EXALTATION OF THE HOLY

CROSS September 14th, is the feast of the

Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It

remembers the retrieval of the Holy

Cross, which had been found and

preserved by Saint Helena, the

mother of Constantine, (with the

assistance of Patriarch Saint

Macarius) but had fallen into the

hands of King Khosrau of Persia.

Emperor Heraclius recovered the

sacred relic and returned it to

Jerusalem in 629.

The feast commemorates three

distinct historical events: the finding

of the True Cross, its return in the 7th

century, and its ineffable power as

the instrument of Christ’s

redemptive sacrifice and our

salvation. Regarding the later, our

Savior's crucifixion imbues human

suffering with dignity and divine

purpose. http://www.bigccatholics.com/2016/09/fea

st-of-exaltation-of-holy-cross.html

The Feast of the Holy Cross is a

reminder of God’s great love for us

because it is through the cross that

He gave His only Son for our

salvation. The cross, a symbol of

Christ’s victory over death, gives us

strength during our times of

hardships and sadness. The cross

becomes for us a daily sign of the

great love that Jesus has for His

people.

In times of struggle, adversity,

hardships, and pain, we have become

accustomed to turning our attention

to the cross. As we have seen so

many times through the persecution,

tragedy, and martyrdom of others,

the cross has been a source of

courage, solace, and peace, knowing

that Jesus gave us our salvation and

our place in His kingdom through

this visible act of love on a cross.

Today we celebrate the Exaltation of

the Holy Cross because of the

meaning it holds for us. In our

Lenten prayers the cross was once

referred to as the “wood of shame”,

but Jesus transformed it into the

“wood of victory.” We have been

given hope through the symbol of

the cross---a hope that rekindles our

faith through tragedy and joy. It is a

hope that just as Jesus suffered

through the cross; we too must share

in our suffering. But ultimately, it is

our hope that through the Holy

Cross, we will share in the greatest

gift God has given to us---the

kingdom of heaven. This is our

salvation.

As we celebrate this beautiful feast

let us gaze our eyes on the cross

everyday as a source of strength,

courage, and hope, so that through

His cross we can conquer evil and

sin and share in His resurrection.

Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church September 09-10, 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.

FEAST OF THE HOLY CROSS 40

LITURGY INTENTIONS

Saturday, September 9, 2017, @

6:00 PM, (Exaltation of the Holy

Cross) liturgy is offered for

parishioners and friends of Saint

Maron Church.

Sunday, September 10, 2017, @

11:00 AM, (Exaltation of the

Holy Cross) liturgy is offered for

the soul of Johnny Zaidan

requested by Carmen and

Rosemarie Marrone and family.

May his soul rest in peace. Liturgy

is also offered as a 40 day

memorial for the soul of Takla

Bichouty requested by her

children. May her soul rest in

peace.

Saturday, September 16, 2017, @

6:00 pm, Liturgy is offered for the

soul of Bishop Robert Shaheen.

May his soul rest in peace.

Sunday, September 17, 2017 @

11:00 am, Liturgy is offered for the

soul of Jimmy Abdullah requested

by Carmen and Rosemarie

Marrone and family. Liturgy is also

offered for the soul of Yvonne

Impo requested by Patricia Impo.

May her soul rest in peace.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

(CONFESSION) Please know that confession is

available before liturgies. You may

also call to set up an appointment.

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.

UPCOMING EVENTS • Saint Maron Church honors our

Police, Firefighters, and First

Responders, on Friday,

September 15, with Divine

Liturgy and dinner. We thank

them for all they do for this

community and for the city of

Philadelphia. God bless you and

protect you always.

• 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.

JOB OPPORTUNITY Passyunk Dental Office on 15th and

Passyunk Avenue requires the

services of a qualified young person

to fill the position of front desk

receptionist. Position is available

immediately. Interested candidates

may send their resume to

Michael.alharir@gmail.com In case

of any questions, please contact

Michael at 901-319-0222.

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.

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.

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 week end, 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.

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.

IN OUR PRAYERS Please keep in your prayers 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, Rita Impo, Albert Boulos,

Mary Fetterman, Issa Mazahreh,

Aminee Skaf, Carmen Marrone,

Rose Kouri, Yasmine Myers, Joey

Gdowick, Francis Joseph Kerns,

Albert Saleem, Albert Anderson, Jr.,

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 2-3, 2017

Collection $ 819.00

Special Col. Texas $ 339.00

Coffee Hour $ 21.00

Total: $ 1,179.00

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

CHURCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

First Reading 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

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

Brothers and Sisters:

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord

Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention

you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and

labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and

sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you

not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you

know what kind of people we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators

of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the

Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in

every place where your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about

it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you,

and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son

from heaven, whom he raised from the dead Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is

coming.

