April 29, 2007 Bulletin # 17 Our Lady of Lebanon Church · 29/04/2007 · 2007 Bulletins/Bulletin...

April 29, 2007 Bulletin # 17

Our Lady of Lebanon Church (Maronite Catholic Rite)

Faith Family Friends 2216 Eoff Street, Wheeling, WV 26003

Rectory: (304) 233-1688 • Fax: (304) 233-4714 E-Mail: [email protected] • Web Site: www.ololwv.com

Rev. Bakhos Chidiac (Pastor) Evelyn Ghaphery (Organist)

Charlotte Khourey & Thomasina Geimer (Secretaries)

4th Sunday of Resurrection

Schedule of Divine Liturgies

*Weekend Masses: Saturday evening at 4:00 p.m.

Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. [Rosary & Litany start at 10:10 a.m.] *Weekday Masses: At Noon. But please refer to the Mass schedule on page 3 of this bulletin for Mass times and

changes due to special events. Thank you for your cooperation. *Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament: Every 1st Saturday & Sunday of the month after Communion *Miraculous Medal Novena: Every 2nd Sunday of the month at 10:00 a.m. *Reconciliation: Saturday: 3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. or any other time by appointment *Baptism: Kindly phone the Pastor as soon as the baby is born. Godparents must be Catholics. *Marriage: Kindly phone the Pastor at least six months in advance for Marriage Preparation *Sick Calls & Anointing of the Sick: Please notify the pastor any time at (304) 233-1688 *Parish Council: Lou Khourey 277-3230, Linda Duffy 242-6853, Tom George 336-7142, P.J. Lenz 242-5606 and Carol Dougherty (740) 782-0146 *Choir Members: Rita Thomas Strawn, Jim Dellget, Shirley George, Allison Duffy, George Thomas, Ted Olinski,

Lou Khourey, Earl Duffy, Robert Harris

*Please support Our Lady of Lebanon Church by patronizing our Advertisers *Bulletin Announcements: Submit all Bulletin Information to Fr. Bakhos. Deadline: Every Tuesday by Noon *Remember the Church in your Last Will – Her prayers will accompany you to heaven *New Parishioners: We welcome you with great joy & invite you to be officially listed as one of our parishioners *If you support the Church and need a Bulletin mailed to you, please call the Rectory *Parking: Saturday & Sunday–all spaces for parishioners; Monday through Friday–park ONLY in the 3 ALLEY spaces

2007 Bulletins/Bulletin # 17 04.29.2007 Bulletin

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Gospel Refl ection: 4th Sunday of Resurrection Readings: Heb 13:18-25 & Jn 21:1-14

Taking Care of Old Business Imagine the ups and downs the disciples experienced surrounding Easter. Palm Sunday was an emotional high, the Last Supper a deeply moving introspective time, the arrest of Jesus afterward a nightmare, and the Crucifixion an emotional crash. And then there was the Resurrection, which had to be the adrenalin rush of all time! Then, however, the followers of Jesus are told to go to Galilee, where they will see him. And all at once, the emotional roller coaster grinds to a halt. They go to Galilee, but for a time, nothing happens. And that’s where our reading for today starts. With no new instructions from Jesus, Peter says, “I am going fishing.” Of them all, Peter was probably the one who, despite the Resurrection, felt the worst. After all, he was the only one who, on the evening of Jesus’ arrest, had been given an opportunity or three opportunities to be specific to declare his allegiance to Jesus. Instead, he had three times denied that he even knew Jesus. The shame and guilt of all that still hung in the air between him and the Risen Christ. So now, Peter decides to go fishing. He and six other disciples launch out on the Sea of Galilee. They fish all night, but catch nothing. In the morning, Jesus stands on the shore. At first, the disciples don’t recognize him, but then John says, “It is the Lord!” And Peter jumps into the water and swims for shore. Eventually, Jesus takes Peter aside and asks, “Do you truly love me more than these’?” Jesus may have been indicating the other disciples, and asking, in effect, “Do you love me more than they do?” But it’s more likely Jesus was indicating the boat and fishing equipment, thus asking if Peter was prepared to give up his fishing career once and for all and spend the rest of his life spreading the Gospel. Either way, Jesus was asking Peter if he was ready to follow Jesus no matter what. Jesus then asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Each time Peter says yes. Jesus’ responses, “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” “Feed my sheep”, were ways of telling Peter he was to be a shepherd to the growing Christian flock. Next, Jesus tells a little parable that predicts that Peter will die in a way that glorifies God. Then he said to Peter, “Follow me.” And that is exactly what Peter does, for the rest of his life.

