LoL Bible Camp - 2018 in Fall River

By Sr. Natalie Sayde Salameh, MSCL

The LOL Club (Light of Life) began on July 23^rd, the Feast of St. Sharbel, with five days of learning about the life and spirituality of St. Sharbel in engaging video, crafts, bible sharing, games, prayer, choir practice, dabke rehearsal, and snacks. Our theme this year was “In the Footsteps of St. Sharbel”, and each day focused on his four great loves: prayer, the Holy Eucharist, our Blessed Mother, and his loving service.

Day one centered on St. Sharbel’s deep devotion to prayer. The children learned all about the importance of prayer in their lives, especially the prayer of the ‘Our Father’. Day two was on St. Sharbel’s great devotion to the Liturgy and especially to the Holy Eucharist, where he spent many hours of the day in adoration. The children learned how to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. Day three focused on St. Sharbel’s tender love for our holy Mother, Mary, and how we can show her great love, like Sharbel, by praying the Rosary everyday. Day four focused on St. Sharbel’s loving service toward others, especially the sick and those in need.   

LOL Club Maronite summer camp concluded July 27^th with Divine Liturgy celebrated at St. Anthony of the Desert Maronite Church by Monsignor James Root, pastor, and  attended by LOL members, volunteers, and parents. 

After the closing Liturgy, all those in attendance enjoyed a performance by their children in the Church Hall, which included skits, sing-a-longs and the dabke, along with lunch. After lunch, all children, volunteers and parents enjoyed an afternoon of arcade games, bumper cars and boats at Grand Prix in Seekonk. The children enjoyed our time together, and it was great to hear that affirmed by the parents who mentioned to us that their kids were learning, having fun, and making so many new friends.

NAM Convention 2018 – Houston, Texas

By Sr. Natalie Sayde Salameh, MSCL

The Maronite Servants of Christ the Light attended this year’s National Apostolate of Maronites (NAM) Convention in Houston, Texas from July 11^thto July 15th, 2018. We were blessed with the opportunity to meet and mingle with over 1,000 of our Maronite parishioners who attended from all over the US to meet and greet, his Eminence Cardinal Leonardi Sandri, Prefect to His Holiness, Pope Francis, for the Eastern Catholic Churches. Cardinal Sandri was very active throughout the Convention, attending all prayer services, Divine Liturgies, banquets, conferences, and even facilitating a special Q&A breakfast with the MYA, with both myself and Sr. Therese Maria in attendance.

We had a table in the exhibitors area where we met so many new people and were able to speak to them one on one. In addition to the selling of our baby items, we also had a prayer corner, in which many people unburdened themselves and prayed with a sister for their needs and intentions.

There were a number of highlights: we attended a Theology on Tap with both Bishops Gregory Mansour and Elias Zaidan, held at St. Arnold’s brewery in downtown Houston. We were able to listen to a number of talks on a wide variety of topics including “How to have a Happy Marriage” delivered by Dominic Albano from Dynamic Catholic and the “Catholic/Orthodox Unity” delivered by Chorbishop John Faris.

We attended the Panel Commission on the affairs of Lebanon in its current political and economic state, where we were able to listen to the many concerns and issues plaguing Lebanon at the moment. Cardinal Sandri was on the panel, in addition to Mr. Gabriel Issa, Ambassador to Lebanon.  

Also, we were interviewed by Telelumiere on a number of occasions and were asked about the foundation of our community, to give a vocation witness and what we find most fulfilling in our role as the spiritual mothers of the parish. We attended the evangelical concert of Lebanon’s Christian singer, Ghada Chbeir, who moved the audience to tears by her strong faith, radiant joy and sweet angelic voice

May God bless the efforts and work of all those involved in this year’s Convention. It was a great success. We look forward to attending next year in Miami, Florida, God willing.  

MYA Liturgy & Cookout - Dartmouth

On Sunday July 8, the Maronite Servant Sisters hosted a young adult Liturgy and cookout at our Mother of the Light Convent in Dartmouth. We had about 20 young adults join us from Boston, Brockton and Fall River MA. Fr. Joseph Daiif from Saint Theresa’s parish in Brockton offered the Liturgy in our chapel and gave an inspiring homily on intentional discipleship and opening our hearts to God’s transforming power in our lives. Fr. Tony Youssef from Our Lady of Purgatory Church in New Bedford also attended. After the 6pm Liturgy we enjoyed great fellowship, fun and food. Thanking God for this opportunity to come together to pray and deepen our relationship with God and one another.