Beating Heart of our Community
“Your word O Lord is a lamp to my feet and a lamp to my path” -
“Inna kalimataka misbahoun li khoutaya wa nouran li sabili” -
إن كلمتك مصباحٌ لخطاي و نوراً لسبيلي
Psalm 119:105
Dear Parishioners,
This verse of the longest Psalm, Psalm 119 was chosen by the youth members of the Maronite Youth Diocesan Council (MYDC) to be the theme of the Australian Maronite Youth Celebration with the Patriarch.
We know through the witness and preaching of the Apostles that Jesus is that living Word of God that is the brightest lamp and light for our lives and path to God.
We also know that in our world, east and west, there is much darkness and need for the light of the living Word. At this time we know Christians in the East (Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon) are under great threat and persecution for their faith. In the West, Christians are falling away from their faith.
In the Middle East, cities and villages are covered in rubble from rockets, bombs and gun fire. In the West, cities and towns
are smothered by the spiritual bombs of materialism and secularism. In the Middle East there are so many homeless refugees. In the West, so many are spiritually homeless in their large houses. East, West, North and South we all need the light of Jesus, the living Word. In this world, his Beatitude and Eminence, strives as a successor to the Apostles of the living Word to lead the Maronite Clergy, Religious and Faithful in Lebanon and around the world, including Australia. His Beatitude carries in his heart and his words the lamp and light of God’s word for the youth, our young families and elders.
His Excellency Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay has made the youth one of his seven priorities for his seven year plan. He calls them the “beating heart of the Diocese”. We believe that our Patriarch has seen the heart of the youth beating with faith, community fellowship and readiness to serve following his visit to Australia and last night’s youth event. During the Liturgy, where the Patriarch carried Christ, the living Word, in the Blessed Sacrament in procession amoungst the youth and all gathered and then lead us in prayer. At the conclusion of Adoration, the youth presented the Patriarch with a gift and had a chance to meet him while there was a free BBQ, entertainment and fireworks.
Most Gracious and Loving Father,
We thank you for the gift of our Patriarch. May he be a shepherd after your own heart.
We pray that you bless him with every grace he needs to lead and serve the Maronite Church throughout the world.
We pray too for every grace we need to be faithful and obedient sons and daughters who witness the light of your
Son Jesus Christ Our Lord to all the world.
Mary, Mother of all Christians,
We lift up our prayers to God through your motherly intercession with the prayers of all the Maronite Saints, and with you,
we raise glory and praise to the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
(Prayer by the Diocesan Youth Ministry Team)