Unfinished business I wonder how many of us find ourselves in Peter’s position. We come to a place in certain relationships where damage has been done, and we are responsible. Perhaps we have blabbed something a friend told us in confidence, undercut a coworker, let somebody else take the blame for our mistake, lied to our spouse, failed one of our children, not followed through on something we promised to do, or, like Peter, failed to live up to our profession of Christ. Because of such things, it may seem that we can’t move forward; our failure is an obstacle. Many people carry burdens like that around. Sometimes, we can approach the person we have failed and apologize. The relationship can be mended if the other person is willing. But sometimes the damage is too great or the hurt too deep or the betrayal too frequent, and the trust cannot be re-established. No matter how genuine our repentance, the relationship is done for. Or perhaps the injured party is no longer around, leaving no opportunity to right the wrong. Are we then stuck there with our shame and sorrow? This encounter between Jesus and Peter shows us something important about that. Peter is so ashamed he cannot even bring himself to raise the issue of his failure. Most likely, he feels he is in no position to ask for forgiveness. He failed in Jesus’ darkest hour; what could he possibly say? Jesus, however, knows that this old business has to be cleared off the books if Peter is to be a whole person again. So it is Jesus who initiates the conversation that leads to the restoration of their relationship. Jesus could have said to Peter, “Clean up that mess and then we’ll talk.” Jesus could have said, “Get down on your knees and confess, and then maybe we can see eye to eye again.” Jesus could have at least asked, “Are you sorry, Peter?” But Jesus doesn’t do any of those things. He begins with Peter right where he is and asks Peter to once more declare his love. He gives Peter a chance to replace each denial with a declaration of love. The actual words, “I forgive you,” are never spoken, but surely forgiveness and restoration are what Peter experiences in this exchange.


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Unspoken repentance This conversation seems to run against what we usually hear about the importance of confession and even against what a lot of theology tells us about the need to admit our sins and ask for forgiveness. So do some other biblical encounters: When the woman caught in adultery is dragged before Jesus, he dismisses her accusers. Then he turns to the woman, but he does not ask, “Are you sorry?” Instead he says, “Has no one condemned you?” When she says, “No one, sir,” he replies, “Neither do I condemn you ... from now on do not sin again.” There’s Jesus eating in the house of a Pharisee, when a woman of the street comes in and weeps on his feet. Without asking her to confess her wrongdoing, Jesus says to her, “Your sins are forgiven. There’s Jesus’ story about the prodigal son who finally, in miserable condition, decides to return home. He has a repentance speech prepared. He even rehearses it. But when he shows up, his father runs and embraces him, not even allowing him to get his whole repentance speech out. The relationship is restored without the words being spoken. In fractured human relationships, the words of apology by the offender are often the necessary first step to restoration. The woman caught in the adultery no doubt looked deeply ashamed. The woman who wept on Jesus feet was clearly acting in a way that expressed regret, and so was the prodigal son. And here’s Peter, leaping out of the boat, so anxious to get to Jesus that he can’t even wait for the boat to reach shore. But first he puts his clothes on to jump in the water, as though he cannot bear for Jesus to see his spiritual nakedness. We can be certain that his hearing broadcast his shame. Moving forward In every case, Jesus’ focus is on moving forward. He is not saying, “Well, let’s just pretend the past didn’t happen,” but by offering forgiveness before it’s even asked for, he helps people take care of old business so that the new business of life can take place. For the woman caught in adultery, the focus is on the future: “Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” For the prodigal, the focus is on becoming part of the family again: “This son of mine was dead and is alive again ...!” be part of the family of God. For Peter, the focus is on what his work will be: “Tend my sheep” and “Follow me.” Do the work God gives you to do. That’s what it is for us too. If we have unfinished business because of damage we’ve done to relationships, we need to do what we can to clean up the damage, and a spoken apology is a good start. But our subsequent actions are even more important than our words. And if we have unfinished business with Jesus, we can begin to seek restoration with a confession to him. But as this story of Peter shows us, he doesn’t even wait for that. He reads what in our hearts and then points us to the future: “Sin no more.” “Be part of the family of God.” “Do the work God gives you to do.” “Follow me.” And in this life at least, that’s how the Resurrection plays out.

