Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Saint Rafka Maronite
The Circumcision of the Lord
On 1st January every year, we observe the circumcision of our Lord and feast of great Saints St. Gregory and St. Basil in addition to remembering the New Year day. the Lord Jesus is revered as the central part of the history, who remains in between BC and AD. In that way also the observance of 1st January is significant.
If we read the Gospel of John 15:5-6, our Lord clearly indicates that the faithful must be like branches of the true vine and makes it clear that unless and until the faithful would remain in Him we cannot produce fruits. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides n me,and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit:
Catholics of the East in the Upstate! 1215 S. Highway 14, Greer, SC 29650 864.469.9119
www.saintrafka,net [email protected]
Janu
ary
1, 2
017 Saint Rafka Maronite Church is a Catholic
Parish of the Antiochene Syriac Maronite Church, Eparchy of Saint Maron of
Brooklyn, NY, Most Rev. Gregory John Mansour, Bishop, 109 Remsen Street,
Brooklyn, NY, 11201, 718.237.9913. [email protected]
Rev. Bartholomew Leon, Administrator, [email protected]
Rev. Christopher Henderson, Retired,
Pastor’s Advisory Council Ramiz Askar, Marlene Saad Secretary
Richard Sleiman, ChairmanPaul Sleiman, Linda Wickett, Jack Yacu
Finance Committee George Azan, Joseph Chebir Chairman
Tony Sleiman, Paula Howard
Administration
Richard, Wickett, Financial Secretary
Nemr Farhat, Volunteer Administrative Assistant to the Pastor
+
Continued next page
for without me ye can do nothing. (Verses 5 and 6) From the very exhortation “abide in me, and I in you” our Lord is explaining the purpose of His blessed incarnation. He wanted us all to be united with Him. The humanity is called for the life in God and God’s life in humanity. Our Lord establishes that one who might live in God and God in him/her, he or she could produce more fruits. Our Lord tells us that He is the real vine and we all are the branches. We know what sort of fruit is produced by the vine. When our Lord established the sacrament for the salvation of the future generations, He took wine in His hand and said “This is my blood.” And our Lord added “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” (St. John 6: 54) The ordinary wine turns to be the life giving blood of our Lord and Savior. So whenever we might accept the Holy Eucharist, we renew the percentage of the presence of our Lord and Savior in us.
When we remain in our Lord as branches in the real vine, we could produce more and more fruits, which, in turn might be helpful for a number of faithful who might reach our Lord with real repentance. Hence our Lord appoints us as co workers of our Lord’s master plan of salvation of the entire mankind and the entire creation. Do we often behave in accordance to God’s innocent purpose and will? If we are sure that we are not doing anything in accordance with the will of our creator and redeemer, are we not supposed to make a change in us? Let us think well and do the needful to do the will of God. We often try our best to celebrate the New Year in the worldly manner and we are least bothered in observing the same day in the spiritual way. St. Basil and St. Gregory are the two fathers who had spent the entire time in their lives to do the will of God. That is why their memories are observed in the Church with great importance. These two Church Fathers are often remembered during the morning prayers prior to the Holy Eucharist, while we sing “Mahithan Mar Baselios, Gregorios ivaroppam, Nadha deva nalkuka yogyatha nin sthuthi paadan. We do beseech to Lord God to bless us to praise Him like St. Basil and St. Gregory.
Let the New Year celebrations enable us to add something to our spirituality. May God be pleased in us and in humble attempts to progress our spirituality.
May God bless us all.
Jose Kurian Puliyeril
Our Website provided byNemr Farhat Many people have been asking for Nemr’s contact information. Here it is: Nemr Sami Farhat St. Jean center 5th floor, St. Takla Street, Sed El Bouchriyeh, Metn, Lebanon. Cell: +9613535047 [email protected]
Abouna’s Corner
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Merry Christmas!
The Eighth Day of Christmas brings us the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord and New Year’s Day. We also observe the feast of the holy Saints Gregory and Basil.
Thank you to all who were so generous with cards, gifts, food and donations to the Church at Christmas. Father Chris and I deeply appreciate your kindness to remember us at this Holy Feast.
