Friday, April 29, 2016

Bulletin May 1-8, 2016

FIRST COMMUNION

Holy Eucharist is the Mystery/Sacrament in which Jesus Christ gives his Body and Blood-himself-for  us, so that we too might give ourselves to Him in love and be united with Him in Holy Communion. In this way we are joined with the one Body of Christ, the CHURCH. [1322,1324,1409,1413]
After Baptism and Chrismation/Confirmation, the Eucharist is the third mystery/sacrament of initiation of the Catholic Church. The Eucharist is the mysterious center of all these sacraments, because the historic sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is made present during the words of consecration in a hidden, unbloody manner. Thus the celebration of the Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life”(Second Vatican Council,    Lumen gentium [LG], 11). Everything aims at this; besides this there is nothing greater that one could attain. When we eat the broken Bread, we unite ourselves with the love of Jesus, who gave his body for us on the wood of the Cross; when we drink from the chalice, we unite ourselves with him who even poured out his blood out of love for us. We did not invent this ritual. Jesus himself celebrated the Last Supper with his        disciples and therein anticipated his death; he gave himself to his disciples under the signs of bread and wine and commanded them from then on, even after his death, to celebrate the Eucharist.                                                   
Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor 11:24)

Congratulations to all of our First Communicants; Jack Hessler, Christopher Simon, Georgia Slinkard, and William Vasel. 
These young children have completed the Mysteries of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist),  and we look forward as a community to their growth in our faith.
Special thanks to Mrs. Joan Rask  for preparing the First Communicants for this special Sacrament.

Men’s Society Golf Tournament
On Sunday June 5th, the Men’s Society will be hosting their Annual Golf Tournament in Memory of Mike Buckley. The Golf Tournament will take place at Union Hills Golf Course. Registration  and  Sponsorship forms are available in the vestibule of the church.

The Feast of the Ascension
Liturgies for the Feast of the Ascension will be celebrated Thursday May 5th at 8 am and 7 pm.


Please join
St. Raymond’s Cathedral
Ladies Society
“Showering”
 Our Lady’s Inn
We will be collecting baby items for
the month of April. Please place your generous donation in the boxes.
Thank you for your generosity!!

Ladies Society
The Ladies Society will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday May 3rd. The ladies will meet at 6:30pm in church for Liturgy and Rosary  followed by the meeting in the Lebanon room.

Men’s Society
The Men’s Society will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday May 5th. The meeting will start at 6pm with dinner, meeting at 6:30pm, and liturgy at 7pm

Liturgy Time Change
Beginning Sunday June 5th, there will only be one liturgy celebrated on Sundays at 10 am until the Fall. Saturday liturgy will remain at 5 pm.


 Weekly Finances April 24th-May 1st
Income:$7,938.12
Expenses: $8,241.10
This does not include Wednesday lunch


MYO
The  2016 National Maronite Youth Workshop is July 16-21 in Latrobe, PA.
Please contact Susan DuBois or the rectory if you are interested in going and would like more info. Information for the retreat will be on the table in the vestibule. All travel  arrangements must be  submitted by  June 16th.



ANNUAL BISHOP’S APPEAL
We kindly ask you to respond to the Eparchial Appeal for this year. We appeal to each one of you to give generously so we can meet our goal. Please be generous to extend a hand of support to our mission.

St. Raymond’s has collected $5,315.00 so far and our goal is $8,500.00. If we don’t reach our goal, the  parish has to make up the difference.  We have to reach our goal by the end of April.

Kitchen Scoop
Tuesdays Making Kibbi Aras @ 8:30am
Wednesdays Preparing Lunch 8 am– 11am and                    
Serving lunch on the line 11:00am–1:30pm                
Carry-Out 11am- 2pm
On Monday May 2nd @ 8:30 am we will be making Tabouli to serve on Wednesday May 4th.  We are in need of  volunteers to help pick parsley, chop tomatoes, and chop onions.