Celebration of the Holy Myster ies

This Weekend: April 28-29: “4th Sunday of Resurrection” Saturday, April 28, at 4:00 p.m.:

Special Intention Ronald Canestraro by Joel & Leslie Foster

Sunday, April 29, at 10:30 a.m.: Helen Fielding by her husband Don (FL) and special intention Mona Chidiac by Jim & Marsha Dellget


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Weekday Masses Monday, April 30: No Mass Tuesday, May 1: No Mass Wednesday, May 2, at Noon:

Mary Shipley by Lou & Charlotte Khourey Helen Fielding by her husband Don (FL) and special intention

Thursday, May 3, at Noon: Adib Chidiac by Emily Saseen Mary Shipley by Evelyn Goodson

Friday, May 4 at Noon: Helen Fielding by her husband Don (FL) and special intention Adib Chidiac by Theresa Ritchie (Ohio)

Next Weekend: May 5-6: “May Crowning.” Saturday, May 5, at 4:00 p.m.:

William Fitzgerald by Rosemary & Dick Coury Chas L. Custer by his mother Mary

Sunday, May 6, at 10:30 a.m.: Living and Deceased members of the Nicholas and Nimnoom Ghaphery Family and the David Abraham Ghaphery Family by the Ghaphery Family. Special Intention by Kay Garvey

Building Project Income for Apri l 2007

Total donations toward the Building Fund received in February 2007: $2,699.00 Total donations toward the Building Fund received in March 2007: $52,794.00 The actual ground breaking will take place in the spring of 2007. Day and time will be

announced and published in our bulletin. All active parishioners and benefactors are invited to share in the memorable photo that will be taken prior to this event, kept in the church archives, sent to the local newspaper and sent to the Maronite Voice. Please prepare your shovels and we will spray them in gold.

From the breaking of the ground until the project is completed (hopefully between Thanksgiving and Christmas) a daily prayer will be raised to God and the Blessed Mother to shower their graces on the faithful who contribute generously toward the building project.

Donations towards the Building Project during April 2007:

Donations Received

Gem Level Requested

Donor’s Name & Date

$50 Anonymous $200 Topaz Mary Shipley (Memorial) (4.4.2007) $400 Ruby Earl & Linda Duffy (4.11.2007) $400 Foundation Altmeyer Funeral Home (4.13.2007) $500 Robert Harris (4.15.2007)


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Upcoming Calendar of Events Sunday, April 29 Women's Society Meeting after Mass Sunday, April 29 50/50 April Building Fund Raffle Drawing after Mass Tuesday, May 1 Cedar Club Meeting at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 6 First Communion & Confirmation Celebration & May Crowning Sat.-Friday, May 12-18 Week of Masses for Mothers & Grandmothers Sunday, May 13 Mothers Day Sunday, May 20 Spaghetti Dinner 11?30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sunday, May 20 50/50 Mothers Day Building Fund Raffle Drawing after Mass Friday, May 25 Cedar Club – Cooking Class – see info in Bulletin Saturday, June 9 Rummage Sale 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament (Sat-Sun, April 28-28)

The words and acts of Christ at the institution of the Eucharist stand at the heart of the celebration; the Eucharistic meal is the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, the sacrament of his real presence. Christ fulfills in a variety of ways his promise to be always with his own even to the end of the world. But Christ’s mode of presence in the Eucharist is unique. Jesus said over the bread and wine of the Eucharist: “This is my body … this is my blood …” What Christ declared is true, and this truth is fulfilled every time the Eucharist is celebrated. The Church confesses Christ’s real, living and active presence in the Eucharist. Monthly 50/50 Building Fund Raffle (Drawings: April 29 & May 27 ) The Women’s Society is sponsoring the Monthly 50/50 Building Fund Raffle. The drawing– from entries received from the yellow –May 50/50 Raffle tickets provided at the entrance to the church and in the weekly church bulletins– will take place in the Social Hall following Mass on Sunday, May 27. Proceeds will benefit the Building Fund.

