Maronite Voice - Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn

The
Maronite Voice
A Publication of the Maronite Eparchies in the USA
Volume III
Issue No. VI
June 2007
Mothers, Fathers, Priests, the Reciprocity of Love,
And the Meaning of Eucharist
I
n her chaste person a mother gives herself
completely to her spouse. Her children are a
gift from God that requires the best in her
personality to raise and educate. Being an image
of the Church’s love for Christ, her spouse, it is
not a service she renders, but a gift of her very
self. This gratuitous gift helps make a house into
a home, and creates love and life where there was
none before.
What is true of a mother, as co-creator with
God to bring life and love into a home, is also true
of a priest. He is not just a functionary, but also
a co-creator. Through the Eucharistic table he
sets, the guidance he gives, and the pardon he
grants, the priest makes the Church not just a
physical structure, a house to which we go on
Sunday, but a home where Christ, the true spouse
of every soul, is made flesh once again and dwells
in our midst in the Eucharist.
In his chaste person, meant only for his
spouse, and committed to the children he begets
through his love for her, a father secures, protects,
defends and builds his family. He does so by
laying down his life for his spouse. Like a
mother, a father is not a functionary; it is not just
a role he plays. Rather through his very person,
in fact, his very personality, made complete by his
love for his spouse, as Adam was made whole by
Eve, a father’s gift of self creates a family where
there was none before.
Likewise, what is true of a father, that he
builds and secures his family, is also true of the
priest. In his chaste and masculine gift of self,
and through his very personality, the priest
secures the foundation of the Church built upon
the apostles. He protects Her integrity, defends
Her Teaching and Tradition, and builds Her by
governing wisely, teaching lovingly, and
sanctifying Her through the Mysteries
(Sacraments) and through his own personal
example of holiness in imitation of Christ.
A priest is first and foremost in his very
person, a father, beyond all the functions and
roles he plays. He is also like a mother who
makes a house a home. In a sense, the priest, by his faithful service to the Church, can relate quite well to the mothers and
fathers he serves. He can learn much from them as well as encourage them in their vocations. (Continues on Page 20)
Maronite Youth Conference 2007
T
he annual Maronite Youth Conference will take place at St. Louis University
in St. Louis, Missouri, July 3-8, 2007. The cost for the conference is $325 per
person (double occupancy) and $375 (single occupancy-adults only). The
registration form and a non-refundable deposit of $150 per person were due by
April 20, 2007. The balance of payment was due May 25, 2007. Applications
submitted after April 20, 2007 were subject to a late fee of $50 per person. All
application forms and documents are available online at www.maroniteyouth.org.
For more information contact Fr. Gary George, Director of Eparchial Youth
Office, at (330) 792-2371, by fax at (330) 792-3026, or by e-mail at
abounag1@hotmail.com. 
Schedule of Bishop Robert Shaheen
June 1-15, 2007
Maronite Bishops’ Annual Meeting, Bkerke, Lebanon
June 30, 2007
Shaheen/Rask Wedding, St. Louis, Mo.
July 3-8, 2007
Youth Retreat, St. Louis, Mo.
July 23-26, 2007
Annual Clergy Conference, Richmond, Va.
July 25-29, 2007
Maronite Convention, Richmond, Va.
August 10-12, 2007
Assumption Celebration at Our Lady of Lebanon National Shrine, North
Jackson, Ohio.
August 15, 2007
Assumption Feast Day at Our Lady of Lebanon National Shrine, North Jackson,
Ohio.
August 19, 2007
Memorial Liturgy, Danbury, Conn.
Schedule of Bishop Gregory Mansour
Volume III
Issue No. VI
The Maronite Voice, (ISSN 10809880) the official newsletter of the
Maronite Eparchies in the U.S.A.
(Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of
Los Angeles and Eparchy of Saint
Maron of Brooklyn), is published
monthly.
Send all changes of address, news,
pictures and personal
correspondence to The Maronite
Voice at the above captioned
address. Subscription rates are
$20.00 per year. Advertising rates
are available upon request.
Publishers
• Most Reverend Bishop Robert
Joseph Shaheen
• Most Reverend Bishop Gregory
John Mansour
Editor Msgr. George M. Sebaali
Consultor Fr. Abdallah Zaidan,
M.L.M.
Editing and proofreading
Mary Shaia
Anne- Marie Condlin
Michael Maynes
Printed in Richmond, Virginia.
May 30 through June 19, 2007
Leave for Lebanon to attend the Maronite Bishops’ Annual Meeting, Bkerke,
Lebanon
June 9, 2007
Ordination of Deacon Dominique Hanna to Priesthood, Lebanon.
June 22-23, 2007
Board Meeting of Catholic Schools for Lebanon, Brooklyn, N.Y.
June 29-30, 2007
First Meeting of the Eparchial Leadership Council, Brooklyn, N.Y.
July 5-6, 2007
Youth Retreat, St. Louis, Mo.
July 22- 29, 2007
Annual Clergy Conference and Maronite Convention, Richmond, Va.
August 10-12, 2007
Assumption Celebration at Our Lady of Lebanon National Shrine, North
Jackson, Ohio. 
The Maronite Voice
The Maronite Voice
4611 Sadler Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060
Phone: 804/270-7234
Fax: 804/273-9914
E-Mail: gmsebaali@aol.com
http://www.stmaron.org
http://www.usamaronite.org
Page 2
Maronite Convention 2007
July 25-29, 2007
At the Marriott Hotel
in the heart of downtown
Richmond, Va.
For Reservation Call
1- 800 -228 - 9290
1- 804- 643 - 3400
Deadline For Hotel Reservation is
June 18, 2007
Special Convention rate is
$102 (Sing/Dbl)
National Apostolate of Maronites
June 2007
Eparchial Assignments
H
is Excellency Bishop Robert Shaheen, Bishop of the
Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, has made the
following Eparchial appointments:
Rev. Msgr. Louis Baz, formerly Pastor of
Our Lady of Lebanon Parish, Fairlawn
[Akron], Ohio, is assigned as Pastor of St.
Anthony of Padua Church, Cincinnati, Ohio,
effective on June 10, 2007.
Rev. Toufic Nasr, formerly Associate Pastor
of St. Maron Parish, Cleveland, Ohio is
assigned as Pastor of Our Lady of Lebanon
Church, Fairlawn [Akron], Ohio, effective on
June 10, 2007.
Rev. Anthony Salim, formerly Pastor of St.
Anthony of Padua Parish, Cincinnati, Ohio, is
released for service to the Maronite Eparchy
of Australia effective on June 10, 2007. 
St. Raymond Cathedral Blesses
Outdoor Shrine,
Our Lady of Saint Louis
where it dead-ends at Lebanon Drive. Bishop Robert J.
Shaheen, head of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon,
presided at the Mass.
The outdoor shrine is the second to be erected on the
parish grounds, according to Bishop Shaheen. A small shrine
was first established on the grounds in 1913 in honor of Our
Lady of Lourdes. It was torn down in 1961 during
redevelopment in the area.
The original shrine, he said, was created "stone by stone"
by immigrants who were the first parishioners. "It had
always been my desire to replace the shrine, but there never
was a place to do it," said Bishop Shaheen.
The focal point of the new shrine is a 6-foot statue of the
Blessed Mother holding the Christ child. It was crafted of
carrera marble and is imported from Italy.
Bishop Shaheen noted that it is a tradition of the Eastern
Church to depict the Blessed Mother with her Child and that
it is rare to see her pictured without Him.
In front of the statue is a stone altar, which Bishop
Shaheen consecrated at last weekend’s Mass.
The shrine also has two mosaics of Eastern Church
saints, both of which were designed by liturgical artist and
designer Angelo Gherardi of Chicago and constructed in
Italy, according to Bishop Shaheen.
A mosaic of St. Raymond hangs on the eastern wall. It
is a replica of an image of the saint that was in the original St.
Raymond Church in Hadchit, Lebanon. Another replica of
the image also is in St. Raymond Cathedral.
The western wall includes a mosaic of three more recent
Maronite saints: St. Sharbel, canonized in 1977; St. Rafka in
2001; and St. Nimatullah Kassab Al-Hardini in 2004.
Another tradition of the Eastern Church is to name the
Blessed Mother after an individual community, said Bishop
Shaheen. "She became Our Lady of that particular village,
who protected that village," he said, adding he wanted "the
people of today who helped build that shrine to have
something they could feel part of." 
World Youth Day
T
Left to right: Deacon Lou Peters, Fr. Gebran Bou-Merhi,
Bishop Robert Shaheen, and Fr. Andre Mhanna, Rector of St.
Raymond Cathedral, St. Louis, Mo.
by Jennifer Brinker, St. Louis Review Staff Writer
P
arishioners at St. Raymond Cathedral in St. Louis
[Missouri] are continuing a tradition of publicly
honoring the Blessed Mother.
An outdoor Shrine of Our Lady of St. Louis was
dedicated at Mass on Mother’s Day, May 13. It is located
next to the Maronite Pastoral Center at 1021 S. 10th St.,
The Maronite Voice
Volume III
Issue No. VI
he next World Youth Day will be held in Australia July
15-20, 2008 with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
Both Maronite eparchies in the United States are
forming a group of fifty people to participate in this historic
event. Bishop Ad Abikaram of the Maronite Eparchy in
Australia is eager to host us.
