QUOTE OF

THE WEEK

‘The Eucharist is a never-

ending sacrifice. It is the

Sacrament of love, the

supreme love, the act of

love.”

Saint Katharine Drexel

POPE FRANCIS’ ANSWER TO

'WHAT IS FAITH?' Vatican City, Jun 28, 2015 / 08:59

am (CNA/EWTN News).-

The Pope focused on the virtue of

faith during his Sunday Angelus

address, saying the whole gospel is

written in its light. “Faith is this: to

touch Jesus and to draw from him the

grace which saves,” Pope Francis

explained June 28 at St. Peter's

Square, reflecting on the healing of a

hemorrhaging woman in the day's

Gospel reading. She believed that if

she could but touch Christ's clothes,

she would be healed. “And so it is,”

said Pope Francis. “The need to be

freed drives her to dare, and faith

'snatches', so to speak, healing from

the Lord.” He waxed on the Gospel

reading, saying that the Father,

through Christ's healing, in a sense,

said “Daughter, you are not cursed,

you are not excluded, rather, you are

my daughter!” “And every time

Jesus comes to us, when we go to

him with faith, we hear this from the

Father: 'You are my son, you are my

daughter! You are healed, you are

healed. I forgive all, all. I heal

everyone and everything.'” Pope

Francis also discussed Christ's raising

of a 12 year old girl who had died,

saying that in her father's appeal to

Jesus, we feel “the great faith which

this man has in Jesus.” Christ's

reaction – “Do not fear, only have

faith” – give courage, the Pope said.

“He says to us, so often: 'Do not fear,

only have faith!'” “These two

episodes – a healing and a raising

from death – have a single center:

faith. The message is clear, and can

be summarized in one question: do

we believe that Jesus can heal and

can raise from the dead? The whole

Gospel is written in the light of this

faith: Jesus is risen, has conquered

death, and because of this victory we

too will be resurrected.” Pope Francis

lamented that “this faith, which for

the first Christians was secure, can

tarnish and become uncertain, to the

point that some confuse resurrection

with reincarnation.” “The word of

God this Sunday invites us to live in

the certainty of the resurrection: Jesus

is the Lord, Jesus has power over

evil and over death, and wants to take

us to the Father's house, where life

reigns. And there we will meet all, all

of us in this square today, we will

meet in the Father's house, in the life

that Jesus gives us.” He added that

Christ's resurrection “acts in history

as a principle of renewal and of hope.

Anyone who is desperate and weary

unto death, if they rely on Jesus and

on his love, can begin to live again …

faith is a force of life, it gives fullness

to our humanity; and who believes in

Christ must be recognized precisely

because they promote life in all

situations, so that everyone,

especially the weakest, can

experience the love of God which

frees and saves.” Concluding, Pope

Francis said, “We ask the Lord,

through the intercession of the Virgin

Mary, the gift of a strong and

courageous faith, which drives us to

speakers of hope and of life among

our brethren.” http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news

/pope-francis-answer-to-what-is-faith-

29358/

TOWN HALL MEETING Today after Divine Liturgy we will

hold a Town Meeting in the Church

Hall regarding the proposed purchase

of the property. I kindly ask those of

you who would like to participate in

this meeting to help yourself to coffee

and mezza and then take your place

at the tables in the hall. Thank you

for your cooperation.

Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church

February 24-25, 2018

Fr. Vincent Farhat, Pastor | Fr. David Fisher, Weekend Assistant | Fr. Richard Cannuli, Weekend Assistant Mrs. Zeina Topalian, Religious Education Director | Address: 1013 Ellsworth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Office: 215-389-2000 | Hall Reservations: 215-334-1884 | Evening Emergency Number: 215-952-0712 or 561-371-5316

Website: www.saintmaron.org | Church Office: saintmaronphiladelphia@hotmail.com | Instagram Page: @saintmaronphiladelphia

Facebook Page: Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church of Philadelphia

OFFICE HOURS: The Church office will be open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING There will be a parish council

meeting Monday evening, February

26, at 6:30 pm. Please make every

effort to attend this meeting. If you

are not able to attend please notify

me at the Church office. Thank you.