Raffle Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. Buy or sell the tickets, and return the completed stubs as soon as possible in the collection or mail to: Our Lady Of Lebanon Church, 2216 Eoff Street, Wheeling, WV 26003.

For more information or additional tickets, contact the church office at (304) 233-1688. Your generosity and cooperation will enhance our Church.

Congratulations to Patty Smith who won the March 50/50 prize of $120 and donated it back to the Building Fund along with the Women's Society donation of $120.

Women’s Society – Next Meeting (Sunday, April 29th, after Mass) Plan to join the Women's Society on Sunday, April 29th, after Mass to finalize our upcoming activities and events. Cedar Cub Meeting (Tuesday, May 1, at 7 p.m.) The next scheduled Cedar Club Meeting will be on Tuesday, May 1, at 7:00 p.m. in the Church Hall. Hostess will be Nini Miller.


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May Crowning (Sunday, May 6th, at 10:30 a.m.) All families with young girls (7-15 years-old) are encouraged to call the church at 233-

1688 and schedule their children or grandchildren in the May Procession that will take place on Sunday, May 6th, during the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Please call by Sunday, April 29th, so that the proper number of flower bouquets may be ordered. May Queen (Rachel Thomas of Albany, Ohio and her first attendant Morgan Harris) and all flower girls: Andreah Frenn, Kenley George, Gina Haas, Meggie Saludes, Samantha Shipley and her friend Morgan McGuire, Aundrea Spain, Rachel Thomas, Isabel Thomas, … are asked to arrive at the church in their spring dresses on Sunday, May 6th, at 10:00 a.m. so that the procession can be rehearsed and arranged. Parents are welcome to help. Flowers for Blessed Mother in May The flowers for the Blessed Mother –side altar are donated during the Sundays of May by: Sunday, May 6 George & Mary Thomas in memory of their son Jason Sunday, May 13 Carol Dougherty, Sandra Dusick, Kay Garvey & Julia Tappe Sunday, May 20 Rosella, Marge & Frances Saseen Sunday, May 27 To Be Announced

First Communion & Confirmation Celebration (Sunday, May 6th) On Sunday, May 6th, during the 10:30 a.m. Mass, Louie Khourey will be confirmed and

Samantha Shipley will receive her First Communion. Congratulations to both these children. Mother’s Day Masses (Saturday, May 12th, to Friday, May 18th)

The best gift of love we can offer to our ONLY mother, who brought us to this life, is a Mass offered for her good health and long life, if she is still alive, OR for the repose of her soul, if she has passed away. Our Lady of Lebanon Church is dedicating one week of prayers (5 days of Masses) for MOTHERS for the occasion of Mothers’ Day, Sunday, May 13. All intentions will be published in the bulletin in the order received from now until May 14. Please pray for the soul of your mother.

Mother’s Day: Prayer for mothers Most Holy Mother of God, whose joyful visitation to Elizabeth brought her comfort and

support, we humbly ask you to pray for all mothers, that they may seek to provide support and encouragement to other mothers, according to your example. May we gain the insight and strength to act so that no mother is left unaided in her child-rearing responsibilities or overwhelmed by the circumstances of family life. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Repose of the Souls of Our Departed Mothers & Grandmothers:

Katherine Chidiac & Hasibe Shaheen by their grandson Fr. Bakhos Louise N. Khourey & Gladys Howard by their children Lou & Charlotte and grandchildren

Emmalena & Louie Living and Deceased members of the Nicholas & Nimnoom Ghaphery Family and the David

Abraham Ghaphery Family by the Ghaphery Family Nimnoom Ghaphery by the Ghaphery Family


