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!

Saint John Maron - California

Mission Outreach in Orange, CA

The Maronite Servants of Christ the Light were invited by Father Tony Bakh, pastor of St. John Maron parish in Orange, CA to give a family and MYO retreat  from Friday evening October 18 until the following evening Saturday, October 19.

Mother Marla Marie on the Friday evening gave an interactive and visual presentation to the adults and youth on Mary, Fatima and the Rosary. The following day she continued with the adults on the theme of “Coming Home to God the Father” using the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Sister Therese Maria facilitated the MYO program for the weekend and began Friday evening with fun icebreakers and a pro-life movie October Baby. After the movie the teens had a fruitful discussion on key themes such as the sanctity and dignity of every human life beginning in the womb, the gift of good friendships vs. bad friendships, jealousy, living purity and deepening one’s prayer life with Mary as our model.

Saturday evening concluded with Divine Liturgy, adoration and confession.

Also during the week the Sisters visited the homebound and had an event with the MYA.