DOCSLIB.ORG

My Journey to Priesthood: an Interview with Fr François Beyrouti

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
My Journey to Priesthood: an Interview with Fr François Beyrouti s s n n My Journey to Priesthood: An o o i i t t a a Interview with Fr François Beyrouti c c o o by Archimandrite John Azar V V Vocations Director Voc. Dir.: Welcome, Fr. François, both valuables they could find. Whenever anyone asked me what I to this interview and to our Church After these events my parents decided wanted to do, from the age of seven I here in the U.S. I’ve known you for to leave Lebanon. My parents, elder would always say “a priest.” I eventu - several years now. brother, and I got into a taxi packed with ally stopped saying this because people Fr. François: Yes, we first met in 1994. as much as we could take with us. We started calling me the “little priest.” I had just finished my first year of went to Jounie and from there took a During high school I thought of Theology at the Sheptytsky Institute of small boat to Cyprus. We then went to other things that I would like to do, but Eastern Christian Studies at Saint Paul Greece, where my parents worked on was always most drawn to the priest - University in Ottawa and decided to papers to come to Canada. In 1976, we hood, not as a career but as a life of visit St. Gregory’s Melkite Seminary. arrived in Montreal and visited my uncle service to God and people. I prayed to Fr. Justin Rose, then a seminarian, was before going to North Vancouver where know God’s will for me and felt a very very hospitable and showed me around my parents and younger brother still live. strong call to dedicate my life to peace, Boston. One of our stops was at the justice, and faith. I also found the idea Annunciation Cathedral, where you Voc. Dir.: How many children are in of serving God to be more satisfying were the rector. your family? than anything else. By the time I grad - Fr. François: I am the middle of three uated I simply could not think of being Voc. Dir.: Perhaps, you can share with boys. My elder brother, Joseph, and I happy doing anything else. us your early background? were born in Lebanon and my younger Fr. François: Sure. I was born in brother Anthony in North Vancouver. Voc. Dir.: What was your prayer life like? Hadeth, a suburb of Beirut, in 1971. By Our family was hit hard in 2004 when Fr. François: Daily prayer was an mid-1975, unrest was beginning to Joseph passed away very quickly of a important part of my discernment and spread in Lebanon and the situation in brain tumor. Faith has always helped faith journey. Our family always prayed Hadeth became very unpredictable and us through difficult times, especially before meals and went to Church every dangerous. I remember that one day a this one. Sunday. I am very grateful that my par - bomb landed on our house, and luckily ents took their faith seriously and taught no one was hurt. Then a few days later Voc. Dir.: When did you first think of us its importance as we grew up. masked individuals came into our becoming a priest? house and robbed us while we were Fr. François: Our family was always Voc. Dir.: What were some pivotal having dinner. They came with rifles very close to the Church. My brothers moments or people along the way? and one guarded us as the others went and I grew up serving and very Fr. François: In addition to my par - through our house and took all the involved in different Church activities. ents, I was fortunate to have others 14 S ophia • Spring 2013 V who guided my faith journey. Fr. believe in. There was truth and power Churches and Dioceses in the United V o David Monroe, now the bishop of the in their presence and words. I became States and found a listing for the o c c a diocese of Kamloops, BC, was the convinced of the emptiness of a life of Melkite Catholic Eparchy of Newton. I a t pastor at St. Edmund’s Church. He acquiring possessions and began to was surprised to learn that we had a t i i o and Douglas McDonald organized feel even more confirmed in my voca - seminary in Newton, Massachusetts, o n trips for the altar boys to the tion to the priesthood. called St. Gregory Seminary. I wrote a n s Seminary of Christ the King and to After graduating from high school, I letter to Fr. Nicholas Samra, the rector s all the ordinations that would take went to the Seminary of Christ the at the time, and asked for some infor - place in Vancouver. This early expo - King in Mission, BC, where I complet - mation. He wrote back and told me that sure to life at the seminary supported ed a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree, he was no longer the rector of the sem - the idea of consecrating my whole with a special focus in philosophy, inary but had been appointed the auxil - life to serve God. English, and history. iary Bishop of Newton. His