My Peace I give to you
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:27)
Dear Parishioners,
As we start 2015 there is nothing that should resonate more in our lives than the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ from the Gospel of Saint John which we proclaim on the first day of the year. If we look around us and especially in our inner soul, we find that our world (both personal and universal) is craving for this peace. War, destruction and poverty have become the order of the day. Not just in the world that we live in but also within the depths of our own families, communities, par-ishes and within ourselves.
War
War within ourselves and between ourselves and the ones that we love! We talk about love and forgiveness but are we truly forgiving those who have harmed us? Further, do we even forgive ourselves let alone others? Are we stretching forth our hand as a sign of love even to those who betray our trust?
Destruction
Destruction by the things that we say and the actions or reactions that we take! Too many times our words, actions and reactions destroy those who we love or come into contact with. Do we even pay attention to the fact that we are destroy-ing the other by our remarks, our looks or our attitudes?
Poverty
Poverty is not just material! The bigger threat is the danger of the poverty of the soul and spirit. This has a more damaging effect than any form of material poverty. Have we ever considered that poverty lies in the way that we think about our-selves and in our relationship with God and the other?
My Peace I give to you
Jesus was clear when he said “my peace I give to you”. It is not any kind of peace! It is the peace that transcends from the love of God the Father in heaven. It is the peace that transcends from the life and unity of the Holy Trinity. We are all called to activate this peace in our lives – in our families, in our parish, in our workplace but most of all in our inner soul. It is only this peace that will rid us of the war, destruction and poverty that exists in our lives.
I pray that together as one parish we can truly experience the peace of our Lord and Saviour. Like Mary and Joseph who found peace when they found Jesus in the Temple, like the waters of the Jordan river that transmitted the peace of the Messiah opening up the heavens, come and find this peace that you are yearning for in the most Holy and Blessed Sacra-ment, come and find this peace in the one who is that peace that never ends.
Also a very big thank you to everyone who helped with the organisation of all the events during the Christmas Season. Your hard work and dedication is truly a testament to your faith and the love that you have for your church.
Fr Tony Sarkis
Light in the Darkness
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Our Parish Pastoral Council, made up of the Co-ordinators and volunteers with the Priests, chose ‘Light in the Darkness’ as the theme for the 2014 Carols.
This theme comes from the Gospel of John 1:5, where Jesus is described as ‘the Light who shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome him.’ Therefore, with Jesus’ Birth “the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” Jn 1.9
We could ask ourselves: “Where is Jesus the Light in our darkness which we can often find around us and in us today?”
I felt blessed to see and experience His Light shining and overcoming the darkness in those who prepared and worked for our beautiful Carols by Candlelight celebration on Friday night.
I saw his light in the volunteers, setting up on Thursday night, staying up until 1am and coming back on Friday during the day and throughout the night to continue the big job of setting up and packing up.
I saw his light in the Family and Youth choir members, in the musicians and their leaders, who practice not only for Carols but also for Sunday Masses and Adoration and who lead us to praise our Lord through the gift of their voices.
I saw his light in the children of the Parish, who sat at the front or with their parents, witnessing the Gospel re-enactment of the Birth of Our Lord and joining in the Carols.
I saw his light in the teens, who with their leaders, practiced for a short time and took part in the Gospel re-enactment and did such a wonderful Job.
I saw his light in a leader, who was willing to climb stairs and two sets of ladders to reach the top of the school building, to proclaim the words of the Angel to the Shepherds.
I saw the light of Christ in the parents who were filled with joy at seeing the efforts of so many who worked tire-lessly in order to make the night a special night and in helping to prepare their children for Christmas.
I saw the Light of Christ when the MC, at the start of the Carols, asked us all to close our eyes and imagine a world of darkness without Christ the light.
I pray that all people may have the openness to receive Christ the light of the world. May this Christmas season be one filled with joy and happiness, especially when there may be some darkness and despair around us.
Monsignor Shora Maree
Sabbaticals & New Appointments
Dear Parishioners,
I will be attending a Priestly Renewal (Sabbatical) Course in Rome from 9 January to 9 April 2015.
Why you might ask do priests do Sabbatical Courses? Because St John Paul II, wrote: “Permanent formation is a require-ment of the priest’s own faithfulness to his ministry, to his very being. It is love for Jesus Christ and fidelity to oneself. But it is also an act of love for the People of God, at whose service the priest is placed.”(Pastores Dabo Vobis, n.70)By these words Pope John Paul was confirming and encouraging the practice in the Church for Priests to take Sabbaticals (periods of 3 months or more) every 10 years or so to do ongoing Study and Formation to be renewed in their Priestly Min-istry.
Why the Course in Rome? Because early this year Monsignor Joe Takchi from Melbourne encouraged me to consider trav-elling to Rome with him to do our first Sabbatical Course together. We will be following in the footsteps of some 3,000 priests from all around the world who since 1971 have travelled to Rome to attend the Institute for Continuing Theological Education at the Pontifical North American College. This Sabbatical Course is for English-speaking priests to study, pray and become more zealous disciples of the Lord in a newer and deeper way.
After receiving permission and encouragement from His Excellency Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay, Monsignor Joe and I applied to attend the January - March 2015 Course and were accepted. We look forward in the New Year to joining 24 oth-er Priests from around the world participating in the Course and to be able to return to our Parishes and Ministry renewed.
Our Congratulations to Fr Tony Sarkis. As of 9 January, my departure date for Rome, quickly draws near, and because I will be absent from the Parish for three months, the Bishop has appointed Fr Tony Sarkis as Acting Dean (like acting Parish Priest) to give him time to prepare with me to take the co-ordinating and administration reigns in looking after our Co-Cathedral Parish while I am away with the support and team of the other Priests.
Our Congratulations to Fr Sam Wehbe. Last Sunday it was announced that the Bishop has appointed Fr Sam as the first Parish Priest of the New Maronite Parish of St Raymond’s Auburn. We pray God’s Blessings be with him and the new Maro-nite Parish of Auburn which includes all the Maronites in the suburbs of Auburn, Lidcombe, Berala, Regents Park, Potts Hill, Chullora, Birrong, Sefton, Bass Hill, Chester Hill, Villawood and Granville South.
Welcome to Fr Youhanna Khalife MMO. Finally our welcome to Fr Youhanna Khalife, a Monk of the Maronite Mariamite Order who was appointed by the Bishop to Our Lady of Lebanon Parish as an Assistant Parish Priest. We welcome Fr Youhanna and look forward to his ministry here with us to join the team of priests serving the Parish.
I look forward to continue journeying with His Excellency, the Bishop, Fr Tony, Fr Youhanna, and all the Priests here in the Parish through this beautiful Christmas time to the New Year especially with the Carols on this Friday Night and all our Christmas Masses.
