Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus our Lord,    

During this month of July, we ask the Lord to keep you and your families healthy and safe from all sicknesses and illnesses. You are all in our prayers and thoughts at every Mass celebrated (and quite often broadcast on the Church’s Website and Facebook). We continue the broadcasting in an attempt to continue to serve the sick, the elderly and the distant. Please note that the live streaming at this point in time is done in order to allow the sick, elderly, out of town, or high risk people, to attend liturgy remotely. Parishioners who are healthy and able to attend Mass physically, are expected to do so on a weekly basis, following the Bible’s commandment to respect the day of the Lord.

We thank the wonderful Faith Formation directors, Nikki Abbott and Michele Kloncz, who worked with dedication and commitment, to maintain and strengthen the children group of the parish. The Church was so blessed to continue to have such dedicated and committed directors. Regarding this coming year, we will keep posted about our programs. In the meanwhile, parents with children age 6 and up are encouraged and expected to enroll their children at Holy Family for Faith Formation Classes that will start in mid-September. This is especially important for those children starting second grade 2 or are seven years old, as they must register for the First Communion Classes and ceremony. Children who are eleven years of age must complete their Confirmation Course and receive or renew their Confirmation Sacrament at Holy Family by June of next year. Please contact the Church office for registration information. This is a must and the responsibility of the parents to register their children. This is very important and necessary for the Maronite and Catholic children of today who face confusing threats against their faith and values in the media and society.

On Sunday June 28th, we celebrated the Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul.

The Men’s Club Annual Church picnic was held Sunday, June 14, after liturgy. The picnic was an opportunity for our community to enjoy time together in a family atmosphere and delicious food. The Men’s Club with its president, Jim Abbott, sponsor scholarships for some of our college age youth, all of whom are committed and dedicated for the church.

This year, our MYO youth team, with the collaboration of Saint Maron’s team, organized a beautiful trip to the annual national retreat that was held in Dayton, Ohio, from Tuesday June 23 to Sunday June 28. The Holy Family group had nine participants. Good job, John Corey, and team for always motivating our MYO. They were joined by another 28 MYO members and chaperons from Saint Maron’s, and 10 members from Chicago. The retreat in Dayton gathered over 350 participants from many States. We thank Chorbishop Sharbel for his support for the cost of the MYO retreat. Parents, please encourage your children to enroll in Faith Formation and MYO and altar serving. Encourage them, also, to participate in the Annual Youth Summer Camp at Holy Family in the middle of August. It is a once a year event for two days. Don’t let your children miss it. It is an annual opportunity for your kids to live moments of joy and blessings together building legacy and community participation. The camp will include half a day spent at Lebanon Hills State Park, hiking, swimming, portaging, and canoeing. The camp will include also games, prayers, delicious food and heritage lessons. Both Abouna Emmanuel and Father George will be actively participating in it. Chorbishop Sharbel will bless the group.

We pray this month for the peace and security of the United States of America on its Independence Day, July 4. May this country be a country of peace, security and safety with the true Christian values of the gospel. On this occasion, I would like to invite you to pray for our country of origin, Lebanon, and the Middle East, the land visited by the Lord Jesus, which is still going through difficult moments of economic depression, crisis and war. We encourage each of you to support Caritas Lebanon, the major Catholic Charity of the country and the Middle East, or even directly for any beloved ones you know in the country. Thank you for your support. And thank you for your prayers.

The NAM Convention will be held this year in San Diego, California, with clergy conferences starting Monday June 29, and full scale Convention Thursday, July 2 to July 5. The Holy Family will be officially represented by MYA members, Annemarie Schwery or Sarah Josephs.

Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who assist the parish in all aspects of its mission. Your participation and commitment to your church and community is highly appreciated and noticed. Although the church does not presently have a certain annual dues policy for parish families and working members, parishioners are welcome to participate and fulfill their duties of participation in various ways between donating and volunteering. This is vital for the life and the mission of the church and its growth.

July is a summer break month. We wish all our families beautiful days of family life and relaxation time and don’t forget to thank God at weekend Liturgy for all of the gifts He has bestowed on you, especially the weekend of July 19, when the Maronite Church celebrates the Feast Day of Saint Sharbel. Thank you again for your trust and for treating the church as being your own home in your generosity and care.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Father Emmanuel, Pastor +