letter was My eighth-grade teacher taught us very encouraging and he also sent me how to pray the rosary and encouraged Voc. Dir.: Did you get any Eastern for - some information about the seminary us to pray daily. Throughout high mation there? along with some books. school I prayed the rosary every We stayed in touch and he day. These were special times was a great guide and friend dur - for me as my faith began to ing my studies and discernment. grow. I felt I was already com - He particularly encouraged me mitting myself to a life of faith. to serve our Melkite Church, Amid all the emotional turbu - despite the difficulties. It was a lence of high school I think faith great blessing for me that Bishop kept me focused on moral princi - Nicholas was able to be at my ples, justice, honesty, and the ordinations to the diaconate and importance of the Word of God. I priesthood. It is now an even began to realize how difficult it greater blessing and privilege to was to live my faith, but also serve with a leader who has such experienced the great joy it a clear vision for the future of brought me in knowing that I our Melkite Church. was doing the right thing. I grew My desire to learn as much as to see the spiritual life as the path I could about our traditions led to a truer and much longer-last - me Mount Tabor Monastery in ing happiness than the temporal Ukiah, California, in 1992 and temptations that quickly end up 1993, where I attended two inten - hurting us. sive summer programs in Eastern Two other people also had an Christianity. These programs extraordinary effect on my life. were run by the Sheptytsky In 1984, Pope John Paul II vis - Institute of Eastern Christian ited Vancouver and an event was Studies, and the director, Fr. held at BC Place, a 60,000-seat Andriy Chirovsky, encouraged stadium. I could not remain seat - me to register in the newly-estab - ed. I went and stood along the lished program leading to a railing. As he was passing by in Bachelor of Theology degree in the popemobile, I felt like jump - Eastern Christian Studies. I went ing over the railing to get even to Ottawa in September 1993, closer, but didn’t. When he spoke completed the degree, and then I found his call for peace, justice, went on to complete a Master of morality, and holiness very pro - Arts and a Licentiate in Theology, found and felt very emotionally both in Biblical Studies. and spiritually moved by seeing him and hearing his words. Fr. François: The Benedictine monks Voc. Dir.: Were you ordained in Another influence was Mother of Westminster Abbey, who ran the Canada? Where did you serve? Teresa. In 1988, my parents and I went Seminary, encouraged me to learn more Fr. François: Yes I was ordained and to attend an event in a packed 16,000- about my Eastern Catholic roots. I read have been serving in Canada. I became seat stadium. I felt that I was in the as much as I could about the Byzantine a reader, sub-deacon, and deacon under presence of a very holy person. I Liturgy and Eastern Christianity. I also Archbishop Michel Hakim. In 1998, remember her speech and feeling that spent three summers in the Middle East Bishop Sleiman Hajjar ordained me a there was something very real and where I visited Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, priest and appointed me the assistant deep in what she was saying. Turkey, Palestine, and Egypt. These pastor at Saints Peter and Paul Melkite I had been in BC Place and Pacific trips were a great re-immersion in a Catholic Church in Ottawa. I was Coliseum many times for concerts, but culture from which I felt I had been blessed and privileged to serve the Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa violently uprooted. wonderful people of this parish until were different kinds of superstars. By God’s providence, in 1990 I was 2010. It was an enormous blessing to They were superstars you could really flipping through a Directory of Continued on page 16 Spring 2013 • S ophia 15 s s My Journey to Priesthood Continued from page 15 n n o o i i t t be part of the faith journey of so many your ministry now that you have been a a people, and I experienced the great incardinated into our Eparchy? c c love of a beautiful community that Fr.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Vatican II Decree on the Eastern Catholic
