January 15, 2017 WHY DO WE BLESS HOMES? WHY DO WE BLESS HOMES? WHY DO WE BLESS HOMES? WHY DO WE BLESS HOMES? T he great blessing of Water takes place at the end of Liturgy on the feast of our Lord’s Theophany (January 6). Since our homes cannot be brought to the Church, the Church-through the priest-goes to the homes. There the service of blessing, which began in the church, is finished with the sprinkling of water in the home. Traditionally, in most Orthodox parishes, the priest personally visits all his parishioners each year to pray with them in the place where they live, and to bless their surroundings with the newly sanctified water of Theophany. By sanctifying our living quarters, our private place, we extend the grace of God to our individual dwellings. We also bring the blessed water to our homes to use throughout the year to bless our homes, and to drink, whether we are ill or as part of our daily prayer life. “There are many occasions in family life when a sip of holy water can help to remind us of the blessing that was given ‘to bestow sanctification’, ‘unto healing of soul and body’, ‘to be a fountain welling forth unto life eternal’, as the priest prayed in the litany of Epiphany day,” (Little Falcons: Water, Vo. 5, No. 2, 1998 p. 33).The blessing of homes by these holy waters maintains the spiritual association between the ‘family church’ and the parish, as well as again providing for the sharing of God’s spiritual gifts...This annual blessing should not be overlooked, for it is in this way that the grace of God is extended to individual dwellings. If the priest comes to bless the home when the children are present, they have the opportunity to see the parish priest in a different and personal situation. If the priest permits, they can lead the way through the house, or hold a candle. They can show him their rooms or pets or favorite toys. They receive a blessing with water. For children, the house blessing shows the connection of the Church to the home. What does it mean to ask God to bless something? All things in the world have been spoiled right along with us. God must bless His world again in order for it to be the way that He wants it to be. For this reason, God sent His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit to the world: to bless everyone and everything that He made, to make all things good again. When the priest comes to bless our homes, he asks God to have mercy on the house, to rid it of every evil and to fill it with every blessing. What a wonderful way to begin the New Year! By: Phyllis Meshel Onest January 15, 2017 Issue 556 18100 Merriman Road Livonia, Michigan 48152 www.saintmarylivonia.com Office: (734)-422-0010 Sunday Services Confession: 8:30AM Matins: 9:00AM Divine Liturgy: 10:00AM St. Mary’s Cultural and Banquet Center (734) 421-9220 Daily Confession by Appointment - Call the Church Office “And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Acts 11:26 The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary Fr. George Shalhoub - Pastor Fr. Jim King - Director of Youth & Pastoral Outreach Programs Archdeacon Issa Rizkallah 313-690-2030 Deacon Dr. Dennis Bojrab Deacon Samer Hanna Nidal Fakhoury - Parish Council Chairman Linda Lawson - Choir Director Stacey Badeen - Church Administrator Sonya Kassis - Parish Ministries Coordinator Haitham Fakhouri - Communications Richard Shebib/Sami Azzouz - Ushers Dr. Tom Saba - Young Adults- St. John Divine Nancy Ghannam- Ladies Society President Nicole Rumman & Natalie Samaan Teen Soyo Co-Presidents Lina Nunu - Arabic School Keith Rowe - Cultural Center General Manager 734-421-9220 The Light of Christ AL-NOUR PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY: THE ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX BASILICA OF ST. MARY
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Daily Confession by Appointment - Call the Church Office · (Nellie) Sultani, Ahlam (Anwar) Hanna, the grandchildren and the entire Sultani family on the passing of Victoria Abdou
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January 15, 2017
WHY DO WE BLESS HOMES?WHY DO WE BLESS HOMES?WHY DO WE BLESS HOMES?WHY DO WE BLESS HOMES?
