May 24 bulletin

ASCENSION THURSDAY

Our Lord tells His disciples in the gospel of John 16:16-20 that they will weep and mourn while the world rejoices, but their mourning will turn into joy.

Now we know, of course, that was the case with regard to the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. It was also the case with the fact that they had to live their lives in this world for a number of years after the time of our Lord’s Resurrection and then finally they could be put to death and then raised to life and brought to eternity in heaven. But it is also a pattern that we see over and over again in our lives.

What is necessary for us is simply to keep our focus on the Lord because that is where all our hope comes from, and, consequently, it is last, as far as world is concerned. We recall that our Lord told us that the joy He would give is not the kind of joy the world gives, and He told us it is a joy that will not be able to be taken away. So, if things around us, not in anything that the world has to offer, but only in God.

So if we continue to be faithful to Him, then eventually when our day comes, we will be granted a joy that is beyond anything we have ever known, a joy that will never lessen, a joy that will never be taken away, because we will enter then into  the face to face vision of Christ, the One upon whom we have kept our focus in this world. On that day, that joy will never be taken. We will be filled with the joy that is Christ Himself. That is what is being offered to us.  On that day, the world will mourn and grieve– not us. Now we can mourn and grieve but we can still be  filled with joy, to keep our focus on Jesus, to know the joy of Christ, and to look forward to the joy that will never end.

THIS IS A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION! PLEASE TRY TO ATTEND MASS AT NOON OR 7 PM.

  

SAVE THE DATE

The Aquinas Institute of Theology is pleased to honor Bishop Emeritus Robert J. Shaheen with its 2014 Great Preacher Award.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

THE CEDARS BANQUET HALL

 

GOLF TOURNAMENT

The Men’s Society is hosting the 23rd annual golf tournament June 22, 2014 honoring John Nassif. Entry fee is $100 per golfer, $400 per foursome. Early registration and payment prior to the day of the event is greatly appreciated. Contact Mike Rask with any questions: mrask@charter.net or (314) 393-3787

SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF LEBANON

Those who are attending the Shrine on August 12-16th are asked to make their first payment of $75.00 for the bus by June 8th and give to Roxie (check should be made payable to St. Raymond’s Cathedral). Final payment of $75.00 is due no later than July 20th. Due to the bus contract, NO REFUNDS can be given—only in an  emergency. Now is the time to confirm your reservation. Let Roxie know if you will be  rooming with someone or rooming by yourself. Call Roxie at 314-277-0452 or  email at roxierask@yahoo.com.

 

JOURNEY TO HEAVEN

Join us for a “mini-retreat” presented by Father Gary George Friday, June 20th from 6:00 pm-9:30 pm and Saturday, June 21st from 9:00 am-5:00 pm at the Maronite Heritage Institute. The retreat will conclude with the 5 pm Liturgy at the Cathedral. The cost is $20 per person which includes snacks and lunch. Checks should be made payable to St. Raymond Cathedral and mailed to 931 Lebanon Dr. St. Louis, MO 63104.

Experience what it means to be a “Holy Family” through prayer, social interaction, and talks given by Father Gary. Open to men, women, and teenagers and to ANY outside guests!

Please contact Joan Rask at joanrask@sbcglobal.net or call 636-575-3430. Flyers available in the vestibule.

 

LADIES SOCIETY

For the month of June, the Ladies Society will gather for dinner on June 3rd at Joey B’s in South County (Concord Plaza) at 6:00 pm . Those interested in joining them, please contact Gina Fanetti by calling (314)

704-1149 or email at straymondsladiessociety@gmail.com. Please R.S.V.P. by May 28th.

 

MENS SOCIETY MEETING

The next Men’s Society meeting will be held on Thursday June 5th at 6:30 pm in the Lebanon room.

 

THIRD BANNS OF MARRIAGE

Third banns of marriage between Jacob T. Elking and Agnes C. Jos.

 

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is one of our nation’s oldest and most significant holidays, born solely of our shared American heritage.