    KL BH The Vatican II Decree EH CH on the Eastern Catholic Churches Orientalium ecclesiarum - Fifty Years Later Carr Hall (Father Madden Hall) Trinity College (Trinity College Chapel) J.M. KellyJ.M. Library (coffee lounge) — — October 17 & 18, 2014 — KL CH TC N University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto ORGANIZED BY THE METROPOLITAN ANDREY SHEPTYTSKY INSTITUTE OF EASTERN CHRISTIAN STUDIES www.sheptytskyinstitute.ca TC Co-sponsored by The Catholic Near East Welfare Association Centre for Research on the Second Vatican Council in Canada, St. Michael’s College Toronto Research on Vatican II and 21st Century Catholicism, Saint Paul University, Ottawa Brennan Hall ( Senior RoomCommon & Canada Room) Elmsley Hall (Charbonnel Lounge) — — CONFERENCE MAP CONFERENCE BH EH ANNOUNCEMENTS Saturday, October 18 9:00am—Father Madden Hall in Carr Hall, 100 St Joseph St. During the conference, snacks can be purchased across the street from Carr Hall at the coffee Morning Prayer according to the Byzantine Christian Tradition lounge in the Kelly Library. 9:30am—Father Madden Hall in Carr Hall, 100 St Joseph St. Lunch (available 11:30am-2:30pm) and dinner (available 5:30-7:30pm) can be purchased in 3) Bishop Nicholas Samra: “Eastern Catholicism in the Middle East Fifty Years after the Canada Room of Brennan Hall. Orientalium ecclesiarum” 11:00-11:45am Parallel sessions Bishop David Motiuk: “An Overview of the Ukrainian Catholic Church on the Eve of the Second Vatican Council”—Father Madden Hall in Carr Hall, 100 St Joseph St. Friday, October 17 Andriy Chirovsky: “TBA”—Charbonnel Lounge 1:00pm—Father Madden Hall in Carr Hall, 100 St Joseph St.
    [Show full text]
  • September 2015 Issue Of
    Eastern Catholic Life Official Publication of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic VOL. LI, NO. 9 SEPTEMBER 2015 In Line With Vatican II: New Rules on Eastern Married Clergy by Archbishop Cyril Vasil’, SJ, with Bishop George Gallaro INTRODUCTION The November 2013 Plenary Session of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, among other things, adequately dealt with this issue and reached ntil recently, it seemed that the presence and ministry of Eastern the wide-ranging consent of the members present. As a consequence, the UCatholic married clergy in the so-called diaspora (places outside of Prefect of the Eastern Congregation submitted to the Holy Father, Pope the traditional territories) was a closed question. In fact, not much could Francis, the request to grant, under certain conditions, to the respective ec- have been added to its historical or canonical viewpoint that had not al- clesiastical authorities the faculty to allow Eastern Catholic married clergy ready been studiously examined. The issue is summarized by the 1990Code to minister even outside of their traditional territories. of Canons of the Eastern Churches: “The particular law of each Church sui iuris or special norms established by the Holy See are to be followed in ad- The Holy Father, at the audience granted to the Prefect of the Congrega- mitting married men to sacred orders” (Canon 758, paragraph 3). tion for the Eastern Churches, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, on December 23, 2013, favorably received this request, notwithstanding the least things to Following ancient discipline, all Eastern Catholic Churches – with the the contrary (contrariis quibuslibet minime obstantibus) and the text of the exception of the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches [of India - new norms was published on June 14, 2014.
    [Show full text]
  • My Dear Friends in Christ, As the Apostolic Nuncio, the Personal
    REMARKS OF HIS EXCELLENCY ARCHBISHOP CHRISTOPHE PIERRE APOSTOLIC NUNCIO TO THE UNITED STATES JUBILEE CELEBRATION FOR BISHOP NICHOLAS SAMRA BISHOP OF THE MELKITE EPARCHY OF NEWTON ANNUNCIATION MELKITE CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL HALL, WEST ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2019 My Dear Friends in Christ, As the Apostolic Nuncio, the personal representative of Pope Francis to the United States, I greet you in the name of the Holy Father. I wish to acknowledge the presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Joseph Absi, as well as the many other prelates and dignitaries here this evening. I thank the Right Reverend Philip Raczka, Cathedral Rector and Vicar General, for his hospitality. In a special way, I greet my brother, Bishop Nicholas Samra, and express to him the spiritual closeness, paternal affection, and heartfelt congratulations on this occasion in your life and priestly ministry – the celebration of thirty years of episcopal ministry and fifty years of priestly service! Your Excellency, fifty years ago, you were ordained as a priest and anointed with the oil of gladness, committing yourself wholeheartedly to the service of the People of God, promising to offer sacrifice to God for them. Twenty years later, you received the fullness of Holy Orders, deepening your commitment to pasture Christ’s sheep. You certainly have taken that commitment seriously. Indeed, as priests and bishops, our whole life is an oblation to God and a constant striving to imitate Christ, the Good Shepherd. Pope Francis has said: “The Heart of the Good Shepherd is not only the Heart that shows us mercy, but it is itself mercy.
