Bulletin January 31-February 7, 2016

SUNDAY OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED

Today the Maronite Church commemorates all the faithful Christians who have departed this life in the faith. This feast is the Maronite Church’s equivalent to the feast of All Souls in the Latin Church.

As we have just prayed in the Hoosoyo, we ask our Lord Jesus Christ to  welcome all our deceased brothers and sisters, who have been nourished with his body and blood, into his kingdom of light. Not knowing the state of perfection they have achieved in their lives, we commend them to the mercy of God with hope and expectation.

 It is a Christian obligation for us to help our brothers and sisters through our prayers and the offering of the Divine Mysteries for their salvation. For though they have not yet reached the joy of the righteous and the just, they are called to ultimately enter the kingdom of light and peace. Our intercession can bring them nearer to the day of eternal happiness.

We should pray in a special way for those who have been near us, our relatives, friends, and benefactors who have died. At the same time we should pray for the deceased members of our parish and for all the departed who have no one to pray for them.

We commend the faithful departed to the Lord that by his cross He may lead them into the eternal wedding feast, and newly arrived in God’s kingdom may they intercede before him on our behalf.

 

The Power of Confession

As part of the Year of Mercy, upon the request of our Holy Father Pope Francis, we need to reconcile with our Heavenly Father through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Realizing that approaching the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a difficult challenge for some of our people, and truly wanting to help you calm your fears and concerns, I have obtained brochures and CDs that are available in the vestibule of the Cathedral for you to reflect upon. I truly desire that these brochures and CDs will assist you and ease your mind for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

 

Feast of Saint Maron 

Sunday, February 7, 2016

The Feast of Saint Maron is a special and Holy celebration in the Maronite Catholic Church. Our Cathedral Parish will celebrate the Feast of Saint Maron on Sunday, February 7th, with one Mass at 10:00 am, immediately followed by a lunch at The Cedars in honor of our revered Saint Maron. The menu for the lunch will be Lebanese food and tickets are being sold in advance for $15. Children 8 years and younger are free. This Sunday, January 31st, will be the last day to purchase tickets before the event. Let us all plan to participate in this wonderful celebration on Sunday, February 7th, the day before the Holy Season of Lent begins on Ash Monday. For additional information, please contact the Parish Office or John and Margie Simon.

 

Ladies Society Fashion Show

Mark your calendars for the Fashion Show Sunday March 6th. Tickets will go on sale Sunday February 14th.  We need models ( Women, men, and children of all ages), vendors, and volunteers to help. If anyone is  interested please contact Gina Fanetti at gfanetti5@gmail.com

 

SUBDEACON 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.

Acceptance of the Offerings

Representing the Church, the celebrant accepts the gifts of the faithful. Since our offerings signify our desire to reach out to God, and we pray that God will reach out to us in acceptance, they must be sincere and represent our inner intentions. Spiritual writers remind us that in the Bible beginning with the story of Cain and Abel, God has embraced those who come to Him in honesty of intention, and has rejected the offerings of those who are insincere. The prophets constantly caution us that true worship is not a matter of externals, but begins with purity of heart.

The celebrant's prayer of offering also reminds us that our generosity is always exceeded by God's generosity. It concludes by  praying: "... in exchange for their perishable gifts, grant them the gift of life and entrance into your kingdom."

Commemorations

At every Divine Service, it is the whole church, the mystical Body of Christ that is at worship. In this prayer we recall that our existence as a redeemed community is due to God's plan of salvation achieved in Jesus Christ. Assembled with us is the whole communion of saints from Adam to the present time, and the Blessed Virgin Mary is especially remembered. As we recall those who have gone before us, we petition God to remember our dead and to remember us, the living, those present at this Divine Service and those who were unable to attend.

Incensation

With the gifts placed at the altar, the celebrant incenses the gifts, the altar and the faithful again as a symbol of purification. We pray that our gifts and especially we, ourselves be rendered worthy to participate in this sacrifice.

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)

 

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

Tony (asimon@simonlawpc.com); David (wahby@sbcglobal.net)

 

Sympathy

Sincere sympathy to Dr. Edmond Abrahamian and Dr. Jacqueline R. Batanian on the loss of their beloved mother and mother-in-law, Mrs. Alice Awad, who passed away in Lebanon a few weeks ago. A memorial  40-day liturgy will be celebrated at St. Raymond’s Cathedral on Sunday February 14th at 11am. May the Lord grant her eternal rest and peace. May He bestow upon her family the blessings of comfort and consolation at this time of sorrow.

 

Men’s Society Meeting

The Men’s Society will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday February 4th beginning with a liturgy at 6pm in Church, dinner at 6:30pm in the Lebanon room, followed by the meeting.

All members are invited to attend!

 

Ladies Society Meeting

The Ladies Society will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday February 2nd at 7pm in the Lebanon room. All members are invited to attend!

 

Kitchen Scoop

Making Tabouli Monday February 1st @ 8 am, Rolling Cabbage Rolls or Grape Leaves Mondays @ 8 am,

Making Kibbi Aras on Tuesdays @ 8 am, Preparing to serve lunch on Wednesdays @ 8 am-11:00am,

Serving Wednesday Luncheon @ 11am-2pm.

Beginning Wednesday February 3rd, the lunch line will be open until 1:30 pm and carry-outs will remain open until 2:00pm. The Cedars will be closed for lunch on Wednesday February 17th, but the kitchen will remain open  Mon-Wed to prepare for Palm Sunday.