NAM Convention
Flyers for the NAM Convention hosted by the Maronite Parish of San Francisco are available in the vestibule. We encourage you to consider joining all the Maronites nationwide for this special gathering from July 6-July 10, 2016.


 High School Scholarships
The deadline for the 2016 application for St. Raymond’s High School Scholarship is Sunday May 15th.  Forms (hot pink) are on the back table in the vestibule.


Sub-Deacon Candidate’s Corner
As part of our formation, one of the goals of our ministry is to help parishioners develop a greater understanding of our rich Maronite Catholic History and Heritage. In furtherance of that goal we will be     adding a short explanation to each bulletin about some aspect of our faith. This continues the discussion about our Maronite Liturgy.
What do you think the Maronite Church has to offer to fellow Catholics, fellow Christians, and non-Christians?
PART 2 continues from last week
…the Eastern Churches are given the right to honor their customs and traditions as the Universal Church    recognizes that these Rites are the custodians of their liturgy, customs, and traditions. This being said the traditions of the Antiochene Rite Churches, Maronite being one of these, have provided the Universal Church traditions and artifacts that continue to offer any Catholic a view to where and how the church has grown to what it is today. Without the early (Antiochene) Catholic’s endurance of persecution and our fore father’s passing of tradition and customs, the Universal Church as a whole would be different. As the current custodians of the Maronite Rite, it is our responsibility to insure the traditions and legitimacy of the liturgy and customs, only changing to return to our ancestral traditions.
The traditions of the Maronite church like the receiving communion by intinction, recitation of the consecration in Aramaic, and the central view of God’s role of all things and their connection to God are     examples of the ancestral traditions that have been kept alive and revived to confirm the legitimacy and uniqueness of the Maronites faith amongst the Catholic Rites.
The Maronite Patriarch is the head of the Maronite Rite as set forth by tradition and Ecumenical Council. He is the father of the church and leader; his role is that of leader of “those of Maron”, but he continues to     acknowledge the successor of St. Peter. The Patriarch has all the rights to govern and creation of Eparchies, assignments and elevations, and setting the liturgical calendar within the Rite he is responsible.
Another consideration …thedecree of the Universal Catholic Church…. is the discussion that all Sacraments either those perform by Latin or Eastern Priests are equal and carry the same gravity; even though the Sacraments may be performed at differing times of life or in different manners. The Universal Church recognizes no difference between the actions of Latin and Eastern Clergy. It is the goal of the Universal Church to include each Rite within the Universal Church, never impeding or usurping their authority, but rather recognizing the beauty of their differences and fostering a greater understanding and fullness of the followers of the Rite and for all those of the Universal Church.

If you have questions about Catholic teaching or our Maronite tradition, or would like to suggest a topic, please email us or tell us the next time we see you. Thank you and God Bless.
David Wahby (wahby@sbcglobal.net) and Tony Simon (asimon@simonlawpc.com)



Altar Servers
As we have announced in the past, we are still in great need of altar servers at ALL MASSES. We are looking for all   interested BOYS AND GIRLS that would like to serve at mass to send an email to Tony or David. We would love to have more servers and can teach you everything you need to know. NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE    NECESSARY
David (wahby@sbcglobal.net)












Friday, April 22, 2016

Bulletin April 24-May 1, 2016


FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE RESSURECTION

JESUS DELIVERS THE OFFICE OF SHEPHERD TO PETER
 

Do you love me? What a question. What words. We hear that question often in our lives when someone wants assurance from us that we love them. We ask that question when we need assurance that we are loved. The question is so basic: Do you love me?

It is with this mood that we approach the gospel lesson for today in which Simon Peter, the big fisherman and the leader of the disciples, is asked that same question by Jesus three times. Do you love me? Jesus wants to know about Peter’s love.

