Guía de la iglesia

RICHARD GEORGE “Dick” ANTER, II, age 67. Beloved husband of Camille (nee Arrieh). Loving father of Richard III (Elma), Mary Bocchicchio (Rocco) and Lauren. Dearest brother of Joe Anter (Pam), JoAnne Ata (late George), Terri Garr (Chris) and Mary Sue Tanis (John). Uncle, cousin, coach and friend of many. Funeral Liturgy, St. Elias Melkite Greek Catholic Church, 8023 Memphis Avenue, Brooklyn, OH., Monday July 1, 2019 at 11:00 AM. (EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT THE CHURCH). In lieu of flowers, contributions requested to either Youth Challenge, 800 Sharon Drive, Westlake, Ohio 44145 or St. Elias Church. Friends received Sunday, June 30, 2019, 1 to 6 pm at the A. RIPEPI AND SONS FUNERAL HOME, 18149 BAGLEY ROAD, MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OH (West of I-71). With great sorrow, we are saddened to announce the unexpected and sudden death of Richard G. Anter II "Dick" last Wednesday. We are shocked and filled with grief for the departure of a man who loved God and his Church, both West and East, serving with great zeal fructifying the talents that God has given him. We are certain that Dick wants us to celebrate his life instead of mourning his death. As the President of our Parish Council, we are going to miss a man of systematic planning and action. Dick, you will always be present in our memories. Our sincerest condolences to the Anter and Arrieh families for the loss of their beloved Richard. He passed unexpectedly while on his pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Dick passed into eternal life in peace and grace. May Christ God grant his soul to rest where the justs repose; where there is, no pain, no grief, no sighing, but everlasting life. Alleluia. Christ is Risen from the death and by His death, He has trampled upon death and has given life to those who were in the tombs. May his memory be eternal.

This past Sunday, we celebrated our children’s Solemn Communion and First Reconciliation. In our Melkite Catholic rite, our children receive their First Communion at Baptism along with Confirmation when they are babies, the 3 forming the “Sacraments of Initiation.” The reason is that the child should be “initiated” into the church as soon as possible and the responsibility for the child’s upbringing in the faith rests solely with their parents and Godparents, family, parish and friends. Once they are old enough to understand right and wrong, they make their First Reconciliation. God bless our children, for they are not our future, they are our present, and we should do everything we can to support, educate and encourage them. God bless all those who made their First Reconciliation!

Just a small reminder that’s Sunday school will resume tomorrow after the Divine Liturgy.

The Ladies Guild of Our Lady of the Cedars of Mount Lebanon are hosting a Spring Lebanese Dinner on Wednesday, May 1st, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Cedars Banquet Hall. The address is 507 S. Cleveland Massillon Rd Fairlawn, OH 44333. The cost is $20.00 per person. The menu will include Kibbee, Spinach and Meat Pies, Chicken and Rice, Hummus, Fatoush, Tabouli, Lebanese Potato Salad and Dessert. Please Contact Nila Ellis by April 21st for reservations at 330-665-5188. Thank you!

As we dive into Lent, let us all remember the words of the great St. John Chrysostom:

We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the Shakkour family for the loss of their beloved George Shakkour. Our condolences to the whole family. May his memory be eternal 🙏🏻 George Habib Shakkour Born: December 4, 1950 Died: March 11, 2019 GEORGE HABIB SHAKKOUR, age 68; beloved husband of Georgette (nee Farhat) for 34 years; loving father of Rania Lupia (Michael), Abir (Steve) and Habib (Brittanie); dearest grandfather of Indy; son of the late Habib and Mariam; brother of Jamilah, Samira, Naame, Mona, Afaf and Sami; loving uncle and dear friend of many. George, a hardworking man, always took care of his family. He earned Masters’ Degrees in Engineering and Business Administration, was always well dressed, a great dancer, enjoyed writing poetry and playing cards. He will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to St. Elias Church, 8023 Memphis Ave., Brooklyn, OH 44144. Funeral service at St. Elias Church, Thursday, March 14, 2019 at 11 a.m. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends received at RIPEPI FUNERAL HOME, 5762 PEARL RD. (AT SNOW RD.), WEDNESDAY 5-8 P.M. with a Trisagion service at 7:30 p.m.

PRE CANA WEEKEND, Saturday & Sunday, April 6 & 7, 2019: Preparation for marriage according to the Byzantine Rite. At St. Joseph Byzantine Catholic Church. 8111 Brecksville Rd. Brecksville, OH 44141. You can register online at taborlife.org, call the office at 708-645-0762 or email us at [email protected]. Registration Fee: $150 / couple.

We are pleased to announce that we are now able to accept credit card donations! If you would like to donate to the church on a one-time, weekly, monthly or yearly basis via credit card, please fill out the form below and mail it to St. Elias Church or scan it and e-mail it to [email protected]. God bless you and thank you for your support! It is most greatly appreciated!!

**ATTENTION GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS** The Lebanese Syrian American Junior League will again be awarding scholarships to young men and women of Lebanese and/or Syrian descent residing in the greater Cleveland area. High school seniors should request applications from their guidance counselors. College students can request applications by emailing [email protected]. All applications MUST be received by March 31, 2019.

