Day: Date: Time: Offered For/By: Saturday 3/7 5:30PM Special Intention

Sunday 3/8 9:15AM S.I. Norma Lorenzo

10:30AM S.I. Meron Cholagh and

All members of the

family

12:00PM (M)Tony Merhi offered

by Joseph & Mona

Merhi

Saturday 3/14 5:30PM

Sunday 3/15 9:15AM (M) Olga Sikorski

offered by Fr.

Thompson

10:30AM

12:00PM (M) Fouad & Najla

Ashoo by the Family

Saturday 3/21 5:30PM

Sunday 3/22 9:15AM (M)Piotr Sikorski

offered by Fr.

Thompson

10:30AM

12:00PM 40 Day Memorial

Joseph Fattouh offered

by Myrna & Hani Farah

Saturday 3/28 5:30PM

Sunday 3/29 9:15AM (M) Antoni Sikorski

offered by Fr.

Thompson

10:30AM

12:00PM

Saturday 4/4 5:30PM

Sunday 4/5 9:15AM (M)Silorski M. Janusz

offered by Fr.

Thompson

10:30AM

12:00PM

NORTH COUNTY 5:00PM

Coming up…

Annual Festival Kick- Off Event Sunday, April 5

(Details to be Announced) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maamoul Sale Just around the corner!

HEALING OF THE

HEMORRHAGING WOMAN

2Cor 7:4-11 & Lk 8:40-56

Christian fasting is revealed in interdependence between two events in the Bible:

the "breaking of the fast" by Adam and Eve; and

the "keeping of the fast" by Christ at the

beginning of his ministry.

Humanity's "Fall" away from God and into sin began with eating. God had proclaimed a

fast from the fruit of only one tree, the tree of

knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17), and

Adam and Eve broke it. Fasting is here connected

with the very mystery of life and death, of

salvation and damnation. Food perpetuates life in

this physical world, which is subject to decay and

death. But God "created no death." (Wis. 1:13)

Humanity, in Adam and Eve, rejected a

life dependent on God alone for one that was

dependent rather on "bread alone." (Dt. 8:3; Mt.

4:4; Lk. 4:4) The whole world was given to man

as a kind of food, as a means to life, but "life" is

meant as communion with God, not as food.

("Their god is their belly." Phil. 3:19) The tragedy

is not so much that Adam ate food, but that he ate

the food for its own sake, "apart" from God and

to be independent of Him. Believing that food

had life in itself and thus he could be "like God."

And he put his faith in food. This kind of

existence seems to be built on the principle that

man does indeed live "by bread alone."

Christ, however, is the new Adam. At the beginning of his ministry in the Gospel of

Matthew, we read, "When He had fasted 40 days

and 40 nights, He became hungry." Hunger is that

state in which we realize our dependence on

something else—when we face the ultimate

question: "on what does my life depend?" Satan

tempted both Adam and Christ, saying: Eat, for

your hunger is proof that you depend entirely on

food, that your life is in food. Adam believed and

ate. Christ said, "Man does NOT live by bread

alone." (Mt. 4:4; Lk. 4:4) This liberates us from

total dependence on food, on matter, on the world.

Thus, for the Christian, fasting is the

only means by which man recovers his true

spiritual nature. In order for fasting to be effective, then, the spirit must be a part of it.

Christian fasting is not concerned with losing

weight. It is a matter of prayer and the spirit.

Basket Collection from

March 1, 2020:

$2,202.00

The 40 martyrs of Cappadocia: These Cappadocian heroes were officers in the Roman Army, under the leadership of a pagan Lycias. They refused to participate in offering sacrifices to the pagan idols along with their colleagues in Sibstia, in Armenia. And when the governor Agricula questioned them, they confessed that they were Christians. He then ordered them to sacrifice to the pagan gods, promising them high promotions in the army, and threatening them if they do not, that they will be stripped off their Roman Army badges. They answered the governor: “Between serving in the Roman Army and serving Our God Jesus Christ, we’ll happily give up the service under the Roman flag.” Upon that, the governor had them thrown in the prison, and while they were gathering in prayer, the Lord appeared to them and encouraged them to persevere until the end, so that they win the crowns of martyrdom He prepared for them. The following day, the governor had another attempt trying to convince them to change their minds, but when he could not, he threw them back in the jail. Then, their leader Lycias came trying to get them to worship the pagan gods, and when he touched how firm they are in their faith in Christ, he threatened to fire them from the army. And when one of them, Ktidios answered him: “You might have power to fire us from the Roman Army, but you cannot influence our love for Christ;” which made Lycias angry and ordered them to be stoned on their faces, but they stones were being turned back on the hitters. Upon that the governor ordered them to be thrown in an icy lake. And they were encouraging each other saying: “we go into the waters 40 people, and 40 martyrs we go to heaven.” However, one of them could not take the severe cold, and run out to the baths, where he fell down dead. This saddened the other 39, who persevered encouraging each other and praying. And suddenly a miraculous light appeared in heaven and angels were seen bringing down some 39 crowns for the martyrs. Upon that scene a soldier who was present there, was moved by the God’s grace, and shouted out: “I am Christian”, then jumped into the freezing waters, and gained the crown of martyrdom, which was lost by the poor coward one. Hence the martyrs were again 40 as they desired to be. Their martyrdom was in March 9th 320.