Praise be to God always.

تسالونيقياألولى إلى أهل سبول القديس رسالةفصل من سوع المسيح: يا إخوتي : من بولس وسلوانس وطيموتاوس إلى كنيسة التسالونيكي ين التي في هللا اآلب والرب ي

المأ ونتذكر في حضرة إلهنا .نشكر هللا دائما من أجلكم جميعا، ونذكركم في صلواتنا بغير ٱنقطاع !لن عمة لكم والسونعلم، أيها اإلخوة، أحباء هللا، أن .وأبينا عمل إيمانكم، وتعب محبتكم، وثبات رجائكم، كما في رب نا يسوع المسيح

وح القدس وبملء اليقين، وأنتم تعلمون ألن إنجيلنا لم يصر إليكم هللا ٱختاركم؛ بالكالم وحسب، بل أيضا بالقوة وبالر، إذ قبلتم الكلمة، في وسط ضيقات كثيرة، بفرح الر .كيف كنا بينكم من أجلكم وح فقد صرتم تقتدون بنا وبالرب

، ال في مقدونية حتى صرتم مثاال لجميع المؤمنين في مقدونية وأخائية؛ القدس، ألنها منكم ذاعت كلمة الرب فهم .ة إلى أن نقول في ذلك شيئاوأخائية وحسب، بل في كل مكان ٱنتشر إيمانكم باهلل، حتى لم يعد بنا حاج

،أنفسهم يخبرون عنا كيف كان دخولنا إليكم، وكيف رجعتم عن األوثان إلى هللا، لكي تعبد وا هللا الحي الحق ماوات ٱبنه، الذي أقامه م ينا من الغضب اآلتيوتنتظروا من الس .ن بين األموات، يسوع، منج

.ايح هلل دائم والتسب

Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church

September 09-10, 2017

Gospel Reading

Saint Luke 7:36-50

The Apostle Writes: One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his

place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the

Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and

began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet

and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to

himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who

is touching him that she is a sinner.’ Jesus spoke up and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say

to you.’ ‘Teacher,’ he replied, ‘speak.’ ‘A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred

denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debts for both of them. Now

which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the

greater debt.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have judged rightly.’ Then turning towards the woman, he

said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but

she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the

time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has

anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven;

hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.’ Then he said to

her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves,

‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ And he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in

peace.’

This is the truth. Peace be with you.

يس ا يل ج ن إ ن م لوقالق د يسي وٱتكأ يسي ين يسوع أن يتناول الطعام معه، فدخل بيت الفر وإذا ٱمرأة، وهي التي كانت في المدينة .سأل واحد من الفر

، فجاءت تحمل قارورة طيبخاطئة، علمت أن يسي ووقفت باكية وراء يسوع، عند قدميه، وبدأت . يسوع متكئ في بيت الفر فهما بشعر رأسها، وتقب ل قدميه، وتدهنهما بالط يب موع، وتنش ، الذي دعا يسوع، ما جرى، .تبل قدميه بالد يسي ورأى الفر

يا سمعان، »فأجاب يسوع وقال له: .«لو كان هذا نبيا لعلم أي ٱمرأة هي تلك التي تلمسه! إنها خاطئة»فقال في نفسه: : قال «. عندي شيء أقوله لك يسي كان لدائن مديونان، أحدهما مديون بخمسمئة دينار، »قال يسوع: .«قل، يا معل م»الفر

، »جاب سمعان وقال: أ .«وإذ لم يكن لهما ما يوفيان، سامحهما كليهما. فأيهما يكون أكثر حبا له؟ .واآلخر بخمسين أظنواب»فقال له يسوع: «. ذاك الذي سامحه باألكثر هل ترى هذه المرأة؟ »ثم ٱلتفت إلى المرأة وقال لسمعان: .«حكمت بالص

فتهما بشعرهاأنا دخلت بيتك فما سكبت على قدمي ماء، موع، ونش أنت لم تقب لني، أما هي .أما هي فقد بلت قدمي بالدذلك أقول لك: خطاياها ل .أنت ما دهنت رأسي بزيت، أما هي فدهنت بالط يب قدمي .فمنذ دخلت لم تكف عن تقبيل قدمي

فبدأ .«!مغفورة لك خطاياك »ثم قال للمرأة: .«الكثيرة مغفورة لها، ألنها أحبت كثيرا. أما الذي يغفر له قليل فيحب قليال إيمانك خلصك! إذهبي »فقال يسوع للمرأة: .«من هو هذا الذي يغفر الخطايا أيضا؟»: المتكئون معه يقولون في أنفسهم

.«!بسالما واألمان لجميعكم. حق