FEAST OF THE 500 MARTYRS OF TYRE -

FEBRUARY 19 Christian persecution is not a

modern phenomena. The 500

martyrs of Tyre were killed in the

year 304AD. The Ancient City of

Tyre (also known as Soor) had been

a very important Phonecian City.

The city of Tyre is referred to in the

scriptures numerous times. We are

told that people came from Tyre to

hear Jesus preach (Mark 3:8) and

that Jesus went to the district of Tyre

and Sidon and performed miracles.

(Matthew 15:21 and Mark 7:24)

Tyre is one of the cities that had

some of the earliest followers of

Christ. We know that many of those

early Christians were persecuted for

their faith. The historian Eusebius

tells us that in the early fourth

century, under the reign of

Diolectian, many soldiers of Christ

were killed for their faith in the city

of Tyre. We often forget that many

of our ancestors were the very first

Christians and that the ancient cities

of our forbearers were the cradles of

Christianity. However faced with

these trials and persecutions, our

ancestors persevered in their faith.

This Lent, Inspired by their

examples let us learn to walk in their

righteous path, persevere in our faith

no matter what trials and temptations

are thrown at us and live according

to Gods word.

MYO/MYA LENTEN RETREAT

Saint John Paul II Maronite Church

will hold a Lenten one day retreat on

Saturday March 11, 2017, in Sleepy

Hollow, NY, (Westchester). There

will be two different tracks, one for

the MYO and another for the MYA.

There will be a $20.00 donation to

cover food and costs. If you are

interested in attending this retreat,

please notify the Church office.

NATIONAL MYO RETREAT I ask all MYO members that are

planning to attend the National

MYO Retreat to please notify the

Church office. Please confirm if you

will be attending this retreat by

March 19, 2017. Once we see who is

planning to attend we can make

arrangements for flights. Thank you

for your cooperation.

IN OUR PRAYERS Please keep in our prayers our dear

friends Michael “Chubby” Simon

and Johnny Zaidan. Chubby and

Johnny are pillars of this community

and we keep them and their families

in our thoughts and prayers.

WITH DEEPEST SYMPATHY Our deepest sympathy is extended to

Patti Impo Baxter on the passing of

her husband Tom Baxter this week.

Visitation and viewing will be held

on Tuesday, February 21, 2017,

from 6:00-8:00 PM, with the prayer

of Bakhoor following. May

Almighty God welcome Tom into

His kingdom and may his soul rest in

peace. Allah yer hammo.

Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church

February 18-19, 2017

Fr. Vincent Farhat, Pastor | Fr. Richard Cannuli, Weekend Assistance | Mrs. Zeina Topalian, Religious Education Director Address: 1013 Ellsworth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Office: 215-389-2000 | Hall Reservations: 215-334-1884 | Evening Emergency Number: 215-952-0712 or 561-371-5316

Website: www.saintmaron.org | Church Office: saintmaronphiladelphia@hotmail.com | Instagram Page: @saintmaronphiladelphia

Facebook Page: Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church of Philadelphia

OFFICE HOURS: The Church office will be open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.

QUOTE

OF THE WEEK

"All our religion is but a

false religion, and all our

virtues are mere illusions

and we ourselves are only

hypocrites in the sight of

God, if we have not that

universal charity for

everyone - for the good,

and for the bad, for the

poor and for the rich, and

for all those who do us

harm as much as those

who do us good."

Saint John Vianney

SANCTUARY CANDLE BURNS FOR…

The sanctuary candle burns for the

deceased members of the Tayoun,

Micheal, Raie, and Al Shouli

families by Marie Al Shouli and

family. May their souls rest in

peace.

Lenten Observances 2017 The Most Reverend Bishops

Gregory Mansour and A. Elias

Zaidan have issued the following

Lenten guidelines for the Maronites

of the U.S.:

All Maronites who are physically

capable are to abstain from meat

on Ash Monday (February 27,

2017) and all Fridays of Lent.

