By Tresa Van Huesen
The Maronite Servants of Christ the Light travelled south to Birmingham, Alabama, to attend the 47th Annual National Apostolate of Maronites (NAM) Convention. During our stay, we were able to tour the city and local area, including a trip to the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, a tour of the EWTN studio, and visits to the Birmingham Art Museum and the Civil Rights Institute.
We were also blessed to spend time with our Bishops, Priests and Deacons from each Eparchy during Safro (Morning) and Ramsho (Evening) prayers, as well as the Divine Liturgy. Once the Convention kicked off on Wednesday, it was great to see dear friends arrive into the city and to meet many new ones. We shared information on our recent adventures and activities through our table in the hospitality area, and also presented in the workshop titled A Maronite Legacy: How to Foster Religious Vocations in Your Family.
At least one Maronite Servant was able to attend each of the other workshops, which included: Maronite Music; Discovering Our “Faith of the Mountain;” Identity of the Maronite Church; and learning more about St. Maron and the pursuit to canonize the Massabki Brothers.
The week was a nice blend of spiritual and social, giving us an opportunity to come closer to our wider Maronite Community here in the United States. We are grateful to the NAM Board and Directors,
as well as our supporters, for the opportunity to attend.