CTR Maronite Parish Notice Board Maronite Catholic Parish Christ the Redeemer of The Hills District ALPHA - Come & See Night Monday 22 July 7.30pm - 9.30pm Issue 39 Sunday 21 July 2019 Dinner, Video and Sharing . To book call Honi 0468 966 970 Feast of St Charbel

Second Tuesday Mass Seventh Sunday of the Season of Glorious Pentecost Tues 13 August, 7:30pm Talk, Praise and Worship The Gospel Confession and Prayer Ministry The Epistle at OLOLourdes, Baulkham Hills Sth Then Jesus left the crowds We know that all things work and went into the house. And his together for good for those who Rosary & Brunch disciples approached him, saying, love God, who are called according Thurs 22 August 10.00am “Explain to us the parable of the to his purpose. For those whom he At Mona Younis’ Home weeds of the field.” He answered, foreknew he also predestined to be 34 Terry Rd, Box Hill “The one who sows the good seed conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the is the Son of Man; the field is the firstborn within a large family. And world, and the good seed are the those whom he predestined he also children of the kingdom; the weeds called; and those whom he called are the children of the evil one, and he also justified; and those whom the enemy who sowed them is the he justified he also glorified. devil; the harvest is the end of the What then are we to say about age, and the reapers are angels. these things? If God is for us, who is Just as the weeds are collected and against us? He who did not burned up with fire, so will it be at withhold his own Son, but gave him the end of the age. The Son of Man up for all of us, will he not with him will send his angels, and they will also give us everything else? Who collect out of his kingdom all will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is causes of sin and all evildoers, and to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who they will throw them into the died, yes, who was raised, who is at furnace of fire, where there will be the right hand of God, who indeed weeping and gnashing of teeth. Next Sunday intercedes for us. Then the righteous will shine like Eighth Sunday of Pentecost Who will separate us from the love the sun in the kingdom of their Reading & Gospel of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, Father. Let anyone with ears listen! Rom 8:1-11 ; Matt 12:14-21 or persecution, or famine, or Mt 13: 36-43 nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are Quote of the Week being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be “Remember that when you leave this earth, slaughtered.” No, in all these things you can take with you nothing that you have received - we are more than conquerors Thank You Newsletter Sponsors - More Sponsors needed! through him who loved us. For I am only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by convinced that neither death, nor honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.” life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor Saint Francis of Assisi things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will SUNDAY LITURGIES (MASSES) be able to separate us from the Oakhill College, Castle Hill love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 9.00am (), 10.30am (English, Children & Young Families) Our Lady of Lourdes, Baulkham Hills South Rom 8: 28-39 6.00pm (English, Youth & Families) Confessions: 15mins before & during most Masses or by appointment. Sick Visits: call Mons Shora, Fr Nabil or Deacons (see MB no.s below)

PARISH MINISTRY TEAM & CONTACT DETAILS Parish Administrator: Monsignor Shora Maree 0418 969 844 Assistant Priest: Fr Nabil Wehbe 0431 486 089 Deacon Nehme Khattar 0414 787 772 Deacon Joseph Maatouk 0413 245501 Parish Secretary: Josephine on 0433 826 661 Tues-Fri 10am - 5.30pm Community Outreach Officer: Honi Lattouf on 0468 966 970 Parish Office: 109 Kings Road, Castle Hill, NSW 2154 Email: [email protected]; Website: www.ctr.org.au Facebook: Christ the Redeemer the Hills District Maronite Parish To receive Newsletter by email, send request to newsleter@hillsmaronite. org.au Shepherd Shares - “teens testify to alpha” Bishop’s Corner - Year of Maronite Spirituality 7th Sunday of Pentecost and emotionally and Dearly beloved, Dear Parishioners, As we are about I’m proud of myself for On the third Sunday of July, the celebrates the feast of St Charbel, a to commence our the fourth Alpha bettering my catholic monk of the Lebanese Maronite Order who was the first Lebanese saint to be canonized Series in our Parish I thought I faith. I have not only in 1977. I personally have a strong love for St Charbel who has accompanied my spiritual would share with you the two Teen deepened my faith but journey from a very young age. I chose to add his name to the name that my parents gave Testimonies we heard at last Sunday I have made heaps of me when I became bishop. 10.30am Mass for those who missed wonderful friends. I St Charbel was a man of silence and prayer. His life was a constant prayer. He truly heeded them. The first is from Gia Makhlouf will miss our Alpha the Gospel teaching to “pray without ceasing”. Whether through the public prayer of the and the second from John Paul ….. family and their sup- Divine Liturgy, the personal prayers and devotions in his hermitage or the prayer of his Gia’a Testimony portive guidance! I hard labour, he was constantly talking with God and building that intimate relationship would like to thank the with Him. He is one of the greatest and most famous saints of our time, a humble man When my parents first heard about alpha team and lead- Alpha for Teens, they were more who lived a life of prayer and silence, and was able to detach himself from everything ers who do an amazing except the adorable face of the Lord. than excited for my brother Peter job volunteering their time to and I know in some ways it has and I to join. My parents have both Although born almost 2 centuries ago, in 1828, St Charbel still teaches us all valuable strengthen our faith. ... changed everyone throughout the lessons in our everyday life. In this world of technology and speed, he reminds me and everyone of us, especially the done alpha, and they always spoke course. So, I strongly recommend about how their life has changed Alpha is something that has changed youth, that God does exist. God is a living and a loving God. We should speak to Him often and give priority to prayer my life and I encourage