This question gets right to the heart of the matter. It deals with the central issue between us and God. God doesn’t ask what church activities we are involved in. God doesn’t want to know if we are a theological conservative or liberal. God detours around our stand on church issues and doesn’t question the amount we give to church causes. Though all of these are important they are not the most important. Rather, God focuses on our hearts. He asks if all that we do, say and are, flows out of love for Jesus Christ.

Jesus too is feeling our pulse for a passionate, burning devotion. He wants to know, “Do you love me?” What happens when we answer:”Yes God, I love you. Yes Jesus, I love you. Yes, Spirit, I love you.” What happens? Notice the final two words Jesus says to Peter: “Follow me!” Do you see the connection? I can follow Jesus only when I love Him. I can deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him only when I love Him. I can profess Him and join His church only when I love Him.

Have you even wondered how fans can stand in line for hours to buy tickets to a rock concert or a football game? It is because they love the band or the team. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had people doing the same thing to get into church? Love makes sacrifice a privilege, service, an honor, suffering, a joy.

We see that in the life of our Lord Jesus. We see that in the life of the disciples. We see that in the life of the Apostle Paul. “Do you love me?” The bottom line is this: the Lord wants our love. Think of the Great commandment that God gave and recorded in the Old Testament, “ Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” God, in Christ, wants our love. He wanted Peter’s love, even though Peter denied Him three times. The Lord Jesus wants your love: no matter how faithful or faithless you have been, no matter whether you denied Him or professed Him, no matter how strong or weak your faith may be, no matter how you have fallen into sin or practiced righteousness, no matter what! “Do you love me?”                

What is your answer?
 
Men’s Society Golf Tournament
On Sunday June 5th, the Men’s Society will be hosting their Annual Golf Tournament in Memory of Mike Buckley. The Golf Tournament will take place at Union Hills Golf Course. Registration  and  Sponsorship forms are available in the vestibule of the church.
 
Save the Date
On Sunday May 22nd one liturgy will be  celebrated at 10 am during which His           Excellency Bishop A. Elias Zaidan will ordain Mr. David Wahby and Mr. Anthony Simon to the ministry of Sub-deacon.  Following the Ordination there will be a celebration lunch in the Cedars Hall.
 
 
Please join
St. Raymond’s Cathedral
Ladies Society
“Showering”
Our Lady’s Inn
We will be collecting baby items for
the month of April. Please place your   generous donation in the boxes.
Thank you for your generosity!!
 
NAM Convention
Flyers for the NAM Convention hosted by the Maronite Parish of San Francisco are available in the vestibule. We encourage you to consider joining all the Maronites nationwide for this special gathering from July 6-July 10, 2016.
 
Liturgy Time Change
Beginning Sunday June 5th, there will only be one liturgy celebrated on Sundays at 10 am until the Fall.  Saturday liturgy will remain at 5 pm.
 
St. Raymond’s High School Scholarships
The deadline for High School Scholarships is Sunday May 15th. If you are interested, the forms (hot pink) are on the table in the vestibule.
 
ANNUAL BISHOP’S APPEAL
We kindly ask you to respond to the Eparchial Appeal for this year. We appeal to each one of you to give generously so we can meet our goal. Please be generous to extend a hand of support to our mission.
 
St. Raymond’s has collected $4,890.00 so far and our goal is $8,500.00. If we don’t reach our goal, the  parish has to make up the difference.  We have to reach our goal by the end of April.
 
Kitchen Scoop
Mondays  Rolling Cabbage Rolls @ 8:30am
Tuesdays Making Kibbi Aras @ 8:30am
Wednesdays Preparing Lunch 8 am– 11am and                    
Serving lunch on the line 11:00am–1:30pm                
Carry-Out 11am- 2pm
On Monday May 2nd @ 8:30 am we will be making Tabouli to serve on Wednesday May 4th.  We are in need of  volunteers to help pick parsley, chop tomatoes, and chop onions.
 
MYO
The MYO Hafli on Saturday April 30th has been canceled.
The  2016 National Maronite Youth Workshop is July 16-21 in Latrobe, PA.
Please contact Susan DuBois or the rectory if you are interested in going and would like more info. Information for the retreat will be on the table in the vestibule. All travel  arrangements must be         submitted by  June 16th.
 