World Youth Day is for those age 18 to 35. Parental
and pastor approval are required, as well as proof of parish
involvement. Applications will be forthcoming. For more
information, consult with this webpage:
http://www.wyd2008.org, or call Father Elie Mikhael at
(305) 856-7449 or Father Jean Youness, M.L.M., at 718-6247228. 
International Eucharistic Congress
T
he 49th International Eucharistic Congress will be held
in Quebec City, Canada, June 15-22, 2008. The
congress is for those age 18 and up. Applications will
be forthcoming. For more information, consult with this
webpage: http://www.cei2008.ca . 
Page 3
June 2007
Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary
and Pays Tribute to Its Rector, Msgr. Ignace Sadek
Left to right: Fr. Kamil Al-Chouefati, Msgr. Maroun Asmar, Fr. Jean Younnes,
Msgr. Ignace Sadek, and Chorbishop Michael Thomas celebrated the Divine
Liturgy at Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral in Brooklyn, N.Y., on May 5, 2007.
by Mary Asmar Smith
O
n May 5, 2007 the Cathedral
Parish of Our Lady of Lebanon
in Brooklyn, N.Y., celebrated its
thirtieth anniversary as a Cathedral and
honored its Rector, Msgr. Ignace
Sadek. The Divine Liturgy was
celebrated by Msgr. Ignace Sadek, and
presided by His Excellency Bishop
GregoryMansour; Chorbishop Michael
Thomas, Vicar General and Chancellor;
Chorbishop John Faris, Associate
Secretary General of CNEWA; Msgr.
Maroun Asmar, Pastor of St. Sharbel
Church, Somerset, N.J.; Fr. Kamil AlChouefati, Administrator of Our Lady
of Lebanon Church, Easton, Penn.; Fr.
Jean Younnes, M.L.M., Cathedral
Assistant; Rev. George Faour, Pastor of
St. John’s Church, Orange, N.J., Rev.
Guido Gockel, M.H.M., Assistant
The Maronite Voice
Secretary General of CNEWA
concelebrated.
Deacon Anthony
Khoury of Our Lady of Lebanon
Church in Easton, and Subdeacon
Joseph Chebli, of St. Sharbel Church,
Somerset, N.J., assisted.
Following the Divine Liturgy a
capacity crowd of parishioners and
friends from New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and Connecticut filled the
Cathedral Hall for a banquet.
Following the singing of the Lebanese
and American National anthems,
Chorbishop Michael Thomas gave the
innvocation. Mr. Tony Tannousis,
Cathedral Council President, gave the
welcoming remarks, and Master of
Ceremonies, George Jalinos, introduced
the honored guests: Ms. Caroline Ziede,
Charge D’affaire, Lebanese Mission to
the United Nations; Mr. Antoine
Azzam, Consul of Lebanon;
Archimandrite John Faraj, Pastor of the
Volume III
Issue No. VI
Page 4
Melkite Virgin Mary Church in
Brooklyn; Mr. Frank Macchiarola,
President of St. Francis College and his
wife Mary; and Mr. Martin Golden,
New York State Senator.
Banquet Chairman and Cathedral
Trustee Joe Shaia paid tribute to Msgr.
Sadek and expressed the parish’s
gratitude for the love, support and
encouragement during his years as
Cathedral Rector. New York State
Senator Martin Golden presented Msgr.
Sadek with a Proclamation from the
State of New York in recognition of his
service to the people of New York. This
prestigious award recognizes an
individual’s devotion, leadership,
patriotism and service to the people of
New York.
His Excellency Bishop Gregory
Mansour then spoke and said “Msgr.
Sadek is a true spiritual gentleman and
a beautiful priest. He inspires holiness
and goodness. Everything about him
shows his love for Christ… I will miss
his homilies at daily Mass. I will miss
him at the Cathedral, but I know he will
contribute even more in his new setting
at Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary.”
Msgr. Sadek then addressed the
crowd and gave thanks to the Bishop
for his love and support. He expressed
his appreciation to all those present and
to those responsible for putting together
the banquet and journal. He went on to
thank his brother clergy and friends
who participated in the commemorative
journal. He assured parishioners that,
although he will be moving to the
Seminary, they would remain in his
heart and prayers.
Fr. Jean Younnes gave the
Benediction and expressed his gratitude
for the support and love extended to
him from Msgr. Sadek since arriving in
the U.S. He said “These two years that
I have spent with him, I have never felt
that I am a stranger in this country,
because Msgr. Sadek worries about me
more than a father would…He never let
me feel that I am far from my
family…” 
June 2007
Tribute to Msgr. Ignace Sadek,
Rector of Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral
Personal Testimonies
by Mary Asmar Smith
M
any people have expressed their
love and respect for Monsignor
Sadek.
Who is Msgr. Sadek?
“My best wishes to the Cathedral and
Msgr. Sadek. God permitted that
Monsignor Sadek came to visit his
brother, so one or two years later, I
thought of him and asked him to come
and take care of St Anthony’s Church
in Wilkes-Barre, Penn. He was truly a
blessing for the parish and was a
wonderful pastor”
Archbishop Francis M. Zayek.
P
aying tribute to Msgr. Sadek,
Rector of Our Lady of Lebanon
Cathedral, is a very special
occasion, even though it is bittersweet.
But at the same time we know he leaves
us for some much deserved rest and for
a new beginning. We are happy
knowing he will still be there for us and
welcome our calls and visits.
Ever since his assignment as
Cathedral Rector in 1997, he has been
a pillar to our community. A rock who
helped build up the foundation of the
Cathedral parish family. For the
fortunate who had the opportunity of
being close to him it was like being at
the center of God’s love through his
spirituality, warmth and kindness.
Msgr. Sadek touched the lives of many
with great sensitivity and respect.
Born in Lebanon in 1930, he was
ordained to the priesthood for service in
the Patriarchial Diocese in Lebanon on
April 15, 1956. Fluent in the Arabic,
French, English, Latin and Syriac
languages, Msgr. Sadek pursued studies
not only in Philosophy and in
Theology, but also received degrees in
French Literature and Physics.
In his pastoral ministry, he was a
teacher of French, Latin, Physics,
Mathematics and Music in Mar Abda
Seminary (1956-64) in Lebanon;
Financial Minister of the Saint Maron
Seminary in Ghazir, Lebanon (196474); Teacher of French Literature,
Physics and Music in the Ghazir
Seminary (1964-74); Confessor and
Counsellor of the Besancon Nuns in
Kfour, Kesrouan, Lebanon (1974-88);
Teacher of French Literature and
Physics in three colleges in Beirut
Lebanon (1974-88); Pastor of St.
GeorgeChurch, Kfour, Lebanon (198088); Member of St. Sharbel
Canonization Committee (1962-64);
and Preacher of the Patriarchal Diocese
(1960-62).
Msgr. Sadek ends each liturgy with
the same words “Thank you, May God
The Maronite Voice
Msgr. Ignace Sadek, Rector
of Our Lady of Lebanon
Cathedral, Brooklyn, N.Y.
bless you and may God bless America”.
America was indeed blessed with his
immigration to this great land. We see
him as the “Lord’s Ambassador to
America.” In 1988 he became Pastor of
St. Anthony Maronite Church, WilkesBarre, Pennsylvania, and was appointed
Chaplain to His Holiness Pope John
Paul II in 1996 at the request of His
Excellency Archbishop Francis M.
Zayek.
He was appointed to the Eparchial
Presbyteral Council and College of
Consultors 1997 through 2002. Msgr.
Sadek also served on the Priestly
Formation Board from 1994 through
1997. He became Rector of Our Lady
of Lebanon Cathedral in 1997.
On September 11, when the World
Trade Center came crumbling down,
Msgr. Sadek rushed to the Brooklyn
Promenade helping New Yorkers
through the worst attack in U.S. history.
There were many articles written about
him: how he consoled the distraught,
prayed for the dying, how he was
covered in debris from the falling
towers. One article in particular
described Msgr. Sadek’s role that day
“Amid the Chaos, A Sign of Order.”
He gave absolution to all those who lost
their lives that day. He is first, foremost
and always a priest.
Volume III
Issue No. VI
Page 5
“Monsignor Sadek is a true spiritual
gentleman and a beautiful priest. He
inspires holiness and goodness.
Everything about him shows his love
for Christ. His favorite spiritual
mentors are St Theresa of the Little
Child Jesus, and Pope Pius X, and he
lives what he admires in them. I will
miss his homilies at daily Mass, and I
will miss him at the Cathedral. But I
know he will contribute even more in
his new setting at Our Lady of Lebanon
Seminary.”
Bishop Gregory J. Mansour
Clergy from both Eparchies have also
expressed their appreciation for his
support and encouragement; some of
whom were his students at the
Seminary in Lebanon.
“In Lebanon, I looked upon Msgr.
Sadek with respect and great honor for
the way he dealt with us seminarians....