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George Shia by Ed & Betty Shia Mary Shipley by her daughter Thomasina & Family Victoria John by the John Family Marian Keegan by Marge and Louis John Sarah Magruder & Janet Voitle by Denny & Barbara Magruder Mothers and grandmothers of Bill & Carol Dougherty by Bill & Carol Rose Fadoul & Nell Duffy by Earl & Linda Duffy Eva Coury and Marianna Khoury by Dick & Rosemary Coury Amelia Fitzgerald by Dick & Rosemary Coury Adelaide Schuler (mother) by Paul & Irene Schuler Anna Przelenski (mother) by Irene & Paul Schuler Rosella Melko (grandmother) by Irene & Paul Schuler Siham Frenn by the Frenn Family LaVerne Thomas (mother of Diane) by the Frenn Family Evelyn Hall (grandma of Diane) by the Frenn Family Helen Fielding by her children and grandchildren Sadie John and Grandmothers by Julia Tappe Mary K. Ferris by her husband Tom Ferris Mary K. Ferris by her daughter Denise V. Ferris Sally Malatinski by her daughter Sandra Dusick Mary Sengewalt by the Sengewalt Family Ann Emmerth by her daughters Sis, Peg, Helen and Jean Helen Saseen by her daughter Rosella Saseen Helen Saseen by her granddaughter Rosella Saseen Mariam Joseph and Catherine Habeb by the Abraham, Joseph, Weisner and Goodson Families Anita Weisner and Louise Bishop by George & Jean Weisner and Family Amelia Schmeichel and Anna Schairer by George & Jean Weisner and Family Latifa Joseph by Jean Weisner Rita John & Darlene Committee by children Bill & Tricia and grandchildren Christina, Natalie and Bill For Good Health and Long Life of Our Living Mothers & Grandmothers: Sadie Chidiac and my married sisters by Fr. Bakhos Charlotte Khourey by her husband Lou and her children Emmalena & Louie Marjorie John by her husband Louis John Diane Frenn by her children Andreah & Justin Frenn Spaghetti Dinner at Our Church (Sunday, May 20th, from 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. ) Mark your calendars now. Plan to enjoy our Spring Spaghetti Dinner, served in our Church Hall following Mass Sunday, May 20. Chairperson Tom George and our parishioners invite you and your friends to come and enjoy our food and hospitality. Help our Church make this our best Spaghetti Dinner yet! Invite your friends, co-workers and neighbors to attend. Every dollar of profit earned helps us reach our financial goal for the new Building Fund.


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Menu: Spaghetti & Meatballs or Marinara Sauce, Salad, Roll, Dessert & choice of Coffee, Ice Tea or Juice –beer & pop available a la carte.

Tickets: $6.00 for adults and $4.00 for children under 12; are available from our Church office – 233-1688 or at the door. Notes: 1- Advance Ticket Sales: If you are able & willing to help sell tickets to make our dinner a tremendous success, please pick up a packet of tickets from our Church office. Unsold tickets & payments should be returned by Sunday, May 13.

2- Parishioners are being asked to please bake and donate a dessert for use at the dinner so that we may offer a variety of choices to go with the meal.

3- Parishioners are also being asked to help make our Baked Goods Sale – held simultaneously with the dinner – a huge success. Please make and donate an item–cookies, cake, pie, fudge, candy, Lebanese specialty, etc.

4- Please save large, clean paper grocery or shopping bags and bring them to the Church any weekend so that we may use them to pack bake sale and "to go" orders.

5- If you can volunteer to work for the Spaghetti Dinner or have questions, please call the Church office at 233-1688. Gift Basket Raffle Scheduled (Drawing: Sunday, May 20, after Mass)

Blue tickets for the “Wine & Dine” Gift Basket Raffle are available now at $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00 at the church entrance or from Women's Society members and will also be published in our weekly Bulletins. The drawing will take place at the Spaghetti Dinner on Sunday, May 20.

The "Wine & Dine" Gift Basket for this raffle contains: $20.00 Riesbeck's Gift Certificate, Starbucks coffee, 2 coffee cups, 2 wine glasses and 5 bottles of wine (Turning Leaf White Zinfandel, Corbet Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon, Foxhorn Merlot, Little Boomey Chardonnay, and Georges Dubeuf Beaujolais). The Gift Basket Raffle is sponsored by the Women's Society in its effort to raise funds for our Building Fund. Josephine Weidman won the March "Think Spring" basket – proceeds were $219. Rummage Sale (Saturday, June 9 from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.)

Our Rummage Sale is coming up on Saturday, June 9th, from 8 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Please save your items of all kind for this sale. Any questions call Linda at 242-6853. Drop off times at the church hall on June 4 and 5 in the evening 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. June 6,7,8 (Wed., Thu., Fri.) 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. Sale is Set for Saturday, June 9 from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm. Lunch and baked items available. All proceeds benefit the church. (Linda Duffy)

Refresh Your Lebanese Vocabulary Theme: Fruits

English Lebanese Apricot Mish-Mish Cherries Ka-Raz Coconut Jauz Hindi Dates Tamer


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Lemons Lay-Moon Melons Bat-Teekh Muskmelon Bat-Teekh As-Far Watermelon Bat-Teekh Ah-Mar Mulberries Toot Nuts Jauz Pistachio nuts Fis-Tuk Ha-La-Be Raisins Zbeeb Pomegranates Rum-Maan

Is Anyone Sick?

