A New Maronite Saint

Good news to share with your catechists and children.

Patriarch Estephan El Douaihy, a pillar of the Maronite Church, will soon be beatified, joining the long list of holy Maronite saints.

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Ideas for making Halloween more Catholic

"You won’t find Halloween on the official liturgical calendar of the Church; the holiday has its roots in the popular piety of past centuries (not in ancient pagan practices, as is sometimes claimed). Back then, the celebration was all about remembering the dead and confronting the reality of death and evil in the world. The full meaning of the holiday was always realized in light of the next day’s celebration, the Feast of All Saints—the triumph of God’s people, and the victory of light over darkness."  READ MORE

From Teaching Catholic Kids.Com

Blessed Massabki Brothers to be Canonized

Read the Patriarch's Encyclical on the Blessed Massabki - HERE -

Video- Maronites History & Liturgy Grades 6-up

 This video is suitable for grades 6 to adult. It's in English and gives a brief survey of the history.  

Maronite Saints Coloring Pages

 

These coloring pages are designed for grades K-2 to teach the life of saints in the Maronite calendar. 

Parents and catechists are encourage to print them and use them on the feast of each particular saint or 

throughout the catechetical year.  

Saint Charbel

St Charbel

Posted on July 17, 2016 by Fr Yuhanna Azize

St Charbel, Third Sunday of July

Born Youssef Makhlouf in Beqa Kafra on 8 May 1828, he was the fifth child in a family of simple farmers. When he was three years old, his father was taken away by the Ottoman Army, never to return. Youssef was sent to the village school, and as a child was given to prayer. At a young age, he knew that God was calling him to become a monk. He prayed to Our Lady to make it come to pass. Two of his mother’s brothers were already monks. However, he did not leave until 1851, when a woman indicated her desire to marry him. Saying nothing, he left home the next morning to enter the monastery of Our Lady of Mayfouq, which was run by the Lebanese Maronite Order (“the LMO”). However, he was pursued there by his uncle, mother and relatives. They begged him to return home, marry, work and look after them. Charbel refused, saying that God wanted him entirely. It is said that in the end his mother gave her consent, telling him to be a good monk, but if he was going to be mediocre, then he should return home.  READ MORE HERE