Season of the Pentecost - 14th Sunday

Dear parishioners and friends of St Charbel’s Parish,

On the 14th Sunday of Pentecost, the Maronite Church reflects on the story of Mary and Martha from the Gospel of St Luke (10:38-42). This Gospel tells us that Christian discipleship begins with listening. Martha is a symbol of action-oriented people, responsible people who serve and get the work done. We certainly need people like Martha in our families, in our Church and in our world.

However, the problem with Martha is that she was too busy working that she forgot to listen to Jesus. Whereas Mary knew that all begins with Jesus and that before anything else, a disciple needs to receive from Jesus. May we learn to listen to God in our lives when He speaks through the Bible, through others and through our own hearts.

Feast of Blessed Estephan Nehma
Thursday 30 August marks the Feast of Blessed Estephan Nehme.

Youssef Nehme was born in Lehfed on March 8, 1889 to Christian parents. He was the youngest son of six children. As a child, Joseph preferred solitude and prayer and, from a young age, he would meditate and pray in silence in the woods surrounding his home. At the age of 16, he became a novice monk at the Monastery of Saints Cyprian and Justine in Kfifane and chose the name 'Estephanos' after his father’s name and the name of his village’s patron saint. He took his vows on August 23, 1907. He then became an associate brother spending the rest of his life working in silence in the gardens and the fields of the monasteries in which he lived. Br Estephan suffered a severe fever that eventually lead to his death at the age of 49.

Br Estephan Nehme is well known for his life's prayers "God can see me" that he would repeat at all times. Br Estephan always believed that God was watching him like a foreman and would work and live at all times accordingly.

May we learn from Bl Estephan to work diligently and zealously and to serve our Lord in silence and with love.

For that occasion , St Charbel’s Parish is organising a tridium of prayers starting Monday the 27th of August and concluding on Thursday the 30th of August with a solemn mass at 6:00 PM

I invite you all to click on this link to view this weeks KADISHAT in PDF with Arabic translations
I wish you all a blessed week!

In God’s Love, Fr. Dr. Antoine Tarabay

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20th Year—Number 1023 Sunday 26/08/2012
Season of the Pentecost
14th Sunday
Sunday’s Readings: 1 Thessalonians 2: 1-13 & Luke 10: 38-42

Mary has chosen the better part

“ In the course of their journey he came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord's feet and listened to him speaking.

Now Martha, who was distracted with all the serving, came to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.' But the Lord answered, 'Martha, Martha,' he said, 'you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part, and it is not to be taken from her.'.” Luke 10: 38-42

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Reflection of the Week

 

At the feet of the Lord
The Gospel for today suggests that the first requirement for human love and Christian discipleship is listening. Human love begins with listening. Christian discipleship begins with listening. The primary foundation of human love is listening. Listening is the pipeline through which human love and divine love flows.

Martha has become a symbol of action-oriented people, responsible people, men and women who get the job done. And the world needs men and women and boys and girls who get the job done. This is certainly true in the church. It is also true in the house. We need responsible people to do the work of the house:
 

What is wrong with being a Martha? Martha’s fault is that she was … too busy to listen … too distracted to sit at his feet and absorb his presence … too busy living life to quietly hear what Jesus had to say … too involved with all her activities and actions that she didn’t find time to first listen to the voice of Christ.
 

And so Jesus taught in an unforgettable way that listening precedes action that we listen first and then do or act. It is always in that order. That is true in both human love and Christian discipleship. Listening and then doing.
 

Martha has become a symbol of the modern world. Martha has become a symbol of you and me who have become so active and busy with living life, we no longer have time to slowly quietly listen to God or even our spouse, kids or friends. In fact, it is a subtle trick that we become so active in doing good things, that our activities become a cover-up for our lack of listening and quiet caring. Martha has become a symbol of a person who is far too busy and has lost the art of listening.

Mary knew that all begins with Jesus and that before anything else, a disciple needs to receive from Jesus. Discipleship doesn’t start or depend on all the effort we make for God.
 

Discipleship means we have to find our ways of sitting at the feet of Jesus before we do anything else. Mary knew how to listen to the Word of God.
 

The Gospel today is primarily concerned about Christian discipleship and listening to the voice of God and Jesus. To focus, to centre, to concentrate, on Christ and the words and spirit of Christ. Listening is a gift of oneself to the other, a concentrating of oneself on the other, on Jesus Christ, and listening to his voice. Mary knew how to listen to Christ, and we are encouraged to do the same.
 

Ref: http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/

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30 August—Feast day of
Blessed Estephan Nehme
Readings 2 Peter 1:3-11. & Luke 18:18-30

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Think About 

Listening is an art that is learned 

and slowly developed where you actually focus on that person before you. 