Please remember those hospitalized recently in your prayers: Catherine (Geary) Simon, Peg Emmerth, Nader Khoury (brother of Dr. Rajai Khoury, CA), John Vawter (brother of Dr. Rob Vawter)

Also please pray for: John John, Joe Pagendarm, Carol Dougherty, Larry & Becky Ferrera, Mike Sobota, Edith Vinci (Yorkville), Debbie Laughlin (Columbus), Bill Committee, baby Steve Smay, Virginia Khourey Bryan (aunt of Lou Khourey), Ed Shia, Marion Wellman, Mary Ryncarz (Shadyside), Jim Fahey, Martha Ruggiero, Joe Linton, Betty Shia, Alice (Thomas) Holmes, Jennie Bedway, Philip Ruggiero, Shipley Shipley, Leona Albaugh, Manell Brice (Arlington), Rose Mary Bris-Roybal (Albuquerque)

Your Church Support Last Week $1,175 Collection

$5 Utilities $42 Votive Candles

$100 Parking $1,322 Total. May the Blessed Mother reward you manifold!

What’s New? Many Thanks To all the ladies and gentlemen, parishioners and friends of the Blessed Mother for helping in the Bake Sale. It was a great success. Job well done. Bake Sale food for sale There are few meat pies, spinach pies, zaatar bread and sesame bread for sale. Please call the church office at 233-1688 for purchase. Bible study on Wednesdays Fr. Bakhos is willing to start a Bible study on weekly basis every Wednesday at 6:30 pm at the church hall. Please call 233-1688 to register. Diocesan Appeal 2007 We received the last contributions toward the Diocesan Appeal from: Mike & Barb Sobota ($40), Many Thanks, Anna Nickolas, Don & Roberta Henning,


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Choir Members Needed We need at least 10 choir members to praise and glorify the Lord during Mass. If you

have the gift of singing, please call Fr. Bakhos who will start choir practice soon. Many thanks to Lou Khourey and Earl Duffy who joined the choir. Singing is praying twice. It is a great honor to glorify God with our voice like the angels in heaven.

Mahrajan Souvenir Book in progress Dear Parishioners and Friends:

You did receive by mail a letter from the church soliciting ads for our “2007 Mahrajan Souvenir Book.” Please put an ad or be an ambassador for the church and ask your friends, family members or the businesses you frequent to buy an ad. There are different sizes and different costs for ads. All proceeds benefit our building project coming soon. Thank you for your dedication to the church. Fr. Bakhos

Around Us

Dinner to Benefit the Gabriel Project (Monday, April 30th, 6:30-8:30 p.m.) The Annual Benefit Dinner will be hosted by the Gabriel Project of West Virginia on

Monday, April 30, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Generations Restaurant, Wheeling. Donation per ticket is $25 (Proceeds benefit Gabriel Project families and babies in need by providing tangible baby items and outreach and referral services. Please call 304-242-1678 for tickets Slovak Style Luncheon (Sunday, May 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) Where: St. John, (Rosary Hall) 622 Main Street, Benwood Menu: Cabbage Rolls, Kielbasa & Kraut, Cabbage & Noodles, Pierogies, Green Beans,

Ham & Potatoes, Salad, fruit cup, bread & butter, plus ethnic desserts and drink Cost: Adults – $7.00 and children – $3.00. Information: Call Trudy at 232-7284

Red Cross Blood Donation needed (Monday, May 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) Where: US District Court/Jury Assembly Room at 1125 Chapline Street, Wheeling (To know about other dates, please call 547-4184)

Wheeling Central Athletic Dept. Steak Fry (Saturday, May 11, 6-11 p.m.) Wheeling Central Athletic Department will hold a Steak Fry on Saturday, May 11, from 6-11 p.m. at the Italian American Club (Elm Grove). Tickets are $20 a person. Reservations: Call Cindy at 233-6423. Wheeling Catholic Elementary Kentucky Derby (Fri., May 11, 6:30 p.m.)

