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] Rev. Bartholomew Leon, October 29, 2017 Administrator, [email protected] Pastor’s Advisory Council Ramiz Askar, Marlene Saad Secretary Richard Sleiman, Chairman Paul Sleiman, Linda Wickett, 7th Sunday of Holy Cross Jack Yacu Christ the King Finance Committee George Azan, Joseph Chebeir, Chairman This is the last Sunday of the liturgical Tony Sleiman, Paula Howard-Casby cycle of the year. What is it that first attracts our attention is the Gospel of this Administration last Sunday of the year? It is of the Richard, Wickett, Financial Secretary awesome Last Judgment in Matthew’s Gospel! Interestingly, here, the end of the Joseph Chebeir, Scott Herr, liturgical cycle on this Sunday, Administrative Assistants to the Pastor corresponds and parallels in the Gospel with the end of the world. From one perspective this projection seems a deliberate attempt by the Church to awaken in her children the fear of God. Yet from another perspective the emphasis of the Church on this Sunday – and in a Continued next page more positive way – goes out to show that the final victory, at the end, will be the Triumph of Compassion, and of the Compassionate Ones: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mt.5: 3- 10). This lesson is also reflected in the exhortation of Saint Paul to his fellow – persecuted – Roman Christians: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep .. If your enemy is hungry feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.. do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good.” (See also Matthew 5:3-10). Here the final triumph is shown as the triumph of goodness over evil. Clearly we are being called to become the human channels of God’s goodness through compassion – even when justice might demand otherwise. For it is when we forgive that we also receive our forgiveness; and when we turn a compassionate face towards our fellow human beings – even when persecuted – God’s wonderful and loving image becomes imprinted and sealed into our human nature – his redeemed creation. The end-victory, therefore, is the Victory of Love – as our crosses of human torments are fused and transformed – through acts of loving-forgiveness and compassion, with the balm tree of the healing Cross of our Lord – that Victorious Cross of Light and of eternal Joy. Father Steve Bonian, S.J. NOVEMBER PASTA SUPPER FIRST Lasagna, meatballs and sausage, tossed THURSDAY salad, and dessert. $8.00 per person. Yum, Yum!!!!! 11/02/17 NAM Convention History in Pictures. Parishioner Lisa Advent has added a host of pictures from the recent NAM Convention and created an album on Shutterfly. There are some great images. In her words, “Grab a glass of something ....there are over a 1000 photos!” Go here. There is also a video by Yazan Ashi on the same site. You can find it here. Abouna’s Dear Parishioners and Friends, A busy but productive week at Saint Rafka! I took a “staycation” from hospital work to get a number of things accomplished at the church office. Since the end of the liturgical year is upon up, I figured it was a good time to clear the desk and start the new year with a clean desk top! In spite of a lot of calls back to the hospital and other events, I did a lot of work. I was quite proud of myself! Not everything got accomplished, but the major work was done. As for resting, that will come at another time! I want to thank the members of Knights of Columbus Council 15519 who prepared the Pancake Breakfast last weekend. They cooked a great meal and it was nice to enjoy the meal with the members of the community. Thanks to all who supported our Knights. They are a great blessing to our community. Please continue to pray for all those who are sick in our community and for those who are acting as caregivers. May God give the sick the ability to suffer with dignity and be healed. May He give strength and patience to those who care for them. Pray for our Patriarch who is in the United States making a pastoral visit to our people and an official visit as a head of state to Washington, DC. May his visit among us be fruitful to the people of Lebanon and the Middle East. Have a great weekend! See you in Church! November 1 Salaam! All Saint’s Day Ab. Bart Holy Day of Obligation Divine Liturgy at 7 PM Calendar of Events October 28, 4 PM, Vigil Liturgy 29, 11 AM, Divine Liturgy Coffee Social 7 PM, Last Chance Liturgy 30, 6:30 