    [Show full text]
  • July-August 2012
    The Maronite Voice A Publication of the Maronite Eparchies in the USA Volume VIII Issue No. VII July - August 2012 Where In The World Would You Find the Freedom That We Have In This United States of America? Dear Friends: s you know, both myself and Bishop Gregory were in Lebanon Afor approximately three weeks in June to attend the Annual Maronite Bishops’ Synod and various meetings. It was a great experience for both, receiving and sharing ideas with other Maronite Bishops from around the world. On my return, as the plane flew over American soil, I began to reflect on the various countries which we passed over. My heart went out to the people of Syria, Iraq and Jordan in the Middle East where there is persecution and heartache. I realized more and more, in that part of the world where Jesus began His teachings, the people endure much danger and are even losing the faith that has been instilled in them from Apostolic times. This is due to the environment in which they live. Except for Lebanon, there is no freedom, no liberty, no justice for all, as we enjoy in this great country. I begin to ask, do our people appreciate what we have in this great land? Yes, we are not perfect, but we must remind our immigrants and natural citizens alike, that despite our defects, where in the world would you find the freedom that we have in this United States of America? Let us thank God for his goodness to all of us for we are able to live in the land of the " FREE and the HOME of the BRAVE." During this time of the year as we celebrate the Fourth of July, let us thank God for all those who continue to work and sacrifice to make this the greatest country in the world.
    [Show full text]
  • 2021 DSJ Directory
    Diocese of San José 2021 Directory 1150 North First Street, Suite 100 San José, California 95112 Phone (408) 983-0100 www.dsj.org updated 8/12/2021 1 2 Table of Contents Diocese Page 5 Chancery Office Page 15 Deaneries Page 29 Churches Page 43 Schools Page 163 Clergy & Religious Page 169 Organizations Page 205 Appendix 1 Page A-1 Appendix 2 Page A-15 3 4 Pope Francis Bishop of Rome Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital city, on December 17, 1936. He studied and received a master's degree in chemistry at the University of Buenos Aires, but later decided to become a Jesuit priest and studied at the Jesuit seminary of Villa Devoto. He studied liberal arts in Santiago, Chile, and in 1960 earned a degree in philosophy from the Catholic University of Buenos Aires. Between 1964 and 1965 he was a teacher of literature and psychology at Inmaculada High School in the province of Santa Fe, and in 1966 he taught the same courses at the prestigious Colegio del Salvador in Buenos Aires. In 1967, he returned to his theological studies and was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969. After his perpetual profession as a Jesuit in 1973, he became master of novices at the Seminary of Villa Barilari in San Miguel. Later that same year, he was elected superior of the Jesuit province of Argentina and Uruguay. In 1980, he returned to San Miguel as a teacher at the Jesuit school, a job rarely taken by a former provincial superior.