Listening focuses on that one person, not on the past, not on the future, 

not on all the stuff going on right now. 

Listening is a gift; it is an art; it is a learned behaviour. And listening is the first face of love. 

The more one listens, the more love grows. 

The less one listens, the less love there is. 

Listening is the conduit, the pipeline, through which love flows and grows.

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 Saints of the Week

30 August
Blessed Estephan Nehme,
Joseph Nehmé was born on 8 March 1889 in Lehfed, J'beil, Lebanon, the youngest of seven children of Estephanos Bou Haykal Nehmé and Christina Badawi Hanna Khaled. Baptized on 15 March 1889, at Our Lady Church of Lehfed, Nehmé studied under the Maronite Order at Our Lady of Grace School in Sakii Rishmaya. A story from his childhood reports that he once observed a badger enter an underground cave; Nehmé dug at that spot and unearthed a spring, which is known today as "Badger's Fountain".

In 1905, Nehmé entered the novitiate of the Order of Maronites at the Monastery of Ss. Cyprian and Justina in Kfifan. Nehmé made monastic vows on 23 August 1907, taking the name Stephen (variously transliterated as Estefan or Estephanos). He made solemn vows on 13 April 1924. At various monasteries, he did manual labor in the fields and gardens, as well as in carpentry and construction. Nehmé's contemporaries made special note of his constant repetition of the mantra, "God can see me".
Nehmé died of a severe fever that eventually led to apoplexy at 7 p.m. on 30 August 1938 at the monastery in Kfifan.

01 September
St Simon the Stylite
Simon is the most famous of the stylites or saints who spent their days seated on high platforms or pillars. The immense monastery which had been built around his pillar still exists in the environs of Alepo. The celebrated historian Theodoret who was a contemporary of Simon, had personally met him and wrote about his life. Simon was born near Antioch in the year 392. While still a young man, he gave himself over to the service of God in the desert. When he later sought solitude away from the crowds that pressed around him, he established himself on a pillar which grew higher and higher above the crowds. He thus lived between heaven and earth for about forty years, preaching and exhorting the crowds from high upon his pillar. Numerous individuals who came to him were converted by his preaching. He died in the year 459. Devotion to Saint Simon spread throughout Syria and Lebanon. The monastery named after him and the sight of his pillar were the objects of pilgrimages throughout the East.
 

August 29th.
Beheading of John the Baptist
The Church, having celebrated the earthly birthday of St. John the Baptist on June 24, today honors the anniversary of his mar-tyrdom. Besides our Lord and our Lady, St. John the Baptist is the only one whose birth and death are thus celebrated. John had the courage to blame Herod to his face for the scandal of his illegal union with his sister-in-law Herodias, whose husband was still alive. Herodias contrived to make Herod imprison him and took advantage of an unexpected opportunity to obtain through her daughter Salome the beheading of the saint.

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The Maronites and Lebanon (25)
The Ottomans era (4)
The first Maronite Order

 As we have seen before, ever since its birth, the Maronite Church has been closely bound up with the monastic life which grew up around Antioch. It was the only Church to have been actually nurtured in a climate of monastic life and it was to the activity of the monks of the Monastery of Saint Maroun that it owed its development and territorial extension.

The Lebanese Maronite Order, founded in 1695, was the result of a renewal of monastic life which was the work of three young Maronites, Jibrayel Hawwa, Abdallah Qaraali and Youssef Albeten, all from the city of Aleppo. Having felt a call to the monastic life, they discussed the matter among themselves and then they decided to go to Lebanon to fulfil their dream.

As soon as they reached the Monastery of Our Lady of Qannubin, the seat of the Maronite Patriarchate, they presented themselves to Patriarch Estefan Dweihy (1670-1704) and disclosed to him the secret of their religious call. He questioned them closely, insisting on the austerity of the monastic life followed in places that had little to offer in the way of resources or safety from danger, then he gave his blessing and encouragement to their initiative and, on August 1, 1695, even went so far as to offer them the Monastery of Saint Maura (Mart Moura), at Ehden. This marked the very beginning of the Order.

It was on November 10, 1695, that the three founders received the hooded monastic habit, blessed by Patriarch Estefan Dweihy himself, at the Monastery of Our Lady of Qannubin. Ever since, this date has been considered to mark the founding of the Order and it is on this basis that it holds it, General Chapters. The Mart Moura Monastery was chosen to be the Mother House. It was there that they were joined by Jibrayel Farhat at the end of the same year. The founders set about organising their way of life and began to receive new vocations. They elected Jibrayel Hawwa as Father General (1695-1699).

