Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,

The month of August is a time to relax and take a vacation and we wish all of our families joyful times during this month. Spiritually, we will celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord on Saturday and Sunday, August 6 and 7, and the Feast day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, on both Sunday, August 14 and Monday, August 15, the actual feast day.

Our MYO leaders organized a children summer camp activity for all church children age 9 to 17, Wednesday & Thursday, August 17-18, at the Church. The camp will include a beautiful variety of activities, including a half day of activities at Lebanon Hills, spiritual conversation & guidance, games, swimming, canoeing, hiking, heritage, and more.

The annual Fall Festival will be held Saturday, September 10, with games for young and old alike and tons of delicious food. Thank you to Gloria Deeb-Reyes for chairing this major fundraiser of ours. Our always popular bingo will most likely be held in November. Thank you to Carolyn Marker and her entire family for always doing such a fantastic job of sponsoring the bingo. Feel free to contact Gloria and Carolyn with questions as to how you can help make each of these major fundraisers a great event.

The church continues to celebrate the legacy and memories of our ancestors, following the heritage Syriac Aramaic Maronite hymn: "On your altar o Lord, are remembered our departed fathers and brothers and teachers. They will rise again at your right hand on the day when your majestic power appears, our Lord Christ and King" and Syriac Aramaic phonetics are the following: "al madebhokh Mor netdakhroun abohain w ahain w rabonain wanqoomoun men yaminokh byawmo ddonho raboutokh malko Mshiho Halleluia".

On this occasion, there are many ways to remember our departed, liturgies and prayers in their memory, donating to a cause to support church services and mission, or remembering the church in your will. Remember our deceased. Keep their memories alive by making a great difference in the life of our community and its future generations.

Thank you to all of those who participated in so many ways in the NAM Convention. Holy Family’s participation was beyond expectations and drew a beautiful and elegant image of the parish in the minds of all NAM participants.

I wish you and great and blessed month of August.

Abouna Emmanuel Nakhle-Ghorr +

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