    [Show full text]
  • FOCUS E-News
    FOCUS E-News October 23 - 29, 2017 Edition Please support this work! Join us for our Fall Event ​October 27, 2017 Join our teleconference Sr. Sandra Schneiders November 8, 2017 The Gospel of John: A Fr. Duch Blueprint for Parish Life The Lobinger Model Come to the event Emerging Models of Parish ​or buy a live stream/virtual and Community Life ticket! Did you miss an issue of our weekly FOCUS E-News? Catch up! From the Director I, like most of you, have LGBTQI people in my life that I love fiercely. They are Catholic. They are family, friends, and colleagues. And because I love them, I find it especially painful and frustrating to hear yet another bishop misusing his authority to deny these sisters and brothers a funeral because they are, in his mind, a cause of "scandal" and "confusion." There is scandal and confusion here, but it is not located in the lives of my LGBTQI Catholics. It is located in the rigidity of some bishops. Bishop Paprocki infamously sent down orders in June giving his blessing to priests who want to deny married LGBTQI Catholics communion and a Catholic funeral. And this month, it is the Diocese of Madison Wisconsin with Bishop Robert Morlino's full approval citing canon law to deny funerals married LGBTQI Catholics. Robert Shine of New Ways Ministry writes, "Celebrating the sacraments, especially in people’s most pained moments, is central to the church’s mission. While canon law may protect the right of bishops to deny sacraments as heads of dioceses, the divine law interrogates them as to why church officials seek to do so in such an aggressive manner against LGBT people.
    [Show full text]
  • August 2018 Issue Of
    Eastern Catholic Life Official Publication of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic VOL. LIV, NO. 8 AUGUST 2018 Passaic,New NJ Iconography at Saint Michael Cathedral Saints Joachim and Anna, flanked by Saint Irene and Saint Michael the Archangel Saints Zachary and Elizabeth, with their son, Saint John the Baptist, and Saint Nicholas ith characteristic good saintly role models for married couples Mystical Supper to its proper place above Jesus Christ and His Church. These rows nature, the parishioners and young people; to include the Old the Royal Doors, a very meaningful series of Apostles and Prophets, often included of Saint Michael Cathe- Testament prophets; to celebrate spe- is created, linking the domestic table of ev- on a full, traditional iconostasis, remind us dralW in Passaic, NJ, put up with scaffold- cifically Ruthenian Greek Catholic saints; ery Christian home, the liturgical Table of of Saint Paul’s teaching that Christ’s Church ing for much of the summer of 2017 and and to improve upon a few details in the the Eucharist, and the table of the heavenly is built upon the foundation of the Apostles again in the spring of 2018. On Pentecost previous design. banquet where the Father, the Son, and the and Prophets (Ephesians 2:20). Sunday 2018, they were finally able to Holy Spirit keep open a space for us. contemplate twenty-nine new holy icons in On the iconostasis, new icons depict Above the Prophets, four circular the 116-year-old landmark. Saints Joachim and Anna, parents of the Eighteen images of Old Testament images
    [Show full text]
  • Schedule of Divine Services
    October 13, 2019 Sunday of the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council Happy Birthday Greetings this Week: October 16: Frank Dalonzo, Julie Trombulak, October 17: Jason George, Dorothy Hagan Wedding Anniversaries this Week: October 13: Charles & Dorothy Hagan, October 15: Michael & Theresa Chapes, October 19: John & Darlene Simunick SAINT GEORGE BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH Please Pray For Our Sick and Shut-ins Fighting the Good Fight with Faith HOME – Eileen Batcha, Natalie Jugan-Diaz, Rebecca Dickun, Marianne Dove, Alice Haber, Jean Herdt, Rebecca Hutcheon, Kevin Joray, Mary Ann Jugan, Neil Jugan, Josephine Maruhnich, Mary Salamon, Bonnie Taylor Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever! ~ Slava Isusu Christu! Slava Na V'iki! Propers for this Sunday: pp. 125 - 127, Tone 1 and pp. 263 -264 Hunter’s Care Home (1916 Main St, Aliquippa, PA 15001) – Mary Poiarkoff West Hills Health & Rehab Center (951 Brodhead Road, Coraopolis, PA 15108) – Margaret Klacik Divine Services Schedule: Beaver Meadows (5130 Tuscarawas Rd, Beaver, PA 15009) - Angie Yuhasz Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center (246 Friendship Cir, Beaver, PA 15009) - Marion Malackanich, SUN., OCT. 13 SUNDAY of the FATHERS of the SEVENTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL Carole Panella 8:00 A.M. Holy Rosary 8:30 A.M DIVINE LITURGY Epistle Readers: Oct. 13: Jo Ann Hersh – Oct. 20: Joanne Futato + Wilma Dobo, offered by Dolores Di Giovine Ushers: Oct. 13: R. Dzumba/J. Yurosky – Oct. 20: E. Maruhnich/J. Yurosky Troica Holders: Oct.13: F. Hersh – Oct. 20: M. Bobanic SUN., OCT. 20 NINETEENTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST 8:00 A.M. Holy Rosary THE SANCTUARY LAMP 8:30 A.M.