Together, we recall the glory and sacrifice of all who have set their personal aspirations aside for the preservation of our society. We owe an enormous amount of gratitude to these men and women of the United States, both foreign and domestic.

As Americans, may we never forget those who fought for our freedom, and may we celebrate the lives of those who have truly made America the land of the free and the home of the brave. Today, of all days, we must reflect on what it truly means to live in freedom. We must solidify and reaffirm our commitment to our service members and their mission. We owe all of our veterans, past and present, a debt of gratitude for their sacrifices in the defense of liberty. In the words of President Abraham Lincoln, it is the job of the living to “take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the  last full measure.” We owe it to the heroes that died and the loved ones left behind to make sure that their sacrifices are remembered and that their service to  this nation always be honored.

May God bless our Veterans and May God bless America!

 

NAM CONVENTION

The annual NAM convention is a great way to meet Maronites from other parishes in both Eparchies and a great way to incorporate a family vacation! Mark your calendars for the NAM convention:

July 2-6 in Pittsburgh, PA. Registration forms are  available in the vestibule of the church.

 

 

 

 

 

Town Hall Meeting

The town hall meeting is this Thursday, May 8th at 7:30 pm in the Maronite Heritage Center. Bishop Elias A. Zaidan will celebrate at Liturgy honoring St. Sharbel at 6:30 pm at St. Raymond's Cathedral.
Everyone is invited to attend!

May 3, 2014

The Road to Emmaus

The journey is a common theme in Luke as is the concept of Faith as seeing.

It was Easter Sunday when two men were walking back to Emmaus, a distance of about 7 miles from Jerusalem. They were confused, they were troubled, and they were heading back home where they could forget about the whole thing.

Because, for the two men from Emmaus, Easter passed them by. Christ was raised from the dead, and somehow, the magnitude of that event passed them by.  They were there. They were in Jerusalem. They were spending time with the other believers. But somehow,  even though there were involved physically, emotionally and spiritually they were somewhere else.

There are times for us all when we are engaged with church, coming to worship and spending time with other Christians but, for whatever reason, we might be somewhere else in our heads or we might be going through a spiritually dry time. We are present in body-but not in mind or spirit. And that is why we need the example of the two men because, no matter where they were in their emotions, no matter how spiritually low they felt, the risen Christ came and walked with them anyway.

The beauty of this passage is that Christ understands that the two men are feeling spiritually low. But his presence with them is not dependent on them understanding him. His presence with them is dependent on him understanding them! Christ understands how they feel and so he becomes present to them.

The truth is that Easter comes to them even without them understanding what Easter is all about.

Right from the beginning of the Bible, from the story in the Garden of Eden where God goes looking for Adam and Eve...right through to the end of the Bible in the Book of Revelation where the risen Christ says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” the Biblical story is one of God seeking after us.

Even though we do not understand. Even when we are hiding from him. Even when the door is locked. Even when we are not looking for him….God comes looking for us and is present with us.

Easter—the resurrected Christ-comes to us and that is love.

This is love, that God comes into the chaos of our emotional lives. As Paul says in Romans, “if we have been united with him in his death, we shall certainly be united with him in his resurrection.”

Christ is resurrected in us and his resurrection becomes our resurrection. The cold, dark tomb of our emotional turmoil and lack of understanding is the place that is transformed by Christ into a resurrection chamber.

The light of Christ fills the darkness of our sadness and turmoil.

So ironically, when we are feeling lost and far away from God, that is the time when we are closest to him. Because Jesus understands. Jesus understands what it is like to feel far from God. Jesus cried out on the Cross, my God, my God why have you forsaken me?” And  if we are united with him in his path, we are certainly united with him in his resurrection. Christ understands—and so he walks with us on our Emmaus Road.

Christ was with them. Christ walked with them. Christ talked to them and taught them from the Scriptures. Christ ate with them...and still they did not respond to him as their Lord.

But Christ stayed with them in their ignorance and darkness and so he stays with us even when we do not have the strength or the understanding or the wit to respond appropriately to him as Lord. That is love.