He was and still is a man of many
talents, he is a kid at heart with the kids,
and man of wisdom with those who
seek his advice.... In brief, a unique and
special person. He touched me with his
humility and big heart. Yes, he is a
Monsignor, but you never see him in
red.....”
Msgr. Peter Fahed Azar
“I consider myself very fortunate to
have had him as a mentor and a teacher
during my formative seminary years.
His personality influenced my life, and
his spirituality marked my priestly
vocation with a stamp which will
remain forever within the crevices of
June 2007
my soul.
Msgr. Sadek is truly “SADEK”
which means honest… He is a priest in
the full sense of the word. His goal in
life is not just to save his own soul but
each and every soul he encounters. He
is the genuine, kind, spiritual and
devoted priest who is available 24/7 for
advice, spiritual direction or
confession”
Rev. Georges El-Khalli, Ph.D.
13 Ways That Increase
Vocations in the Church!
“As a young priest I always found a
great inspiration in this great priest who
manifests holiness and humility. He
refers to his friends, including me as
“shreek” or partner, and this gives us
great encouragement and support,
especially to the young priests. May
God send many more holy priests such
as Msgr. Ignace.”
Msgr. Sharbel Maroun
“These two years that I have spent with
him, I have never felt that I am a
stranger in this country, because Msgr
Sadek worries about me more than a
father would, and he is like a big
brother to me. He never lets me feel
that I am far from my family, because
he has always shown me tenderness and
generosity and opened his great heart to
me.”
Fr. Jean Younes M.L.M.
“He was the inspiration for my
priesthood, my spiritual advisor. I chose
him for my pre-ordination retreat and it
was a week to remember. He provided
me with training on the Maronite
liturgy. I will never forget his
hospitality, kindness, compassion,
encouragement and love.”
Msgr. Maroun Asmar
“Msgr. Sadek and I came to the U.S.A.
almost at the same time. He is a man of
commitment and prayer. I admire his
dedication to the church, to the
community of the faithful, and his
devotion to the blessed Mother as you
often see him praying the rosary. He is
a true priest.”
Fr. Abdallah Zaidan, M.L.M.
“I know Monsignor as a pious priest.
He always shows love and care to those
who approach him. His commitment to
the service to the Lord is quite
remarkable. He projects peace to all
those around him and spreads joy and
harmony. He has a big heart, which is
full of love and devotion to our blessed
The Maronite Voice
Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral,
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mother of God. I wish him a long life
and peaceful days in good health. May
the peace of Christ always accompany
him. We love you, Monsignor.”
Archimandrite John Faraj
“The most spiritual man I have ever
met”
Subdeacon Crosby Sparks
"An admirer of Pope Pius X, and Saint
Therese, Msgr. Sadek has truly walked
in the example of them
both. Simplicity. The best advice he
gave me. "
Subdeacon Joseph Chebli
Whether in Lebanon, Pennsylvania or
New York City, Msgr. Sadek has
strived to provide a supportive and
spiritual environment for the personal
growth of his students, parishioners
and friends. He refers to each of us as
“My Beloved”… He is in fact the
“Beloved of the Cathedral.” 
Volume III
Become saints, especially as parents.
Remember, your home is the first
church, school and seminary for your
children.
Get the word out that there are still
holy, God-centered priests and nuns
and brothers who are on fire with
love for God. Tell others that it
would be an honor to your family, if
your son or daughter is called to be a
priest, nun, or brother.
Take time to talk with your children
about vocations. Have them add it on
their list as a possibility to consider.
Do not speak negatively to your
children about priests and nuns;
rather show them the positive side of
their special vocation.
Say a special prayer once a day or
once a week for your pastor or for
other priests and nuns you may know
in ministry.
As parents, you have not only the
right but also the duty to see to it that
your children are taught Catholic
truth.
Priests, nuns and brothers, show
young people the positive side of
your ministry that gives you joy,
happiness and gratification.
Pray always that the Lord of the
harvest may give his Church saintly
leaders.
Become members of organizations
that support vocations, such as the
Order of Saint Sharbel, Serra
International, Knights of Columbus
and other worthy organizations.
Show the young people the right
example in life and pray with them
and for them, that the Lord may
show them the right call in their
lives.
When you see a young man or
woman with some good qualities for
the priesthood or religious life, tell
him or her about them.
Once in a while, write a short note to
a priest or a nun to tell them how
much you appreciate them, and that
you are praying for them.
 Finally, pray and pray and pray, for
prayer is the most powerful tool that
you can use.
Don’t nag and complain about the lack
of vocations. Do something about it!
Issue No. VI
Page 6
June 2007
Westchester, New York
Maronite Mission Launches
Its Junior MYO Group
Fr. Jean Younes with members of Westchester Maronite
Mission and members of the newly formed Junior Youth.
Parishioners
were
privileged to have Bishop
Vann administer the
Sacrament of Reconciliation
from 10 P.M., on Holy
Thursday evening until 2:30
A.M., on Great Friday
morning. Our Lady of
Lebanon Parish is most
grateful for Bishop Vann’s
voluntary visit to assist Fr.
Assaad El-Basha, Pastor, and
for his love and solicitude for
the spiritual welfare of the
Maronite people.
F r . Mitch P acwa
participated from Holy
Thursday through Easter
S u n d a y a n d h e a r d The Most Rev. Kevin W.
Vann
confessions throughout the
Bishop
of
Fort Worth,
night on Holy Thursday until
Texas.
5:30 A.M., on Great Friday.
Fr. Pacwa shared with the parishioners his insight into the
Passion of our Lord and His Glorious Resurrection. 
Western New York
Lebanese Festival
at
St. John Maron Church
in Williamsville, N.Y.
by Rita Zihenni
T
wenty-three members of Westchester Maronite
Mission’s new Junior MYO gathered at Haleem and
Denise Zihenni’s house in Scarsdale for their first
meeting on Sunday, April 29.
Mrs. Zihenni, whose own children are members of Junior
MYO, welcomed children and parents to her house and
invited everyone to eat and enjoy the food before they started
a series of activities.
For this special gathering, Fr. Jean and three moderators,
Ms. Denise Zihenni, Ms. Sanaa Manassian, and Ms. Rania
Hadchiti worked with the children. Ms. Manassian introduced
a game in order for them to meet and get to know each other.
After this game, Fr. Jean introduced St. Rafka, St.
Charbel and St. Nimutallah El-Hardini for the kids in a very
interactive way.
Afterwards, everybody chanted one of the most beautiful
hymns for the Virgin Mary “houbbouki ya mariam.” The
chant was written in English letters to help children read it.
Amanda Zihenni played the piano.
Father Jean led the final prayer, blessed the crowd and
wished for a future gathering. 
Lewisville, Texas
Roman Catholic Bishop and Fr.
Mitch Pacwa Administer the
Sacrament of Reconciliation
O
ur Lady of Lebanon, Lewisville, Tex., received a
singular honor and blessing during Holy Week with
the presence of the Most Rev. Kevin W. Vann, Bishop
of Fort Worth, and Fr. Mitch Pacwa of EWTN.
The Maronite Voice
Volume III
Issue No. VI
T
he ninth annual Lebanese Festival will be held Friday,
July 27 through Sunday, July 29, 2007 on the grounds
of St. John Maron Church in Williamsville, [Buffalo],
New York. The highlight, as always, will be the authentic
Lebanese cuisine and sweets. Continuous Lebanese music
will be provided by Stars Of The East. The Lebanese Festival
Dance Troupe will also perform throughout the weekend.
The church will be open with a rich display of the
Maronite Church and Lebanese Heritage. As always, there
will be games of chance for adults and children, a raffle with
cash and prizes and a backgammon tournament. For further
information and directions, visit the church website at
www.stjohnmaron.org . 
Deadline for next month’s issue of The
Maronite Voice is June 25, 2007. Send
all changes of address, news, pictures
and personal correspondence to:
The Maronite Voice
4611 Sadler Road
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
Phone: (804) 270-7234; Fax: (804) 273-9914
Email: Gmsebaali@aol.com
Pictures have to be original. Digital pictures must be in
“JPG” format.
The Maronite Voice is also available online, in PDF
format, at www.stmaron.org. 
Page 7
June 2007
Phoenix, Arizona
Second Annual Talent Show
Committee Members presented a certificate and a small gift
to all the participants. A pot luck dinner was served by the
parishioners. 
San Francisco, California
Young Adults of Our Lady of
Lebanon Convene Their First
Meeting
Fr. Ghattas Khoury, Pastor, with members of St. Joseph
Maronite Church MYO and participants in the talent show.
by Yara Boulos
O
n Sunday, April 22, 2007, the MYO of Saint Joseph
Maronite Church in Phoenix, Ariz., planned and
hosted the second annual talent show. Twenty-five
members presented their talents. Marlene Boulos, who came
up with the idea of a talent show, had much help and support
in making it work.
There were a variety of talents, from singing to dancing,
from skits to musical instruments, from karate to jokes. The
performers were amazing, and everyone appreciated them.
Saint Joseph’s parishioners feel that their parish is a place of
prayers, and also a place where they can develop their talents
and their friendships as they look towards a brilliant future.
