6.13.2013
Summer Newsletter
Read our Summer Newsletter and pass it on to your mail list to help promote our mission as Maronite Servants of Christ the Light. We are grateful to our volunteers who helped us get this issue out in the mail. God reward their sacrifice. If you are interested in volunteering at our Convent in Dartmouth, please contact us.
6.07.2013
Blog Light of Faith Retreat – In His Image
By Natalie Salameh
The Maronite Servants of Christ the Light hosted a one day Retreat at the Mother of
Light Convent on 31 May to 1 June 2013 for the young women of the Maronite
Church.
The focus of the retreat was on being made in the image and
likeness of God. I think we all often forget that we, as individual human
beings, have a superior dignity. That it was God who formed us, created us from
nothing, and who willed us into existence purely out of His unfathomable love
for us. The Maronite Servants of Christ the Light have reminded us of the
superior dignity that we have of being children of an all-powerful and
all-loving God.
Questions I think we all ask ourselves at one point in our
lives were focused on in great detail, “who am I?” and “what am I?” The Sisters
gave us the answers we all search for - we are beautiful because we are made in
the image and likeness of God. We are made in His image not because of what we
have done for Him, but because of what He has done for us, and not because of
what He means to us, but because of what we mean to Him. This served as an
excellent topic of meditation for our one hour of Eucharistic Adoration that
followed.
The evening was sealed with the watching of the movie
“October Baby”. This movie in itself focused on the great gift of God’s love,
the gift of children (particularly the unborn), and the healing power of God’s
love (well chosen). This movie transmitted a really powerful message, and that
is in forgiveness, Christ sets us free. What does He set us free from? The
shackles and fetters of sin.
Of course, the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light
reminded us that the greatest remedy for sin is the Holy Mystery of Penance (Confession).
To that end, we had Abouna Jack from Our Lady of Purgatory Maronite Church in
New Bedford come and hear our confessions and celebrate a Divine Liturgy.
Thankyou - Abouna Jack.
On a personal note, I got to share my testimony of
discernment with the other young ladies who attended the retreat. I have been
discerning a religious vocation with the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light
for the past two weeks. I am originally from Sydney, Australia, but I made a
special visit to the Maronite Servants to discern the voice and call of God. I
ask for your prayers during this time of my discernment.
On behalf of all the young ladies who attended the retreat,
I’d like to thank the Sisters for an enlightening and thought-provoking retreat.
May God continue to bless your mission and ministry to our Maronite people (and
of course may He add to your numbers).
5.31.2013
Ordination of Fr. Alex –Easton P.A.
We attended the Ordination of
Father Alexander Abraham Joseph on Saturday May 25 at Our Lady of Lebanon
Church in Easton, Pennsylvania. It was a beautiful Liturgy and Rite of
Ordination celebrated by His Excellency Bishop Gregory Mansour and
concelebrated by Chorbishop Seely Beggiani and several other priests from Maronite
and Roman Catholic Churches.
Below is an excerpt taken from
the Rite of Ordination of the Priest while the Bishop imposes his left hand on
the Mysteries (the Body of Christ & the Chalice) and his right hand on the
candidate’s head, as he prays:
“Mighty and wondrous God, whose
greatness and gifts are countless, you know everything before it comes to be.
In your grace, call your servant Alex, who is raised from the Order of Deacons
to the heavenly Order of Priests. May he always perform good deeds, serve at
your altar without stain, and keep your divine word, so that your holy name may
be glorified in him both in heaven and on earth, and in the holy Church. He has
betrothed himself to her, and in her name is perfected as a priest. Make him
worthy to go out to meet you, rejoicing at your glorious second coming, and to
receive the reward of your chaste priests. With him, we raise glory to you, now
and forever. Amen.”5.24.2013
Recent Events - May 19
Ramsho & Supper-
Dartmouth
Our next Ramsho & Supper is Sunday June 9 at 5:00PM.
Please RSVP by June 7.
Holy Communion-Brockton
We attended the First Holy Communion Liturgy at St.
Theresa’s Church, Brockton on Sunday May 19, where 13 children received the
Holy Mysteries.
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