QUOTE OF

THE WEEK

“We always find that those

who walked closest to

Christ were those who had

to bear the greatest trials.”

St. Teresa of Avila

FEAST OF SAINT THECLA

According to a popular second

century tale, Acts of Paul and

Thecla, she was a native of

Iconomium who was so impressed

by the preaching of St.

Paul on virginity that she broke off

her engagement to marry Thamyris

to live a life of virginity. Paul was

ordered to be scourged and

banished from the city for his

teaching, and Thecla was ordered

burned to death. When a storm

providentially extinguished the

flames, she escaped with Paul and

went with him to Antioch. There

she was condemned to wild beasts

in the arena when she violently

resisted the attempt of Syriarch

Alexander to kidnap her, but again

escaped when the beasts did no

harm to her. She rejoined Paul

at Myra in Lycia, dressed as a boy,

and was commissioned by him to

preach the Gospel. She did for

a time in Iconium and then became

a recluse in a cave at Meriamlik

near Seleucia. She lived as a

hermitess there for the next seventy-

two years and died there (or in

Rome, where she was miraculously

transported when she found that

Paul had died and was later buried

near his tomb). The tale had

tremendous popularity in the early

Church but is undoubtedly a pious

fiction and was labeled apocryphal

by St. Jerome. Her feast day is

September 23.

FINANCE COUNCIL MEETING

We will have a meeting for the

finance council on Wednesday,

September 27, 2017, at 7:00 PM in

the rectory. Please make every

effort in attending this meeting. If

you are not able to attend please

notify me at the church office.

Thank you.

SAINT MARON FALL HAFLI Our annual Fall Hafli will be held

on Saturday, October 14, 2017,

beginning with cocktail hour at 7:00

PM, followed by a Lebanese Buffet

at 8:00 PM. Live entertainment by

Said Abi Akl and the Roukos

Jacobs Band. Tickets will go on

sale beginning Sunday, September

24, after Divine Liturgy. Adult

tickets are $55.00 per person and

children 12 and under are $25.00

per person. Hope to see you all

there.

Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church September 23-24, 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.

SECOND SUNDAY OF THE HOLY CROSS 40

CCD REGISTRATION Registration forms for CCD are

available via email as well as in the

church hall. Please take the time to

register your children for classes so

that we may prepare and order

supplies and books for them.

Classes begin Sunday, September

17. I look forward to another

wonderful year. Many thanks to

Zeina Topalian and all of the

volunteers who dedicate their time

and efforts teaching our children the

importance of our faith and the love

of Jesus Christ.

SAINT MARON FALL HAFLI Our annual Fall Hafli will be held

on Saturday, October 14, 2017,

beginning with cocktail hour at 7:00

PM, followed by a Lebanese Buffet

at 8:00 PM. Live entertainment by

Said Abi Akl and the Roukos

Jacobs Band. Tickets will go on

sale beginning Sunday, September

24, after Divine Liturgy. Adult

tickets are $55.00 per person and

children 12 and under are $25.00

per person. Hope to see you all

there.

SUNDAY OF THE ORDER OF SAINT SHARBEL

This year October 8 has been

designated as “Order of Saint

Sharbel Sunday” in our

Eparchy. On October 8, all

Maronite parishes will be promoting

the Order. The Order of Saint

Sharbel is vitally important in

providing financial and spiritual

support for our seminarians, who

are crucial for the future of our

Maronite Church. Please

prayerfully consider joining the

Order. You may enroll online

at www.orderstsharbel.org or with

your pastor. Thank you very much for supporting

this very important work in our

Eparchy. With gratitude for all your love for the

Church, I remain yours in Christ, + Gregory

ANNIVERSARY MAILINGS This week you will receive our

anniversary mailing that contains

dates and events for the next four

months. Included in this mailing is

information regards Saint Maron

Relic veneration schedule, Grand

Hafli celebration weekend, and

sponsorship forms for the

commemorative ad book. We have

wonderful speakers for the weekend

of our gala that I hope each of you

will take advantage of. Mark your

calendars and make every effort to

take part of this special celebration

of our church.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

(CONFESSION) Please know that confession is

available before liturgies. You may

also call to set up an appointment.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saint Maron Church Fall Hafli,

Saturday, October 14, 2017, at

7:00 PM, in the church hall.

Entertainment by Said Abi Akl

and Band.

Saint Jude Novena, October 20-

28, 2017. Schedule to follow.