FESTIVAL DABKE TROUPE SIGNUP

It is hard to believe that the summer

festival is drawing near. With that in

mind, we are taking names for those

who would like to participate in the

Dabke Troupe. Fadia Salloum will be

taking names of those who would like

to join in this year. Fadia will be

teaching 4 to 11 year olds and

Claudine El Hajal will be teaching

12-17 year olds. Regardless of your

age, please sign up with Fadia today

after Divine Liturgy. Looking

forward to a wonderful festival.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MYK

The MYK of Saint Maron had a

benefit for the poor and the Church.

They made beautiful bracelets and

sold them in the Church hall after

Divine Liturgy. They donated all of

the proceeds to the Church and for

the poor in the amount of $45.00. We

are so proud of them and their

thoughtfulness to those in need. God

bless you and keep up the great work.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY AND MARONITE CHURCH

HISTORY CLASS Fr. David Fisher will have adult bible

study and church history class on

Thursday, March 1, 2018, from

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM, at the Church

hall.

MYO MEETING SUNDAY MARCH 4

I would like to meet with all MYO

members toward the end of your class

time on Sunday, March 4. There are

many events coming up that I need to

plan with you. Please wait for me in

class. Thank you.

SAINT MARON CHURCH HALL For our parishioners who may not be

aware of our hall rentals policy,

please know that if you would like to

rent the hall for a special family

function or event, the hall is available

at parishioner cost. For a day event

the rental is $300.00 and an evening

event is $600.00. If you would like to

plan an event at the hall please

contact the office and Claudine will

be happy to assist you

FRIDAY LENTEN SERVICES Beginning Friday, February 16, our

Friday Lenten Services will start at

7:00 pm. This service will include

Stations of the Cross and Benediction

of the Blessed Sacrament. Please

join us during this holy season of

Lent and walk the way of the cross as

Jesus did. May this season of Lent

bring us closer to God and each other.

MYA POTLUCK WITH BISHOP GREGORY

Bishop Gregory Mansour will be

hosting an evening with the MYA on

Saturday, March 17, 2018, at Our

Lady of Lebanon Cathedral, in

Brooklyn, NY. The evening will

begin with Divine Liturgy at 6:00

PM, followed by a “Potluck Dinner”.

The theme of the gathering is

Theology of the Body: Dating with

purpose and life giving relationships.

A presentation will begin at 8:00 PM,

followed by group questions and

Q&A, followed by dessert and social

time. If you paln to attend this event

please RSVP by March 10, to Rose

Marie Baradhi at 732-853-4375.

CONFESSION Please know that confession is

available before liturgies. You may

also call to set up an appointment.

CONTRIBUTION TAX REPORTS AVAILABLE

For those of you who use envelopes

and would like a print out of your

contributions for your taxes, please

email or call the church office and

Claudine will print a copy for you.

She can email or mail the form to you

or if you wish you can pick it up at

the office. Thank you.

PROJECT ROOTS I am asking that anyone from this

parish who has registered with

Project Roots over the past six years

and who has not heard about their

status of registration to please notify

me at the Church office. I have

spoken to the regional director and

she would like to follow up on these

cases. Please email me or call me at

the office. Thank you.

FULFILL THE DREAM OF YOUR GRANDPARENTS…

RECONNECT WITH LEBANON!

CLAIM YOUR LEBANESE

CITIZENSHIP before it is too late!

The new Lebanese Nationality

Reacquisition Law that enables you to

do so will expire soon!

Register your Birth and Marriage in

Lebanon via Project Roots, No Hassle

and No Fee. Your registration will

NOT jeopardize your American

citizenship. It will, however, help

Lebanon maintain demographic and

cultural diversity. Contact one of

Project Roots’ representatives today

and begin your registration process.