 

Ref: http://www.discoverlebanon.com
Next Sunday: The Ottomans era (5)- The move to Bkerky

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Season of the Pentacost - 13th sunday

Dear parishioners and friends of St Charbel’s Parish,

Welcome to this week's edition of Kadishat!

This Sunday, we read Jesus' Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:1-15) in our Maronite Liturgies. In this parable, Jesus describes His word as seeds that fall on different grounds: along the path, on rocky ground, among the thorns and on good soil. Only the seeds that fall on the good soil survive and grow to bear much fruit. May we be the good soil that holds fast to God’s word and produces much fruit by the grace of God in our lives. To read our newsletter for this week, please click on the link below:

Please click here to download the full Kadishat newsletter with ARABIC translation.

Mass for Life
On Thursday August 23 there will be Mass celebrated for Life at 7pm at St Joseph’s Croydon. It will be celebrated in atonement for the sins against life, such as abortion, contraception and IVF. Following that, the new Maronite group for Life endorsed and supported by the Maronite Bishop will be launched. Everybody, and especially young people, are invited to attend.

SCYA Annual Dinner

St Charbel's Youth Association is holding its Annual Dinner on Friday 31 August at The Bellevue Bankstown. Tickets are $60 and include dinner, drinks and entertainment. We encourage you to attend this event and support our youth association as this is its only fundraiser for the year. For bookings, contact Elise on 0424 197 726 or Charbel on 0416 178 176.

May Our Lord bless you always! In God’s Love,

Fr. Dr. Antoine Tarabay

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20th Year—Number 1022 Sunday 19/08/2012
Season of the Pentecost
13th Sunday
Sunday’s Readings: 1 Corinthians 3: 1-11 & Luke 8: 1-15

Bear fruit with
patient endurance
“Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources. When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable:

‘A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hun-dredfold.’ As he said this, he called out, ‘Let anyone with ears hear and listen!’

Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said,

‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in parables, so that "looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand." ‘Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away. As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance. ” Luke 8: 1-15

Reflection of the Week

The Word
In the parable of the sower, the seeds fell on four kinds of surfaces. The seeds that fell on the path tell of the people who do not believe in or neglect the Word of Jesus. They will succumb to the power of evil. It is important to give the Word of Jesus meaning in our lives.

When Jesus speaks of the seeds that fell on rocky ground, he is talking about people who are immature and not strong enough to resist temptation. They give up in times of hardship. We need to be prepared to carry the little crosses which occur everyday of our lives, not just the heavy crosses which must be borne at times of serious illness, suffering and grief.

The seeds that fell among the thorns represent people who become engrossed in the materialism of this world and are not mature enough to bear fruit. We cannot say we are a Christian if we do not bear fruit.

The seeds that fell on good soil represent people who give in varying degrees according to their dedication and talents. Those who give a hundred fold to God will produce a hundred fold while those who give less will produce less.

Everyone of us has ears to listen to the parable but we must use our minds and hearts to understand and respond to the challenge which the parable lays before us.

Reflection—My Word
My word can be compared to a little seed, that falling into fertile soil will germinate and grow; therefore fulfilling the mission that it has been created for. A seed is very small but has a great potential. My word sounds simple as a human word, but coming out of my mouth it is no longer a human word but a divine command.

My word can be compared to a precious stone that a man is looking for with great desire. When he finds it he will be very happy, he will make it his treasure. There is nothing greater in this world than that which will give you eternal life. I am the Word of God, the Savior of the world whose word you must treasure in your heart to give you eternal life and joy.

My word is the eternal word of God, the word that has created every-thing that has come into existence, my word is the ever powerful live command of God that is always ready to create, to shape, to correct, to build and to sanctify.

Listen you who have ears, but not just listen with your hearing. Listen with your heart since that is the center of your being, it is the spiritual place where my spirit gives life and you can draw life from me. It is in your heart that you keep your treasures, whether they are the affections to your material things or whether they are heavenly things. Where your treasure is, there is your heart. Let me be your treasure, let your heart be in me.

Listen to this word of mine with the reverence that it deserves, understand the power behind that word and take it quickly into your heart, make it your treasure, savor it in your mouth as if it was a delicious delicacy that you want to relish forever, give it the power that it claims and rest assured that my word will perform miracles in your life.

My word is not a human word; it is the word of God. When I said, “Let there be light” the elements bowed before my power as the Word of God, they formed light. In the same way my word is still alive and active, powerful enough to continue to work in those who take it into their hearts and put it into practice.