They feel that their parish is open to develop their culture
with a spirituality that has been shaped in Lebanon and
continues to flourish in America. Many more generations will
pass along through this church, and it is their job to start the
way and lead a successful journey. St. Joseph Maronite
Church would like to thank all those who made this event
possible. 
Chicago, Illinois
Star Academy/Family Night
by Lena Daou
T
he parish of Our Lady of Lebanon in Chicago, Illinois,
held a Star Academy/Family Night on Saturday, April
14, 2007. The talent show was an exciting way to
involve all the children from two up to sixteen years old.
A total of twenty-seven children participated playing
musical instruments, singing, painting, and showcasing arts
and dancing.
The Our Lady of Lebanon Shaker Hall was filled with
family members who watched, listened, cheered and clapped,
enjoying the performances by the young of the parish. The
The Maronite Voice
Volume III
Issue No. VI
Fr. John Nahal, Pastor, with members of the Young Adults of
Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Millbrae, California.
by Joyce Marie Maroon
L
ots of exciting things seem to be stirring at Our Lady of
Lebanon in Millbrae [San Francisco], Calif. About
three weeks ago Fr. John Nahal became the new pastor,
and since then he has been quite busy in getting to know his
new parish and its dynamics.
One of the areas Fr. John wanted to focus` on was the
young adults of the Parish. He invited about twenty-five
people to meet at the Parish house to get to know him better
and to see if there was any interest in forming a group that
would formally represent the young adults in the parish.
After many conversations and lots of food, the group was
very excited about the idea and decided to name themselves
Young Adults of Our Lady of Lebanon.
Already on the agenda for the next meeting is to discuss
what kind of activities the group would like to do, activities
such as hiking trips, feeding the homeless, discovering the
Bay Area together, etc.
If you are ever in the San Francisco area and are
interested in getting to know the community better, please
feel free to log onto our website at www.ololsf.org, or
contact Fr. John at (650) 293-7306. 
Page 8
June 2007
Columbus, Ohio
Our Lady of Lebanon Mission
Welcomes Bishop Shaheen
personally thank him for his parish’s generosity to Our Lady
of Lebanon Mission.
A Grand Banquet was held immediately after the Liturgy
at LaScala Restaurant in Dublin. His Excellency, the Most
Reverend Frederick F. Campbell, D.D., Bishop of the
Catholic Diocese of Columbus, greeted Bishop Shaheen and
the parishioners warmly and welcomed the Maronite
Community to his Diocese once again. Bishop Campbell
shared his profound respect for the Maronite Church as well
as his enjoyment of Lebanese food and culture. Fr. Ignatius
Harrington offered the Invocation and Msgr. Bill Maroon
offered the Benediction. The Bishop, Fr. Mhanna and the
parishioners concluded the evening by chanting a Maronite
hymn. For more information about Our Lady of Lebanon
Mission, visit their website at www.ourladyoflebanon.info;
or email membership@ourladyoflebanon.info. 
New Castle, Pennsylvania
May Crowning
Left to right: Fr. Pierre Bassil, Bishop Robert Shaheen, and Fr.
Andre Mhanna visit with children from Our Lady of Lebanon
Mission in Columbus, Ohio.
by Adele Knieser Busch, Parish Council Secretary
O
n Saturday, April 28, 2007, Our Lady of Lebanon
Maronite Mission in Columbus, Ohio, was privileged
to welcome His Excellency Bishop Robert J. Shaheen,
Bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon; Fr. Andre
Mhanna, Rector of St. Raymond Cathedral and Diocesan
Mastr of Ceremonies; and Jonathan Kyser, Secretary to
Bishop Shaheen. This was the first official Pastoral visit to
the Columbus Mission since it was established in 2002. Dr.
Tarek Chidiac, his wife Sofia and their children hosted a
Lebanese luncheon at their home in Muirfield to welcome
them.
Bishop Shaheen also met with the Parish Council and
parishioners to discuss their desire to have a church of their
own in the near future. Several volunteers from the Mission
have drafted a Business Plan which was also presented to the
Bishop. He encouraged them to go forward with the Business
Plan and shared ideas with the parish community on how to
obtain their first church. This meeting was truly refreshing
and affirming to many.
The Pontifical Divine Liturgy was held at St. Margaret of
Cortona Roman Catholic Church in Columbus where the
Mission currently meets for Liturgy and activities. Fr. Pierre
Bassil, the Mission Administrator and also pastor of St.
Ignatius Maronite Church in Dayton, Ohio; Rev. Andre
Mhanna, Diocesan Master of Ceremonies; Msgr. William
Maroon of the Catholic Diocese of Columbus; and Fr.
Ignatius Harrington, Pastor of Holy Resurrection Melkite
Church in Columbus concelebrated. The Columbus Chapter
of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher provided the Honor Guard
for the Bishop. Joseph Karam and Steven Saliba, Mission
parishioners, represented the Order the Order of Saint
Sharbel. Prior to the Liturgy, Bishop Shaheen visited with
Msgr. Frank Lane, Pastor of St. Margaret of Cortona, to
The Maronite Voice
Volume III
Issue No. VI
Left to right: Christina Riott, Breanna Beshero, and Caitlyn
Doran (attendants). Mariana Kanaan and Michael Hudson
(crown bearers ). Giovonna Fulena (May Queen) and Father
Kevin Beaton, Pastor.
by Marcia Rudley
O
n Sunday, May 13, 2007, St. John the Baptist Maronite
Church honored the Blessed Virgin Mary by having a
procession led by Father Kevin Beaton, Pastor, and
Deacon Dr. Richard Stone from the site of St. John’s old
church (a block away) and reciting the Rosary. Beautiful
songs and readings were done to honor the Blessed Mother.
During the Divine Liturgy, the 2007 May Queen, Giovonna
Fulena, crowned the Blessed Virgin Mary. The May Queen’s
attendants, Caitlyn Doran, Christina Riott and Breanna
Beshero also presented bouquets of flowers during the
service.
Following the Liturgy, everyone was invited to the
basement of the church for a Mother’s Day Breakfast,
sponsored by the church, to honor all the mothers,
grandmothers, godmothers and aunts. 
Page 9
June 2007
Ecumenical Evening Prayer at Our Lady of Lebanon
Cathedral
On May 23, 2007, His Excellency Bishop DiMarzio and the Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn,
New York, along with His Excellency Bishop Gregory Mansour and the Eparchy of Saint
Maron of Brooklyn hosted an Ecumenical evening prayer service at Our Lady of Lebanon
Cathedral. The opening remarks of Bishop Gregory Mansour follow:
Bishop Gregory Mansour
B
ishop DiMarzio and the Diocese
of Brooklyn, thank you for
hostingthis ecumenical gathering
of Christians from the Orthodox,
Catholic and Protestant communities.
It is so very important that, as Christ’s
ambassadors, we gather to pray.
Many of you were here last
December when Christians, Muslims
and Jews gathered to pray for peace in
Lebanon. At that time, the parishioners
of Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral felt
that we must pray for Lebanon, not
separately as Muslims, Christians, or
Jews, but together as children of God.
(We feel the same today, especially
with the recent events in Lebanon. We
pray for Lebanon and her people.) On
that evening a common refrain was
heard: “It is good for us to be here”
(Mk 9:5). These words, spoken byPeter
himself, are quite familiar to us and
also define our prayer tonight!
In the light of Mount Tabor, “it is
good for us to be here.” Between the
Resurrection and Pentecost (which this
year we celebrate together) we come to
pray. We repent and lament that we do
not pray and work together often
enough. It is easier for us to stay within
our own communities. We know our
way around there; it is comfortable for
us. But this is not acceptable to the One
who prayed to His Father just before He
died and was raised up:
“Father that they may be one as
we are one, I in them and you
in me, that they may become
completely one, so that the
world may know that you have
sent me and have loved them
even as you have loved me”
(Jn 17:22-23).
The Maronite Voice
Therefore, what kind of Christian
must we be? Should we be faithful to
our own particular Churches or
ecclesial communities? Yes, indeed we
have to say this, but we are also obliged
to be faithful to the will of Christ, who
in his priestly prayer for his disciples,
prayed that “They may be one, Father,
as you and I are one.”
In reflecting on our need for one
another we can say this about
ourselves:
 The strength and beauty of the
Catholic Communion of Churches
is in her universality, her unity with
the Pope of Rome and in the order,
discipline and uniformity of her
law.
 The strength and beauty of the
Orthodox Churches is found in
their love for Sacred Tradition,
their Synodal (team) government of
the apostolic college of bishops,
and in the epikia principle which
allows bishops to accommodate to
human need and weakness.
 The strength and beauty of the
Protestant ecclesial communities is
in their fervent love for the
Scriptures, their evangelical zeal,
their flexibility, and their desire to
listen to the work and movement of
the Holy Spirit to witness Christ in
every circumstance of life and
society.
Along with these strengths,
however, come weaknesses as well.
Those of us within and outside each
community know these well. There is
no need for us to elaborate here.
However, what is needed here is the
virtue of humility that together we may
stand before God, as did Adam, and
recognize that we are missing
something, perhaps missing someone!