Several people asked me if I set up a tree at home. Yes! It is below. It is a “Charley Brown” tree with one ornament. I added a hand made angel along with a hand painted Easter Egg ornament to the tree. Just below, “Mister Bingle” a stuffed doll from my childhood in New Orleans. Simple but almost elegant!
Father Chris did join us on Christmas Day for the Divine Liturgy. It was good to see him up and around. Father spoke to people in the back of Church as well as in Wickett Hall. It did him a lot of good to see the community and pray with us. Continue to pray for him. Want to bring meal? Let Paula Howard-Casby or Joseph Chebir know.
I want to remind everyone that Friday, January 6 is a Holy Day of Obligation for the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Divine Liturgy at 7 PM!
Have a great New Year of 2017!!!
Salaam!
Ab. Bart
★Calendar
December
31, 4 PM, Divine Liturgy
January
1, 11 AM, Divine Liturgy 3 PM, Holy Hour 7 PM, Divine Liturgy 4, 7 PM, Divine Liturgy NO PASTA SUPPER!!! 6, 7 PM, Divine Liturgy EPIPHANY 7, 4 PM, Divine Liturgy 8, 11 AM, Divine Liturgy 7 PM, Divine Liturgy 11, NO LITURGY Abouna on Retreat this week?? 14, 4 PM, Vigil Liturgy 15, 11 AM, Divine Liturgy 7 PM, Divine Liturgy 16, Maronite Baptism, Charleston 18, 7 PM, Divine Liturgy 21, 4 PM, Divine Liturgy
Organ Concert On Sunday, January 15, at 3:00 p.m., Dr. Kevin Clarke, former organist and choirmaster at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Greenville, SC, and currently Music Director at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Sugar Land, Texas, will play a dedicatory recital for the new Maddonna Pipe Organ, a Wick's Opus 6304 instrument, at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 3710 Augusta Rd., Greenville, SC. Dr. Clarke will play a variety of organ pieces, including works by Bach, Mendelssohn, Vierne, Widor, and others. Preceding the recital, at 2:00 p.m., a tour of the new OLR church building will be given by Fr. Dwight Longenecker. Following the concert, light refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact the OLR parish office at (864) 422-1648.
2016 Maronite Calendars are available at the back
of the Church. Please take one per family!
179Days till NAM!
How will you help?Contact Greg or
Mary Anne Lepak
WCKI 1300 AM
!
!
!
!
Christmas Flower Memorials
+Bussemey Family Paul and Joan Bussemey +Lemire Family Paul and Joan Bussemey +Tina Cheshier Bud Cheshier Living and Deceased of the Davis & Arduino Families John and Joanna Davis +William B. Rogers, Jr. B. J. Dursse +Diane Dyer Jim Dyer Living and Deceased Family and Friends Andy and Ceil +Paul Gallagher Elizabeth Gallagher +Margaret and Louie Henderson Abouna Chris +Richard Anthony Kalata Mark and Dee Kalata +Captain Joseph E. & Margaret W. Leon Abouna Living and Deceased Family & Friends of Paul and Mary Leonardi Paul and Mary Leonardi +Debra Ann Zerella Mary Anne and Bill McAfee +Jennifer Ann Zerella Mary Anne and Bill McAfee +Curtis Manning Bernadette Mileski +Stanley and Sophie Mileski Bernadette Mileski +Felix and Martin Krasinski Bernadette Mileski +Frank and Mary Mileski Bernadette Mileski +Donald Shunk Bernadette Mileski Flower Donation Shawn and Rene Nally +Lillian and Anthony DeLuca Helen and Billy Rauch +Richard Anthony Kalata Linda and Richard Wickett +Anwar and Mary Yacu Jack Yacu Father & Brother of Manal, Father & Brother of Suhail Suhail and Manal Yousif
Many thanks to all who wished to remember their living and deceased relatives and friends with flowers at the Altar for Christmas.