 
Weekly Finances April 17th-April 24th
Income:$2,863.00
Expenses: $3,641.89
This does not include Wednesday lunch
 
St. Raymond’s Benevolence Society
Thank you to Mary  Denny and Pam Gazall  for organizing the April 3rd  event that raised $427. The  money raised went into the Benevolence fund to help those in need.
 
Sub-Deacon Candidate’s Corner
As part of our formation, one of the goals of our ministry is to help parishioners develop a greater understanding of our rich Maronite Catholic History and Heritage. In furtherance of that goal we will be adding a short explanation to each bulletin about some aspect of our faith. This continues the discussion about our Maronite Liturgy.
 What the Maronite Church has to offer to fellow Catholics, fellow Christians, and non-Christians?
On November 21st, 1964, the Holy See in Rome, published a Decree on the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite, the Orentalium Ecclesiarum, as reaffirmation of the value, place, and legitimacy of the Eastern Rite Churches in the Universal Church. This document re-establishes the Eastern Rite as part of the Apostolic Heritage that makes up the Universal Church; that many of the traditions that were observed from the very birth of the Church by the Eastern Rites have become the building blocks of the Universal Catholic faith and doctrine. The document confirms the validation of the separate Rites and their hierarchy within the Universal Church; each Rite is equally considered part of the Universal Church.
An excerpt from the Orentalium Ecclesiarum:
“These individual Churches, whether of the East or the West, although they differ somewhat among themselves in rite (to use the current phrase), that is, in liturgy, ecclesiastical discipline, and spiritual heritage, are, nevertheless, each as much as the others, entrusted to the pastoral    government of the Roman Pontiff, the divinely appointed successor of St. Peter in primacy over the Universal Church. They are consequently of equal dignity, so that none of them is superior to the others (as regards rite), they enjoy the same rights, and are under the same obligations, also in respect of preaching the Gospel to the whole world (cf. Mark 16, 15) under the guidance of the Roman Pontiff.”
Furthermore the Eastern Churches are given the right to honor their customs and traditions as the Universal Church recognizes that these Rites are the custodians of their liturgy, customs, and traditions. This being said the traditions of the Antiochene Rite Churches, Maronite being one of these Rites, have provided the Universal Church traditions and artifacts that continue to offer any Catholic a view to where and how the church has grown to what it is today.
If you have questions about Catholic teaching or our Maronite tradition, or would like to suggest a topic, please email us or tell us the next time we see you. Thank you and God Bless.
David Wahby (wahby@sbcglobal.net) and Tony Simon (asimon@simonlawpc.com)
 
Altar Servers
As we have announced in the past, we are still in great need of altar servers at ALL MASSES. We are looking for all   interested BOYS AND GIRLS that would like to serve at mass to send an email to Tony or David. We would love to have more servers and can teach you everything you need to know. NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE    NECESSARY
David (wahby@sbcglobal.net)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Friday, April 15, 2016

Bulletin April 17-24, 2016


Jesus Appears to His Disciples

When life gets difficult, when we become lost, confused, and afraid, when the changes of life are not what we wanted or think we deserve; we tend to run away.We try to go back to the way it was before – to something safe, something familiar. Often we revert to old patterns of behavior and thinking. Even when we know better and do not want to go backwards it seems easier than moving forward.

Peter and six others have returned to the sea. They have left Jerusalem. They have come home to the Sea of Tiberias, the place where it all began. Discipleship, the upper room, the cross, the empty tomb. Peter decides to go fishing. He knows how to do that. It is familiar and comfortable. Perhaps it takes him back to life before Jesus. The others are quick to join him.