Honor my word by studying it, by meditating it, by accepting it and by living by it. My word is like an arrow pointing straight to heaven, my word is the answer to all your questions. Come to me, listen to me, learn from me and live. (Ref: http://www.theworkofgod.org)

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 Saint of the Week

Saint Isaac the Syriac (6th C)
Maronite Feast Day: Aug 23.

Isaac the Syriac in also known as Isaac the Syrian, Isaac of Nineveh, and Isaac Cyrus. He lived in the seventh century, and served as a Bishop and theologian. He was born in the region of Qatar in the Persian Gulf. When still quite young, he and his brother entered a monastery. He became well known as a teacher and came to the attention of the catholicos George, who ordained him Bishop of Nineveh far to the north. Isaac did not like the many administrative tasks his position required and asked to be relieved of his position after only five months.

He went south to the wilderness of Mount Matout, a refuge for anchorites. There he lived in solitude for many years, eating only three loaves a week with some uncooked vegetables. Eventually blindness and old age forced him to retire to the monastery of Shabar, where he died and was buried. At the time of his death he was nearly blind, a fact that some attribute to his devotion to study. Isaac is remembered for his spiritual homilies on the inner life. Following is an example of his homilies, titled “Obeying God”

“Sometimes, a person wishes something good, but God doesn’t help him — maybe because the intention came from the devil and is not for our benefit; or maybe because it is beyond our strength as we have not attained the necessary spiritual level; or maybe because it doesn’t correspond to our calling; or maybe because the time is not right to initiate it; or maybe because we don’t have the necessary knowledge or strength to accomplish it; or maybe because circumstances will not contribute to its success. Besides this, the devil contrives in every way to paint it as something good so that having inclined us toward it, he could upset our spiritual tranquility or inflict harm on us. That’s why it is necessary for us to diligently examine all our good desires. Better still, do everything after seeking counsel.”

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The Maronites and Lebanon (23) The Ottomans era (2)

The Maronite College of Rome

The Maronite college of Rome was a milestone in the history of Lebanon. It triggered a new epoch of education that benefited the Maronite community at first then all communities in Lebanon.
It was during the reign of the Maanis that the Maronite College in Rome was established. On July 5th, 1584, Pope Gregory inaugurated the Maronite College in Rome, satisfying the aspirations of the community and opening to its students the way to success. In his bull the Pope declared:

'We hope that the students of this college during the days ahead, after being formed in piety and the true religion, which are of the tree of Sion and of the teaching of the Roman Church, head of all the Churches, will return home to the cedars of Lebanon to serve their community, renewing in their country faith in God. This is why, with full knowledge of the facts and by virtue of our apostolic authority, we establish the Maronite College, where the students of this community may learn good behavior, devotion, the true doctrine, and all the virtues which every Christian must have.'

With the arrival of the first students in Rome, the dreams of the Pope became a reality, and the whole Maronite community began to emerge from the shadows. More than that, the Maronite community now had means of access to Europe and to the world beyond, and was able to play its role as an intermediary between East and West and cement Latin-Lebanese relations.

One of the earliest graduates to remain in Europe was Gabriel Sionite, who taught Syriac and Arabic in Rome, occupied the chair of Semitic languages in what is now the College de France on Paris, served as an interpreter to King Louis XIII, worked on the compilation of the Paris polyglot Bible which was the first to include Syriac and Arabic in its columns. The Career of of Gabriel was exactly paralleled by Ibrahim al-Haqili (Echellensis) who also worked with him on the Bible. Others include Mirhej Ben Namroun, who was also a professor and an interpreter.

Another outstanding Maronite figure was Joseph Assemani, who as director of the Vatican Library made it a world leading depository. His research covering Syriac, Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, Persian, and Ethiopic, were embodied in his massive Bibliotheca Orientalis which remains a mine of information to this day. As the historiographer of the king of Naples and of Italy, he produced a four volume work which won him citizenship of that country. The Pope sent Assemani as his delegate in 1736 to the synod held at Dier al Louaizeh and the resolutions reached sealed the union between the Maronite Church and Rome.

Perhaps the most famous graduate was Patriarch Douaihy who was able to compile, among many other works, the earliest major history of his church and community, making him the father of Maronite history. Furthermore he 'visited every diocese to choose holy and educated priests. He examined the liturgical books, corrected the errors introduced into them by the copyists, read and adapted the works of historians, both eastern and western, and wrote books some of which are still unpublished.' (Patriarch Jacob Awad)

The Patriarchs now found themselves in a position to encourage the education of their people. As the famous Lebanese Synod said:
'In the name of Jesus Christ we urge you all, the ordinaries of the dioceses, of the towns, villages and hamlets, and of the convents, to work together to encourage this undertaking, which will bear much fruit. The chiefs of the people must find teachers wherever they can, and take the names of all the children able to learn, and order the parents to bring their children to school even against their will. If they are orphans or if they are poor, let the church or the monastery feed them, and if it cannot, let it contribute one half of the cost and the parents the other.' (The Lebanese Synod, 529)

Now western religious communities began to settle in Lebanon. The Capuchins were the first in 1626, followed in 1635 by the Carmelites and in 1656 by the Jesuits. The process went steadily ahead.

