Blessing of the Holy Oils

On Tuesday the 23rd of March, the Maronite Servants traveled to Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral in Brooklyn to attend the Divine Liturgy with the Blessings of the Holy Oils. Bishop Gregory Mansour concelebrated the Liturgy along with Chorbishop Michael Thomas, Abouna James Root, several other priests and deacons from our Eparchy. During the Liturgy, Bishop Gregory blessed the two holy oils present – the Oil of the Catechumens used at the Mysteries of Baptism and the Ordination of Priests and the Oil of the Sick used for the Anointing of the Sick. The third Holy Oil used in the Holy Mysteries of the Church – the Oil of Chrism – was not blessed in Brooklyn, but rather will be blessed by our Patriarch in Lebanon during Holy Week and then distributed to all the Maronite Churches in the world.

On Mission in Danbury

Last weekend, March 20th- 21st, the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light visited St Anthony of Padua parish, in Danbury Connecticut. Father Jean Younes, Pastor graciously welcomed us as did the parishioners. After the 10:00am Sunday Liturgy, the MYO hosted a bountiful breakfast. During our visit, we were blessed to meet and speak with Father Elias Kesrouani, who is an expert and lecturer in the Syriac language and music, and is a visiting professor of ethnomusicology at Yale. Father Elias played the oud a traditional string instrument and beautifully sang hymns in Syriac and Arabic for the Liturgies.

Visiting Fall River

On the 13th and 14th of March, the Maronite Servants visited with the parish of St. Anthony of the Desert in Fall River, Massachusetts. Sister Marla Marie shared her personal vocation journey at each Divine Liturgy, as well as the mission of the Maronite Servants. During the Religious Education sessions on Sunday, Sister Marla Marie, Tresa and Therese visited the classrooms to talk to the children about the role of the Sisters in the Church. The weekend was a joyful event for the Maronite Servants and a great opportunity to meet more of our Maronite family members! The Pastor, Monsignor Kaddo and Fr. Nadim, assistant priest welcomed us with a generous hospitality. 

Maronite Servants On Mission

By Therese Touma

Religious Education

As postulants, Tresa and I have been team teaching 5th grade Religious Education at the parish community of Immaculate Conception, Weymouth (the location of our current Monastery). We have a great group of children who participate well and ask well thought out questions about the Faith.

Food Pantry

Every last Thursday morning of the month, Tresa and I also help out in the Weymouth Food Pantry, which serves the needy in our community. In February, we had an awesome and rewarding time assisting to pack orders. We served alongside the great team of volunteers helping to serve the orders and pack items. God bless their much good work!

Classes at the Chancery

During March 2nd to March 4th we formally began our first classes with Sayedna Gregory, Abouna Michael Thomas and Abouna Jim Root at the Chancery in Brooklyn. Our three day visit was eventful and enlightening, as we studied more about our Maronite faith, prayed together and share some great laughs in between. We are pictured here in our Maronite Spirituality classes given by Sayedna. He focused on the importance of true prayer, the need for solitude, hospitality and spiritual direction in the spiritual life.

Hafle at Our Lady of Purgatory
On Saturday March 6th we were invited by Abouna Jack Morrison to their annual Hafle at Venus de Milo in Swansea, MA. We had great company at our table with Abouna Jack, Abouna Kaddo and the Kenyon family. In the Photo from Left to Right: Peter Kenyon, Mother Marla Marie, Marie Kenyon, Therese Touma, Marie McLaughlin, Tresa Van Heusen & Joanne Mansour.