For Adam it was Eve; for us it is a
unified Church, fully herself: one,
holy, catholic and apostolic; one flock
Volume III
Issue No. VI
Page 10
with all her shepherds united in full
communion. This is the true image of
the Body of Christ.
St. Augustine said, “The Holy
Spirit is given in the measure that one
loves the Church.” In these days spent
in anticipation of Pentecost we pray
that we will love the Church, already
existing in tremendous unity, but still in
need of that greater unity which one
day will allow all of her children to
share the one loaf and the one cup.
In the reading from the Old
Testament tonight, we hear the story of
the giving of the Ten Commandments,
a second time! They were given twice,
because the first time the anger of
Moses rendered the first set of
Commandments “defective.” They
were broken! So Moses had to “return”
them to the Almighty to get a “refund.”
We are glad he did, because not only do
we see once again the need for an
objective standard of morality, beyond
relativism, but we also see the awesome
encounter between a leader of God’s
people and the living God. We can take
notice here and benefit.
During his mystical encounter with
God, Moses mentions the “stiff necked
people” he serves (sounds familiar?)
But he has the courage to pray thus: “If
I find favor with you, O Lord, do come
along in our company.” Is this not what
we pray as we gather today? Sure of
our “stiff neckedness” we pray, as the
leaders of God’s people, “O Lord, do
come along in our company.”
And just as Moses stood in awe
before the Majesty of God, so do we.
Just as Moses asked for the “pardon of
our wickedness and sin,” so do we; and
just as Moses prayed “Receive us as
your own,” so do we. We recall our sad
divisions of the years 431, 451, 1054
and the Protestant-Catholic divisions of
the late Middle Ages. We pray for
restoration and unity in Christ.
June 2007
The path to that unity which Jesus
willed for us is based partially on
intellectual dialogue, partially on
prayer, and even moreso on love. Love
is the greatest of virtues says St. Paul; it
is the name for God Himself, says St.
John; and as Jesus said, love is the way
that all people will come to know that
we are his disciples.
Love fulfills the law and love is the
heart of “spiritual ecumenism.” In his
first address to the youth of the world in
Cologne, Germany, Pope Benedict said:
“Spiritual ecumenism, prayer,
conversion and the sanctification of
life, constitute the heart of the
ecumenical movement. It could be said
that the best form of ecumenism
consists in living in accordance with the
Gospel.”
If we cannot enter into an official
theological dialogue, which is
important, if we cannot work together
in ecumenical service projects, which
are also important, if we cannot further
the common date for Easter or the
receiving of the one cup and one loaf,
or the hierarchical unity of all
Christians, which are all important, we
can “love one another.” A gathering
like this one helps us do just that.
By our love and sincere interest in
one another, we come to be known as
Our Lord’s disciples, so that “the world
may believe.” The Mother of Jesus, our
faithful teacher and guide, who was
present with the apostles at the first
Pentecost, accompanies us on our
Ecumenical journey together. Lord
have mercy on us. 
The Behavior of Some Men
by
The Most Reverend Gregory J. Mansour
S
everal months ago I wrote an
article “that I never thought in a
million years I would write.” I
entitled it “The Evening Behavior of
Christians”, and addressed it equally to
men and women.
Some people
interpreted it as a strong exhortation
against the immodest dress of some
women; it was, but it was also much
more. It was about modesty for men
and women.
Some women were upset that I did
not sufficiently address certain
behaviors of men. Although I did
address the harm that both women and
men do against purity, to even the
score, I would like to share a few
thoughts especially, but not exclusively,
for men with regard to pornography.
What are we thinking when we say
that this is a harmless or victimless sin?
Do we know just how destructive this
habit really is? On our televisions, over
the Internet, downloaded on I-pods, in
magazines, advertisements and
everywhere we look – the more
tantalizing the better, there it is, and
unfortunately we are “getting used to
it”!
But if the eye is the window to the
soul, and our eyes are filled with all
this, what will become of our souls? If
people are just bodies to be used and
discarded, what kind of people will we
become?
If we start, feed and
rationalize habits that bring us less
freedom and less peace of mind, what
kind of compulsive people will we
become?
Yes, in fact, some women dress
immodestly, but the sad reality is that
men also contribute more than their fair
share to immodesty and to our hypersexualized environment. It may not be
in the way they dress, but it is in their
habits, especially what they look at and
look for.
We should not be deceived by
making light of this destructive trend.
To be pure in thought, word and deed is
to be a true person, a mature person.
Everything else makes us less a man
and less a woman.
The Gospel is clear:
“The lamp of the body is your eye.
When your eye is sound, then your
The Maronite Voice
Volume III
Issue No. VI
Page 11
whole body is filled with light, but
when it is bad, then your body is in
darkness. Take care, then, that the light
in you may not become darkness. If
your whole body is full of light, and no
part of it is in darkness, then it will be
as full of light as a lamp illuminating
you with its brightness" (Lk 11:34-36).
Men are just as responsible as are
women in our Lord’s call to modesty.
Men and women can do much more to
make this world modest and pure, a
place where adults and children can
enjoy together. Jesus said, “Blessed are
the pure of heart, for they shall see
God” (Mt 5:3).
How can the same eyes that
worship the Host at the Divine Liturgy
or search in prayer for the face of God,
also look at that which leads to sin?
Chastity, modesty, and purity, “old
fashioned” concepts? If so, men and
women alike need to become more “old
fashioned” so that our children can live
better and happier lives. 
Prayer For Priestly
Vocations
Father, in every generation You
provide ministers of Christ and the
Church.
We come before You now, asking
that You call forth more men to
serve our eparchies in the
ministerial priesthood.
Give us priests who will lead and
guide Your holy people gathered
by Word and Sacrament.
Bless us with priestly vocations so
that we can continue to be a truly
Eucharistic Church,
strengthened in our discipleship of
Jesus Christ, Your Only Son.
Raise up, we pray, men who are
generous in their service,
willing to offer their lives and all
their gifts for Your greater glory
and for the good of Your people.
We make our prayer in the
presence and power of the Holy
Spirit, through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
June 2007
Waterbury, Connecticut
Blessed Mother Statue
Jason spoke about Marriage and Family in today’s life.
There are five P’s for the families; Prayers (Pray with your
family and pray for them), Praise (Praise your loved onenothing like the human touch), Protect (Protect your family
i.e. internet), Purity (God is interested in your conversion)
and Preparation (Prepare your family for what is to come, do
not neglect holy writing). Pope John Paul II said it is never
too late to be a saint. He introduced the idea to adopt a nun to
pray for you and spoke about the power of prayers.
While Sister Carlotta spoke about how the Holy Family
on earth, Jesus Mary and Joseph, reflected the uncreated
Trinity in Heaven, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. She
explained how Joseph was a father figure for Jesus. We could
meditate on the mystery of Christ through the eyes of Saint
Joseph. His Litany is very important and she invited everyone
to pray it. She used icons to illustrate her presentation. 
Waterville, Maine
Delayed Celebration
O
n Sunday May 6, 2007, Fr. Charbel T. Semaan, Pastor,
and the parishioners of Our Lady of Lebanon Church
of Waterbury, Conn., gathered outside the Church for
the dedication of the new statue of the Blessed Mother. The
First Communicants led the procession and the choir sang a
Mariam song (Picture by Vola Karam). 
San Diego, California
Women’s Retreat At St. Ephrem
Church
David Elias, Lenore Boles, Dan Casavant, Lauraine
Mansur, Maria Bouchard, Rosanna Joseph. Fr. Larry, and
Judy Mitchell.
by Fr. Larry Jensen
S
Fr. Nabil Mouannes, Pastor, and Jason Evert with a few of
the ladies who attended the retreat at St. Ephrem Church.
T
he Second Women’s retreat at St. Ephrem Church in
San Diego, Calif., was a great success. Seventy-five
ladies attended the event on April 21, 2007. A spiritual
and informative half day was spent with two speakers, Jason
Evert and Sister Carlotta Dilorenzo.
The Maronite Voice
Volume III
Issue No. VI
t. Joseph Maronite Church of Waterville, Maine,
celebrated the Feast of St. Maron by prayer and worship
in February, but waited for warmer weather to celebrate
socially. This decision proved again to be a wise one based
on the amount of snow the area had right up to the end of
April.
On Sunday April 29, 2007 parishioners prepared and
served an evening Lebanese Dinner. One patron commented,
"It might be raining out there, but once you come in here, it
is all sunshine and laughter ... and you get a great meal."
With the last meal served and the cleaning crew almost
done, there were some tired workers satisfied with another
great turnout and the success in sharing a tradition with the
surrounding area. 
Food For Thought
You can’t help feeling the fascination of a soul that knows
what it wants and lives by faith.
Pope John XXIII
Page 12
June 2007
Waterbury, Connecticut
Silver Massabki Award
Fr. Charbel T. Semaan, Pastor, presents the Silver Massabki
Award to Mr. Camille Atallah.
O
n April 21, 2007, Mr. Camille Attalah received the
Silver Massabki Award for his outstanding service
rendered to Our Lady of Lebanon Parish in Waterbury,
Conn. Fr. Charbel T. Semaan, Pastor, presented him with the
award during the parish’s third annual hafli. 
