March 2: Saint John Maron:

Saint John Maron, the first patriarch elect in the history of the Maronite Church, was the son of Agathon and Anochamia, He was born in the city of Sarum, south of Antioch, in 628 AD and died 707 AD, approximately three centuries after Saint Maron (350 AD – 410 AD). He was educated in Antioch and in the Saint Maron monastery (established by the monks of Saint Maron in 410 AD) and studied the Greek language in Constantinople. He returned to Saint Maron Monastery in the region of Antioch, where he wrote spiritual and liturgical books and composed a Eucharistic Prayer that still has his name in the Maronite Divine Liturgy book. In 676 he became Bishop of Mount Lebanon. At that time the Maronite troops made up the bulk of the Maradite army, the so-called "Brass Wall" that shielded Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire from the first Arab expansion with the rise and expansion of Islam that started in the 7th century AD. In 686 AD the Maradites used their power and importance to Constantinople and chose St John Maron, one of their own, as Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. St John Maron received the approval of Pope Sergius I, and became the first Maronite Patriarch of Antioch, the oldest See in Christianity. The Byzantine emperor of Constantinople, Justinian 2nd, for personal ambitions, signed a treaty with the Arab Khalifat, Mohawiya Ben Abi Soufian, in which the Khalifat stopped the Arab invasion on Antioch. The price was that Justinian the emperor would cleanse and concede all Christian possessions south of Antioch withdrawing all his armies from all areas of Syria, Lebanon and the Holy Land, leaving these areas to the Khalifat domination. The Maronites and Maradites, under the lead of the Patriarch St John Maron, refused to comply and leave their homeland. Consequently they found themselves facing the emperor’s armies. After a great defeat in Syria and the destruction of Saint Maron Monastery, the Maronites stood firm in Lebanon and defeated the Byzantine armies in Amioun and Batroun, to the south of Tripoli. At this point, Patriarch John Maron transferred the Patriarchal See from Syria to Kfar Hay in Batroun Region in Lebanon where he built a monastery that still stands today and where he died and was buried in 707 AD. This monastery held the name of St John Maron and was also called "Reesh Moran" (head of St. Maron) because the patriarch had transferred the relics of St. Maron from Syria to the monastery. Saint John Maron maintained unity and faith among Beit-Maron the family and legacy of Saint Maron, in the midst of a much tormented area and during a very crucial period in order to keep a nation of faithful people, considered today the last Christian stronghold north of the Holy Land.

March 19: Saint Joseph:
Saint Joseph is the chosen father of the Holy Family. As we read the chapters of the New Testament, we become acquainted with some amazing details of Saint Joseph who appeared as the poor, silent, loving father. In the Gospel of Matthew, the Genealogy of the Lord also lists the genealogy of Saint Joseph. This poor father of the Holy Family, after betrothing the Virgin Mary, made several very long trips that the angel Gabriel revealed to him to do, in order to save the child Jesus and the Virgin Mary from Herod’s persecutions and massacres. As it was written in Chapter 1 of the Gospel according to Saint Luke, Saint Joseph took the Virgin Mary from Nazareth of Galilee to Jerusalem and Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Then he took the Holy Family to Egypt where they lived for two years, fleeing the persecution of Herod the King of Judah. He then returned to Nazareth in Galilee. Ten years later he took the Holy Family to Jerusalem where they lost Jesus for three days. Saint Joseph successfully managed to protect and raise the Lord Jesus. Saint Joseph is the patron Saint and model for the faithful Christian fathers. He is also the patron of all Christian Catholic educational institutions including orphanages and hospitals which give humanitarian assistance. We also consider him to be the patron Saint of Holy Family Church. May God grant us His graces through the intercessions of Saint Joseph.

March 25: The Feast of the Annunciation This Feast constitutes an important milestone this month. The celebration of the Annunciation of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary. Why March 25th? Because this date is exactly nine months before December 25, the date of the birth of our Lord in the Catholic Calendar. It is an occasion of reflection and meditation on this great event when God chose a human mother for His Son, Jesus, who was born by the Holy Spirit and from the ever Virgin Mary, as mentioned in the Christian Creed that we recite in every Mass. Following the exact words of the Gospel in the hymn of the Magnificat in Luke’s Gospel (1:46-55): "My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid; For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed", words spoken by the Virgin Mary right after the Annunciation to her by the Angel Gabriel, when she visited her aunt Elizabeth.

Faith Formation Program:

In-person Faith Formation classes are held from 6:30 PM to 8 PM on Wednesday at church. If you cannot attend on Wednesday evening, we may hold classes on Sunday, from 8:30 AM to 10 AM. Children in second grade must attend in order to make their First Communion. To register, call or text Gary Schwery at (651-252-8066), or email gschwery@comcast.net.  

MYA Corner:
 Welcome to the newly resurrected MYA (Maronite Young Adults) group! Care to join? Contact Annemarie Schwery or Eddie Mueller, the co-chairs, for further information.

Family Sponsored Breakfasts:

Please consider hosting a breakfast. It’s not only fun but an opportunity to support your Church and interact with your church community. If your family is small or you want assistance in doing one, please contact either Vicki Whebbe (651-295-8100) or Pat Anderson (612-210-6656). If not, you can still support church by an additional donation of the cost you would have spent on sponsoring or partaking in a breakfast. Thanks to all for your continued support. God bless you.

Church Bulletin:

If you have any information for the monthly bulletin, please have the details submitted no later than the 20th of the preceding month. Submit to the attention of Pat Anderson. You may do so by dropping it off at church, in the collection or by text directly to her at 612-210-6656