend, we host another two special events. At the 4 PM Divine Liturgy, parishioners Bill and Mary Anne McAfee will have their marriage of 25 years blessed with the Rite of Crowning. All are invited to Wickett Hall following the liturgy for coffee and cake. At the 11 AM Liturgy, Luke Dibo will receive his first solemn communion and complete his sacrament initiation. Next weekend is just as busy with a Crowning and a Baptism. All these are signs of life and growth - hope for the future and the fullness of a community. Thanks for your participation and membership in this unique parish! Have a great weekend! See you in Church! Salaam! Ab. Bart Camille Harmouche and Walid Nassar, parishioners of Saint Stephen Maronite Church in Charlotte address the community at the end of the liturgy last Sunday in anticipation of their upcoming Hafli on May 5 in Charlotte. It was a delight to have our neighbors to the north visit us. Mary Anne and Greg Lepak accepting The Ecstasy of Saint Rafka by Judy Soma at the end of the festive Saint Rafka liturgy last weekend. They become the first recipients of the Saint Rafka Award to be given each year for outstanding service to the parish community. Greg and Mary Anne were awarded this honor for all their hard work on the 54th NAM Convention last Summer. Calendar of Events April 21, 4 PM, Vigil Liturgy 22, 11 AM, Divine Liturgy, Easter 4 First Solemn Communion, Luke Dibo 4:30 PM, Korean Mass 7 PM, Last Chance Divine Liturgy 24, 6:30 PM, Ramsho and Veneration of Relics 25, 7 PM, Divine Liturgy Anointing of the Sick 28, 1 PM, Crowning 4 PM, Vigil Liturgy, Easter 5 29, 11 AM, Divine Liturgy 1 PM, Baptism 5 PM, Byzantine Greek Divine Liturgy 7 PM, Last Chance Divine Liturgy May Ramsho and Blessing with the 1, 6:30 PM, Ramsho and Veneration of Relics relics of Saints Rafka, Sharbel 2, 7 PM, Divine Liturgy Nimatullah, and the Massabki Anointing of the Sick Brothers Tuesday evening, 6:30 3, 5:30 PM, First Thursday Pasta Supper PM, Saint Rafka Church. Come to 5, 4 PM, Vigil Liturgy, Easter 6 offer the evening sacrifice and ask 6, 11 AM, Divine Liturgy, Potluck Luncheon God’s blessing, healing, mercy and compassion through these holy 3 PM, First Sunday Holy Hour men and women. Bring a friend! 7 PM, Last Chance Divine Liturgy 8, 6:30 PM, Ramsho and Veneration of Relics 9, 7 PM, Divine Liturgy Anointing of the Sick 10, 7 PM, Ascension of the Lord, Holy Day Byzantine Rite Divine Liturgy On Sunday, April 29, at 5:00pm, a Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine Rite, in English, will be celebrated at St. Rafka Maronite Catholic Church. Father Joseph Matlak, administrator of Holy Dormition Eastern Catholic Mission, will celebrate the Liturgy. Join us for fellowship afterwards, which will include a brief adult catechesis on the basics of Byzantine Liturgy by Father Joseph. For more information, visit dormition.weebly.com or email [email protected]. ّﻗﺪاس إﻟﻬﻲ ﺣﺴﺐ اﻟﻄﻘﺲ اﻟﺒﯿﺰﻧﻄﻲ ﯾﺤﺘﻔﻞ اﻻب ﺟﻮزﯾﻒ ﻣﺘﻠﻚ, راﻋﻲ ﺑﻌﺜﺔ اﻟﻘﺪس اﻟﻜﺎﺛﻮﻟﯿﻜﯿﺔ اﻟﺸﺮﻗﯿﺔ, ﺑﻘّﺪاس ﺣﺴﺐ اﻟﻄﻘﺲ اﻟﺒﯿﺰﻧﻄﻲ, ﺑﺎﻟﻠﻐﺔ اﻹﻧﻜﻠﯿﺰﯾﺔ, ﻧﻬﺎر اﻷﺣﺪ ٢٩ ﻧﯿﺴﺎن اﻟﺴﺎﻋﺔ ٥ ﺑﻌﺪ اﻟﻈﻬﺮ ﻓﻲ ﻛﻨﯿﺴﺔ اﻟﻘﺪﯾﺴﺔ رﻓﻘﺎ اﻟﻤﺎروﻧﯿﺔ اﻟﻜﺎﺛﻮﻟﯿﻜﯿﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺔ Greer. ﻧﺘﻤﻨﻰ ﻣﺸﺎرﻛﺘﻜﻢ ﻓﻲ ﻫﺬا اﻻﺣﺘﻔﺎل. ﯾﺘﻠﻮ اﻟﻘﺪاس درس دﯾﻨﻲ ﻣﺨﺘﺼﺮ ﻋﻦ أﺳﺲ اﻟﻄﻘﺲ اﻟﺒﯿﺰﻧﻄﻲ ﻋﻠﻰ ﯾﺪ اﻷب ﻣﺘﻠﻚ.
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