We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Janine Hatoum for the loss of their beloved. May her memory be eternal. Janine Hatoum (nee El Meouchi) age 65, beloved wife for 35 years of Bechara, M.D.; loving mother of Maha, Carla and Joe; cherished daughter of the late Judge Badri and Evelyn (nee Azar) El Meouchi; dearest sister of Marie-Claude Saradar (husband Joe, deceased), Salim El Meouchi (wife Nawal) and Rafic El Meouchi, M.D.; treasured sister-in-law of Marcelle Nahra (husband Norman, deceased), Laudy Wehbe, Doris Kawkabani, Nawal and Inaam Hatoum and the late Madeleine Najem; dear aunt, great-aunt and cousin of many. Contributions may be made in memory of Janine to Hospice of the Western Reserve; ALS Association, Northern Ohio Chapter; Aitaneet Foundation; or St. Elias Catholic Church. Relatives and friends are invited to meet for the Mass of Christian Burial, Monday, January 28, 2019 at 11 AM at St. Elias Catholic Church, 8023 Memphis Ave., Brooklyn, OH 44144. Burial following at Knollwood Cemetery. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Janine at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF SOUTH EUCLID, 4600 MAYFIELD RD. (just east of Green Rd.) SUNDAY, January 27th from 3-7 PM. Trisagion Service at 6 PM. Online obituary, guestbook, and order flowers at www.DeJohnCares.com.

On Friday, January 18th, The Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma is hosting their third annual local prayer service celebrating life at noon with Very Reverend Archpriest Marek Visnovsky followed by a social in the Parish Hall. The Holy Spirit Byzantine Catholic Church is located at 5500 West 54th Street in Parma, OH 44129. For more information, call 440.884.8452. https://www.ohiolife.org/parma_prayer_service_celebrating_life

Happy and Blessed New Year to all! It is always around this time of year that we recall our baptism, especially in light our celebration of Christ’s birth. As part of the nativity narrative and readings, when John the Baptist came, he baptized with water, which washes away and is gone - if in a river, water washes away and never returns to the same spot. This is wonderful imagery of how our sin is washed away, but it is fleeting at best... By comparison, when Christ came, he baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire. These both leave an indelible, lasting impression. They can never be removed. It reminds us that though we may not feel or think it, we are always enveloped in God’s good grace. We might be distant from him or we may have turned our back on him because of our sin, but the beauty of our faith is that we always have recourse. We can always beg for mercy, and he will relent. Always. This is the one time in life we can be sure of using the word “always” and it truly meaning ALWAYS. Though tough to understand, it’s true! May God bless us and our families in 2019, and may we ALWAYS remember that God is ALWAYS loving us and ALWAYS granting mercy to us!

On Sunday, November 25th, Saint Maron's Church will be having their 2nd annual fashion show fundraiser featuring Dillard’s Beachwood collections. The event will take place at 1:00 pm at the Holiday Inn on Rockside Rd in Independence. There will be a luncheon to follow. Proceeds will go to youth scholarships and activities. For Sponsors and Tickets Contact: Claire Naoum 216.337.2851 or Rita Lattouf 216.470.7512.

Our deepest sympathies to the Kaim family for the loss of their beloved Robert Kaim Jr. He passed away on November 10th. May his memory be eternal. ROBERT KAIM Jr., age 34; beloved son of Robert (Anna Fisher) and the late Julie (nee Douglas), loving brother of Amanda, Haley, Jamie Douglas and Siarah Perez; grandson of Sandra (nee Seminello) and Joseph Kaim, Carol and the late Wayne Landers; beloved companion of Nicole Bryant and her daughter Alyssa; beloved nephew, cousin and dear friend of many. You never walked away from Bobby without a smile. His laughter was infectious, with a heart of gold. Services at St. Elias Church, 8023 Memphis Ave., Friday, November 16, 2018 at 11 a.m. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends received at THE RIPEPI FUNERAL HOME, 5762 PEARL RD. (AT SNOW RD.) THURSDAY 4-8 P.M. Trisagion service at 6 p.m.

CHRIST THE LIGHT AND LIFE: A WALK THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN The Fourth Gospel announces the coming of Christ as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets for the children of God who believe in Him. Come learn about the Eastern Catholic approach to this text and the implications for the Church's faith, worship and spirituality as we walk through each section of the Gospel of St John the Theologian! These free webinars will be held Wednesdays, Nov 14-Dec 19, 8:30pm EST/5:30pm PST SPEAKERS: Father Sebastian Carnazzo, PhD. Institute of Catholic Culture. Father Deacon Daniel Dozier, MATS- St. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary Wed, Nov 14 (8:30pm EST) - An Introduction to the Gospel of St. John (Fr Deacon Daniel) Wed, Nov 21 (8:30pm EST) - The Prologue of the Gospel (1:1-18) (Fr Sebastian) Wed, Nov 28 (8:30pm EST) - The Book of Signs – Part 1 – 1:19-5:47 (Fr. Deacon Daniel) Wed, Dec 5 (8:30pm EST) - The Book of Signs – Part 2 – 6:1-12:50 (Fr Sebastian) Wed, Dec 12 (8:30pm EST) - The Book of Glory – Part 1 – 13:1-17:26 (Fr Deacon Daniel) Wed, Dec 19 (8:30pm EST) - The Book of Glory – Part 2 & Resurrection Epilogue – 18:1-21:25 (Fr Sebastian) (PLEASE NOTE - IT IS ONLY NECESSARY TO REGISTER FOR ONE OF THE DATES. THE LOG-IN INFORMATION WILL APPLY TO ALL 6 SESSIONS) Register only one time online for these FREE webinars at onlineecbiblefall2018.eventbrite.com.