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Golden Wedding Anniversary
Utica, New York
Parish Awards At St. Louis
Gonzaga Church
F
r. Bassam Saade, Pastor of St. Louis Gonzaga Church in
Utica, N.Y., recognized the efforts of his parishioners at
a covered dish dinner held in the Church hall on
February 10, 2007.
James P. Salamy received the Faith of the Mountain
Award. James is a Junior at Utica College. He is an acolyte,
religious education teacher, MYA member, lector, as well as
a member of the Parish Council. Son of Deacon Paul A.
Salamy and the late Susan Salamy, James has been an active
member of the parish since he was a young child.
Rose Crigger received the Silver Massabki Award. Over
the course of many years, Rose and her late husband, Boyd,
have given generously of their time and treasures. A
perpetual member of the Order of Saint Sharbel, Rose also
taught religious education.
Andrew Rahme, son of Kamil and Carole Rahme, as well
as John Paul Salamy (brother of James) received the
outstanding acolyte award for their commitment and service
as altar servers. 
Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Mother/Daughter Luncheon
S
S
aint Maron Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, honored
Mr. and Mrs. Albert and Elaine Jacob on their fiftieth
wedding anniversary.
Albert and Elaine have been a great inspiration to all
those around them. St. Maron Parish congratulates them and
prays for them and for all married couples. 
The Maronite Voice
Volume III
Issue No. VI
t. George Altar & Rosary Society of Uniontown, Penn.,
held its annual Mother/Daughter Luncheon celebrating
its fortieth anniversary and also the eightieth
anniversary of the church. In keeping with the theme chosen
at the 80th kick-off celebration, “Remember Our Roots,
Celebrate Now, Forward in the Future,” the Altar & Rosary
Society chose to honor several matriarchs of the parish who
attended the event.
The luncheon was held at Mt. St. Macrina House of
Prayer followed by recognition of honored guests: Pauline
Habit, Peggy Williams, Mary Thomas, and Liz Molnar. 
Page 13
June 2007
North Jackson, Ohio
Feast of Our Lady of Lebanon
T
he morning of May 6
brought
warm
temperatures and bright
sunshine to Northeast Ohio as
the National Shrine of Our
Lady of Lebanon prepared for
the celebration of its yearly
patronal feast day.
Busses arrived early from
Pittsburgh, Penn., as pilgrim
groups, some of whom have
come for over thirty years,
began to arrive for the
morning Divine Liturgy
celebrated by Msgr. Anthony
Spinosa, Rector.
The celebration consisted
of recitation of the Joyful,
Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries of the Holy Rosary and
climaxed with the crowning of Our Lady’s statue and
procession.
The day concluded with a Divine Liturgy celebrated by
Fr. James Root, Pastor of Our Lady of Victory in Carnegie
(Pittsburgh), Penn. Msgr. Anthony Spinosa and Fr. Claude
Franklin concelebrated.
Deacon Dennis Lapuchansy
assisted. The Choir of Our Lady of Victory Church provided
the music for the Divine Liturgy. The Antonine Sisters sang
a Marian hymn, “Ya’Ouum Allah” followed by the blessing
with the icon of Our Lady and special individual blessings for
the sick.
The pilgrims and visitors enjoyed a dinner in the Cedars
Hall and a cake was presented to Fr. Root as he prepared for
his new assignment as Rector of Our Lady of Lebanon
Cathedral in Brooklyn, N.Y. The shrine’s volunteers and
staff presented the cake to Fr. Root as a humble “thank you”
for all his support to the National Shrine of Our Lady of
Lebanon. 
Maronite
Outreach Focuses
its Scholarship
Project on
Catholic Schools
in Lebanon
by Anthony ElKhoueiry, M.D.
T
he Maronite Outreach has been actively engaged in
several projects aimed at the preservation of
Christianity in Lebanon. These projects are focused on
helping families and individuals in need with the goal of
allowing them to remain in Lebanon to continue to be
witnesses to Christ and His teachings in that part of the
world.
The Maronite Voice
Volume III
Issue No. VI
The Maronite Outreach’s Scholarship Project has been in
existence for more than eight years. Initially, the project was
focused on families that had been displaced during the war
and returned to their hometowns. It was designed to ease the
financial burden on the returning families by covering the
tuition of their children. As a consequence, the families were
able to stay in their hometowns, rather than leave again due
to economic hardship. As the economic situation in Lebanon
worsened and the rate of unemployment rose, more families
became in need and unable to cover the tuition of their
children, especially those in Catholic Schools.
In response to these changes, the Maronite Outreach
expanded its scholarship project to benefit any child of a
Christian family in need. The goals of this project are to:
1. Offer assistance to children in need whose families are
unable to pay the tuition
2. Preserve the valuable access to education which has
characterized the Christians in Lebanon
3. Offer support to Catholic Schools in Lebanon since
tuition allow teachers to get paid and schools to stay
open.
The project has been funded from individual donations
from Maronite parishes that have a Maronite Outreach
chapter and from the “piggy banks” project. The latter
encourages children to save some of their allowance money
in piggy banks which is then collected and pooled to fund
scholarships.
Since 2006, the Maronite Outreach has engaged in a
close collaboration with the General Secretariat of Catholic
Schools in Lebanon in order to dispense the scholarships to
the students who are in most need and ensure efficiency and
transparency in the process. This collaboration is facilitated
by the Catholic Schools Assistance Fund Board established
in the U.S.A., under the blessing and supervision of His
Excellency Bishop Gregory Mansour.
To date, 110 scholarships have been awarded ranging in
amount from $200 to $1000. All recipients had a detailed
socioeconomic review by a social worker to document the
need. The money was given to the school directly and
receipts obtained from the school and the family. Letters and
pictures from the children have made the impact more
tangible for the donors.
We invite you to join us in supporting the Scholarship
Project. You can do this by offering a donation or by starting
a chapter of the Maronite Outreach in your parish and
launching the “piggy banks” project. Together, we can keep
our Catholic Schools in Lebanon flourishing and ensure that
our children get a high quality education. For more
information, visit us at www.maroniteoutreach.org or call
(213) 458-0580. 
For the latest information on the
Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn and
the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon;
Maronite publications; and teachings of
the Maronite Church visit the eparchial
websites at www.stmaron.org (Eparchy of
Saint Maron) or www.usamaronite.org
(Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon). 
Page 14
June 2007
Maronites Deep in the Heart of
Texas Hold A Regional
Convention
Left to right: Fr. Andre Estaphan, Eliana and Chuck AbouJaoude, recipients of the Massabki Award, and Fr. Milad
Yaghi.
attendees for the parish with 492 present! The evening was
enchanted with a silent auction and Arabic music. Bishop
Vincent M. Rizzotto of the Galveston-Houston Roman
Catholic Archdiocese attended the event as a special guest.
The evening had two highlights. The first highlight was Fr.
Milad’s announcement of an upcoming construction project
of a school on the continuously expanding property of Our
Lady of the Cedars. The second highlight was the bestowing
of the Silver Massabki Award to Eliana and Chuck AbouJaoude, both of whom are long-standing and active members
of NAM and the parish. Eliana has served as President of the
Daughters of Mary and as co-chair for the convention.
Chuck has served the parish and NAM in many ways over the
years, including his current position on the building
committee for the church rectory, which is under
construction, as well as on the NAM Executive Board.
On Sunday, the convention was concluded with a Divine
Liturgy celebrated by Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of the
Galveston-Houston Archdiocese, followed by a farewell
reception in the church hall. The eventful weekend proved
that there is a thriving community of Maronites deep in the
heart of Texas. 
by Emely Salemie-Shay and Alberto G. Tohmé
U
nder the leadership of Fr. Milad Yaghi, Pastor, and Fr.
André Estephan, Assistant Pastor, the Parish of Our
Lady of the Cedars in Houston, Texas, hosted the
National Apostolate of Maronites (NAM) Southern Regional
Convention on March 23-25, 2007. Chorbishop Richard
Saad, Pastor of St. Elias Church in Birmingham, Alabama,
represented His Excellency Bishop Robert Shaheen, Bishop
of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, at this event. Mike
Naber, NAM Executive Director; Maroon Boohaker, Vice
President, NAM Southern Region; and several parishioners
from other NAM Southern Region parishes, including San
Antonio and Austin, attended this convention. All enjoyed a
weekend of warm southern hospitality, brotherhood, and
celebration of our common Maronite heritage.
The convention began with a Lenten retreat on Friday,
which consisted of a 4-hour workshop of meditation,
reflection and prayer. Fr. André organized this event with the
support of Fr. Leon Streider, a local Roman Catholic priest
who is a strong and regular supporter of Our Lady of the
Cedars spiritual events. On Friday evening, a casual dinner
at the church hall focused on family and fun “Lenten village
style” with members of the choir and the Daughters of Mary,
the women’s organization, showcasing their talents on the
stage, as well as in the kitchen.
On Saturday, Fr. André offered a workshop for the youth
which consisted of multiple day-long activities, with
assistance from Fr. Christopher Shackelford, Pastor of St.
Andrew Catholic Church in Channelview, Texas.