Prayer ListJoe Lemire, Mary Anne McAfee, Tish Oney, Lois Taylor, Jim Hopsecger, Virginia LaFave, Nabeel Howard, Father M. T. Phillips, Paul Cote and Family, Paul Bussemey, Ramza Sleiman, Jack Yacu, Moe Mercier, Joan Bussemey, Priscilla Watson, Denise Steinker, Special Intention by Abouna, Bob Brown, Joe Durham, Michael Bays, Patrick Lavelle, Tara Galvin, Susan Connor, Bill Hines, Beth Banks, Andrea Fiorni-Frazier, Shawn Sexton, Alice Howard, Robert Mercier, James and Kaleigh, Mark Pelletier, Antonella, Stephanie, Derek Gerard Solomon, Connie Brushaber, Billy, JoAn Salloum, Susie, Health and recovery of W. F. William B. (Bill) Rodgers, Jr., Jim Hopka, Family of Colbert Arthur, Berma Darlene Bell, Terry Vadnais, Elaine Gillen, Elizabeth Gallagher, Special Intention, Amy Hunter, Shawn Sexton, Cindy Miller, Deacon Bob Smith, Adrian Kassentar, Beth Hopsecger, Mark Barnard, Special Intention of MKS, Janice Radich, Paula Lemire, Becky Jarvis, Lillian Moon, Vito Fortuna, Sam Howard, Jr., Betty Braun, Deanne Valencia, Mary Yacu, Sister Mary Emmanuel, Katie Frank, Adelaide George, Beverley Davis, Maryanne Polidoro, John Fender, Katherine Dennman, Alan Howard, Intentions of Nancy Gegorian, Greg Howard, Thomas Shaluly,
Saints We CelebrateJanuary 1, Saints Basil and Gregory, Doctors of the Church January 4, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Virgin-Confessor, American Saint January 5, Saint Paul (Mar Boula), First Hermit January 5, Saint John Neuman, Bishop, American Saint January 7, Praises of John the Baptist January 15, Our Lady of the Seeds January 17, Saint Anthony the Great of the Desert
Dec. 31/Jan. 1
Saturday, 4 PM Father Christopher Henderson Paul and Mary Leonardi
Sunday, 11 AM +Tom E. Dubik Bridget Nevin
Sunday, 7 PM Intentions of the Parishioners
Wednesday, 7 PM Open
Friday, 7 PM Open
January 7 & 8
Saturday, 4 PM +Mary Rita Voice Charles Dusthimer
Sunday, 11 AM Intentions of Peter & Giuseppina Bartolo Andy & Ceil Frisari
Sunday 7 PM Open
Wednesday, 7 PM NO LITURGY - Clergy Retreat, Florida
Feast New Testament Gospel
Circumcision Eph. 2:11-22 Luke 2:21-24
English Greg Lepak
Arabic Afaf Sleiman
Liturgical Readings
If you would like a Mass offered for your loved ones, please call the church office at 864.469.9119 or send your request to [email protected]. You can also check the Mass Intention calendar on our webpage to see if dates are available.
Liturgical Items
Sanctuary Lamp
To have the Sanctuary Light for your relatives or intentions, please use the envelope provided at the entrance. Donation is $5.00.
Church Offerings and Attendance
December 25 Saturday 4 PM Sunday 11 AM Sunday 7 PM Total Budget +/- Wed. 7 PM
People 140 60 0 200 150 50 11
Collection $2,568.00 $611.00 0 3179 $2,243.00 936 0
Average per person $18.34 $10.18 97.7233333333333 Holy Hour 0
Average Attendance 58.63 76.53 39.05 174.21 12.73
Building Fund 0 Year to Date $116,112.0
Average per person 0 0 0
Attendance Year to Date
4:00 PM 3049 11:00 AM 3980 7:00 PM 2031 Wednesday 7 PM 662 First Sunday 202 Holy Day 312 Special Liturgy 227 Christmas Novena 61 Lenten Weekday 119 Funerals 215 Weddings 65
How are these totals calculated?
One total graphed to the left is through envelope usage for each week.
The totals to the to the right are counted by the ushers during the Divine Liturgy and tabulated.
Maronite Vigil For Life & March For Life 2017
JOIN US TO WITNESS FOR THE SACREDNESS OF EVERY HUMAN LIFE!!!
The Office of Family and Sanctity of Life of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn is pleased to host the Fourth Maronite Vigil For Life on Thursday January 26, 2017 at
Our Lady Of Lebanon Maronite Church located on 7142 Alaska Avenue N.W. Washington D.C. 20012.
All are invited to join us for an evening of prayer, worship and fellowship with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal of Saint Mary of the Assumption Friary from
Newburgh NY.
