By Sr. Natalie Sayde Salameh
We
enjoyed several days of prayer and visiting with friends at the National Shrine
of Our Lady of Lebanon, North Jackson, Ohio in celebration of the Feast of the Dormition
of the Mother of God.
The
pilgrimage began on Sunday, August 13, with a Divine Liturgy of the Roman Rite
celebrated by His Excellency, Bishop George Murry of the Diocese of Youngstown,
Ohio, followed by a candlelit procession and blessing with the Icon of Our Lady
of Lebanon.
On
Sunday afternoon, before Divine Liturgy, Mother Marla Marie gave a presentation
to the pilgrims on the message of Our Lady of Fatima, in honor of the
Centennial celebrations.
As usual, we had a table in the
Cedars Hall where we were able to speak with many people one on one. This year
the layout of our table was a little different. Once again, as at NAM this
year, devoted parishioner, Cecilia Romero of St. Joseph’s parish, Atlanta, had
crocheted an assortment of baby items which she generously donated to the
sisters as sale items on our table. We also promoted the pro-life message with
magnets and precious feet pins that we gave away.
On
both Sunday and Monday nights, we spent time in prayer, adoration and
fellowship with the MYO of the parishes of Youngstown and Cleveland with their
Excellencies, Bishop Elias Zaidan and Bishop Gregory Mansour also in
attendance. Both Bishops spoke to the teens on the virtues of Our Blessed
Mother and the various apparitions of Our Lady in Guadalupe and Brazil,
respectively.
On
Monday evening, August 14, we were blessed to celebrate a Byzantine Divine
Liturgy, offered by His Excellency, Bishop Bohdan Danylo, Bishop of the
Byzantine Eparchy of St. Josaphat Parma, Ohio. Following Divine Liturgy, the
Byzantine Tradition has a very beautiful ritual of burying the Mother of God on
the vigil of her Dormition, a ritual they call the “Funeral of the Theotokos,
the Ever-Virgin Mary”. We processed behind the tomb and shroud of the Virgin
Mary, which was later placed in the chapel for all to venerate.
On
the day of the Feast of the Assumption, Tuesday August 15, we celebrated the
Maronite Pontifical Liturgy outside beside the shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon.
The Liturgy was followed by a huge candlelit procession around the entire
shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon, with a great number in attendance. The
procession concluded with a beautiful display of fireworks above the shrine,
and festivities in the Cedars Hall.
We remembered you in our prayers
during these holy days of pilgrimage at the Shrine. Our Lady of the Assumption,
pray for us.