The Wheeling Catholic Elementary Kentucky Derby (Food, fun, and entertainment including a Hat Parade, live “Horse” race, Music) will be held at the Wheeling Artisan Center, Friday, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. Cost: $40 a ticket/$75 a couple. Proceeds Benefit Angel Scholarship Program. For information, call 233-1515.


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Story: Classroom without desks

Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she took all of the desks out of the classroom. The kids came into first period, they walked in, and there were no desks. They obviously looked around and said, "Ms. Cothren, where's our desk?" And she said, "You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn them." They thought, "Well, maybe it's our grades." "No," she said. "Maybe it's our behavior." And she told them, "No, it's not even your behavior." And so they came and went in the first period, still no desks in the classroom. Second period, same thing. Third period. By early afternoon television news crews had gathered in Ms. Cothren's class to find out about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of the classroom. The last period of the day, Martha Cothren gathered her class. They were at this time sitting on the floor around the sides of the room. And she says, "Throughout the day no one has really understood how you earn the desks that sit in this classroom ordinarily." She said, "Now I'm going to tell you." Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it, and as she did 27 U.S. veterans, wearing their uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. And they placed those school desks in rows, and then they stood along the wall. And by the time they had finished placing those desks; those kids for the first time I think perhaps in their lives understood how they earned those desks. Martha said, "You don't have to earn those desks. These guys did it for you. They put them out there for you, but it's up to you to sit here responsibly to learn, to be good students and good citizens, because they paid a price for you to have that desk, and don't ever forget it! ALLELUIA AND AMEN!

Prayers: Prayer of Abandonment Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me as You will. Whatever You may do, I thank You: I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only Your will be done in me, and in all Your creatures. I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my soul: I offer it to You with all the love of my heart, for I love You, Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into Your hands, without reserve, and with boundless confidence, for You are my Father. Blessed Charles De Foucald


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Maronites = Catholics of the East History Of the Maronites (30)

All competent authorities agree as to the history of the Maronites as far back as the sixteenth century, but beyond that period the unanimity ceases. They themselves assert at once the high antiquity and the perpetual orthodoxy of their nation; but both of these pretensions have constantly been denied by their Christian -- even Catholic -- rivals in Syria, the Melchites, whether Catholic or Orthodox, the Jacobite Syrians, and the Catholic Syrians. Some European scholars accept the Maronite view; the majority reject it. So many points in the primitive history of the nation are still obscure that we can here only set forth the arguments advanced on either side, without drawing any conclusion. The whole discussion gravitates around a text of the twelfth century. William of Tyre (De Bello Sacro, XX, viii) relates the conversion of 40,000 Maronites in the year 1182. The substance of the leading text is as follows: "After they [the nation that had been converted, in the vicinity of Byblos] had for five hundred years adhered to the false teaching of an heresiarch named Maro, so that they took from him the name of Maronites, and, being separated from the true Church had been following their own peculiar liturgy [ab ecclesia fidelium sequestrati seorsim sacramenta conficerent sua], they came to the Patriarch of Antioch, Aymery, the third of the Latin patriarchs, and, having abjured their error, were, with their patriarch and some bishops, reunited to the true Church. They declared themselves ready to accept and observe the prescriptions of the Roman Church. There were more than 40,000 of them, occupying the whole region of the Lebanon, and they were of great use to the Latins in the war against the Saracens. The error of Maro and his adherents is and was, as may be read in the Sixth Council, that in Jesus Christ there was, and had been since the beginning only one will and one energy. And after their separation they had embraced still other pernicious doctrines." We proceed to consider the various interpretations given to this text. A. The Maronite Position Maro, a Syrian monk, who died in the fifth century and is noticed by Theodoret (Religionis Historia, xvi), had gathered together some disciples on the banks of the Orantes, between Emesa and Apamea. After his death the faithful built, at the place, where he had lived, a monastery which they named after him. When Syria was divided by heresies, the monks of Beit-Marun remained invariably faithful to the cause of orthodoxy, and rallied to it the neighbouring inhabitants. This was the cradle of the Maronite nation. The Jacobite chroniclers bear witness that these populations aided the Emperor Heraclius in the struggle against Monophysitism even by force (c. 630). Moreover, thirty years later when Mu‘awyah, the future caliph, was governor of Damascus (658-58), they disputed with the Jacobites in his presence, and the Jacobites, being worsted, had to pay a large penalty. The Emperor Heraclius and his successors having meanwhile succumbed to the Monothelite heresy, which was afterwards condemned in the Council of 681, the Maronites, who until then had been partisans of the Byzantine emperor (Melchites), broke with him, so as not to be in communion with a heretic. From this event dates the national independence of the Maronites. Justinian II (Rhinotmetes) wished to reduce them to subjection: in 694 his forces attacked the monastery, destroyed it, and marched over the mountain towards Tripoli, to complete their conquest. But the Maronites, with the Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, St. John Maro, at their head, routed the Greeks near Amiun, and saved that autonomy which they were able to maintain through succeeding ages. They are to be identified with the Mardaïtes of Syria, who, in the Lebanon, on the frontier of the Empire, successfully struggled with the Byzantines and the Arabs. There the Crusaders found them, and formed very close relations with them. William of Tyre relates that, in 1182, the Maronites to the number of 40,000, were converted from Monothelitism; but either this is an error of information, due to William's having copied, without critically examining, the Annals of Eutychius, an Egyptian Melchite who calumniated the Maronites, or else these 40,000 were only a very small part of the nation who had, through ignorance, allowed themselves to be led astray by the Monothelite propaganda of a bishop named Thomas of Kfartas. Besides, the Maronites can show an unbroken list of patriarchs between the time of St. John Maro and that of Pope Innocent III; these patriarchs, never having erred in faith, or strayed into schism, are the only legitimate heirs of the Patriarchate of Antioch, or at least they have a claim to that title certainly not inferior to the claim of any rival. -- Such is the case frequently presented by Maronites, and in the last place by Mgr. Debs, Archbishop of Beirut (Perpétuelle orthodoxie des Maronites).