These religious orders came in order to serve the Lebanese. They opened schools in which the youth of the country were formed, schools whose academic level was on a par with those of Europe itself.
Schools were opened one after the other, until there was one adjoining every Maronite Church. Some, such as those of Ain Warka, Mar Abda, and Haouka, flourished and gained a reputation for themselves. Once the Lebanese, at that time mostly Maronites, had acquired a good education, they were at the fore-front of Arab intellectual progress, and played a leading role in the cultural Renaissance of the Middle East.

Next Sunday: The Ottomans era (3)- The first Maronite Order

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Season of the Pentecost - 12th Sunday

Dear parishioners and friends of St Charbel’s Parish,

I hope you have been in good health and spirits!

I invite you to read our parish newsletter, Kadishat, which explains this week's Gospel about the Canaanite woman who displayed a truly remarkable faith (Matt 15: 21-28), the history of the Maronites during the Ottoman era, the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady and the activities and events of our parish. To read the newsletter, please click on the link below:
 Please click here to download the full Kadishat newsletter with ARABIC translation.

Feast of the Assumption
On the 15th of August, we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady to Heaven. This is one of the most important feasts of Our Lady. We believe that when Mary's earthly life was finished, she was taken up, body and soul, into heavenly glory, where the Lord exalts her as Queen of Heaven (Catechism of the Catholic Church, # 966). On this feast day, let us thank the Lord for the gift of our Holy Mother, and let us pray to Our Lady to lead us to her Son every day.

May God bless you all through the intercession and prayers of His Mother and our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary!
In God’s Love,

Fr. Dr. Antoine Tarabay

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20th Year—Number 1021 Sunday 12/08/2012
Season of the Pentecost
12th SundaySunday’s Readings: Ephesians 3: 1-13 & Matthew 15: 21-28

You have great faith
““ Jesus left that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And suddenly out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, 'Lord, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.' But he said not a word in answer to her. And his disciples went and pleaded with him, saying, 'Give her what she wants, because she keeps shouting after us.' He said in reply, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.' But the woman had come up and was bowing low before him. 'Lord,' she said, 'help me.' He replied, 'It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to little dogs.' She retorted, 'Ah yes, Lord; but even little dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters' table.' Then Jesus answered her, 'Woman, you have great faith. Let your desire be granted.' And from that moment her daughter was well again.'” Matthew 15: 21-28

Reflection of the week

A "great" faith
In today’s Gospel we look at the story of the Canaanite woman who displayed a truly remarkable faith. A faith which Jesus ultimately commends as a "great" faith. A faith which can still serve as model for each one of us. A faith which was tested by God and a faith which Trusted in God. This woman trusted that Jesus could and would heal her daughter not because of who she was but because of who Jesus was. Let us take the test that the Lord put her through and see how she reacted.
The First test "Lord Son of David, have mercy on me" But he answered her nor a word”. What would most of us do? The chances are that we would quit the church. This woman did not let the silence of Christ turn her away. Her child’s life was more important than her feelings. How many of us would past this first test that Jesus put this woman through.

The Second Test. When Christ did not answer, his disciples said, "Send her away…” Surely this would have been enough to send her away with wounded feelings. But her need was too great to let Christ's disciples stand in her way. She would not let them rob her of blessings needed.

Is your soul more important than your feelings?
We must desire to know the truth regardless of the obstacles that seem to get in our way. We must not quit or give up We must remember that our souls are in danger, and Christ and the church are the only places where safety can be found.

The Third Test. Jesus said to her, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
What would you do if someone should say the blessings of the Lord are not for you? But this woman said:”Lord help me”.

The Fourth Test. Jesus said, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." What would we have done? What would you do if someone should call you a dog? Most of us would think this would be enough to give up. But this woman simply said, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat the crumbs." That is saying, "I know how unworthy I am; I do not ask for anything but the crumbs." This woman obtained the mercy she sought." Was it worth it? It would have been so easy to let her feelings rob her and her daughter of the healing she desired and needed.

Walk by faith not by feelings
Today with the great faith of this Canaanite woman that she showed, we tell the world that we should walk by faith, not by feelings. What are you walking by? Are you a quitter because you have had your feelings hurt? Are you walking by faith, even though your feelings have been hurt?