You can even begin the process on the

following webpage:

www.projectroots.net/requests.html or on

the Mobile APP (www.clf-us.org). If

you are already registered, please refer

another family to register… and help

spread the word about this free service.

You will be making a difference!

www.projectroots.net

LITURGY INTENTIONS

Saturday, February 24, 2018, @

6:00 pm, Liturgy is being offered for

the soul of Joseph Scavola requested

by his wife Josephine Scavola. May

his soul rest in peace. Liturgy is

being offered as a 40 day memorial

for the soul of Gabriel Michael

requested by Dolores Tayoun and

Family. May his soul rest in peace.

Sunday, February 25, 2018 @

11:00 am, Liturgy is offered for the

soul of Melham El Hajal requested by

Manal and Claudine El Hajal. May

his soul rest in peace. Liturgy is

offered for the soul of Ghassan

Abboud requested by Ziad and Maha

Labbad and family. May his soul rest

in peace.

Saturday, March 3, 2018 @ 6:00

PM, (Feast day of St. Thomas

Aquinas and St. Katharine Drexel).

Liturgy is offered for the souls of

Dolores and Helen Deliney requested

by Charlene Mokowich. May their

souls rest in peace.

Sunday, March 4, 2018 @ 11:00

AM, (Feast of St. John Maron)

liturgy is being offered for the soul of

Peter Koway requested by Barbara

and Salema Dahdah and family. May

his soul rest in peace. Liturgy is

offered for the soul Raymond Matar

requested by Rony Matar and family.

May his soul rest in peace.

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE Msgr. James Root, rector of Our

Lady of Lebanon Cathedral in

Brooklyn, NY, will be leading a

pilgrimage to the Holy Land April

23-May 2, 2018. This should be a

beautiful trip for those who would

like to see such holy places where our

Lord lived. There are brochures in the

back of the Church and if you need

additional information you may

contact Fr. Vincent at the office. The

cost of this trip is $2798.00 per

person and includes airfare from New

York. Details are in the brochure.

LENTEN FASTING OBSERVANCES

The Most Reverend Bishops Gregory

Mansour and Elias Zaidan have

issued the following Lenten

guidelines for the Maronites of the

U.S.:

All Maronites who are physically

capable are to abstain from meat on

Ash Monday and all Fridays of

Lent.

Ash Monday and Great Friday of

the Crucifixion are also days of

fasting. Fasting in the Maronite

Church involves eating and

drinking nothing at all (except

water and medicine0 from midnight

until noon. The rest of the day

normal meals can be taken, but

without meat. All Maronites who

are physically capable are to fast on

these two days.

Personal Devotion

Clergy, religious, and laity who wish

to observe the more traditional

Maronite practice of fasting and

abstinence are encouraged to do so.

That practice is summarized in the

following, taken from the Synod of

Mt. Lebanon (1736): Every weekday of Lent (Monday

through Friday) is a day of fasting

and abstinence from meat and dairy

products (eggs, butter, milk, etc.)

Fasting involves eating and drinking

nothing at all (except water and

medicine) from midnight until noon.

The rest of the day normal meals can

be taken, but without meat or dairy

products.Dairy products are excluded

because they are animal byproducts.

Saturday’s and Sundays are exempt

from fasting and abstaining as are the

following feast days: St. Maron-

February 9, The 40 Martyrs- March 9,

St. Joseph- March 19, and the

Annunciation- March 25. (Good

Friday falls on March 30, this year.

Therefore it is a day of complete

fasting and abstinence. The Feast of

the Annunciation has been moved to

the following week.

UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday, March 3, MYO/MYA

Retreat, one day retreat at Our

Lady Star of the East Church,

Pleasantville, NJ.

Friday, March 16, Lenten Fish

Fry, immediately following

Stations of the Cross, at 7:00 PM.