everyone to you come along to the next Alpha. in our lives. and that they received the Holy Spir- You won’t regret signing up. it in their hearts. I never really join the course so it can change your In a noisy world like ours, St Charbel’s holy silence teaches us to find God’s presence in our lives and to listen to what thought twice about what they said, life to. Thank You Thank You. He wants to tell us. I know that I do a lot of talking and I am sure that many of you also do a lot of talking. St Charbel and never really thought about John Paul’s Testimony Well our Fourth Alpha Series Night is a reminder to all of us to take time to listen to God and to listen to one another. what they really got out of it. When My journey throughout the Alpha and Day Alpha Courses commence It is great to hear that hundreds of people all around the world and across all cultures, and from different religious it was time for me to start alpha, I’m course has been an amazing one! We this week Monday night 22 July affiliations seek the intercession of St Charbel every year and receive graces and miracles through prayer. These not gonna lie, I was not excited to have all created a bond with each 7.30pm –9.30pm and Wednesday 24 people do not only receive the healing of the body but, more importantly, the healing of the soul. The miracles, go, and the idea of spending my Sat- other over the last 10 weeks and be- July 10AM - 12MIDDAY. For Catering however, are not the reason we rejoice. Our joy is in knowing that our names are written in heaven with St Charbel urday night learning about God was come good friends. Coming into the purposes please book with Honi and all the righteous and the just. Let us pray, brothers and sisters, that when our time comes to stand before Our not appealing to me, but little did I alpha course a lot of us had ques- 0468 966 970. Lord, our hands will be full of good deeds and we will hear the voice of Our Lord saying: “Well done, good and know how much Alpha would im- tions about our religion that we Venerable Patriarch faithful servant! ... Enter into the joy of your master!” (Matt 25:23) . pact my life. wanted to get answered and Elias Boutros Howayek + Antoine-Charbel Tarabay Alpha is an 11 week course where you throughout the course our questions eat dinner, watch a video, and break were answered. I got to listen to Thanksgiving Mass into small groups to reflect and share different ways that others dealt with On the occasion of the declaration of your thoughts about the questions challenges in their lives, which Patriarch Elias Howayek as Venerable Mission of the heart that were asked. helped me to think of different ways by the Holy Father Pope Francis on (2 Cor 3:1-6) When I joined alpha, as soon as I that I could approach my own chal- 6th July, His Excellency Bishop Antoine lenges. Coming into alpha I didn’t Pope Francis answers The last few Sundays in the Season of Pentecost, the walked through the door, I immedi- -Charbel Tarabay will celebrate the Gospel focus has been on the calling and mission of the ately felt welcomed by all the leaders really have a strong and close rela- Divine Liturgy on Friday 26 July at letters from Children disciples. This week is a continuation of this theme with and people in the room. After a cou- tionship with God, which gave me around the World ple sessions at alpha, there was one doubts on coming but in the first ses- 6pm at Our Lady of Luke recounting the mission of the Seventy. sion I felt welcomed and found out I Cathedral, Harris Park, in thanksgiving Dear Basia, Paul writes in this Sunday’s Reading taken from his session that stood out for me where I I have to admit something. remember talking about how we wasn’t the only one who was looking to God for this grace bestowed upon Second Letter to the Corinthians, ‘our competence is to be closer with God. When I was your age, I from God, who has made us competent to be ministers treat others and the result of it, I then our Maronite Church and Lebanon. wanted to be butcher. Now At the Holy Spirit Retreat day, I expe- began to reflect on my actions to- All are invited to join the Clergy and don’t astonished. You know of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit’ (v6). We wards my own family. rienced the presence of the Holy all carry the Spirit of God in us, the Spirit that allows the Maronite Sisters of the Holy why? I used to go to The Alpha Holy Spirit Day was anoth- Spirit in a very special way and felt the market with my us to see deeply, love freely, move graciously and care Family at this Thanksgiving Mass. er highlight, where I felt the Holy that God was so real. grandmother, and I’d see a tenderly. Spirit so deeply in my heart and call- After each session I’d take the mean- Msgr Shora butcher I liked. He was a Again Paul puts it beautifully when he writes, ‘You are a ing me to make room for his pres- ing from the video we’d watch and large fellow, and he had a letter of Christ . . . . written not with ink but with the ence to grow within me. use it in my everyday life. I felt a lot long apron with a big pocket Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on of pressure taken off me and felt like in front. When my grandma I encourage all those who are think- would pay, he would put his tablets of human hearts’ (v3). We can understand this ing or considering doing the Alpha whatever I was going to do, God was in two ways: that God has written on our hearts, or that right there by my side. I now under- hands in the big pocket. It course to not think twice about it, we have found our way into the hearts of others. stand the power of prayer and make was full of money, and he but rather act on it and do it! It has would give the change to my it part of my daily life. Whatever way we interpret this, the one theme remains changed my life for the better in so grandma. I thought he was a – the Spirit of God in us awakens our hearts, draws us I really enjoyed the time at alpha, many ways. I’ve grown spiritually very rich man. All this really into love and invites us to share this love with those we affected me, and I wanted o encounter. Hills Youth Dinner Dance DIAMOND SPONSORS be like him. It’s funny, but I have to confess this to So be it the disciples, or the seventy sent on mission, be you. it Paul or his audience, or be it ourselves or anyone else, we are all called to act in the Spirit of God, which is all about loving with our entire hearts . Amen Sr Margaret Ghosn mshf