Sensitivity
Sensitivity is a wonderful thing. We should be sensitive to the physical and spiritual needs of others. We should be sensitive to our personal needs. It is a wonderful thing to see Christians sensitive to their problems. But sensitivity shouldn’t be misdirected. There are many members of he church that are too sensitive. Many have quit the church because someone hurt their feelings. There are others who still attend, but they are no longer active in the Lord's work because someone hurt their feelings. Are you one of them or you are like this Canaanite woman?

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 15 August—Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Readings: Romans 12: 9-15 & Luke 1: 46-55

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Saints Of The Week

15th of August is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary.

"My soul magnifies the Lord my spirit exults in God my saviour; for he has looked upon his servant in her lowliness. From now on all generations shall call me blessed, for he who is mighty has done great things for me. (Luke 1:47-49)

On this day we celebrate the fact that Mary was the first human being to be taken to God's Kingdom. The Assumption of Our Lady into heaven is the fruit of the Resurrection and Ascension of her Son.

In this mystery, we can see Our Lady as the symbol and representative of the whole-redeemed human race. In her, we see effected what is God's desire in respect of each of us.

The whole nature, body and soul, Her desires should be perfected and welcomed into the glory of heaven. Mary's life is an example to us. Her holiness lies in her acceptance of God's will. "Thy will be done". Her life was spent with matching these words with deeds. We need to do likewise. Like Mary, we must try to utilize the gifts and graces, which God has bestowed upon us; to completely co-operate with God's will whenever we know it.

Mary's true greatness is to be found in her faith in God. She trusted in God and accepted the message given her by the angel Gabriel, and as well, all the consequences it implied. We pray to Mary, our Heavenly Mother, to intercede for us, so that we too can accept God's Will and place our complete faith and trust in Him. Through the grace of God, then we will, one day, share like Mary, in a place in His Kingdom.

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The Maronites and Lebanon (22)
The Ottomans Era (1)

During the years of difficulties, and as a result of the multiple occupations of the Lebanese land many tribes inhabited Lebanon especially the southern part of the mountain which will have enormous influence on Lebanon. some of these tribes are the Maanis and the Shahabis.

In 1516 the Ottomans defeated the Mamluks in Marj Dabiq battle in Aleppo, during this battle, the Maanis (Druze tribe moved to Lebanon around the year 1100) fought alongside with the Ottomans to defeat the Mamluks therefore they won the confidence of the Ottomans and Amir Fakhr ad Din (1516-1544) appointed as the ruler.

At the beginning of their era, the Ottomans did not govern Lebanon directly, consequently, having attained a high degree of maturity, a Druze-Maronite alliance was established lasting for hundreds of years; this prosperous principality would be the base of the modern Lebanese Republic, the Maronites were ready for a new era of renewal. The difference between this period and the preceding centuries was great. It can be considered the age of renaissance of the Maronite.

The Maronites were partners in governing the new principality; often the post of Moudabbir (roughly Prime Minister) and the post of Army Commander were given to a Maronite, usually a Khazen or a Hobeich of Keserwan. During this period (1516-1840), the Maronites started returning to southern Mount Lebanon, where they had lived before they were almost exterminated by the Mamlukes in 1307. Thus, the historic Ke-serwan and all the Druze mountains were repopulated. It was this relation between the Maronites and Druze that helped establish the Lebanese identity.

In 1618 Fakhr ed Eddine II army captured Akkar and Tripoli and removed their stones so as to rebuild Dier al Qamar (Lebanon’s capital city then). Next came the turn of the pasha of Damascus, in the battle of Anjar, 4000 Lebanese (Druze and Maronites) captured the pasha and cut down 12,000 of his men. Lebanon, Syria and Palestine was now under the rule Fakhr-al-din II. Nothing was left for Fakhr, in the words of a biographer of his time, but to declare himself sultan. Fakhr-al-din II preferred the title of 'Emir of Mount Lebanon, Sidon, and Galilee'.


In maintaining their Christian identity. In 1610, the Maronite monks of the Monastery of Saint Anthony of Qozhaya imported one of the first printing presses in what is known as the Arabic-speaking world; however that press was printing in the Syriac language and not Arabic. The monasteries of Lebanon would later become key players in the Arabic Renaissance of the late 19th century as a result of developing Arabic, as well as Syriac, printable script.




Next Sunday: The Ottomans era (2)
The Maronite College of Rome

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Season of the Pentecost - 11th Sunday

Dear parishioners and friends of St Charbel’s Parish,

Welcome to this week's edition of Kadishat!