$10.00 Per Meal.

Sunday, March 25, 2018, Palm

Sunday Brunch, following Divine

Liturgy, Adults $15.00, Children 12

and under $10.00.

Sunday, March 25, 2018, MYO

Palm Sunday Bake Sale,

immediately following Divine

Liturgy.

IN OUR PRAYERS Please keep in your prayers Michael

La Pergola, Paul Daley, Maria

Lemons, Vincent Thomas, Joseph

Realdine, Rita Impo, Benjamin Uzzo,

Emily Stone, Bob Quici, Roseann

Anthony, Elaine Nader, Sal Pinto,

Michael Pascucci, Jenny DiCicco,

Nicholas Carine, Amelia Habib,

Suzanne Haney, Lisa Alestra, John

Nader, Joseph Alestra, Chucky

Simon, Mary Fetterman, Aminee

Skaf, Carmen Marrone, Rose Kouri,

Yasmine Myers, Joey Gdowick,

Francis Joseph Kerns, Samer

Chokeir, Kathy Newman, Rita

Arrigale, Helen Freedenberg,

Maryann Bratton, Renee Sahar, Sister

Nahida Al Sawa, Virginia Ramano,

Rose De Jesse, James Cordisio,

Stacey Fuentes, Debbie Freedenberg,

Noel Andjuhar, Eddie Gussin, Angel

Salerno, Dennis McGiney, Emilia

and Alan Sacilowski, Donny Pizzi,

Betty Antrilli, and Bonnie Sabatini.

We ask Almighty God to bless them

with good health so that they may

join us in the Church and give glory

and thanksgiving to God. Please

notify the Church office of any

family member who is ill so that we

may remember them in our daily

prayers and on our altar of intentions.

WEEKLY COLLECTION FOR

February 17-18, 2018

Collection $ 1,556.00

Donation $ 100.00

MYK Bracelet Sale $ 45.00

Coffee Hour $ 75.00

Total: $ 1,775.00

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES AND BEEPERS WHEN YOU ENTER THE

CHURCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

First Reading 2 Corinthians 7:4-11

A reading from the Second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians. Your blessing father…

Brothers and Sisters:

I often boast about you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with consolation; I am overjoyed in

all our affliction. For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were

afflicted in every way disputes without and fears within. But God, who consoles the downcast,

consoled us by the arrival of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with

which he was consoled about you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me,

so that I rejoiced still more. For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it (though

I did regret it, for I see that I grieved you with that letter, though only briefly). Now I rejoice, not

because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance; for you felt a godly grief, so

that you were not harmed in any way by us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to

salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this

godly grief has produced in you, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what

alarm, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves

guiltless in the matter.

Praise be to God always.

الثانية إلى أهل قورنتسرسالة القديس بولس فصل من فإننا .عظيما. ولقد ٱمتألت تعزية، وأنا أفيض فرحا في ضيقنا كل ه يا إخوتي، إن لي عليكم دالة كبيرة، ولي بكم فخرا

من الخا،، وخو لما وصلنا إلى مقدونية، لم يكن لجسدنا شيء من الراحة، بل كنا متضايقين في كل شيء، ص رااخلمن ال ال بمجيئه فحسب، بل أيضا بالتعزية التي تعزاها لكن ٱهلل الذي يعز ي المتواضعين عزانا بمجيء طيطس، !د

، حتى إن ي ٱ وإذا كنت قد أحزنتكم برسالتي فلست .زددت فرحابكم. وقد أخبرنا بٱشتياقكم إلينا، وحزنكم، وغيرتكم عليسالة، ولو أحزنتكم إلى حين قد سببت لي فرحا كثيرا، ال ،نادما على ذلك، مع أنني كنت قد ندمت، ألن ي أى أن تلك الر