The Eastern Church takes pride in these holy martyrs, and offers them an ideal to follow for her children, especially the young ones, encouraging them to be faithful to Christ’s teaching and persevere until the end in his service, sacrificing for his sake every earthly glory. May their prayers be with us. Amen.

Feast of the 40

Martyrs

Feast Day,

March 9th

And because of that, because it is truly a place of the spirit, true fasting may well lead to temptation, and weakness and doubt and irritation.

In other words, it will be a real fight between good and evil, and very likely we shall fail many times in these battles. But the very discovery of the

Christian life as "fight" and "effort" is an essential aspect of fasting.

Christian tradition can name at least seven reasons for fasting:

1. From the beginning, God commanded some fasting, and sin

entered into the world because Adam and Eve broke the fast.

2. For the Christian, fasting is ultimately about fasting from sin.

3. Fasting reveals our dependence on God and not the resources

of this world.

4. Fasting is an ancient way of preparing for the Eucharist—the

truest of foods.

5. Fasting is preparation for baptism (and all the sacraments)—

for the reception of grace.

6. Fasting is a means of saving resources to give to the poor. 7. Fasting is a means of self-discipline, chastity, and the

restraining of the appetites.

Reverend Toufic Nasr - Pastor

Deacons:

George Geagea and Georges Ghosn

Visiting Priest:

Reverend Canon Thomas Thompson

Liturgical Schedule

Saturday………………………. 05:30PM

(No Sat. Eve Liturgy in July and August)

Sunday ……………………... 09:15AM

……………...……….. 10:30AM

……………...……….. 12:00 PM

First Sunday (Church of the Nativity 6309 El

Apajo Road, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067)

………... 05:00PM

Holy Days of Obligation ……. 07:30PM

Confessions by appointment

First Friday Adoration 12:00PM followed by

Benediction at 6:00PM

PARISH DEVOTIONS AND SODALITIES

CHAIPERSONS/COORDINATORS

Sorority of the Immaculate Conception

Devotions every Last Tuesday of the month at

7:30PM

Confraternity of the Sacred Heart, Devotions

every First Friday at 5:30PM Ramzey Jize –

858.736.7196 ramzey.jize@ngc.com

Young Adult Group (MYA) every Thursday for

prayers and fellowship at 7:30PM Emily Fattouh

- 619.587-1215 emfattouh@gmail.com

St. Sharbel, Liturgy and Devotions every 22nd

of the month at 7:30PM

Volume 23-Issue 10

March 08, 2020

Beit Maroun

House of Maron

Preparation for the Reception of the Sacred Mysteries Please note our parish policy, established in order to better serve and prepare our St. Ephrem Family for the

reception of the Sacred Mysteries:

Baptism/Confirmation (Sacraments of Initiation):

Please call at least ONE month in advance before desired date. Date is confirmed following the completion of the

Sacred Mystery and Sacred Duty - Baptism Preparation Class for Parents and God Parents; this is a one-day

seminar and is offered on an as needed basis accommodating the time and schedule of the parents and Godparents.

Call Deacon Georges for information or to register (619-508-5401). For adult reception of the Sacraments of

Initiation, please call the office for more information on RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).

First Communion and First Confession:

First Communion registration begins in August with classes starting in September concluding in late April. Classes

are held on Sunday’s from 9:15AM to 11:15PM- To register, please contact the parish office.

Holy Matrimony:

Please contact the parish office at least 8 months prior to the desired date to schedule initial appointment with the

pastor or deacon. We offer a course called One in Christ for our Pre-Cana Couples. Religious Education: Registration begins in August and classes start in September being held on Saturdays from 11:00AM-12:00PM

FADI YOUSIF, proprietor

St. Ephrem Maronite Catholic Church 750 Medford Street, El Cajon, CA 92020

Tel: 619-337-1350

www.stephremchurch.com

mailto:emfattouh@gmail.com