    [Show full text]
  • In This Issue Bible Boot Camp the New Martyrs Around the Eparchy National Assn
    VOL. 45 | NO. 2 | SPRING 2015 Bible Boot Camp The New Martyrs In This IssueAround the Eparchy National Assn. of Melkite Women CONTENTS SThe Journalophia of the Eparchy of Newton for Melkite Catholics in the United States 3 From the Editor, Come and See www.melkite.org 4 Pascha Proclaims an Undying Hope Published quarterly by the Eparchy of Newton. ISSN 0194-7958. Made possible in part by the Catholic Home Mission 6 Bible Boot Camp Get Ready for Basic Training Committee, a bequest by the Rev. Allen Maloof and generous supporters of the annual Bishop’s Appeal. 8 Bishop Nicholas Announces New St. Barbara Mission PUBLISHER 10 Fr Khaled Anatolios Ordained Priest Most Rev. Nicholas J. Samra, Eparchial Bishop 11 Deacon Andrew Baroody Ordained EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rt. Rev. Archimandrite James Babcock 12 Alabama Parishioner Named a COPY EDITOR National Distinguished Principal Rev. James Graham Being Green. Or Melkite PRODUCTION 13 It’s Not Easy Deacon Paul Leonarczyk 14 The New Martyrs for Christ DESIGN AND LAYOUT Doreen Tahmoosh-Pierson 16 Father Bechara A Man of Simplicity and Humility SOPHIA ADVISORY BOARD Dr. Fran Colie | Rev. George Gallaro 18 Salvatorian Order Commemorates 85th Anniversary Very Rev. Lawrence Gosselin Deacon Paul Leonarczyk | Rev. Justin Rose 19 NAMY Conference Coming to Michigan Rt. Rev. Michael Skrocki Jesus Heals Body and Soul DISTRIBUTION 20 Sin Makes U Sick Rt. Rev. Michael Skrocki 21 Vocation Tour Reaches Miami Please email subscription additions/deletions or address changes to: [email protected]. 22 Quiz What’s Your Melkite IQ? The Publisher waives all copyright to this issue.
    [Show full text]
  • Report, 1995-96: New England Region Matthew .F Morry
    Marian Studies Volume 47 Marian Spirituality and the Interreligious Article 17 Dialogue 1996 Report, 1995-96: New England Region Matthew .F Morry Follow this and additional works at: https://ecommons.udayton.edu/marian_studies Part of the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Morry, Matthew F. (1996) "Report, 1995-96: New England Region," Marian Studies: Vol. 47, Article 17. Available at: https://ecommons.udayton.edu/marian_studies/vol47/iss1/17 This Back Matter is brought to you for free and open access by the Marian Library Publications at eCommons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Marian Studies by an authorized editor of eCommons. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Morry: Report, 1995-96: New England Region REPORT, 1995-96: NEW ENGLAND REGION On Saturday, October 28, 1995, the New England Region of the Mariological Soci­ ety of America held its annual meeting at Providence College, Providence, Rhode Is­ land, in the Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas. The meeting was called into session at 10:00 a.m. by the Reverend Matthew E Morry, O.P., S.T.D., Director of the New England Region.After the opening prayer, the Very Reverend Philip A. Smith, O.P., Ph.D., President of Providence College, welcomed the members and guests and brought the greetings of the College. The Keynote Address was delivered by the Most Reverence Nicholas]. Samra, D. D., Auxiliary Bishop of Newton and VIcar General of the Melkite-Greek Catholic Church, who presented"Mary in Byzantine Tradition." Bishop Samra called attention to the fact that in the Byzantine Tradition "Mary is not so much an object of devotion as an all­ pervading presence-one intimately linked with God's economia." So, through Mary, the Incarnation burst into human history and, ultimately, led the early Church to Eph· esus (in 431), to proclaim Mary 1beotokos-not Cbrlstotokos.