Chorbishop Saad conducted a workshop for adults on the
challenges of leading a Christian life in our modern world.
On Saturday afternoon, tours to NASA and a
waterfront/boardwalk experience for the youth in Kemah,
Texas,proved fun and memorable.
By Saturday night, it was time to “put on the ritz” and
attend the grand banquet that had a record number of
The Maronite Voice
Volume III
Issue No. VI
The Prayer of the Faithful , three volumes of morning and
evening prayer of the faithful in English, is available from
Saint Maron Publications.
Volume One (Sundays of the Church; Season of
Announcements; Birth of the Lord and Epiphany) is available
for $40 plus $5 shipping.
Volume Two (Seasons of Great Lent and Resurrection)
is available for $40 plus $5 shipping.
Volume Three (Seasons of Pentecost and Holy Cross) is
available for $30 plus $5 shipping.
The Prayer of the Faithful (in Arabic), also three volumes of
morning and evening prayer of the faithful, is now available
from Saint Maron Publications for $75 plus $10 shipping.
Come to the Wedding Feast: An Eight Session Course for
Training Catechists: Written by Chorbishop Dominic
Ashkar, this eight session program helps lead catechists into
becoming more spiritually effective. Using the text of the
wedding at Cana story as a base, this guidebook serves as an
invitation to a journey that connects your catechists with
Jesus and the disciples.
This 96 page book is available from Saint Maron
Publications for $29.95 (40% discount will be granted to
buyers).
To order your copy (ies) please write to:
Saint Maron Publications
4611 Sadler Road
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
For further information, call (804) 762-4301. For a
complete listing of publications carried by Saint Maron
Publications, please visit www.stmaron.org. 
Page 15
June 2007
NAM Board Meeting and Annual Spring Raffle Held in Memphis
Members of NAM Board of Directors on the steps of St. Jude Research Center.
by Margot Karam and Maroun J.
Boohaker, NAM Board Members
T
he National Apostolate of
Maronites Board of Directors
held their spring board meeting in
Memphis, Tennessee, the weekend of
April 27-29. While storms with
tornadoes in the surrounding areas
preceded our arrival, sunshine and
beautiful weather prevailed over our
stay. Since NAM’s Board usually
meets in cities with existing Maronite
communities, you may be looking for
an updated NAM Parish Directory
searching for Memphis. No need to,
you won’t find Memphis listed. What
you will find in Memphis is something
very dear to every Maronite’s soul: St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
For many years, the boards of the
American Lebanese-Syrian Associated
Charities (ALSAC)/St. Jude have
extended an invitation to NAM through
Special Events Committee Chair and
member Raymond Zoghby and Charles
(Chuck) Hajjar to hold its board
meeting on the hospital campus.
Current NAM President, Richard
Coury, approached the Board with
ALSAC/St. Jude’s invitation, and the
NAM Board eagerly agreed to it.
ALSAC / St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital is the labor of love
of Danny Thomas, a fellow Maronite,
The Maronite Voice
who passed away in 1991. He was an
example of a person of faith who made
a vow and saw it through. The arm
bands representing St. Jude have words
on them, “Give Thanks.” This is what
Danny did in 1960 when the hospital
was built, and it is the same legacy of
love and thanks that his children,
Marlo, Terre, and Tony, the ALSAC
Board, all the staff and volunteers toil
with today. While physically departed
for sixteen years, Mr. Thomas’ spirit
remains in every corner of St. Jude, in
the sparkle of the children’s eyes, in the
laugh of his son,Tony, and even in the
cashiers at the gift shop, who greeted
everyone with “shoukrun” and “maa
salaami.” The work for children in the
scientific search for cures has made
remarkable strides in childhood
catastrophic diseases. The support for
these tremendous efforts come from
many arenas today: an average
individual donation of $25.00 per
month, small business with coin drops,
and corporate sponsorship of events
across the country.
Kay Jewelers is donating the cost
for expansion of the hospital cafeteria,
the only cafeteria on campus. This is
shared by doctors, patients, nurses,
families, staff and visitors. McDonald’s
and the Ronald McDonald Foundation
bear the name of the home for shortterm patients. While the hospital holds
sixty-two inpatient beds, most patients
Volume III
Issue No. VI
Page 16
are treated on an outpatient basis. The
Ronald McDonald House serves
patients and their families who are there
less than ninety days. The Target
House serves as home for long-term
care patients. Target Corporation funds
this, and its three spokespersons, Amy
Grant, Tiger Woods and Scott
Hamilton, have all donated portions of
the home.
Danny Thomas and his wife, Rose
Marie, now rest in a memorial garden
on the hospital grounds site. A quote
from Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet,
marks the crypt. This is a fitting place
for them to be, the serenity and beauty
found there gives respite to the visitor,
and affords one a moment of quiet
reflection. The work that continues at
this hospital founded by DannyThomas
and his band of ALSAC volunteers is
truly awe-inspiring. The Board of
Directors of ALSAC and the Board of
Governors of St. Jude have a daunting
task in the oversight of this magnificent
legacy, yet they all do it with the same
spirit as Danny Thomas, with great
love, commitment, dedication and
devotion.
NAM Board of Directors gathered
on Thursday evening at the Downtown
Marriott on Danny Thomas Boulevard.
St Jude Hospital provided all of the
transportation, and the meetings began
on Friday morning on the St. Jude
campus. We first attended a memorial
service for Carmie Mehrlander, who
had recently died. Ms. Mehrlander was
the Executive Director of Corporate
Alliances for ALSAC. As a backdrop
for this memorial, we enjoyed a twelve
foot wood carving of “The Last
Supper” that formerly hung in the
Thomas’ Beverly Hills home. Our
meetings were conducted in a state-ofthe-art conference room in the Danny
Thomas Research Tower.
While we were already taken by the
gracious hospitality of the ALSAC/St.
Jude Boards, we could not have
imagined the “official” greeting of their
Boards over Friday night dinner. We
were their guests for Friday night
dinner at a restaurant called “The
Butcher Shop Steakhouse” on the edge
of Beale Street, Memphis’ most famous
entertainment district. The ambiance
was rustic; the food was tremendous,
both in flavor and quantity. Once we
were in our dining area, we felt the
June 2007
immediate bond between relatives, old
neighbors, long-time friends and true
soul mates working for good. With
names like Abraham, Thomas,
Shadyac, Gattas, Aboussie, Haggar,
Zoghby, Soma, Barkate, Moses, Simon,
Karam, in our midst, we could have
created a whole other NAM Board!!!
There were no strangers in this room
after the first hello; inclusiveness was
the word for the evening.
As we were seated for dinner, we
were “officially” welcomed by John
Moses, CEO of ALSAC, Joyce
Aboussie, Chairperson/President of the
ALSAC Board, and George Simon,
Chairperson of the St. Jude Board. One
of the most touching remarks came
from Mr. Moses. He told us that they
had wanted us to hold our meetings
there for a while. He reminded us that
St. Jude was the fruit of labor and love
of our grandparents and parents. He
encouraged us to beat our chests
proudly whenever anyone spoke of St.
Jude. Richard Coury answered with his
own greeting and introduced our board
members to them one-by-one.
Saturday morning brought us an
experience that will stay with us the rest
of our lives. We were greeted by their
combined Board of Directors and
Governors and joined them for
breakfast before they continued with
their meetings. We were invited into
their board room and Richard Coury,
on behalf of the NAM Board of
Directors and all of the NAM
Membership, presented to them a
plaque of the Blessed Massabki
Brothers in appreciation of their hosting
our meeting.
Raymond Zoghby led us away from
the meeting to begin a private tour of
the facilities. In the staging area, he
presented the ladies of our Board with
a souvenir scarf from St. Jude, and the
men were given a necktie. Each
depicted the latest logo, the word
“HOPE” displayed all over them.
ThuZar Lwin, Ph.D., Postdoctoral
Research Associate in Molecular
Biotechnology, conducted our tour.
While our time was limited, she very
capably led us through significant parts
of the hospital. John Moses was
correct; we could feel our connection to
this monument in every hallway. The
thrill of seeing our parish and
ancestors’ names on the walls of
founders and pioneers memorials was
only surpassed by the bright colors and
beautiful artwork and writings of the
The Maronite Voice
children who come to St Jude full of
hope and faith. It is noted that
construction is continual on campus.
We can’t wait for our next visit to see
the expansion.
Our final stop on the campus tour
was the Gift Shop. We encourage you
to visit the virtual gift shop at
http://www.alsac.org/ or
http://www.stjude.org.
Needless to
say, after being in meetings for an
entire day, the ladies of the NAM
Board wasted no time showing the men
how to shop! It is funny how our strict
schedule suddenly evaporates when
shopping is involved. Our ten minute
shopping spree was much closer to
forty-five minutes.
Our tour continued several miles
away at the Target House.
Our
weekend at St Jude Children Research
Hospital concluded with a Saturday
afternoon liturgy in the Danny
Thomas/ALSAC Pavilion. How fitting
it was to have our Spiritual Director, Fr.
John Paul Kimes, celebrate our liturgy
on a make-shift altar under the
inscription from Gibran, “He who
denies his heritage, has no heritage.”