ألن في أي شيء؛م، بل ألن حزنكم أدى بكم إلى التوبة. فقد حزنتم حزنا مرضيا هلل، كي ال تخسروا بسببنا ألنكم حزنت فٱنظروا حزنكم هذا ٱلمرضي هلل كم .موتاالحزن المرضي هلل يصنع توبة للخالص ال ندم عليها، أما حزن العالم فيصنع

وق، بل من ٱلغيرة، بل من أنشأ فيكم من ٱٱلجتهاد، بل من ٱٱلعتذا، بل من ٱٱلستنكا، بل من ٱلخو ، بل من ٱلش على العقاب! وقد أظهرتم أن .فسكم في كل ذلك أنكم أبرياء من هذا األمرٱإلصرا

.اوالتسبيح هلل دائم

Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church

February 24-25, 2018

Gospel Reading Saint Luke 8:40-56

The Apostle Writes:

When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. Just then there

came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to

come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. As he

went, the crowds pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from

hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could

cure her. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her

hemorrhage stopped. Then Jesus asked, ‘Who touched me?’ When all denied it, Peter said,

‘Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.’ But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me;

for I noticed that power had gone out from me.’ When the woman saw that she could not remain

hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the

people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. He said to her,

‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’ While he was still speaking, someone

came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any

longer.’ When Jesus heard this, he replied, ‘Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved.’

When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and

James, and the child’s father and mother. They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said,

‘Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him, knowing that she was

dead. But he took her by the hand and called out, ‘Child, get up!’ Her spirit returned, and she got

up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astounded; but

he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.

This is the truth. Peace be with you.

يس يل ج ن إ من لوقاالقد

ا ، ٱستقبله الجمع، ألنهم جميعهم كانوا ينتظرونه لم تمى على .عاد يسو ئيس المجمع، جاء فٱ وإذا برجل ٱسمه يائيرس، وكان ل إليه أن يدخل بيته، ، وأخذ يتوس وحيدة، عمرها نحو ٱثنتي عشرة سنة، قد أشرفت على الموت. وفيما ألن له ٱبنة قدمي يسو

يزحمونه من واء دنت .وكانت ٱمرأة مصابة بنز دم منذ ٱثنتي عشرة سنة، ولم يقد أحد أن يشفيها .هو ذاهب، كان الجمودائه، وفجأة وقف نز دمها ، ولمست طر : .يسو يا »وأنكر الجميع. فقال بطرس ومن معه: «. من لمسني؟»فقال يسو

يزحمونك ويضايقونك : .«!معل م، إن الجمو وأت ٱلمرأة .«!واحدا قد لمسني! فإن ي عرفت أن قوة قد خرجت من ي إن »فقال يسوعب كل ه ل تمت على قدميه، وأعلنت أمام الش فقال لها .فيت للحالماذا لمسته، وكيف ش أن أمرها لم يخف عليه، فدنت مرتعدة وٱ

: ئيس المجمع يقول: .«!يا ٱبنتي، إيمانك خلصك! إذهبي بسالم»يسو ماتت ٱبنتك! فال »وفيما هو يتكلم، وصل واحد من دا فأجابه: .«!تزعج المعل م أحدا يدخل معه .«!تخف! يكفي أن تؤمن فتحيا ٱبنتك ال »وسمع يسو ولما وصل إلى البيت، لم يد

ها بية وأم ال تبكوا! إنها لم تمت. » وكان الجميع يبكون عليها ويقرعون صدوهم. فقال: .سوى بطرس ويوحنا ويعقوب وأبي الصبية، قومي»أما هو فأمسك بيدها ونادى قائال: .فأخذوا يضحكون منه لعلمهم بأنها ماتت .«!لكنها نائمة فعادت .«!أيتها الص

وحها إليها، وفجأة نهضت. أال يخبرا أحدا بما حدث .ثم أمر بأن يطعموها .فدهش أبواها، وأوصاهما يسوا واألمان لجميعكم. حق