The Mother of God The Pure Ever Virgin St. Mary

As for her body, the disciples shrouded it and carried God cared for St. Mary all her life. The it to Gothmania, but since that pure vessel who carried Angels gave her mother a message about her 2100 W. Frontage Rd. • P.O. Box 337 • Palatine, IL 60078 God the Word incarnate, would not perish, the angels birth. The church celebrates this event on Issue 7,8 July, August 2011 carried her body to heaven. Our church celebrates this the 7th of Mesori, and that of her Birth www.stmarychicago.com occasion on the 16th of the Coptic month of Mesori on the first day of Pachons. (August 22) every year. St. Mary spent the first three years of her life with her parents; and th n August 7 starts the fast of St. Mary, which How it all started Anne, after that they committed her to Olasts for 15 days. It is among the favorite fasts, When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they were serve in the temple. When her service in observed by the vast majority, because of St. Mary’s doomed to die, however, because of His love, God the temple was over, the priests, through special place in our hearts, as the one chosen by the arranged for their salvation, by promising that Eve’s the guidance of the Holy Spirit, put her Most High to be the servant of the great mystery of the off springs will crush the serpent’s (Satan’s) head in the custody of St. Joseph the carpenter. Holy Incarnation. At the end of this fast our church (Gen 3: 15). God had St. Mary in mind when He made He took her to his house in Nazareth, and celebrates the feast of her assumption: that promise, centuries before she was born. Isaiah in that same modest house God sent the When St. Mary was about to depart our Lord the prophet of old predicted that incident 700 years archangel Gabriel to announce the good Jesus Christ, accompanied by angles, came and before it took place, when he said: “Therefore the news to her, that she would give birth to comforted her. When she gave her last breath, the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin the Son of God. The church celebrates angels carried her soul to heaven, this was on the shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name this event known as the “Annunciation st 21 of the Coptic month of Tobi. Immanuel.” (Isa 7:14) Feast” on 29th of the Coptic month of Paremhat. An Insight Patience and Endurance Among her great virtues of obedience, and travelling on rocky roads, by primitive faith, humility and total submission and slow means of transportation, enduring to the will of God, St. Mary was also the scorching heat and bone- chilling cold. unmatched in her ability for patience After Joseph’s death, she remained at her and endurance. When she was a little Son’s side, thus enduring people’s cruelty girl she suffered the consequence of towards Him. She followed Him on the being an orphan, as she was cared for by passion path, and saw Him carrying His St. Joseph who himself was very poor. During her pregnancy, she endured people’s cross to the Golgotha, where they crucified Him. She followed the Holy Body to malicious looks, and skepticism. She never enjoyed comfort or stability because she the tomb, and after the burial, St. John took her to his house where she stayed was always on the move. After her engagement she went to Nazareth with Joseph. until she departed. When she was pregnant she moved to Bethlehem to be registered, then she fled St. Mary endured those trying times with patience, pondering: “The world with him to Egypt to protect her baby from being killed, and they stayed there rejoices in receiving the salvation, while my heart burns as I look at your crucifixion (H. H. Pope Shenouda III) until Herod’s death. After that they returned back to Israel where they resided my Son and God.” in Nazareth. St. Mary took these long arduous trips, carrying her newborn baby CHURCHCHURCH NEWSNEWS Congratulations To: ❖ Gerges & Christine Youssef. ❖ NORTH AMERICA ANNUAL COPTIC ST MARY’S CHURCH ANNUAL BANQUET Midwest High School Convention Albert Boctor & Marcel Adeeb. For becoming one in Christ. May the CLERGY SEMINAR Lord bless their marriage and grant them It is this time of the year when we health and happiness. gather to celebrate the anniversary of ❖ It will be held at the Holy Michael Abd-El-Kodous & Heba Girgis. our new church. It is such a joyous ❖ Moamen Rizk & Lydia Attalla. Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard event, so mark your calendar. For their engagement, may the Lord crown in Charlton, Massachusetts, WHEN: Sunday, October 30th, 2011. their undertaking with happiness. from August 29th to August Reception 5:30 p.m, Dinner : 6:00 p.m. ❖ Peter & Mary Mikhael, for the birth of their 31st. The Seminar is headed WHERE: The Seville Fine Banquet Dining, son Philip. by H.H. Pope Shenouda III. 700 Barrington Rd., Streamwood, IL ❖ John & Dr. Vera Markus, for the birth of For reservation contact Maha Samaan at (815) 342-1001 their daughter Hannah. ❖ Emad & Sarah Rostom for the birth of their son . ST. MARY’S ACTIVITIES BUILDING ❖ Karim & Meriam Thomas, for the birth of COMPLEX (SMABC) their daughter Grace. ❖ Drs. Mark & Noha Mikhael, for the birth 21 of our High School youth attended the Midwest of their daughter Magdalena Gina Mikhael . HS Convention from July 25th to the 29th in Ohio; ❖ Usama & Engy Beshet for the birth of their Summer 2011 there were over 350 youth from 9 churches. HG Bishop daughter Seraphina. Antonios Marcos and HG Bishop Thomas gave some Our church invites the congregation, and members of May the Lord bless the newborn to grow wonderful presentations on “Living Orthodoxy Today.” other Coptic churches in the area to participate in this in grace and stature before God and men. The youth also had Q&A sessions with the bishops, contest. A copy of the contest can be obtained from St. workshops, Bible study and sports tournaments. All grew Mary’s Bookstore, or from our website. Mail your answer spiritually, had a great time and made lifelong friends. to the church’s address, on or before Sunday, August 28. Condolences Our church has commissioned Professor Adel Samy Valuable prizes will be awarded for those who excel. El-Menshawy’s “Architecture & Counseling Office” in , Egypt to submit a proposal for the above Reposed in the Lord: mentioned project. The proposal will be presented to St. Mary’s Fast Revival Schedule ❖ Mr. Youssef Z, Youssef brother of Dr. the congregation for their review and comments, and August 12, to August 21, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Nadeem, Dr. Nabil, and their sisters Mrs. then it will be presented to H.H. Pope Shenouda III for Nabila, and Mrs. Nadia. Uncle of Dr. Peter his blessing and approval. We ask for your prayers and Youssef and his sisters Mrs. Christine Gerges • Friday, August 12 Prof. Dr. Rasmy Rostom The Motherhood os St. Mary and Ms. Sara Youssef, and uncle of Mr. Hany support, God bless. • Saturday, August 13 Fr. Pavlos Fahmy The Virtue of Silence Youssef and his children George and David. ❖ Mrs. Adela Abd El-Malek, mother of • Sunday, August 14 Fr. Rweis Awadalla The Virtue of Humility Mr. Adel Soliman, grandmother of Ms. Sarah EGYPT FEST • Monday, August 15 Fr. Yossef Shehata “Your lips, my bride, drip as the honeycomb”. (Songs 4:11) Matta and Mr. Sameh Soliman. • Tuesday, August 16 Fr. Yossef Shehata “Let it be to me according to your word”. (Luke 1:38) ❖ Mr. Halim Ibrahim, father of Dr. Ragy Mark your calendar and plan on • Wednesday, August 17 Fr. Antonios Baki The Virtue of Patience Ibrahim, and father in law of Mrs. Germine coming to this fun filled weekend Tawfik. • Thursday, August 18 Fr. Antonios Baki Scrupulousness ❖ Pastor Helmi H. Abdallah, husband August 27&28. Enjoy a variety of • Friday, August 19 Fr. Samuel Azmi Choosing Forgiveness of Mrs Fadila Abdelnour and father of activities and a Middle Eastern • Saturday, August 20 Prof. Dr. Atef Moawad True Faith Takes Risks Mrs. Ragaa Aziz, cuisine. For more information, May the Lord repose the souls of the • Sunday, August 21 Fr. Yohanna Naseef Meditations on the Glorifiction of St. Mary contact Emad & Sarah Rostom deceased and console their grieving families. at (847) 714-2662. The Revival ends by the Divine Liturgy Service on Monday, August 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.