PM, English/Arabic Classes 31, 6:30 PM, Ramsho and Blessing with the Relics 7:15 PM, Adult Religious Education 01, 7 PM, Divine Liturgy, All Saint’s Day Holy Day of Obligation 04, 4 PM, Vigil Liturgy 05, 11 AM, Divine Liturgy Coffee Social 7 PM, Last Chance Liturgy 06, 6:30 PM, English/Arabic Classes 07, 6:30 PM, Ramsho and Blessing with the Relics Ramsho and Blessing with the 7:15 PM, Adult Religious Education relics of Saints Rafka, Sharbel 08, 7 PM, Divine Liturgy Nimatullah, and the Massabki Anointing of the Sick Brothers Tuesday evening, 6:30 11, 4 PM, Vigil Liturgy PM, Saint Rafka Church. Come 12, 1 AM, Divine Liturgy to offer the evening sacrifice and ask God’s blessing, healing, Coffee Social mercy and compassion through 7 PM, Last Chance Liturgy these holy men and women. 13, 6:30 PM, English/Arabic Classes 14, 6:30 PM, Ramsho and Blessing with the Relics 7:15 PM, Adult Religious Education 15, 7 PM, Divine Liturgy Anointing of the Sick 5th Marian Eucharistic Conference will be held on Saturday, November 4 - Sunday, November 5 at the Hilton Hotel in Greenville. Our featured speakers include: Fr. Wade Menezes, The Fathers of Mercy; Fr. Chris Alar, Marian of the Immaculate Conception; Al Kresta, Ave Maria Radio; Raymond Arroyo, The World Over; Fr. Dwight Longenecker. General admission is $75, youth is $40 and it includes a buffet lunch on Saturday and Sunday. Registered by October 24 by mail. Registration after Oct. 24: $85 We offer gluten free meals by request. For more information, call (864)354-7160 or go to www.meconferencesc.net 40 Days for Life is teaming up with America Needs Fatima to humbly invite you to a Candlelight Vigil on Friday, October 13th, 7:00 pm on the public right-of-way at 1142 Grove Road, Greenville. Please come and join us! For more information: call Ingrid: 864-329-0044 with 40 Days for Life or Brenda 864-244-2977 with America Needs Fatima. Visit the homepage of our neighbors to the north of us. Saint Stephen is under the leadership of Father Elias Khalil and is growing in Grace and numbers. Religious Education - First Holy Communion Preparation Is your child ready for the reception of First Penance and Holy Communion? Parishioner Alex Roman, a professional teacher, has volunteered to teach in our religious education program. Other children, post Holy Communion, are also welcome to these classes. Contact the Church Office to register. Adult Religious Education Religious formation never ends! We are never too old to learn! Adult Religious Education Classes meet at 7:15 PM, right after the Ramsho and Devotions in Wicket Hall. This fall, the class will concentrate on the Divine Liturgy and the Holy Mass of the various Churches, their structures, similarities and differences. We will also examine the Liturgical Year and the Liturgy of the Hours. Join us and bring a friend who may be interested in learning about the Maronite Church and liturgy. English/Arabic Classes On Monday October 2, we will begin with English lessons, which will be be team taught by Alex Roman, Shea Menge, and Scott Herr. The Arabic lessons will follow, and they will be taught by Mona Ayoub Achi. Class begins at 6:30 PM in Francis House. Free and open to all. ًإﺑﺘﺪاء ﻣﻦ ﻧﻬﺎر أﻹﺛﻨﯿﻦ ٢ ﺗﺸﺮﯾﻦ اﻷول, ٢٠١۷ اﻟﺴﺎﻋﺔ ٦,٣٠ ًﻣﺴﺎء ﻓﻲ ﻣﻨﺰل ﻓﺮﻧﺴﯿﺲ, ُوأ ًﺳﺒﻮﻋﯿﺎ ُﯾﻌﻄﻲ" ﺳﻜﻮط ّﻫﺮ", "أﻟﯿﻜﺲ روﻣﺎن" و" ﺷﻲ ﻣﻨﺠﻲ" ٌدروس ﻓﻲ اﻟﻠﻐﺔ اﻻﻧﻜﻠﯿﺰﯾﺔ, ُﯾﺘﺒﻌﻬﺎ ٌدروس ﻓﻲ اﻟﻠﻐﺔ اﻟﻌﺮﺑﯿﺔ ُﺗَﻌﱢﻠﻤﻬﺎ " ﻣﻨﻰ اﻟﻌﺸﻲ". ُﺗﻌﻄﻰ ﻫﺬه اﻟﺪروس ًﻣﺠﺎﻧﺎ ُوﻧﺮﺣﺐ ﺑﺠﻤﯿﻊ اﻟﻤﺸﺎرﻛﯿﻦ. A petition is to support Christians in the Middle East who have courageously stayed in their countries or are returning to them. Please visit and sign. Engaged Enounter This a reminder that we only have 1 more weekend available for the remainder of 2017. It is an in parish weekend and will be held at All Saints Catholic Church in Lake Wylie on Nov. 11-12. The cost of the weekend is $150 but we have partial scholarships available. The next weekend will be in February and will be a retreat weekend. Attention all women of the diocese of Charleston! Magnificat-Greenville, SC Chapter is hosting its next meal on Saturday, November 11, from 9am to Noon. Join us for fellowship, praise and worship, and be inspired by our guest speaker Father Robert Falabella. Father Robert shares his first hand experience of the emotions, hardships, and dangers of the combat soldier. Father Robert remained with the soldiers on the front lines and was decorated for his bravery under fire.