Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church

RICHARD’S SONG

25^th Anniversary

Written By Sam Ibrahim, Sr.

TODAY RICHARD’S ANNIVERSARY                 25 YEARS IN HISTORY

PLAYS MUSIC IN OUR CHURCH                        THAT IS TRULY DIGNITY

LOYALTY AND SINCERITY

RICHARD A VOLUNTEER ARTIST                HIS WORK’S IS VERY WELL NOTEST

SERVING GOD IS SO GRACIOUS                  YOUR REWARD IS IN HEAVEN

WE CAN SAY THAT ONES AGAIN

THE FOLKS AND THE CHOIR TOO                  WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE

AND WISH YOU ALL THE BEST                                   KEEP UP YOUR GOOD WORK

AND STAY AMONG THE FINEST

OUR LADY OF LEBANON                                               WILL BLESS YOU BY THE MILLIONS

WISH YOU LONG LIFE IN GOOD HEALTH       EVER LASTING HAPPINESS

OH RICHARD YOU’RE THE GREATEST

We are gathered today to celebrate the Feast of St Maron. What a better opportunity can we find to take the moment to appreciate one of the many aspects that contribute to the existence and success of our parish: that is the presence of a very talented, highly dedicated individual, our choir organist for over 25 years, Richard Wozniak.

I would like to tell you a little bit about him: Richard is currently an instructor of Marketing at Northern Illinois University. Richard has held many professorship positions at many different colleges in the area, including College of Du Page and Lewis University. Aside from his teaching career, Richard has worked in retail, sales and sales support and is currently marketing manager for a music merchandising website; a nice way to do a little bit of all what he loves; marketing and music!

Among all of this, Richard somehow finds the time to volunteer not only at our church, but also at 2 more churches in the area: Our Lady of Charity Roman Catholic Church, Cicero, IL and St. Domitilla Roman Catholic Church, Hillside, IL.

Richard started playing the organ at Our Lady of Lebanon over 25 years ago, and since then, has been a dedicated member of our parish. I personally cannot recall a Sunday where Richard was absent!

Many of us hear the choir sing different hymns throughout the year, the majority of which change from one week to another. But many of us ignore a crucial aspect that goes into making this possible; the presence of Richard. Richard started with the choir of Our Lady of Lebanon Church from the very beginning, when the choir size fluctuated between one person and just a few, and has seen it grow, little by little to what it has become today. Richard was always there, teaching people new songs, and helping interpret them. A big appreciation goes to the fact that Richard is always ready to take on new hymns, always flexible with the need of the church for change. He never declines to play an hymn, no matter how hard or easy it is, no matter how much time it would take him to perfect it, and he will always perfect it! The choir director and the choir cannot perform in a comfortable and professional way without proper accompaniment. And the presence of a nice choir makes a lot of difference in a church. Therefore, we would like to thank Richard for his great dedication, to our choir as well as to our church. His work and commitment is greatly appreciated and felt every step of the way in keeping with our Maronite values and upholding our traditions.

It is very rare to find such a talent and such a dedication combined in one person! As such, Our Lady of Lebanon would like to present him today with a token of appreciation.

Julie Mouannes Kozaili

Choir Director

FEBRUARY 20, 2011

Chorbishop Alfred, Deacon, altar servers, Members of the Choir and Director Julie, parishioners of Our Lady of Lebanon Church, and members of my family--Ronald, Wendy, Allegra, and Phyllis--with us here today:

I originally came to Our Lady of Lebanon Church, then in Hillside, as an outsider, back in Lent of 1986.  Upon introducing myself to Father Victor and Father John, they invited me to make Our Lady of Lebanon Church my spiritual home.  I knew very little about Lebanon, the Maronite Rite of the Catholic Church, St. Maron (whose feast we celebrate today), St. Sharbel, or even the vibrant Lebanese Community in Chicago.

At the time, Father George was starting an Arabic choir.  He welcomed me to play the organ for Mass.  And Father George had to remind me that the musical notation was printed from the right to left; otherwise, I would likely have played the opening song that first Sunday ... “Inna kalimataka” ... I believe, backwards.  Soon afterwards, I accompanied the choir for the dedication of Our Lady’s shrine.  I recall the night before the dedication, rehearsing a rarely-heard Arabic setting of the “Ave Maria” with Sam Ibrahim in the choir loft until well after midnight.  I was writing out the musical notation so that I would remember the melody for the next day.  This was the same “Ave Maria” that Sam sang so beautifully after the liturgy today.

The Parish Council at that time consisted of the Shakirs, the Ibrahims, the Antoons, the Tabets, Mitch Mattrey, and others.  They invited me to submit a proposal and later voted to allow me to oversee the restoration of the Moller pipe organ in the loft of the old church.  Upon completion of the project, at minimal cost--less than $5,000, we had a respectable organ to accompany our choir, an instrument that remains in service at another Catholic church today.

Having relocated the church temporarily to Mary Queen of Heaven in Elmhurst, and then permanently to our present beautiful location here in Lombard, Father Alfred--assisted by Julie, Jessie and myself--has demonstrated a top-priority commitment to establishing a quality musical program at our liturgies.

I have been privileged to experience first hand the warmth, support, friendship, and faith of the Lebanese Maronite people.  I’ve been invited to celebrate your families’ successes and joys and to share your sorrows; and I have become enriched by your Maronite spirituality.  To all of you, I say, “Thank you,” and I look forward to continuing to serve in the musical program at Our Lady of Lebanon Church.  Thank you.

Richard A. Wozniak