Christ comes to us—he dwells with us in our community. As Paul says to the Corinthians, “Do you know that you are the temple of God?” As Jesus promised, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

The Easter message is one of a God who comes to us and walks with us; a God who comes to us in the ordinary and dwells with us in the ordinary, transforming the ordinary into the eternal.

And when the ordinary of our lives—the pains, the struggles, the turmoil.. When the ordinary is transformed into the eternal.. It is them that we begin to understand ourselves and God.

At this Easter time, we are reminded that Christ comes to us. He walks with us on our road, in the ordinary of our lives. The presence of Christ with us is not dependent on how holy we might be or how strong we are in the faith, it is dependent soley on the fact that he chooses to be present with us and his deep love for us.

Jesus said, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will refresh you.” Let’s just rest in that promise and allow Christ to come to us in the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the wine. Amen

 

TOWN HALL MEETING

In honor of the Feast of St. Sharbel, on Thursday May 8th,  Sayedna Elias A. Zaidan will celebrate a  Liturgy at St. Raymond’s Cathedral at 6:30 pm followed by a town hall meeting  at the Maronite Heritage Institute  at 7:30  pm We have moved the location as there will be a large party in the Cedars Hall.  Everyone is invited to attend the Liturgy and meeting. Sayedna Zaidan will  run the meeting and will answer any questions to the best of his ability

SCHOLARSHIPS

The forms for the NAM scholarship and St. Raymond’s Scholarship are in the vestibule of the church. Please remember the deadline of May 12th. No applications will be accepted after that date.

 

NAM CONVENTION

Mark your calendars for the NAM convention:

July 2-6 in Pittsburgh, PA. Registration forms are  available in the vestibule of the church.

 

GOLF TOURNAMENT

The Men’s Society is hosting the 23rd annual golf tournament June 22, 2014 honoring John Nassif. Entry fee is $100 per golfer, $400 per foursome. Early registration and payment prior to the day of the event is greatly appreciated. Contact Mike Rask with any questions: mrask@charter.net or (314) 393-3787.

 

Due to special events in the month of May, the Ladies and Men’s society meetings have been changed.  In honor of the Blessed Mother, The Ladies Society will begin their monthly meeting on Tuesday May 13th with a Liturgy at 6:30 pm followed by a Living Rosary to the Shrine by the Pastoral Center and a Blessing with the Icon of the Blessed Mother.  The Ladies will proceed with their meeting in the Lebanon Room. All members are encouraged to attend this special evening.

 

The Men’s Society will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday May 15th at 6:30 pm in the Lebanon Room. All members are encouraged to attend. Please share the change of date with your friends and family

members.

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FIRST COMMUNICANTS

Kristy Sholy         Grant Gamma

Munir Abu-Nader          Mary Catherine Slinkard

Savahnnah Suleiman

Sincere thanks to Mrs. Joan Rask for instructing them and guiding them during the year for this special day.

 

COFFE HOUR HOSTS

Attending the Liturgy is of central importance for the Family of St. Raymond Parish. After the Sunday Liturgies, we have the great custom of gathering in the Cedar’s to socialize with our families and friends. We would like to add to this tradition by asking families, or a combinations of couples, to host the coffee hour. Please think about volunteering for the Sunday Liturgy that you normally attend. We hope to get a number of people involved in this important ministry. Please  write your names on the sign up sheets in the vestibule of the church.

 

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Loving God,

You wrap your arms around your people and show your everlasting love in the same way a mother loves her children. We are grateful for the love you have taught us through the mothers in our lives: our own mother who brought us into this world, the mothers of friends who have welcomed us into their homes and families, our grandmothers who took time for us,  and the mothers who have helped us even though we were  not their children. Bless all the mothers of this world today. May they know the fullness of love they have shared and be blessed every day of their lives.

Amen

 

 

 

 

 

April 26, 2014

Canonization of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II

Pope Francis will canonize two Popes this Sunday April 27, 2014.