    [Show full text]
  • ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTACOST AUGUST 9Th 2015 Bishop Gerald, Father Christopher Zugger, Msgr
    Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him Forever! Last Sunday’s Gift to the Lord This Week’s Liturgy Schedule Sunday 10:00 AM Divine ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Sunday Attendance: 57 Tithe:$ Donation:$ Debt. Bake Sale:$ Gift Shop:$ Roof August 9 Liturgy For the Parishioners Friends and Benefactors, Outreach Hanford: 37 Reduction:$ Candles:$ Hanford:$ Repair:$ Recycle:$ p.346,130 2:30 PM Fresno Fresno, Outreach Hanford Myrovanie-Anointing 1Cor.9:2- 5:00 PM Hanford 12 Matth.18:23-35 +Joe.P.Braz by Doris Braz PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR CHURCH IN YOUR WILLS AND BEQUESTS Monday Postfestive Day of Transfiguration August 10 p.346 May God bless your generosity to His Church! Tuesday 5:30 PM Divine Postfestive Day of Transfiguration You are invited to sponsor the weekly sanctuary Lamp in our Church for your various intentions. If August 11 Liturgy 2Cor.5:15-21 you are interested in sponsoring this vigil candle the usual stipend offering is $ 10.00. It will burn p.346 Special intention or John Gutierrez Mark 1:16-22 from Sunday through Saturday, and the bulletin will remind your fellow parishioners of your special intention or of the memory of a loved one. You may request as often as you would like. Write Wednesday 6:30PM Divine The Holy Martyrs Photius and Anicetus your intention and name of the one offering the intention. August 12 Liturgy 2Cor. 6:11-16 +Daniel &Anita by Santos family Cleaning Angels of the Social Hall: p.381 Mark1:23-28 UPCOMING:August 15th is the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary- Thursday 9:00 AM Divine Otdanie(Leave-taking) of the Feast of the Transfiguration Blessing of the herbs, August 29th is the feast of the beheading of the prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist August 13 Liturgy 2Cor.7:1-10 John.
    [Show full text]
  • December 2014 Issue Of
    Eastern Catholic Life Official Publication of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic VOL. L, NO. 12 DECEMBER, 2014 Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Christmas Message from Bishop Kurt ome 750 years before the birth of the Messiah, there arose in the “And the government will be upon his shoulders.” As heir to the throne Near East an empire of such astonishing greed and cruelty that of David, Jesus would rule the cosmos, but not the way a sinner would—self all of Asia trembled. It was called the Assyrian Empire and was aggrandizing and defensive. The scriptures say mercy and justice will meet. centeredS in the city of Nineveh. After conquering the main military forces Jesus is the just ruler who never excuses sin or evil, but is also the merciful of the times, they turned their attention to the Promised Land, and began ruler because He pays the price himself for our debts. to chip away at the borders established by Joshua, David, and Solomon. The “And his name will be called Wonderful.” God said let there be light, and first area where the chosen people were driven out of their heritage was the there was light. From the beginning, God created the world by his Word. northernmost part, namely Zebulun and Naphtali. Eventually, the Assyrians Whether it’s the pastel colored lights of aurora, or the clear brilliant light captured all of the Northern Kingdom—the Kingdom of Israel. They “eth- of midday, or the passionate searing light of sunset, or the quiet light of the nically cleansed” the Northern Kingdom, as we say nowadays, and moved moon and stars, the inexhaustible beauty of the world is carried to our eyes in other peoples to occupy the empty land.
    [Show full text]