TTTT he great blessing of Water takes place at the end of Liturgy on the feast of our Lord’s Theophany (January 6). Since our homes cannot be brought to the Church, the Church-through the priest-goes to the homes. There the service of blessing, which began in the church, is finished with the sprinkling of water in the home. Traditionally, in most Orthodox parishes, the priest personally visits all his parishioners each year to pray with them in the place where they live, and to bless their surroundings with the newly sanctified water of Theophany. By sanctifying our living quarters, our private place, we extend the grace of God to our individual dwellings. We also bring the blessed water to our homes to use throughout the year to bless our homes, and to drink, whether we are ill or as part of our daily prayer life. “There are many occasions in family life when a sip of holy water can help to remind us of the blessing that was given ‘to bestow sanctification’, ‘unto healing of soul and body’, ‘to be a fountain welling forth unto life eternal’, as the priest prayed in the litany of Epiphany day,” (Little Falcons: Water, Vo. 5, No. 2, 1998 p. 33).The blessing of homes by these holy waters maintains the spiritual association between the ‘family church’ and the parish, as well as again providing for the sharing of God’s spiritual gifts...This annual blessing should not be overlooked, for it is in this way that the grace of God is extended to individual dwellings. If the priest comes to bless the home when the children are present, they have the opportunity to see the parish priest in a different and personal situation. If the priest permits, they can lead the way through the house, or hold a candle. They can show him their rooms or pets or favorite toys. They receive a blessing with water. For children, the house blessing shows the connection of the Church to the home. What does it mean to ask God to bless something? All things in the world have been spoiled right along with us. God must bless His world again in order for it to be the way that He wants it to be. For this reason, God sent His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit to the world: to bless everyone and everything that He made, to make all things good again. When the priest comes to bless our homes, he asks God to have mercy on the house, to rid it of every evil and to fill it with every blessing. What a wonderful way to begin the New Year! By: Phyllis Meshel Onest
Daily Confession by Appointment - Call the Church Office
“And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Acts 11:26
The Antiochian Orthodox
Basilica of St. Mary
Fr. George Shalhoub - Pastor Fr. Jim King - Director of Youth & Pastoral Outreach Programs
Archdeacon Issa Rizkallah
313-690-2030
Deacon Dr. Dennis Bojrab Deacon Samer Hanna
Nidal Fakhoury - Parish Council Chairman
Linda Lawson - Choir Director Stacey Badeen - Church Administrator Sonya Kassis - Parish Ministries
Coordinator Haitham Fakhouri - Communications
Richard Shebib/Sami Azzouz - Ushers
Dr. Tom Saba - Young Adults-
St. John Divine
Nancy Ghannam- Ladies Society
President Nicole Rumman & Natalie Samaan
Teen Soyo Co-Presidents
Lina Nunu - Arabic School Keith Rowe - Cultural Center General Manager 734-421-9220
The Light of Christ
AL-NOUR
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY:
THE ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX BASILICA OF ST. MARY
Page 2 The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary
THE EPISTLE
How magnified are Thy works, O Lord! In Wisdom hast Thou made them all.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
The Reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians
Chapter 3:4-11
BBBB rethren, when Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idol worship; for the sake of such things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience; wherein you also once walked, when you lived in these things. But now you also put them all away; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language out of your mouths. Do not lie to one another, having put off the old man with his works; and having put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of his Creator, where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond, or free; but Christ is all, and in all.
THE GOSPEL
The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke
Chapter 17:12-19
AAAA t that time, as Jesus entered a village, He was met by Ten Lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When Jesus saw them He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
We Would Love To Visit You! It’s House Blessing Season
House blessings have begun as we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany. All those who wish to have their house blessed, please call the church office at 734-422-0010 to make an appointment for one of the clergy to come and visit you and your family to pray together and bless your home.
The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary Page 3
Please visit www.saintmarylivonia.com for details about events and ac�vi�es happening
at the Basilica of Saint Mary. If you have any ques�ons regarding Youth and Outreach Events,
please contact Fr. Jim or Sonya Kassis at (734) 422-0010.
Parish Ministries Updates
The Basilica of Saint Mary
2017 Youth and Ministry Programs’ Events
20/40 Young Adult Fellowship
Upcoming Events:
February 2017: Marriage Seminar
March 2017: Lenten Retreat and Service Project
Teen SOYO Upcoming Events:
January 16: Ski Day at Pine Knob
January 18: Ice Ska7ng at Campus
Mar7us
February 17-20: Winter Camp
March 2017: Lenten Retreat and
Service Project
Church School Upcoming Events:
February 5: Godparent Sunday
February 27: Forgiveness Sunday
Vespers
April 1: Second Grade Confession
May 21: Last Day Picnic Mother-Toddler:
Meets Every Wednesday
Page 4 The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary
PRAYER CORNER memorials
IIII am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25) Jan. 15th - 9 day memorial in loving memory of Victoria Abdou Sultani offered by the family,
Jan. 15th - 40 day memorial in loving
memory of Michel Kehdy offered by the
family, Jan. 15th - 1 year memorial in loving
memory of Rimon Warra offered by his
wife Maha Warra and family, Jan. 15th - 1 year memorial in loving memory of Abdalla Rizqalla offered by his wife Nawal Rizqalla and family, Jan. 21st (Sat.)- 40 day memorial in loving memory of Cecilia Issa offered by her daughter Dr. Wafa (Dr. Tony) Sultani and family,
Thank You
“A Vigil Light is Burning”
FFFF or The Health and Well Being Of: Major Timothy Lawson, Jeffrey Wolenter, Olivia Fakhouri, Zain Fakhouri,
IIII n Memory Of: Joseph Michael Mouaikel, George Abodeely, Nawal Fakhouri,
HOLY BREAD OF OBLATION
HHHH oly Bread of Oblation is offered by the families, for the month of January, in loving memory of:
Fuad Ghannam
Suad Ghannam
Najla Hanoosh
Jad Harb
John Naser Afaf Rizkallah
Abdalla Rizqalla
George and Wadia Shami Geno Zayid
HHHH oly Bread of Oblation is offered by the families, for the month of January for the health and well being of:
Neil, Nancy, Lauren and Zack Hanoosh
Nabiha Kazaleh
Mike Simone
Magdoleen, Alex, Justin and Sharky Zayid
LLLL ord, You are the physician of our souls and body. We pray You grant the following parishioners good health and blessings: Metropolitan PAUL Yazigi, Archbishop Youhanna Ibrahim, Sahar, baby Mary Bardakjian, Delaini Walrich, Lucas Tams, Marie Abouassaly, George Mourani, Linda, Nancy Rizqalla, Haifa Zayed,
TTTT he following parishioners and friends of the Basilica of St.