Surely all Board members could feel
their spiritual and cultural heritage be
absorbed in the dome above us.
Once the altar was stripped, we
presented St. Jude a monetary gift and
held the Annual Spring Raffle.
Members of the ALSAC/St. Jude Board
drew the winners under the supervision
of our board. A special thanks to all
who participated in the raffle. 
Beverly Mike-Nard of Poland, Ohio,
won the $2,000 third prize (Ticket No.
300).
Rose Abi Radi of Cincinnati, Ohio,
won the $1,500 fourth prize (Ticket No.
229).
Issam and Catherine Awad of
Glencoe, Illinois won the $1,000 fifth
prize (Ticket No. 349). 
The Order of Saint
Sharbel
T
he Order of Saint Sharbel is an
organization of lay people and
clergy who have pledged their
spiritual strength and financial support
for Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary and
the retired Maronite clergy of the
Maronite Eparchies in the USA.
For more information about the Order,
ask your pastor, or write to
Eparchy of Saint Maron
Order of Saint Sharbel
109 Remsen Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Or
Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon
Order of Saint Sharbel
1021 South Street
St. Louis, MO 63104. 
Driving Time to Richmond
City
Spring Raffle
T
he Board of Directors of the
National Apostolate of Maronites
(NAM) announces the winners
for its Spring Raffle:
Adele Mazloom (daughter of Albert
and Eunice) of Utica, N.Y., won the
$10,000 first prize (Ticket No. 178).
Fr. James Root, of Carnegie
(Pittsburgh), Penn., won the $3,000
second prize (Ticket No. 059).
Volume III
Issue No. VI
Page 17
Miles
Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Charlotte
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Jacksonville
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Raleigh
511
142
538
276
509
419
602
340
236
298
175
June 2007
No. of
Hours
9.5
3
10
5
9.5
8
11
6.5
4.5
5.5
3
Interest High in NAM ’07 Convention
Set for
July 25-29 in Richmond, Va.
F
inal preparations are underway for
the 44 th Annual Maronite
Convention in Richmond, Va. The
convention, sponsored by NAM and
hosted by St. Anthony Church of Glen
Allen, Va., will be held July 25-29 at
the Richmond Marriott Hotel.
“We are extremely pleased by the
number of people who have registered
already,” said Arthur Zohab,
convention chairman. “It looks like it
will be a large turnout.”
He suggested that anyone wishing
to register, place an ad in the journal or
donate an item to the auction is
encouraged to do so quickly.
“The program of events is in place
and the people of St. Anthony’s
continue to be hard at work,” Zohab
continued. “We can’t wait to say
‘welcome’ as everyone makes his or
her way to Richmond. It promises to be
a great time for everyone.”
Many families plan to extend their
stay in the Richmond area to take in
some of nearby attractions. These
include the Busch Gardens Europe and
King’s Dominion amusement and water
park complexes, Colonial
Williamsburg, a variety of Civil War
historical and visitors’ attractions, St.
John’s Church with the Patrick Henry
speech re-enactment, and nearby
Washington, D.C., and Virginia Beach.
Thetheme of this year’s convention
is “A Church of Hope.” The theme and
programs will explore the recently
released text of the 2003-2006
Maronite Patriarchal Synod. The Synod
was the first for the Maronite Church in
nearly 200 years.
Parishioners from four churches –
St. Elias of Birmingham, Ala.; St.
The Maronite Voice
Maron of Minneapolis; Our Lady of
Lebanon of Miami; and St. Anthony’s
– will lead workshops on topics based
on the Synod’s text. Also participating
in the workshops will be Bishop
Gregory Mansour of the Eparchy of St.
Maron of Brooklyn and Bishop Robert
Shaheen of Eparchy of Our Lady of
Lebanon of Los Angeles.
Also planned are workshops on
Maronite Sacred Art and religious
education. For youths, there is an
optional trip to visit Historic
Jamestown, which is celebrating its
400 th anniversary, and a workshop on
moral decision-making. Children’s
hours are planned for Thursday, Friday
and Saturday.
There will be morning and evening
prayer services Wednesday through
Saturday. The Pontifical Divine Liturgy
will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Sunday,
followed by the farewell brunch.
Liturgies for those who must leave the
convention early will be celebrated on
Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m.
On the social side, there also is a
full slate of events. On Wednesday,
there is a “Welcome to Virginia” dinner
at the Marriott with music following.
Thursday’s social event will be a
Casino Night and Lebanese Cookout
and hafli at St. Anthony’s grounds and
a pool party for youths at the church
pool. Friday night will be a dinner and
dance at the hotel. A cocktail hour will
precede Saturday’s Grand Banquet and
Hafli.
Hotel space is filling up fast.
Attendees should contact the Marriott’s
worldwide reservation center by calling
1-800-228-9290 or call the hotel
directly at 1-804-643-3400. Or, go to
the Web site at
http://marriott.com/hotels/travel/ricdtr
ichmond-marriott. To get the special
convention rate, mention the National
Apostolate of Maronites
Rooms have also been booked in
two more hotels: The Omni in the
historic section of Richmond and the
Commonwealth Park Suites, adjacent
to the State Capitol building. You can
contact the Richmond Omni at 1-804344-7000, by fax at 1-804-648-6704;
and the Commonwealth Park Suites at
Volume III
Issue No. VI
Page 18
1-804-343-7300 and request NAM
Annual Conference.
To register for the convention, use
the form printed in this issue of The
Maronite Voice or register online at
www.namnews.org.
There are
packages ranging from two days to the
full convention, and with reduced
prices for youths (ages 11-17) and
children (5-10). There is no charge for
children under 5. Checks or Visa,
MasterCard and American Express are
gladly accepted. The deadline for
advance registration is July 8.
To place an ad in the
commemorative journal, call NAM at
(914) 964-3070 or visit
http://www.stanthonymaronitechurch.
org/nam2007.
To donate an item for the auction,
contact Ed Yesbeck, Jr. at 330-0711 or
at ed.yesbeck@vamllc.com.
More information about the
convention is available at the NAM
Website (http://www.namnews.org) or
t h e S t . A n t h o n y’ s w e b s i t e
(http://www.stanthonymaronitechurch
.org). 
Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va., is
a short driving distance from the
Convention’s hotel.
June 2007
The Maronite Voice
Volume III
Issue No. VI
Page 19
June 2007
The Maronite Voice
St. Anthony’s Maronite Catholic Church
4611 Sadler Road
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6108
Mothers, Fathers,
Priests,
the Reciprocity of
Love,
And the meaning of
Eucharist
Continued From Page One
In his masterful series of talks on
human love called The Theology of the
Body, the late Pope John Paul II
described the awesome
complementarity of love and the
meaning of gender. He said that every
person is made to receive God fully and
so to respond in love to God’s gift of
self. Thus, in a sense, all persons are
feminine in relationship to God, being
that all receive Him and are called to
give life in return. In this way we can
say with all the Syriac tradition that
Christ is the true spouse of every soul.
But God made us male and female. We
are different and complimentary to one
another.
The late Pope describes the
masculineand feminine “give and take”
in this way: man gives in a receiving
sort of way, and a woman receives in a
giving sort of way. This is seen in their
very bodies. Reciprocal love is the
pattern for marriage, which by its very
nature describes the truth about love
and the meaning of life. Since we were
The Maronite Voice
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT NO. 1370
GLEN ALLEN, VIRGINIA
all created for love, whether we are
married or not, we can benefit much
from this truth about ourselves and
about our bodies. Pope John Paul II
describes this as the “nuptial meaning”
of the body.
Pope Benedict takes us the next
step. In his first encyclical entitled God
is Love, and in his subsequent PostSynodal Exhortation entitled Eucharist,
the Sacrament of Love, he states that
the most perfect love is found in selfsacrifice and this truth is made most
clear for us in Christ’s self-giving on
the Cross. Moreover, since we were
created to love and be loved, in the
Eucharist, we find that for which we
most long in this life: “the truth about
love” (n.2). Mothers, fathers and
priests know this well. Love is a
reciprocal giving and receiving; life and
love are gifts for us to share, not
possessions to be owned. Each person
is a gift to be honored not possessed.
Every Eucharist, Pope Benedict says, is
an opportunity for us to renew Christ’s
love in us and for us, as well as our love
for one another.
What is the lesson here for mothers,
fathers, priests and all people? Whether
our calling is that of marriage,
fatherhood, motherhood, consecrated
life, generous single life or priesthood,
the Eucharist helps us enter more
freely, consciously and courageously
into the love that God has for us. In
turn, by our mindful and willful
entrance into the mystery of the
Eucharist, and our willingness to “lay
down our lives” (Jn 15:13), the Holy
Volume III
Issue No. VI
Page 20
Spirit helps us give a generous love to
others.
All vocations in the Church are
affirmed in this full understanding of
the Eucharist as the Sacrament of Love.
Through the prayer of Mary, who
received Him first in her heart and then
in her womb, may we too come to a
deeper understanding of just how
wonderfully God has made us, male
and female, and calls us mothers,
fathers, priests and faithful to love and
bear abundant fruit for Him in love.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Gregory J. Mansour
Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron
of Brooklyn. 
June 2007