Ash Monday and the Great Friday

of the Crucifixion are also days of

fasting. Fasting in the Maronite

Church involves eating and

drinking nothing at all (except

water and medicine) from

midnight until noon. The rest of

the day normal meals can be

taken, but without meat. All

Maronites who are physically

capable are to fast on these two

days. Distribution of Ashes

All parish priests are to bless and

distribute ashes on Ash Monday

during the celebration of the

Divine Liturgy as indicated in our

liturgical books. This ceremony

may not be celebrated on the vigil

of Ash Monday (Cana Sunday).

For the convenience of some

faithful of the Latin Church who

may come to Mass at a Maronite

Church on their Ash Wednesday,

ashes that were blessed on

Monday may be given to them

after the Mass. However, ashes

are not to be blessed again on this

day.

Devotion of Lenten Fridays-- All

parish priests are to celebrate the

Benediction with the Cross every

Friday of Lent except for the

Great Friday of the Crucifixion.

This service may be preceded by

other popular devotions such as

Evening Prayer (Ramsho),

Stations of the Cross or even the

Divine Liturgy. Benediction with

the Blessed Sacrament should not

take place on Fridays of Lent.

Personal

Devotion Clergy, religious and

laity who wish to observe the

more traditional Maronite

practice of fasting and abstinence

are encouraged to do so. That

practice is summarized in the

following, taken from the Synod

of Mt. Lebanon (1736): Every

weekday of Lent (Monday

through Friday) is a day of fasting

and abstinence from meat and

dairy products (eggs, butter, milk,

etc.) Fasting involves eating and

drinking nothing at all (except

water and medicine) from

midnight until noon. The rest of

the day normal meals can be

taken, but without meat or dairy

products. Dairy products are

excluded because they are animal

byproducts. Saturdays and

Sundays are exempt from fasting

and abstaining, as are the

following four feast days: St.

Maron - February 9, The 40

Martyrs - March 9, St. Joseph -

March 19, and the Annunciation -

March 25.

THE PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC RECORD: EVENING

OF APPRECIATION FOR JIMMY TAYOUN

The Philadelphia Public Record

invites you to join them for an

evening of appreciation to honor a

true Philadelphia legend---Jimmy

Tayoun. This event will take place

on Wednesday evening, February

22, 2017, from 5:30-8:30 PM. Open

bar, hors D’oeuvres and Buffet by

Penns Landing Caterers. This will be

held at Sheet Metal Workers, Local

19, 1301 S. Columbus Blvd.,

Philadelphia, PA, 19148. Tickets are

$40.00 per person. Congratulations

Jimmy for this well-deserved

appreciation and honor.

LITURGY INTENTIONS

Saturday, February 18, 2017, @

6:00 PM, (Feast of St. Leo the

Great) liturgy is being offered for

the soul of Sam Sortino requested by

the Marlene Mockewich. May his

soul rest in peace.

Sunday, Febuary 19, 2017, @

11:00 AM, (Feast of 500 Martyrs

of Tyre) liturgy is offered for the

soul of Rizik Frangie requested by

Faraj and Souad Frangie and family.

May his soul rest in peace. Liturgy is

also offered as a 40 day memorial for

Nahi Rai requested by her family.

May her soul rest in peace.

Saturday, February 25, 2017, @

6:00 pm, (Feast of Our Lady of

Lourdes) liturgy is being offered for

soul Joseph Scavola requested by his

wife Josephine. May his soul rest in

peace.

Sunday, February 26, 2017 @

11:00 am, liturgy is being offered

for the soul Labibe Sholy requested

by Khalil and Madeline Raie. May

her soul rest in peace. Liturgy is also

offered for the soul of Maurice Al

Shouli requested by George and

Laila Sholy. May his soul rest in

peace.

ASH MONDAY Monday, February 27, 2017, Ash

Monday, Lent Begins. Liturgy and

distribution of ashes will be at 7:00

PM.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

(CONFESSION) Please know that confession is

available before liturgies. You may

also call to set up an appointment.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT SAINT MARON CHURCH

Friday, February 17, 2017, MYO

Karaoke Party, at 7:00 PM.