Relics of Saint Maron, Friday-

Sunday, November 10-12, 2017.

Church will be open day and

night for veneration and prayer.

Regional NAM, November 17-19,

2017, Saint John Paul II Church,

Westchester, NY.

125th Anniversary Gala

Weekend, December 1-3, 2017.

Schedule to follow.

Annual Christmas Parish Party,

Sunday, December 17, 2017,

immediately following Divine

Liturgy.

New Year’s Eve Party, Sunday,

December 31, 2017, beginning at

7:00 PM. Details to follow.

LITURGY INTENTIONS Saturday, September 23, 2017, @

6:00 PM, liturgy is offered the

souls of Joseph and Anna Ferhat

requested by their family. May

their souls rest in peace.

Sunday, September 24, 2017, @

11:00 AM, liturgy is offered for the

soul of Robert Cherfane requested

by his family. May his soul rest in

peace.

Saturday, September 30, 2017, @

6:00 pm, Liturgy is being offered

for the parishioners and benefactors

of Saint Maron Church.

Sunday, October 1, 2017 @ 11:00

am, Liturgy is offered for the souls

of Michael “Chubby” Simon,

Johnny Zaidan, and Tom Baxter

requested by Mary Ann Zaidan and

family. May their souls rest in

peace. Liturgy is also offered as a

40 Day memorial for the soul of

Bishop Robert Shaheen requested

by Saint Maron Church

Parishioners. May his soul rest in

peace.

RAFFFLE DONATIONS FOR ANNIVERSARY GALA

NEEDED As we plan to finalize plans for the

125th

Anniversary weekend, we are

looking for donations for the raffle

which will be held on Saturday,

December 2, at the grand halfi. If

anyone is interested in donating a

flat screen TV, IPad, or gift baskets,

please send me an email or let me

know after Divine Liturgy. Your

help is greatly appreciated and I

thank you for your help.

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.

PHOTO’S AND ARTICLES NEEDED

As we prepare for our anniversary

gala in December, we are in the

process of gathering old articles and

pictures of the church and its priests

from as far back as possible. We

need your help. Please if you have

any articles and/or pictures that you

can share with us please bring them

to the office. We will scan them

and return them to you with

gratitude. This booklet will be a

treasure for many generations and

serve as a remembrance for

generations to come. Thank you in

advance for your help.

IN OUR PRAYERS Please keep in your prayers Baby

June Carter, Roseann Anthony,

Joey Farkas McKenzie, Elaine

Nader, Sal Pinto, Michael Pascucci,

Jenny DiCicco, Bob Rosner,

Nicholas Carine, Amelia Habib,

Baby Elle Isgro, Suzanne Haney,

Lisa Alestra, John Nader, Joseph

Alestra, Chucky Simon, Mary

Fetterman, Aminee Skaf, Carmen

Marrone, Rose Kouri, Yasmine

Myers, Joey Gdowick, Francis

Joseph Kerns, Michelina Krewda,

Samer Chokeir, Kathy Newman,

Vickey Saulino, Rita Arrigale,

Helen Freedenberg, Maryann

Bratton, Renee Sahar, Joann Divon,

Jane Trevelino, Sister Nahida Al

Sawa, Virginia Ramano, Rose De

Jesse, James Cordisio, Stacey

Fuentes, Debbie Freedenberg, Noel

Andjuhar, 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 September 16-17, 2017

Collection $ 1,596.00

Special Col. Irma $ 969.00

Coffee Hour $ 78.00

Total: $ 2,643.00

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

CHURCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

First Reading 1 Corinthians 15:19-34

A reading from the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians. Your blessing father…

Brothers and Sisters:

If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has

been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human

being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will

be made alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who

belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has

destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies

under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For ‘God has put all things in subjection under his

feet.’ But when it says, ‘All things are put in subjection’, it is plain that this does not include the one who

put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also

be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all. Otherwise,

what will those people do who receive baptism on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why

are people baptized on their behalf? And why are we putting ourselves in danger every hour? I die every

day! That is as certain, brothers and sisters, as my boasting of you a boast that I make in Christ Jesus our

Lord. If with merely human hopes I fought with wild animals at Ephesus, what would I have gained by it?

If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’ Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company

ruins good morals.’ Come to a sober and right mind, and sin no more; for some people have no knowledge

of God. I say this to your shame.

Praise be to God always.