Men and women sleep in different locations. Please bring your sleeping bags & plan accordingly.
Please RSVP with number of people attending no later than Monday, January 23rd.
Contact Simona Hallal by phone at (540) 798-8450
or by email at [email protected]
We kindly ask for a free will donation of $20 per person to cover the cost of the meals.
Friday, January 28, 2017
8:30am - Maronite Divine Liturgy 9:30am - Breakfast 11:30am - Maronite Catholics For Life meet at the Starbucks on the corner of Indiana Ave. & 7th St.
Thursday, January 27, 2017
5:00 pm - Arrival at OLOL Church 6:00pm - Dinner 7:00pm - Welcoming talk 8:00pm - Eucharistic Adoration 9:30pm - Fellowship & Movie
Women of Upstate Greenville Catholic Parishes
YOU’RE INVITED TO JOIN US!
“Catholic Women United in Spirituality,
Service and Leadership”
A Leadership Workshop Sponsored by The South Carolina Council of Catholic Women
WHERE: Gallivan Hall, St. Mary’s Church Campus, 111 Hampton Avenue, Greenville 29601 WHEN: Saturday, January 7, 2017 TIME: 9:30 A.M.—Registration and Coffee 10:00 A.M.—1:00 P.M.—Workshop
Lunch provided by the women of the Greenville Deanery
No Cost
Workshop Topics: Embracing Our Past As We Ensure Our Future (The Council of Catholic Women) Developing Good Leadership Practices and Skills Building a Better Foundation for Membership Growth
Organizing and Developing New Affiliates Finding a “New” Way — What Can We Do Better?
The workshop will be facilitated by Joan Mack and Barbara Birds, Past Presidents of the South Carolina Council of Catholic Women, and is sponsored by the Greenville Deanery.
PLEASE RSVP BY MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017
Contact Greenville Deanery President, Susanne Wolfe at 864-313-5866 or [email protected]
Prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel God of heavenly wisdom, you gave us Mary, Mother of Jesus, to be our guide and counselor. Grant that we may always seek her motherly help in this life and so enjoy her blessed presence in the life to come. O Mother of Good Counsel, patroness of the National Council of Catholic Women, intercede for us, that we may be wise, courageous and loving leaders of the Church. Help us, dear mother, to know the mind of Jesus, your son. May the Holy Spirit fill us with reverence for God’s creation and compassion for all God’s children. May our labors of love on earth enhance the reign of God and may God’s gift of faith and living hope prepare us for the fullness of the world to come. Amen.
Ashy Pavilion Please remember that registered and supporting parishioners are free to use the Ashy Pavilion for family events, reunions, parties, etc. Others are welcome to rent the facilities. More information? Contact Richard Wickett here.
Coffee Socials If you would like to sponsor a Coffee Social In Memory Of or In Honor Of someone, please call or email the office to let us know. Abouna
Wickett HallWickett Hall - Wickett Hall can be used by our registered and supporting parishioners for family events, reunions, etc. Others may request permission to rent the Hall. Contact Richard Wickett.
Masses OnlineWhere to go to Mass when traveling? Look here!
MassTimes.org The Catholic Directory Parishes Online
Birthdays31, Danielle Lloyd January 1, Fadi Younan 4, Marilyn Ouellet 6, Bud Cheshire 7, B J Dursse 8, Gabriel Sijon 11, Michael Bryant 12 Ted Bibbes 13, Jadin Michael Nassif 14, Elias Jowdy 16, Mary Anne Vicaro 16, Benjamin Jonathan Saad 16, Michael Saad 20, Elizabeth Gallagher 21, Zaid Qattan 21, Ramza Sleiman 21, Michael Yammine 23, Yvonne Maroun 25, Katia Ashy 28, Limour Hanna Salfiti 28, Carrie Wein 28, Chris Beckman 28, Caroline Washnock 28, Matthew Washnock 28, Carrie Yammine 31, Kathleen George
Anniversaries January 28, Father Christopher Henderson, Priesthood, 1994
Necrology+Philip Joseph Howard, Jr., January 7, 2007 +Evelyn Ghannam, January 20, 2010 +Madeline Majeed Issa, January 28, 2008
