Honoring Mary In The Month Of May

Read Here for ideas to honor Mary.

This does not have to be complicated! You can have a May crowning at home or at your church. My post on having a May crowning with kidshas all the info you need to pull this off. 

Great Lent Guidelines for the Eparchy 2026

 

Great Lent 2026

Access a printable calendar for your class at LINK

 

Sunday Gospel Children's Bulletin for the Glorious Birth

 Sunday Gospel Children's Bulletin for the Glorious Birth

The season of the Glorious Birth will help our children follow the Announcement Sundays and journey with Jesus through the mysteries of our salvation.

At the request of several parents, we have designed a bulletin for each Sunday to assist catechists and parents to prepare the children to better understand the Gospel and how to live it.

Here is a link to the first week, this Sunday, the Announcement to Zechariah.

You may print it out in booklet form and give one to each of your children. It will help both parents and catechists to teach on the Sunday Gospel.

Liturgical Calendar Oct. 26 - Nov. 16

 Up-Coming Calendar Reminders

Be aware of the liturgical calendar in advance and plan to catechize on these important commemorations of our faith. 

October 26 - Sunday of Christ the King

November 1- All Saints Day

November 2 - Consecration of the Church; & the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed

November 9. - Renewal of the Church

November 16 - The Season of the Glorious Birth/ Announcement to Zechariah

Syriac Workshops

 

Jubilee 2025 Resources

 

ARCHIVE The Jubilee is a Time of Rest  READ MORE 25 things you should know about the Jubilee Year of Hope READ HERE  Granting of Indulgence during the Jubilee Year 2025  Read More Here

Letter of Bishop Gregory: Read More and see the list of Holy Doors in our Eparchy.

Who is the Pope?

 

The Maronite Journey to Easter: A Voyage to the Harbor of Salvation

 

The Maronite Journey to Easter:

A Voyage to the Harbor of Salvation

by James Monti, reprinted with permission from Magnificat, Lent 2023

A good explanation of the Maronite events of Passion Week.

Text Link

Bishop Gregory Mansour Explains the Profound Mysteries

 Great Friday & Saturday of the Light of Great Lent 

Bishop Gregory Mansour explains these Profound Lenten Mysteries on Zoom presented by the Eparchial Couples Ministry and Saint Sharbel Spiritual Life Center on April 1, 2025

Resources for: The Annunciation and for Passion Week

For the Classroom

March Calendar of Saints to teach on: +25th Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Great Lent and Passion Week Lesson -Here- This lesson content may be adapted to your age group.

MARONITE Q&A VIDEO

 

MARONITE Q&A VIDEO We enjoyed an excellent presentation by Father Claude Franklin, pastor at St. Joseph Maronite Church in Olean NY. Abouna Claude answered over 20 questions about the Maronite rituals, theology, Liturgy, spirituality.  This is well worth your time to listen to and learn. Abouna was well received and we may just offer a part II in the fall.

Webinar - Q&A on Maronite Topics

 

Sundays of Commemoration

Liturgical Calendar: Three Sundays of Commemoration

There are three Sundays of commemorations which are celebrated at the end of the Season of the Glorious Epiphany in 2025 on 

Feb. 9 for Deceased Priests; also a good time to teach on the leaders of our Church

(priest/bishop/patriarch/pope) see lesson materials here

Feb. 16 for the Righteous and Just (All Saints); see lesson materials here

Feb. 23 Faithful Departed (All souls). see lesson materials here

These commemorations of the Departed are to be seen in the context of the Epiphany emphasis on the charismational mission of all Christians, and on the destiny of those faithful to their baptismal calling. Those who have died to this life are on the next stage of their journey to the Kingdom. If they have died faithful to the Gospel commandment to love, they will one day be called to the Eternal Light by Christ, the “True Hope who never fails’.” 

(The above excerpts are from “Captivated By Your Teachings: A Resource Book for Adult Maronite Catholics” by Rev. Anthony J. Salim)

(The above excerpts are from “Captivated By Your Teachings: A Resource Book for Adult Maronite Catholics” by Rev. Anthony J. Salim)

Webinar: Maronite History

 

REGISTER HERE

Maronite History Workshop at 8pm on Thursday's
February 6: St. Maron and Maronite Liturgy (Fr. Dominque Hanna)
February 13: Maronite Music and Melodies (Fr. Neemtallah Odissey)
February 20: Maronites & the Holy See (Chorbishop John Faris)

Hosted by the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light in conjunction with the Saint Sharbel Spiritual Life Center.

Teach on the Christmas Novena

 Teach on the Christmas Novena

Invite your class to follow the Christmas Novena time by using a Christmas tree with nine ornaments (see handout link and explanation.) Encourage them to attend the parish novena prayers with their parents. 

Link

Explaining the Immaculate Conception

Explaining the Immaculate Conception to children - December 8th  The feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary is Dec. 8 and is a holy day of obligation. Why are we celebrating? A lot of Catholic kids (and adults) don’t actually know, so here’s a little crash course that you can share with your kids. Link

Thanksgiving Placemat Project

 

Thanksgiving Placemat Project

Set the atmosphere for a faith-filled Thanksgiving by sending children home with a Thanksgiving prayer placemat. Fun for kids of all ages (even adults!), the center of the placemat includes a child’s prayer of gratitude...see the link

LINK

Jubilee of Hope

 

Jubilee Year 2025

Prepare for the Jubilee - Read More From the Letter of Bishop Gregory: I have decided to embrace the Jubilee Year with the following Eparchialrequests of clergy, religious and laity: Read More

Up-dated and Stream-line Requirements for Catechist Certification

Franciscan At Home Catechist Training

This on-line Eparchial Certification of Catechists is an easy way to conveniently sharpen your faith knowledge, catechetical teaching skills, and it's free! 

We are now in the fourth year of utilizing this excellent program from Franciscan University, and with Bishop Gregory's permission, we are simplifying the requirements:

You may now receive Level One Certification as a catechist after viewing the 12 required one-hour workshops and only answering the last question. Please see our up-dated and stream-lined requirements here -LINK-

You are encouraged to give this formation program a try. Reach out to Mother Marla Marie if you need assistance.