Sunday, April 2, 2017

Reminders for April!

     I love First Communion classes!  We meet four extra times with parents and children before First Communion day.  Their favorite class is the tour of the church that students and parents do together.  We talk about the structure of the church, the symbolism of the ship sailing into the harbor of safety, what the tabernacle and the altar are for, why we have candles, a sanctuary lamp, stained glass windows, Stations of the Cross, etc.  
      This time as we reached our Jesus, the Good Shepherd window, Matthew asked me why Jesus was carrying a lamb (I think he meant rather than a puppy or a kitten!).  I explained that we are the lamb and that Jesus holds each of us with love and compassion.  I could have gone on and on, but that seemed to be enough for him because then he asked what the staff was for.  I said that the shepherd leads the sheep and keeps them safe.  They know him and he knows each of them by name.  His next question was even more interesting:  "How could Jesus hold both without dropping the lamb?"   That is such a deep question for us to think about!  Jesus never drops us.  We might drop Jesus from time to time, but he always holds us close to his heart like in this picture!  He is always ready to lead us from pain and suffering, to joy and gladness.   What a beautiful Easter message!

Bishop Gregory Mansour wanted us to extend an invitation to all pastors, coordinators and catechists to attend the NAM 2017 Convention  Here is a message from the chairpersons!
We wish to invite each of you to prayerfully consider sending your Catechetical leaders, Catechists, School Teachers, Religious Coordinators and Educators to attend the major Maronite Catechetical Workshop at the NAM 2017 Convention in Greenville, South Carolina from June 28-July 2, 2017.  This exceptional workshop featuring Rev. Vincent Farhat and Rev. George Hajj as presenters is titled: A Pastoral Approach to the Catechesis of the Maronite Church in the United States; Practical Resources and Challenges.”   This distinctive event hopes to gather all Catechists together from around the country to develop and further empower with reliable information, networking and excellent resources for our Catechists to spiritually instruct, ignite and guide our children and adults in the Maronite Faith.


Additionally we highly encourage your promotion to send your Choir Directors and Choir Members from your parish to gather for melodic insights and artistic instruction by gifted presenter and recently ordained Rev. Aaron Sandbothe at our major Maronite Music Workshop at the NAM 2017 Convention in Greenville, SC.  This Workshop titled: Maronite Music – Towards a Proper Implementation of the 2005 Maronite Missal will provide Choir Directors and Choir Members, and interested laity with the tools they need in order to fully realize the potential of Syro-Maronite chant within the parish setting and produce dignified worship that the liturgy demands and the faithful deserve.


Please support and encourage your Catechesis Instructors, Choir Directors and Choir Members to attend these two very special workshops.  Please copy and pass this information along to your parishioners.

Pray with us that many will attend these workshops and bear abundant fruit for the Kingdom of God within our Maronite parishes.  Through the love of Christ Jesus and for His glory,                                                            

Greg and Mary Anne Lepak, NAM 2017 Chairpersons                                                   Greenville, SC
     

Please share this link with your older students!  The deadline is early May!  This is a great opportunity for them!
NAM Scholarships For High School And College Students

Don't forget the NAM Vocations Contest:

Vocations Contest Brochure



Sister Therese Maria Touma has sent us the following April Going Deeper article:
What is Divine Mercy?
by Dr. Anne Borik


Divine Mercy is simply a gift from God and is the manifestation of His love for each and every one of us. We believe that the devotion itself comes directly from Jesus through apparitions received by a young Polish nun named Faustina Kowalska.  According to documents found in her diary, Jesus said, “Now is the time of mercy and I want to give especially great graces to the human race.”
This brings to mind a Scripture verse in Romans when St. Paul writes ’Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.’
How do we tap into this Divine Mercy? There are five components to the devotion and I would like to suggest a simple way to remember them. Think of CHIN- F. (The chin is on the face, that is how to remember the ‘F’.)


‘C’ is for CHAPLET: The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a simple prayer that we believe was given to us through the apparitions of Our Lord received by Sr. Faustina in 1930’s in Poland.  According to Faustina’ Diary, Jesus said, “When this Chaplet is said by the bedside of a dying person, unfathomable mercy envelops the soul, and the very depths of My tender mercy is moved.
The Chaplet can be prayed on ordinary rosary beads for example:


Large bead: “Eternal Father, I offer you the body, blood, soul and divinity of your dearly beloved son, our Lord Jesus Christ in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.”


(10) Small beads: “For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”


At the completion of all five decades, the ending prayer of the Chaplet is:
“Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.


‘H’ is for HOUR of MERCY: At 3 o’clock hour, Jesus died on the cross for us. It is considered the hour of Great mercy between 3-4 p.m. During this hour, Jesus asks us to pray the Stations of the Cross. If you are unable to do that, then at least for a brief moment, think about and immerse yourself in the thought of His Passion.


‘I’ is for IMAGE: What image? The Image of Divine Mercy.  Jesus told Sr. Faustina to have this image painted with the signature at the bottom that says, Jesus, I TRUST in you.  He said, “ By means of this Image, I shall grant many graces.”


‘N’ is for NOVENA: The Novena to Divine Mercy is a nine-day prayer novena where Jesus asks that a different group of people be entrusted to him each day.


Day 1: Today bring to Me all mankind, especially sinners.
Day 2: Today bring to Me the souls of priests and religious.
Day 3: Today bring to Me all devout and faithful souls.
Day 4: Today bring to Me those who do not believe and those who do not yet know Me.
Day 5: Today bring to Me the souls of those who have separated themselves from My church.
Day 6: Today bring to Me the meek and humble souls and souls of little children.
Day 7: Today bring to Me the souls who venerate and glorify My mercy.
Day 8: Today bring to Me the souls who are detained in purgatory.
Day 9: Today bring to Me souls who have become lukewarm.


‘F’ is for FEAST Day: The Feast day is the Sunday after Easter referred to as Divine Mercy Sunday. Jesus said, “On that day, the very depths of MY tender mercy are opened. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy on that day.”


In conclusion, the devotion to Divine Mercy includes praying the Chaplet, remembering the 3 0’clock hour of Mercy, reflecting on the Image of Mercy, praying the Novena and attending Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday which is the Sunday after Easter. But for whatever reason, if you can’t remember all that, remember the ABC’s. The message of Mercy is as simple as the ABC’s…
A: Ask for mercy
B: Be merciful
C: Completely Trust