Several MYO Groups Visit the Sisters

By Natalie Salemeh

The Maronite Servants of Christ the Light began the Season of the Glorious Birth of Our Lord by hosting a Maronite Youth Organization (MYO) gathering at the Mother of Light Convent in Dartmouth on Sunday November 17.  The Sisters welcomed the teens of the MYO groups from the parishes of Boston, Brockton and New Bedford including a number of parents and coordinators (whose assistance throughout the afternoon helped make the event a success).

Sister Therese Maria led fun games engaging the teens to think about the beauty of giving, particularly in this liturgical season.  Mother Marla Marie helped the teens focus on how they can best prepare for the Glorious Birth. Oftentimes, the Christmas season is encumbered by materialism and commercialism that people lose sight of the fact that they should be getting ready to welcome the Savior and Light of the world into their hearts and lives.

The afternoon continued with a beautiful meditation of the Gospel scene of the Annunciation. The teens were encouraged to reflect on how they could best echo Mary’s “yes” in their everyday lives and follow the promptings of God with trust and confidence. Everyone participated in Eucharistic Adoration, for it is only allowing Jesus to fill us, that we are then able to give him to others. What greater gift can we give to others than the Son of God present within us?

What Do You Want Me to Do - Lord?

Some words of encouragement from Pope Francis:

"God calls you to make definitive choices, and he has a plan for each of you: to discover that plan and to respond to your vocation is to move toward personal fulfilment. God calls each of us to be holy, to live his life, but he has a particular path for each one of us. Some are called to holiness through family life in the sacrament of Marriage. Today, there are those who say that marriage is out of fashion. Is it out of fashion? In a culture of relativism and the ephemeral, many preach the importance of “enjoying” the moment. They say that it is not worth making a life-long commitment, making a definitive decision, “for ever”, because we do not know what tomorrow will bring. I ask you, instead, to be revolutionaries, I ask you to swim against the tide; yes, I am asking you to rebel against this culture that sees everything as temporary and that ultimately believes you are incapable of responsibility, that believes you are incapable of true love. I have confidence in you and I pray for you. Have the courage “to swim against the tide.”  And also have the courage to be happy.

The Lord calls some to be priests, to give themselves to him more fully, so as to love all people with the heart of the Good Shepherd. Some he calls to the service of others in the religious life: devoting themselves in monasteries to praying for the good of the world, and in various areas of the apostolate, giving of themselves for the sake of all, especially those most in need. I will never forget that day, 21 September – I was 17 years old – when, after stopping in the Church of San José de Flores to go to confession, I first heard God calling me. Do not be afraid of what God asks of you! It is worth saying “yes” to God. In him we find joy!

Dear young people, some of you may not yet know what you will do with your lives. Ask the Lord, and he will show you the way. The young Samuel kept hearing the voice of the Lord who was calling him, but he did not understand or know what to say, yet with the help of the priest Eli, in the end he answered: Speak, Lord, for I am listening (cf. 1 Sam 3:1-10). You too can ask the Lord: What do you want me to do? What path am I to follow?"

Marriage Isn’t For You

A blogger named Seth Adam Smith wrote the following article on marriage that is spot on !

"Having been married only a year and a half, I’ve recently come to the conclusion that marriage isn’t for me.Now before you start making assumptions, keep reading.

I met my wife in high school when we were 15 years old. We were friends for ten years until…until we decided no longer wanted to be just friends. :) I strongly recommend that best friends fall in love. Good times will be had by all." ...  click here

Atlanta GA - Tallahasee FL

MYA Workshop Atlanta

 Mother Marla Marie speaking on vocations to grade eight.

We participated in the National Workshop for Maronite Young Adults  November 1^st - 3^rd where 170 attended from across the country in Atlanta, G.A. During the weekend, we facilitated a pro-life discussion group and assisted with the Adoration and Reconciliation service. The workshop concluded with Divine Liturgy at St. Joseph’s, the host parish, followed by a farewell brunch.

We also visited the Religious Education classes at St. Joseph’s.

             

Life Teen - Tallahassee, Florida

We offered a presentation on the Saints to the Life Teen group at Good Shepherd parish in Tallahasee, FL on November 3rd. The teens were awesome.  The parish Youth Minister, Kelly Colangelo is a dear friend of Mother Marla Marie.  Below is an email received by Kelly from a parent:

"I just wanted to share that (my daughter) voluntarily mentioned last night how good the nuns talk was. (For her to mention anything without being asked means she was impressed.) She was blessed to be in their group for the skit and said they were so nice. I loved that she was able to have one on one with nuns. What a very cool experience to give the kids. I grew up with nuns in Catholic school but I forget my kids really don't ever have contact with religious except our priests and deacons. Please express our thanks to them for making the trip. They were hip, funny and authentic. Their love for the kids was clearly articulated. And thank you for thinking outside the box and sharing your gifts with our kids."

St. Louis - Boston - Petersham

We attended on Wednesday October 23rd the Installation Liturgy of His Excellency Bishop Elias Abdallah Zaidan in St. Raymond's Cathedral, St. Louis, M.O.

On Saturday October 26 after attending 5PM vigil Liturgy at Our Lady of the Cedars parish in Jamaica Plain, Boston we gave the MYO an interactive talk on the saints. Our aim was to inspire the teens to greatness, to live out their awesome dignity and calling in becoming the saints of today in their love of God and neighbor.

On Sunday October 27 we had the blessing of attending the Ordination of Fr. Patrick Kokorian, a monk in the Maronite Monks of Adoration, Petersham, M.A. His Excellency Bishop Gregory Mansour ordained Fr. Patrick in their simple chapel and in the presence of family and friends. It truly was a solemn and beautiful ceremony!