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. 

You Cannot Serve Two Masters - Hypocrisy

You Cannot Serve Two Masters  - Hypocrisy

The following homily was given by Fr. Nichols at the Mother of Light Convent on Thursday, May 31^st, 2018.

Yesterday we concluded our reflection on the First Reading from Acts with some startling promises to the Apostles and disciples of all ages. It was in answer to their prayer for strength to face intimidation and persecution. In today’s reading we find still more startling evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit.

Ananias sold some property, and laid the proceeds at the feet of the Apostles for the common treasury. Now, no one was obligated to sell property of to give all or even part of it. Unlike earlier in Acts, it was common practice, it had already become a free will offering.

But Ananias decided to disguise his greed under the guise of charity. He in effect chose to deceive

the community and God. This is why Peter says to him: Satan has entered your heart – the same words which Jesus had addressed to Judas for the misuse of money. Peter continues: But in so doing you have lied not to men but to God. How is it that you have agreed to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?

The scenario is repeated with Sapphira, his wife. When she repeats the same lie, she suffers the same consequences. With regard to this incident, St. Ephrem the Syriac says: It was not merely because they stole something and concealed it, but because they did not fear God and sought to deceive those in whom the Holy Spirit dwelt, the Spirit who knows everything. By this hypocritical attitude Ananias and Sapphira demonstrate their greed and vainglory. The punishment they receive befits the circumstances. The Church is in a foundational period where disciples have a special responsibility to be faithful and God will be equally supportive.

St. John Chrysostom wrote: This fault could not have been treated lightly, but like gangrene, it had to be cut out before it infected the rest of the body. The deceiving couple themselves are not left to advance further in wickedness, and the good disciples are placed in “vigilance”.

St. Thomas Aquinas says that this episode shows how much God detests hypocrisy; and from it we can appreciate the value of truthfulness. Only a truthful person, a faithful person can keep the Lord’s commandments. 

Bringing us back to yesterday’s Gospel, Jesus says: If you keep my commandments, you are my friends. Jesus spoke on the value of loyalty. Today he speaks on the comparison between Him and the world. In other places Jesus speaks of the world as good, for all creation is good, it is the abuse of creation that brings problems. 

It is the abuse, the greed, the lust, the gluttony of created things that create tensions as they did for Ananias and Sapphira. St Gregory wrote: No one can be pleasing to God and to God’s enemy at the same time. You cannot serve two masters. You will love one and hate the other. Whoever seeks to please those who oppose God are no friend of God, whoever submits himself to the truth will fight against those who strive against the truth. 

Over these past two days, we have seen some marvelous displays of power by the Holy Spirit. Some of these gifts remain while others as St. Ephrem explained were for the foundation of the nascent Church. We might only wonder if the Holy Spirit denounced the lie in a person’s heart with instant death, judgment was the immediate response, but repentance is the desired consequence.