In preparation for the Feast of St. Maron, we will be making small meat pies and kibbi aras on Thursday  February 4th at 8:30 am. If anyone is able to help that day please let Kathleen, Denise, or Gina know. 

Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bulletin January 24-31, 2016

SUNDAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE JUST

Today the Maronite Church celebrates the Sunday of the Righteous and the Just. This is actually the traditional Maronite feast in honor of all the saints. Whereas the Latin Church celebrates the feast of All Saints on November 1st, the Maronite Church, following its ancient tradition dedicates this Sunday to their memory.

On this day we call to mind all the men and women, children of the Church, who have followed the path of  justice and righteousness. We remember the prophets, apostles, and martyrs, the hermits ascetics, men and women religious, as well as all Christians who have lead holy lives.

As our liturgy so often reminds us, they are just in the sight of God because they have patterned their lives on Jesus Christ, the Just One.

The saints are our models; their prayers and fasting have taught us to fight against sin and temptation and so  gain the reward of righteousness.

The saints are our intercessors; by their prayers we obtain the pardon of our sins and are strengthened in the Christian virtues.

They were the salt of the earth and the light of the world, they call us to follow their path. Through their intercession may we one day merit eternal life with God.

 

 

Feast of Saint Maron 

Sunday, February 7, 2016

The Feast of Saint Maron is a special and Holy celebration in the Maronite Catholic Church. Our Cathedral Parish will celebrate the Feast of Saint Maron on Sunday, February 7th, with one Mass at 10:00 am, immediately followed by a lunch at The Cedars in honor of our revered Saint Maron. The menu for the lunch will be Lebanese food and tickets are being sold in advance for $15. Children 8 years and younger are free. Tickets are being sold after Liturgies during  January, beginning this weekend. Please purchase your tickets in advance. We are grateful to John and Margie Simon for Chairing this special event in the spiritual and social life of the Cathedral Parish of Saint Raymond. Lets us all plan to participate in this wonderful celebration on Sunday, February 7th, the day before the Holy Season of Lent begins on Ash Monday. For additional information, please contact the Parish Office or John and Margie Simon.

Ladies Society Fashion Show

Mark your calendars for the Fashion Show Sunday March 6th. Tickets will go on sale Sunday February 14th.  We need models ( Women, men, and children of all ages), vendors, and volunteers to help. If anyone is interested please contact Gina Fanetti at gfanetti5@gmail.com

SUBDEACON 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.

Taken from A Commentary on the Holy Mysteries: The Holy Mystery of Offering (Qorbono)

The Pre-Anaphora

The Creed

Before beginning the Eucharistic prayer, the assembled community makes a profession of faith. Faith is made up of many elements. At its most fundamental level, faith is a personal encounter with God and our definitive response of mind and heart to God in love. It creates a personal relationship between the believer and God. In faith we choose to view God, the world and ourselves through the eyes of Christ. We choose to make His will, His priorities, and His values our values. In order to come to an understanding of our commitment of faith, to define who we are as a community, and to articulate our faith to ourselves and others, it becomes necessary to express our inner faith externally in a series of beliefs and doctrines.
In the early church, when there were many adult converts, candidates for baptism were called upon to profess their faith publicly. Concise formulas of faith or creeds were developed for this purpose. At the first Ecumenical Council of Nicea in 325, a creed was written to express the major beliefs of the church at that time. In the sixth century, this Nicene Creed was incorporated into the     Divine Liturgy.
In reciting the Nicene Creed we affirm that we are a part of the Christian tradition, that we are prepared to integrate that tradition into our lives and actions. We also affirm that the Eucharist in which we are about to participate is a sign of our unity with the faith of the apostles and with our fellow believers.
Since the Creed was inserted in the Divine Liturgy at a late date, its exact place in the pre-anaphora is unclear. The Roman Church places it at the beginning, while the Eastern Churches place it after the offering of the gifts. The Maronite Church has tended to   follow the Roman practice.

 The Procession of the Gifts

The bread and wine are carried in procession to signify that they are the offering of the whole community. They symbolize our readiness to offer all the gifts we have received from God- our wealth, our intelligence, our skills, our talents, our treasure, our life itself- for His service. The collection taken at the Divine Service represents a further giving on our part for the work of the church as it seeks to establish God's kingdom.

The procession of the gifts also reminds us that in biblical days, it was the "first fruits" that were offered to God. In other words, we recognize that all we have comes from God and He has a right to our best accomplishments. We also recognize that the bread and wine carried in procession are soon to contain the very reality of Christ Himself.

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)

Adoration

As part of the indulgences for the Holy Year of Mercy I invite you to our Holy Hour of Adoration to the Blessed Sacrament  on Thursday January 28th at 7pm. Hope to see many of you participate.

Kitchen Scoop

Making Tabouli Monday February 1st @ 8 am

Rolling Cabbage Rolls or Grape Leaves Mondays @ 8 am

Making Kibbi Aras on Tuesdays @ 8 am

Preparing to serve lunch on Wednesdays @ 8 am-11:00am

Serving Wednesday Luncheon @ 11am-2pm

Beginning Wednesday February 3rd, the lunch line will be open until 1:30 pm and carry-outs will remain open until 2:00pm.

Membership Meeting

The next Membership Meeting will be  Tuesday January 26th at 5pm.

Please follow the links below: Via Skype: https://join.microsoft.com/meet/shawnn/7Z02SZH1         Via Phone 314-994-1870 or 888-320-3585                

Conference ID: 28928762

Ladies Society Meeting

The next Ladies Meeting will be Tuesday February 2nd at 7pm in the Lebanon room