This Sunday, we reflect on the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector, whose sins were forgiven by Jesus. Tax collectors were hated by the people of Isreal because they extorted money from their countrymen and gave it to the Romans. However, Jesus saw past that and knew that Zacchaeus was open to the grace that prompted him to climb that tree. Jesus invited Himself to Zacchaeus' house offering him forgiveness and mercy.

Zacchaeus knew that by welcoming Jesus in his home, his life had to change. He had over taxed his people and in order to have Jesus, he had to give back this money. Zacchaeus did not hesitate as he knew that what he had to give up was nothing compared to what he was receiving. We are also presented with this situation every day of our lives. Is our choice as clear as that of Zacchaeus?

St Charbel's Annual Fundraising Dinner
As announced earlier, St Charbel's Parish will be holding its Annual Dinner on Saturday 13 October 2012 at St Charbel's Multi-Purpose Hall to raise funds for the launch of St Charbel's Nursing Home. Tickets are $75 and you can start booking your tickets now by calling the Monastery on 9740 0998.

On the night, a raffle on a 2012 Ford Fiesta will be drawn. Tickets are $5 each and are sold outside Church after masses and at the front office.
We thank you for your support.

I entrust you all to the care of Our Lady during this month of August dedicated to her Immaculate Heart!
I invite you all to click on this link to view the KADISHAT newsletter with Arabic translation for this week.

In God’s Love,
Fr. Dr. Antoine Tarabay

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20th Year—Number 1020 Sunday 05/08/2012
Season of the Pentecost
11th Sunday
Sunday’s Readings: Ephesians 2: 17-22 & Luke 19: 1-10

Salvation has come to this house

“He entered Jericho and was going through the town and suddenly a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance; he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He kept trying to see which Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd; so he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way.

When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him, 'Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I am to stay at your house today.' And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. 'He has gone to stay at a sinner's house,' they said.
But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, 'Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.' And Jesus said to him, 'Today salva-tion has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of man has come to seek out and save what was lost.”
Luke 19: 1-10

Reflection of the week

Today’s Gospel is about seeking first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. Where that happens, all other things are added. Christ seeks us where we seek him, in the places where he calls us to be, and the results will be no less wonderful for us than they were for Zacchaeus.

Today’s Gospel talks about salvation. A man named Zacchaeus gets the chance to make a new beginning - and he responds with extraordinary generosity,. And Jesus says, "Today salvation has come to this house..."

Who was Zachaeus
Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector that lived in Jericho. Zacchaeus was rich, but he had become rich by taking more taxes from people than the law allowed. He was dishonest. Most people hated tax collectors because they worked for the Roman government. But he was seeking Jesus and was truly a changed man after he met Jesus and Jesus offered him salvation.

The first step in salvation-seeking Jesus
Zacchaeus shows us the two steps involved in salvation. The first step is the desire to see Jesus. What did he do? He climbed a tree. That is something that usually only a child does. For an adult to climb a tree requires humility. It also takes courage. A limb might break with disastrous consequences. But more important, a man in a tree could provoke laughter. And in the case of Zacchaeus, it would be worse. Seeing him in the tree, the townspeople would not only laugh; they make fun of him and even insult him. The first step to seeing Jesus is to over-come fear - and self-importance.

The second step-What we should do
Zacchaeus beautifully illustrates what we must do when we see Jesus. Zacchaeus said that he would give half his possessions to the poor - and if he cheated anybody, he would pay it back four times over. He repented of all the wrong things he had done.

Jesus was seeking Zacchaeus
Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, but Jesus was already seeking him. He called him by name, "Zacchaeus, come down." Then he told him that he wanted to stay in his house. What Jesus was doing was offering him a new start. By his greed Zacchaeus had put himself outside the family. Jesus was welcoming him back in. This is what is called "grace," God's incredible generosity.

We are like Zacchaeus
You and I are in the same position as Zacchaeus. God offers us his grace, his generosity. Salvation depends on our response. Stewardship is salvation. It is our response to God's grace. Like Zacchaeus, we want to see Jesus. That requires humility and courage. When we do find Jesus, there is only one thing we can do in face of his generosity. Like Zacchaeus, we respond to generosity - with generosity.

Jesus is your answer-Go and seek him
If your life lacks meaning, if there is no hope, if everything you have tried has left you defeated, discouraged, disillusioned and looking for more, then Jesus is your answer. You don’t have to climb a tree to meet Him, all you have to do is to respond to His call and come to Him right now. If you will do that and if you will receive Him, He will save your soul!
Are you saved?

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Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
On this day we recall how Jesus shared with his three closest disciples the glory and acceptance which He has from the Father. 

Jesus is shown, as he really is - the Son of God. Elijah and Moses appear beside Jesus and Peter sees Jesus, Elijah and Moses as equals for he has not yet discovered the superior destiny of Jesus. 

