Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church

2010 Annual Diocesan Development Appeal

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

As hard as it is to believe, Monday, February 15^th, is Ash Monday, the first day of Lent. Easter is early this year, so Lent comes early too. Lent is a very special time of the year for us to pray and reflect on our relationship with God. This Holy Season affords us an opportunity to look very carefully at our Faith and how we are living it out in our every day life. It is a time for growing closer to God by deepening our prayer life and by making significant sacrifices. There are so many opportunities for us to do good works of charity and perform deeds of mercy. We don’t have to do anything dramatic - all we need to do is look more attentively at those we encounter in our daily lives, whether they be family, friends, or perfect strangers, and see what we can do to bring them closer to God.

Lent is also an excellent time for us to reflect on how we can better spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. EVANGELIZATION is all about spreading the Gospel. We can do this in a variety of ways in our daily lives. If we are going to really witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then we must do all in our power to grow in our knowledge of Jesus and His Church. We do this through prayer, Scripture reading, and receiving the sacraments of the Church. The more time we spend with Jesus, the more we deepen our relationship with Him.

Thus Lent is a time of RENEWAL - spread the Good News to every one we meet, attend to the sacraments of the Church, grow in holiness, and be good stewards. The more we renew ourselves, the more we become like Jesus, and the better we can be witness to Him at home, work, and school.

In this vein, I remind all that during Great Lent, our bishop, the Most Reverend Robert Shaheen, turns to us for financial help in the form of the Annual Development Appeal. Enclosed please find the information on the 2010 Appeal. Checks should be made payable to Our Lady of Lebanon Church, and we, in turn, will send one check to His Excellency from the parish of OLOL. Our parish mandatory goal is $10,800. I urge you to do whatever you can help us meet, or even exceed, our parish goal to assist our bishop minister to the many needs of our diocese and our brothers and sisters in Christ, particularly in these terrible economic times. With your generous help, much becomes possible; without it, little can be achieved. Our bishop is asking you to assume greater financial responsibility so he can better serve his flock. Please do your absolute best to assist our bishop in serving us.

In closing I encourage everyone to make the most of this Lenten Season by taking advantage of all the opportunities we have in our parish to pray and to serve Our Lord by serving one another. God bless you all.

Sincerely yours,

Msgr. Alfred Badawi, Pastor

Our Lady of Lebanon

The Year of the Priest

Pope Benedict XVI has proclaimed a Year dedicated to the Priest. The Year of the Priest will run from 19 June 2009 to 19 June 2010. "Shortly the day will come on which will be commemorated the 150th anniversary of the pious departure to Heaven of St John Mary Vianney, the Curé d'Ars. This Saint was a wonderful model here on earth of a true Pastor at the service of Christ's flock.
Since his example is used to encourage the faithful, and especially priests, to imitate his virtues, the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI has established that for this occasion a special Year for Priests will be celebrated, from 19 June 2009 to 19 June 2010, in which all priests may be increasingly strengthened in fidelity to Christ with devout meditation, spiritual exercises and other appropriate actions."
Please pray for all of our priests, that they may be strengthened and purified to lead the people of the Church.