األولى إلى أهل قورنتس بولس القديس رسالةفصل من والحال أن المسيح قام من بين األموات، وهو !يا إخوتي، إن كنا نرجو المسيح في هذه الحياة وحسب، فنحن أشقى الناس أجمعين

فكما أنه في آدم يموت الجميع، .فبما أن الموت كان بواسطة إنسان، فبواسطة إنسان أيضا تكون قيامة األموات .باكورة الراقدينوبعد ذلك تكون .اكورة، ثم الذين هم للمسيح، عند مجيئه كل واحد في رتبته: المسيح أوال، ألنه الب كذلك في المسيح سيحيا الجميع،

ن يملك، ألنه ال بد للمسيح أ لطان وقوة،الن هاية، حين يسل م المسيح الملك إلى هللا اآلب، بعد أن يكون قد أبطل كل رئاسة وكل س لقد أخضع هللا كل شيء تحت قدميه. وحين يقول .وآخر عدو يبطل هو الموت .إلى أن يجعل هللا جميع أعدائه تحت قدميه

ومتى أخضع لٱلبن كل شيء، فحينئذ .هللا الذي أخضع له كل شيء، فمن الواضح أنه يستثني «أخضع له كل شيء»الكتاب: موات؟ وإال فماذا يفعل الذين يتعمدون من أجل األ .يخضع اٱلبن نفسه للذي أخضع له كل شيء، حتى يكون هللا الكل في الكل

ض أنفسنا كل ساعة للخطر؟ إن كان األموات ال يقومون أبدا، فلماذا يتعمدون من أجلهم؟ أقسم، أيها اإلخوة، ونحن، فلماذا نعر إن كنت صارعت الوحوش في أفسس، لغاية بشرية، فأي .أواجه الموت كل يوم بما لي من فخر بكم في المسيح يسوع رب نا، أن ي

ي ئة تف !نفع لي؟ وإن كان األموات ال يقومون، فلنأكل ونشرب، ألننا غدا سنموت ليمةال تضلوا! إن المعاشرات الس !سد األخالق الس !أيقظوا قلوبكم بالتقوى، وال تخطأوا، فإن بعضا منكم يجهلون هللا! أقول هذا إلخجالكم

.ايح هلل دائم والتسب

Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church

September 23-24, 2017

Gospel Reading

Saint Matthew 24:1-14

The Apostle Writes:

As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him

the buildings of the temple. Then he asked them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell

you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’ When he was

sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when

will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’ Jesus

answered them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name,

saying, "I am the Messiah!" and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and

rumours of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not

yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be

famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

‘Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated

by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one

another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And

because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But anyone who

endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed

throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.

This is the truth. Peace be with you.

يس ا يل ج ن إ ن م مت ىلق د أال تنظرون "فأجاب وقال لهم: .نية الهيكلخرج يسوع من الهيكل ومضى. فدنا منه تالميذه يلفتون نظره إلى أب وفيما هو جالس على جبل الزيتون، دنا ."هذا كله؟ ألحق أقول لكم: لن يترك هنا حجر على حجر إال وينقض

فأجاب يسوع ."لنا متى يكون هذا، وما هي عالمة مجيئك ونهاية العالم؟ قل "منه التالميذ على ٱنفراد قائلين: وسوف .أنا هو المسيح! ويضلون الكثيرين"فكثيرون سيأتون بٱسمي قائلين: !إحذروا أن يضلكم أحد"وقال لهم:

ستقوم أمة !بحروب وبأخبار حروب، أنظروا، ال ترتعبوا! فال بد أن يحدث هذا. ولكن ليست الن هاية بعدتسمعون ل المخاض على أمة، ومملكة على مملكة، وتكون مجاعات وزالزل في أماكن شتى، حينئذ يسلمونكم .وهذا كله أو

يق، ويقتلونكم، ويبغضكم جميع األمم من أجل ٱسمي وحينئذ يرتد الكثيرون عن اإليمان، ويسلم بعضهم .إلى الض .ولكثرة اإلثم تفتر محبة الكثيرين .أنبياء كذبة كثيرون ويضلون الكثيرينويقوم .بعضا، ويبغض بعضهم بعضاأتي ويكرز بإنجيل الملكوت هذا في المسكونة كل ها شهادة لجميع األمم، وحينئذ ت .ومن يصبر إلى الن هاية يخلص

."الن هايةا واألمان لجميعكم. حق