This revelation will not come until after the Resurrection. 

The Transfiguration event beautifully reminded the disciples of the glory Jesus possessed and that his glory would ultimately overcome the darkness of evil. 

But the glory would come later. First would come the cross. 

The feast of the Transfiguration reminds us also that only perseverance in the service of God leads to the glory of vision and that there is no way to be a disciple of Jesus without the Cross. Whatever the cross in our lives, the way to carry it is in union with Christ. His cross is the symbol of redemption. Our crosses, too, must be redemptive. 

We must look to Jesus for the true meaning of the cross and the strength to bear it.

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Saints Of The Week

Mary Mackillop, Mary of the Cross (+1909)
Maronite Feast Day: August 8.

Mary Mackillop has become famous for being the first recognized Australian Saint. She was named blessed on January 19, 1995 by Pope John Paul II at Randwick Racecourse. And on 17 October 2010 Mary MacKillop was declared a Saint by Pope Benedict XVI and is now known as Saint Mary of the Cross.

Mary was born in Victoria, Australia in 1842 to Scottish parents. She was born in Brunswick St, Fitzroy, where a plaque now exists in the footpath to mark the place of her birth. She was the eldest of eight children and was well educated by her father who had once studied in Rome for the priesthood. Her family did not have their own home due to their finan-cial circumstances and they often shared accommodation with relatives, some-times split apart. From the age of sixteen, Mary earned her living and greatly sup-ported her family, as a governess, as a clerk, and as a teacher at the Portland school.

In 1866, greatly inspired and encour-aged by Father Woods, Mary opened the first Saint Joseph's School in a disused stable in Penola. Following her example, young women began to join in her work. Soon after, the order the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph was formed. Mary was asked by Bishop Shiel to come to Adelaide to start a school. The Sisters spread, in groups to small outback settle-ments and large cities around Australia, and New Zealand. Now they can be found working in Peru, Brazil and refugee camps of Uganda and Thailand. The work of these missionaries with the coopera-tion of other religious orders and lay teachers of the time, had a profound influence on the forming of Catholic Edu-cation as we have come to know and experience it today.


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The Maronites and Lebanon (21)

The Years of Difficulties (4)

How did the Maronite reacted in the hardship years?
The hardships endured by the Maronites were not entirely to their disadvantage. Their sufferings united the people under their leaders, in turn under the authority of the Patriarch. The Mukaddam of Bsharri was the chief of this whole region and he established some as-semblance of order however people constantly feared for their lives, a report made by a traveller who visited Kannoubine in 1475 states:

'The Maronite nation has lived under occupation endur-ing continuous oppression and tyranny. All over Lebanon one finds ruin, tears, and terror. Under the pretext of gathering a certain tax called the Gezia, the authorities strip the peasants of all their belongings and beat them with sticks, and torture them in order to extract from them all that they possess. Many would have perished had not their aged patriarch, Peter son of Hassan, come to their rescue. Terrified by the perils that threatened his people, the Patriarch gave away all the revenues of the Church to satisfy the rapacity of the tyrants. The door of the patriarchal monastery was sealed, and the Patriarch sometimes had to hide in caves as did Popes Urban and Sylvester.' (Marcellin de Civezza, His-toire universelle des missions franciscaines, Paris 1858, vol. 3, p. 209)

In Wadi Kannoubine the Maronites had no need to be urged to pray. Wadi Kannoubine is in itself an invitation to the forgetfulness of self, to meditation, and to prayer, an invitation that the Maronites did not refuse. Some of them felt the need to live a life more fully de-voted to prayer; many men and women sought God away from the haunts of men, and soon the caves in the valley became the retreats of hermits devoted to the inner life of union with the Creator.

The Maronites at that time were always under the threat of famine through failure of the crops. They were also under the threat of attack on their persons whenever they went out to their fields but regardless they still convey the message of the Gospel. They made such progress in virtue that in 1515 Pope Leo could write them a letter of encouragement in which he said: 'You have acted without allowing the persecutions and the hardship inflicted on you by the infidels, enemies of Our Savour, and from the heretics and schismatic, to turn you away from the faith of Christ.'

Even though the Maronites endured famine and privation, and were pursued by enemies, they did not bow. They did not accept to be downtrodden. Wadi Kannoubine was indeed their last stronghold, if it was lost, all would be lost. Now the Maronite people reacted with vigor and initiative. These men and women devoted to prayer, and particularly to the life of the hermitage, increased in number. Schools were opened and the pupils flowed in. Religious orders were founded.

Next Sunday: The Ottomans era

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