We can leave the places and even the people of our life but we can never escape ourselves or our life. Peter may have left Jerusalem but he cannot get away from three years of discipleship, the last supper, the arrest, a charcoal fire, denials, a crowing rooster. He cannot leave behind the cross, the empty tomb, the echoes of “Peace be with you.” So he fishes. Peter fishes for answers. What have I done? What were those three years about? Who was Jesus? Where is he? Who am I? What will I do now? Where will I go? What will happen to me? Peter is searching for meaning, a way forward, a place in life. Peter is dark night fishing.

We have all spent time dark night fishing; asking the same questions as Peter, looking for our place in life, seeking peace, and some sense of understanding and meaning. More often than not dark night fishing happens in the context of the failures, losses, and sorrows of our lives. It happens when we come face to face with the things we have done and left undone. We have all been there, fishing for answers in the darkness.

“Children, you have no fish, have you,” Jesus says. This is more a statement of fact than a question. Jesus is not asking for a fishing report. Peter is living in the pain and the past of Good Friday. He is fishing on the Good Friday side of the boat and the net is empty. There are no fish, no answers. The nets of dark night fishing contain nothing to feed or nourish life.

Wonder if we have been fishing on the wrong side of the boat? Jesus seems to think so. “Cast your net to the right side of the boat,” Jesus says, the resurrection side of the boat. This movement of the net from one side of the boat to the other symbolizes the disciples’ resurrection.  Jesus calls us to move out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life. In so doing we see and proclaim, “It is the Lord,” and

· Emptiness gives way to the abundance of a net full of fish, large ones, a hundred fifty-three of them;

· Darkness dawns a new day with new light;

· A new charcoal fire kindles hospitality in place of the cold ashes of rejection;

· The last supper has become the first breakfast;

“It is the Lord.”  Good Friday is real. Pain, death, sin are a reality of life. But the greater and final reality is Easter resurrection. “Follow me,” Jesus says, “and live as resurrected people”. Follow me and fish in a different place. “Follow me” is the invitation to examine where we have been fishing. On which side of the boat do we fish? On which side of the cross do we live? Good Friday or Easter Resurrection.
 
ANNUAL BISHOP’S APPEAL
We kindly ask you to respond to the Eparchial Appeal for this year. We appeal to each one of you to give generously so we can meet our goal. Please be generous to extend a hand of support to our mission.
 St. Raymond’s has collected $4,470.00 so far and our goal is $8,500.00. If we don’t reach our goal, the  parish has to make up the difference.  We have to reach our goal by the end of April.
 
Please join
St. Raymond’s Cathedral
Ladies Society
“Showering”
Our Lady’s Inn
We will be collecting baby items for
the month of April. Please place your  generous donation in the boxes.
Thank you for your generosity!!
 
Save the Date
On Sunday May 22nd one liturgy will be  celebrated at 10 am during which His Excellency Bishop A. Elias Zaidan will ordain Mr. David Wahby and Mr. Anthony Simon to the ministry of Sub-deacon.  Following the Ordination there will be a celebration lunch in the Cedars Hall.
 


MYO Hafli April 30th at 7:00pm

Come join the fun (you only have to dance if you want to). We will provide pizza and soda. Bring something to share (chips, fruit, veggies, etc) and plan to have a great time! Young people ages (13-18) are encouraged to attend and participate. Current 8th graders should come too and get to know MYO. 
RSVP Susan DuBois text 636-579-3442 so we know how much pizza to order.
 
NAM Convention

Flyers for the NAM Convention hosted by the Maronite Parish of San Francisco are available in the vestibule. We encourage you to consider joining all the Maronites nationwide for this special gathering from July 6-July 10, 2016.
 
In Defense of Christians (IDC)
In Defense of Christians is a nonprofit organization committed to the preservation and protection of Christians in the Middle East. IDC’s goals are to unite the Middle Eastern Christians, to make the general   public more aware of the plight of Christians there, and to stand in solidarity with the Christian  communities in the region. A chapter of IDC will be established here  in St. Louis. Anyone interested in  participating or  being a part of this chapter, please contact the Rectory (314-621-0056).
A meeting for all participants in IDC will be held on Tuesday April 19th at 7pm at the Cedars Hall. Your support and presence are appreciated.
 