The 14th Season Spirit of Christmas at St. Elias Church From November 12th until no later than December 10th, you may bring new items and place them in the box in front of the church under the Saint Elias icon to be donated to the less fortunate. The gifts do not need to be wrapped. The list of items is listed below. The West Side Catholic Center volunteers will be sorting the gifts by size and gender, and distributing them to more than 1,400 individuals in need, starting on December 12th. All ITEMS MUST BE NEW. Please pick from the list below: -Boys and girls: Sweatshirts, hoodies, socks, underwear, hats & warm gloves. Sizes: 6 – 18 -Men and Women: Sweatshirts, sweatpants, tube socks, underwear. Sizes: S – 5X -Hats & warm insulated gloves. Sizes: S – 5X -Baby & Toddler: sleepers, socks, hats, mittens, ointment, diapers, wipes. Sizes: Newborn – 5T -Full-size Personal care items: Soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorants, shaving cream, razors, lotion, comb/brush

Each year, the Institute of Catholic Studies at John Carroll University brings to its students, faculty and the broader community a group of experts on issues of contemporary relevance to the Catholic intellectual tradition and Jesuit higher education. Please join them for this thought-provoking series. 1. Thursday, October 18th, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.: "The Situation of Christians in the Arab World: How Interreligious Dialogue Can Help” with Archbishop Michael Fitzgerlad, M.Afr., S.Th.D. of the Salesian Pontifical University in Jerusalem 2. Thursday, November 8th, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. with Colleen Dulle 3. Thursday, February 28th, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. with Rev. Andrew Summerson 4. Thursday April 11th, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. with Sir Jeffrey Abood 5. Saturday April 13th, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. with Cynthia Caporella, Ph.D. All lectures are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Director Paul V. Murphy, Ph.D. at 216.397.4558. For more information, click here: http://webmedia.jcu.edu/catholic/files/2018/09/2018-2019-Lecture-Series-Mailer-2018_REV-web.pdf

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21st, MEET SISTER VASSA: The Eleanor Malburg Eastern Churches seminar out of Notre Dame College has been attempting to open the treasures of the Eastern Churches to the greater Cleveland area for over 30 years. The October speaker, Sister. Vassa Larin, Ph.D., comes with credentials of being a phenomenon among the Easterners as well as with an education under one of the most noted Roman Catholic priest experts in the Liturgy, Fr. Robert Taft SJ. Her YouTube program “Coffee with Sr. Vassa” is interesting and entertaining. It can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH-FBwgf93rU-g8BH3xiuUQ Since we have gone through the expense of bringing her in from Vienna, Austria, we would like to make sure a broad audience might have the opportunity to hear her. The presentation is taking place at Notre Dame College, Regina Auditorium 4545 College Drive, South Euclid, OH. This event is FREE and open to the public. For more information, contact 216.373.5357 or [email protected].

NINE DAY NOVENA, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 – MONDAY, OCTOBER 1: The Annual Nine Day Novena to St. Theresa the little flower of the Infant Jesus will take place at the Lady of the Cedars Church in Fairlawn, OH. The address is 507 S Cleveland Massillon Rd, Fairlawn, OH 44333. Each evening, Novena prayers will begin at 7:00 pm. On the feast day, which is Monday, October 1st, there will be a Divine Liturgy at 6:00 pm. Your prayers and intentions are welcomed. You can send them by email at [email protected] or call 330-666-3598. Everyone is invited to attend all the days or as much of the Novena as possible.

Today we said "see you later" to 15 of our youth - and a few advisors - as they travel to Michigan for the annual nationwide NAMY - National Association of Melkite Youth - Retreat! Our youth are NOT only our future, they are our present! There is no future without the past (those who have gone before us), the present (this moment), and the future (which requires much preparation). This is why The Church is continuity, and we must do everything in our power to continue to teach our youth and help them grow in faith, hope, and love, just as our parents and their parents before them did. So we all need your prayers to ask God to accompany them and touch them in a special way during this wonderfully spiritual event! We ask him to help them truly RETREAT away from the noise and busyness of daily life in our society to quiet themselves just enough to hear God whisper to them that he loves them. This is the only way to hear God's voice...in silence, on retreat. God bless our youth and Godspeed!

Holy words to live by for today and this week!

Happy Mother's Day to all of our dear mothers! May the original Mother, the one true Mother, the Virgin Mary, inspire you and lead you as you lead our domestic church, the most important church in the world! Bishop John Elya with a special message for all mothers on their special day (as well as a reflection on today's Gospel):