Tickets are on sale after Liturgy.

$10.00 donation to cover food and

music.

Sunday, February 26, 2017,

MYO Shawarma Sunday.

All proceeds go to their National

Retreat in July.

Monday, February 27, 2017,

Ash Monday, Lent Begins.

Liturgy and distribution of ashes

will be at 7:00 PM.

Friday, March 3, 2017, Stations

of the Cross.

Services begin at 7:00 PM every

Friday during Lent.

PROGESS TO OUR GOAL I would like to thank all of you who

have supported the efforts in the

renovation of the rectory. Your

kindness is still coming in and for

that I would like to thank you. We

are a few weeks away to completion.

Thank you for your help and support.

CELEBRATING 125 YEARS IN PHILADELPHIA

Saint Maron Church in Philadelphia

is one of the oldest Maronite

Churches in the United States.

Established according to the

Patriarchal records in Lebanon, we

were officially established in 1892.

What a milestone this is for this

vibrant and beautiful community. It

is only fitting to think back and to

give thanks to Almighty God for

sending us priests, for the loyal

families that started this Churh with

very little means and for all of you

for keeping the legacy of those

before us alive and thriving. As we

prepare for this milestone beginning

in the New Year of 2017, we are

preparing many special events

throughout the year with the final

event scheduled on the weekend of

December 1-3, 2017. The final

event in November will include the

rededication of Saint Maron Church

by his Excellency Gregory J.

Mansour, Divine Liturgy, Grand

Hafli, Sunday brunch, and much

more. Details will be forthcoming at

the beginning of 2017 with the

listings of events for the year. The

beginning of our Anniversary

celebration will begin with the Feast

of Saint Maron in February, our

patron saint of our Church. I pray

that Almighty God will bless Saint

Maron Church, her parishioners and

benefactors for many more years.

PRAYER FOR SOLDIERS During these difficult times, we

remember those family members

and friends in faraway places. Let us

lift in prayer the many women and

men serving overseas in our armed

forces. May they know of our respect

and gratitude and be kept safe in the

Lord’s love. Amen.

IN OUR PRAYERS Please keep in your prayers:

Carmen Marrone,

Johnny Zaidan, Helen

Butrus, Josephine

Rudolph, Rose Kouri,

Yasmine Myers, Joey

Gdowick, Francis

Joseph Kerns, Albert Saleem, Albert

Anderson, Jr., Michelina Krewda,

Samer Chokeir, Aminee Skaf, Kathy

Newman, Cubby Simon, Vickey

Saulino, Rita Arrigale, Linda

Rotella, Helen Freedenberg,

Maryann Bratton, Renee Sahar,

Joann Divon, Chubby Simon, Jane

Trevelino, Sister Nahida Al Sawa,

Virginia Ramano, Rose De Jesse,

James Cordisio, Stacey Fuentes,

Debbie Freedenberg, Noel

Andjuhar, Juliette Chokier, Eddie

Gussin, Angel Salerno, Dennis

McGiney, Emilia and Alan

Sacilowski, Donny Pizzi, Betty

Antrilli, and Bonnie Sabatini. We

ask Almighty God to bless them with

good health so that they may join us

in the Church and give glory and

thanksgiving to God. Please notify

the Church office of any family

member who is ill so that we may

remember them in our daily prayers

and on our altar of intentions.

WEEKLY COLLECTION FOR February 11-12, 2017

Sunday Collection $ 1,953.00

Memorials $ 200.00

Rectory Renovation $ 100.00

Coffee Hour $ 44.00

Total: $ 2,297.00

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES AND BEEPERS WHEN YOU ENTER THE

CHURCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

First Reading Thessalonians 5:1-11

A reading from the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians. Your blessing

father…

Brothers and Sisters:

Concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything

written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a

thief in the night. When they say, ‘There is peace and security’, then sudden destruction will

come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!

But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all

children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then, let

us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep

at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us

be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus

Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.

Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

Praise be to God always.

رسالة القديس بولس األولى إلى أهل تسالونيقيفصل من ا أن يو أل يا إخوتي، أما األزمنة واألوقات، أيها اإلخوة، فال حاجة بكم أن يكتب إليكم في شأنها؛ نكم تلموون جيدا

ارق ليال أما .فحين يقولون: سال وأمن! حينئذ ياهوهم الهالك دهم الوخاض لمحبمى، وال يفمتون .الربد يأتي كالسارق لسنا أبناء النهار؛ و فأنتم كمكم أبناء النور، وأبناء .أنتم، أيها اإلخوة، فمستم في ظموة ليفاجئكم ذلك اليو كالس

يل ينامون، والذين ألن الذين ينامون ففي الم إذ ا فال ننم كسائر الناس، بل لنسهر ونصح؛ .الميل وال أبناء الظموة رجاء هار، فمنصح البسين درع اإليوان والوحبة، وواضلين خوذة أما نحن أبناء الن .يسكرون ففي الميل يسكرون

ي مات من أجمنا، لنحيا مله الذ فإن هللا لم يجلمنا لمغضب، بل إلحراز الخالص بربدنا يسوع الوسيح، .الخالصا، وليبن الواحا اآلخر، كوا أنتم فاعمون .أ نائوينساهرين كنا لوا بلضكم بلض .فمذلك شجد

.ايح هلل دائم والتسب

Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church

February 18-19, 2017

Gospel Reading

Saint Luke 16:19-31

The Apostle Writes:

‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every

day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his

hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The

poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and

was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away

with Lazarus by his side. He called out, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to

dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames." But

Abraham said, "Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and

Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all

this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from

here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us." He said, "Then, father, I beg you

to send him to my father’s house for I have five brothers that he may warn them, so that they will

not also come into this place of torment." Abraham replied, "They have Moses and the prophets;

they should listen to them." He said, "No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the

dead, they will repent." He said to him, "If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither

will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." ’

This is the truth. Peace be with you.

يس ا يل ج ن إ ن م لوقالق د

م كل يو بأفخر الوالئم"قال الرب يسوع: ان رجل مسكين ٱسوه وك .كان رجل غني يمبس األرجوان والكتان الناعم، ويتنلا عنا بابه، تكسوه القروح ، غير أن الكالب .للازر مطروح وكان يشتهي أن يشبع من الفتات الوتساقط من مائاة الغنيد

ورفع الغني عينيه، .ته ٱلوالئكة إلى حضن إبراهيم. ثم مات الغني ودفنومات الوسكين فحوم .كانت تأتي فتمحس قروحه سل ر فنادى وقال: يا أبت إبراهيم، إرحوني وأ .وهو في الجحيم يقاسي اللذاب، فرأى إبراهيم من بليا، وللازر في حضنه ع في هذا المهيب د لساني، ألندي متوجد فقال إبراهيم: يا ٱبني، تذكر أنك نمت خيراتك .للازر ليبل طرف إصبله بواء ويبرد

ومع هذا كمده، فإن بيننا وبينكم هوة عظيوة ثابتة، .نت تتوجعفي حياتك، وللازر نال الباليا. واآلن هو يتلزى هنا، وأ : أسألك .ناي حتى إن الذين يرياون أن يجتازوا من هنا إليكم ال يستطيلون، وال من هناك أن يلبروا إل إذ ا، يا فقال الغنيد

ا إلى مكان الل أبت، أن ترسل للازر إلى بيت أبي، فقال .ذاب هذافإن لي خوسة إخوة، ليشها لهم، كي ال يأتوا هم أيض .ت إبراهيم، ولكن إذا مضى إليهم واحا من األموات يتوبون فقال: ال، يا أب .إبراهيم: عناهم موسى واألنبياء، فميسولوا لهم

."!ن يقتنلوال فقال له إبراهيم: إن كانوا ال يسولون لووسى واألنبياء، فإنهم، ولو قا واحا من األموات، ا واألمان لجميعكم. حق