Kitchen Scoop
Mondays  Rolling Cabbage Rolls @ 8:30am
Tuesdays Making Kibbi Aras @ 8:30am
Wednesdays Preparing Lunch 8 am– 11am and                    
Serving lunch on the line 11:00am–1:30pm                
Carry-Out 11am- 2pm
 
Liturgy Time Change
Beginning Sunday June 5th, there will only be one liturgy celebrated on Sundays at 10 am until the Fall. Saturday liturgy will remain at 5 pm.
 
Men’s Society Golf Tournament
On Sunday June 5th, the Men’s Society will be hosting their Annual Golf Tournament in Memory of Mike Buckley. The Golf Tournament will take place at Union Hills Golf Course. Registration  and  Sponsorship forms are available in the vestibule of the church.
 
Sub-Deacon Candidate’s Corner
As part of our formation, one of the goals of our ministry is to help parishioners develop a greater understanding of our rich Maronite Catholic History and Heritage. In furtherance of that goal we will be adding a short explanation to each bulletin about some aspect of our faith. This continues the discussion about our Maronite Liturgy.
Blessing with the Gifts: In a natural gesture of benediction, and as a fitting conclusion to the Eucharistic mystery, the celebrant blesses the faithful with the consecrated gifts.
 
Prayers after Communion: The first prayer is normally addressed to God the Father and is a prayer of thanksgiving. The prayer usually develops the theme of our thanking God for making us worthy to partake of the Holy Mysteries, which enable us to persevere in piety, grant forgiveness of sin and life in the world to come. The second prayer is usually addressed to the Son and is known as a prayer of imposition of hands, which is a traditional gesture prior to dismissal. The last blessing and dismissal stresses the theme of peace, the Eucharist is spiritual nourishment, and that the altar of Christ is a "Purifying Altar." The invocation of the Trinity is reminiscent of Christ's final words to the disciples before He ascended into Heaven.
 
The Farewell to the Altar : The Divine Liturgy of the Syriac Churches includes a final prayer where the celebrant privately addresses the altar. This prayer symbolizes in striking manner the intimate bond between the priest and the altar. It implies that the essence of priesthood revolves around the eternal sacrifice of Christ and its inexhaustible graces. The human priest is called to be the steward of these awesome mysteries. In this prayer the altar is personified and the priest offers a gesture of peace. He expresses the desire to return in peace, which is the hope of all of humanity as it struggles in this unstable world. Realizing his sinfulness, the priest hopes that the Divine Gift that he has offered would obtain his own forgiveness and prepare him for the judgement that all humans must undergo. Again, the priest expresses his anxiety about the uncertainty of the present age and asks Christ, whom the altar symbolizes, to guard him. Since the Church herself is sailing on stormy seas, he asks Christ to protect her as she fulfills her mission to be the "way of salvation" and the "light of the world."
 
Taken from A Commentary on the Holy Mysteries: The Holy Mystery of Offering (Qorbono)
By Chorbishop Seely Beggiani (https://www.stmaron.org/divliturgy.html)
 
If you have questions about Catholic teaching or our Maronite tradition, or would like to suggest a topic, please email us or tell us the next time we see you. Thank you and God Bless.
David Wahby (wahby@sbcglobal.net) and Tony Simon (asimon@simonlawpc.com)
Weekly Finances April 10th-April 17th
Income:$2,531.00
Expenses: $6,136.75 (Examples: Laclede Gas for Church and The Cedars, Building Insurance)
This does not include Wednesday lunch
 
Altar Servers
As we have announced in the past, we are still in great need of altar servers at ALL MASSES. We are looking for all   interested BOYS AND GIRLS that would like to serve at mass to send an email to Tony or David. We would love to have more servers and can teach you everything you need to know. NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE NECESSARY
David (wahby@sbcglobal.net)