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A Time to Laugh (450) The Twenty and the One A well-worn one-dollar bill and a similarly distressed twenty-dollar bill arrived at a Federal Reserve Bank to be retired. As they moved along the conveyor belt to be burned, they struck up a conversation. The twenty-dollar bill reminisced about its travels all over the country. "I've had a pretty good life, "the twenty proclaimed. "Why I've been to Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the finest restaurants in New York, performances on Broadway, and even a cruise to the Caribbean." "Wow!" said the one-dollar bill. "You've really had an exciting life!" "So tell me," says the twenty, "where have you been throughout your lifetime?" The one dollar bill replies, "Oh, I've been to the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church, the Lutheran Church..." The twenty-dollar bill interrupts, "What's a church?" Charity at the Post Office There was a man who worked for the Post Office whose job was to process all the mails that had illegible addresses. One day, a letter came addressed in a shaky handwriting to God with no actual address. He thought he should open it to see what it was about. The letter read: "Dear God, I am an 83 year old widow, living on a very small pension. Yesterday someone stole my purse. It had $100 in it, which was all the money I had until my next pension check. Next Sunday is Christmas, and I had invited two of my friends over for dinner. Without that money, I have nothing to buy food with. I have no family to turn to, and you are my only hope. Can you please help me? " Sincerely, Edna" The postal worker was touched. He showed the letter to all the other workers. Each one dug into his or her wallet and came up with a few dollars. By the time he made the rounds, he had collected $96, which they put into an envelope and sent to the woman. The rest of the day, all the workers felt a warm glow thinking of Edna and the dinner she would be able to share with her friends. Christmas came and went. A few days later, another letter came from the same old lady to God. All the workers gathered around while the letter was opened. It read, "Dear God, How can I ever thank you enough for what you did for me? Because of your gift of love, I was able to fix a glorious dinner for my friends. We had a very nice day and I told my friends of your wonderful gift. By the way, there was $4 missing. I think it must have been those buggars at the Post Office. War of Bills As my mother and I toured the historic streets of London, we were awed by its history and by something else: the signs on construction sites. Whereas back home we admonish “POST NO BILLS,” the elegant English declare “BILL STICKERS WILL BE PROSECUTED.” The British, of course, are also known for their humor. Beneath one such sign someone Scrawled, “BILL STICKERS IS INNOCENT!”

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April 29, 2007 Bulletin # 17 Our Lady of Lebanon Church · 29/04/2007 · 2007 Bulletins/Bulletin...

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