Mary have given special donations to the Church in the past few weeks: $50-In loving memory of Michel Kehdy offered by Dr. Nabil and Isabelle Sultani, $50-In loving memory of Jad Harb and George and Wadia Shami offered by Rima Harb, $100-In loving memory of parents Raji and Fahdeh Kakish and Salem and Nabiha Ghareeb offered by George and Nabeleh Ghareeb, $200-For the health and well being of John Allen Kadado, on the occasion of his baptism, offered by grandparents Dr. Nabil and Isabelle Sultani, $300-In loving memory of Geno T. Zayid and for the health and well being of Magdoleen, Alex, Justin and Sharky Zayid offered by Magdoleen Zayid, $500-For the health and well being of Linda Saleh Yazji offered by her parents Fred and Afaf Saleh, $500-For the health and well being of Neil, Nancy, Lauren and Zack Hanoosh offered by Neil and Nancy Hanoosh, $500-For the health and well being of newly baptized John Allen offered by parents Dr. Allen and Angela Kadado, $500-In loving memory of Afaf Rizkallah and Najla Hanoosh offered by their children, Neil and Nancy Hanoosh,
Condolences
TTTT he clergy and parishioners at the Basilica of St. Mary extend their deepest sympathy to husband Abou Sultani, children Dr. Nabil (Isabelle) Sultani, Dr. Tony (Dr. Wafa) Sultani, Wadia (Hala) Sultani, Hanna (Widad) Sultani, Halim (Nellie) Sultani, Ahlam (Anwar) Hanna, the grandchildren and the entire Sultani family on the passing of Victoria Abdou Sultani, age 84, in Syria.
May her memory be eternal.
Senior Heritage Fellowship Please us for our monthly service and luncheon on Thursday, January 26th. Service begins at 10:15am followed by lunch in the Activity Center classroom next to the elevator at 11:15am. Menu includes baked Macaroni with meat sauce, salad, garlic bread and fruit. Cost is $5.00 per person. All seniors are welcome.
Condolences
TTTT he clergy and parishioners at the Basilica of St. Mary extend their deepest sympathy to Tammy Lambert, son Anthony (Kristina Kharsa) Lambert and the entire Lambert family on the passing of her beloved husband, Phillip Lambert.
May his memory be eternal.
The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary Page 5
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Parish Council News
Anyone interested in running for the Parish Council for 2017 should inform the Nominating Committee (Fr. George Shalhoub, Andrew Ansara, Don Hayes, Nidal Fakhoury, or Emeel Ajluni) immediately. Those nominated must meet the following qualifications as stated in Article VI, Sec., 2 of our Constitution: “A candidate must be twenty-one (21) years of age or over and must have been a voting member of the Parish for a period of two (2) years and has fulfilled the Canonical requirements of the Faith.”
HE/SHE MUST BE A PLEDGED MEMBER AND HAVE FULFILLED THEIR PLEDGE FOR TWO (2) YEARS.
Please make sure all nominations are in prior to, or at the General Parish meeting on January 22, 2017 in the Cultural Center immediately following Liturgy. Due to term limitations, Arwa Ansara and Shaden Dababneh will be stepping down. Jason Amash, Robert Harb and Tony Musallam are eligible to run for a second term.
The General Parish meeting will be held on Sunday, January 22, 2017
immediately following the Liturgy in the Cultural Center.