Pope John Paul II is remembered for helping bring down communism and for inspiring a generation of Catholics.  He  showed many how to forgive after he forgave the man who attempted to assassinate him. Many people call him “The Great”.

Pope John XXIII was known as “The Good Pope.” He called the second Vatican Council, but died before it was completed. His passionate views on equality were summed up in this famous statement, “We are all made in God’s image, and therefore we are all Godly alike.”

 

TOWN HALL MEETING

In honor of the Feast of St. Sharbel, on Thursday May 8th,  Sayedna Elias A. Zaidan will celebrate a  Liturgy at St. Raymond’s Cathedral at 6:30 pm followed by a town hall meeting  at the Maronite Heritage Institute  at 7:30  pm We have moved the location as there will be a large party in the Cedars Hall.  Everyone is invited to attend the Liturgy and meeting. Sayedna Zaidan will  run the meeting and will answer any questions to the best of his ability.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The forms for the NAM scholarship and St. Raymond’s Scholarship are in the vestibule of the church. Please remember the deadline of May 12th. No applications will be accepted after that date.

 

NAM CONVENTION

Mark your calendars for the NAM convention:

July 2-6 in Pittsburgh, PA. Registration forms are  available in the vestibule of the church.

  THANK YOU!

Chorbishop Moussa would like to express his sincere thanks and appreciation for all the prayers, wishes and thoughtfulness during the Easter Season. May the Risen Lord reward you all with His blessings of happiness and peace!

 

Due to special events in the month of May, the Ladies and Men’s society meetings have been changed.  In honor of the Blessed Mother, The Ladies Society will begin their monthly meeting on Tuesday May 13th with a Liturgy at 6:30 pm followed by a Living Rosary to the Shrine by the Pastoral Center and a Blessing with the Icon of the Blessed Mother.  The Ladies will proceed with their meeting in the Lebanon Room. All members are encouraged to attend this special evening.

 

The Men’s Society will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday May 15th at 6:30 pm in the Lebanon Room. All members are encouraged to attend. Please share the change of date with your friends and family members.

 

PALM SUNDAY DINNER REPORT

Income:                       $8,667.90

Food expenses:              $2606.28

Security expense:              $140.00

Porters expense:              $613.00

Net Income: $5,308.62

 

COFFE HOUR HOSTS

Attending the Liturgy is of central importance for the Family of St. Raymond Parish. After the Sunday Liturgies, we have the great custom of gathering in the Cedar’s to socialize with our families and friends. We would like to add to this tradition by asking families, or a combinations of couples, to host the coffee hour. Please think about volunteering for the Sunday Liturgy that you normally attend. We hope to get a number of people involved in this important ministry. Please  write your names on the sign up sheets in the vestibule of the church.

 

NEW SUNDAY

New Sunday is the eighth day of the Church’s celebration of the resurrection. The first week of the Season of Resurrection, the Week of Hawareyeen, has come to a conclusion. During this week we have seen the various appearances of the Lord: to Mary Magdalene, the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, to Peter, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and the disciples gathered in the upper room. Now the appearances of the Lord are over. In overcoming the hesitation of Thomas, the Lord revealed to the apostles the truth of the resurrection. Christ has risen, truly risen!

New Sunday once and for all puts an end to the old way of looking at the Lord. He is no longer revealed in the flesh (as the disciples did). From now on, he is revealed in Spirit, through the experiences of faith and in the Mysteries (sacraments). Only in the Spirit is there a sharing in his mystery of redemption. His word is crystal clear and resounds for all ages and generations:

“You have become a believer,

Because you saw me.

Blessed are they who have not

Seen and have believed.”

 

 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Come join us this coming Thursday May 1st in the

celebration of Sayedna Robert Shaheen’s 50th

anniversary to the priesthood. A  Liturgy of

Thanksgiving will be celebrated at 7 pm at St. Raymond’s Cathedral followed by a reception in The Cedars Hall. This is an open invitation, everyone is welcome.