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June 10, 2001 TRINITY SUNDAY Readings:
2 Corinthians,13, 11-13
Gospel: Matthew, 28: 16 - 20 (English & Lebanese):
The Trinity is perfect and undivided unity. "Inseparable in what they are, the divine persons are also inseparable in what they do." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 267) As member of the Christ's body, the Church, we are called to share in this unity. We are the Trinity Glory when we are of one mind and one heart. We give the Trinity adoration when we are inseparable in what we are. We worship the Lord when we are inseparable in what we do. The Church on earth is militant: It is still fighting the good fight. But no army that is divided can be victorious. So let us imitate the Trinity by being at one mind and one heart with the Church, its teachings and its members.
By "Charbel Bousamra"
Last Week's Collection: $ 2,492.11Thank you for your continued support and generosity. May God bless you and your families.
Masses &Celebrations during the Week:
Sun. June 10th
10:00AM
Youssef Jraige & Antonios Boulos Jraige & Youssef Saleh Abbas
(Sadie Jraige)11:00AM
Antonios Youssef Elbaresh (1 Yr. Mem.) (Family)
Mon. June 11th
8:15AM
Sacred Heart Prayers8:30AM
Jarjoura Boulos Elias & Wife (Tom Badaoui)
Tue. June 12th
8:15AM
Sacred Heart Prayers8:30AM
Yacoub Yacoub & Wife Miryana & Children (Sarkis Yacoub & Family)Wed. June 13th
7:45AM
Mother Mary's Prayers8:15AM
Sacred Heart Prayers8:30AM
Youssef Mikhail Zakaria & Wife Zakie & Sons Boula & Elias
(Peter & Jamal Diab)
Thu. June 14th
Corpus Christi6:30PM
Sacred Heart Prayers7:00PM
Badiaa Tannous Zakaria & Hanne Khoury (Family)7:30PM
St. Charbel's Prayers
Fri. June 15th
8:15AM
Sacred Heart Prayers8:30AM
Theresa Sarkis Raheb (Family)
Sun. June 17th
9:00AM
Ben & Peter Najem & Antonios Jraige
(Jean Najem)11:00 AM
Fathers Day: Intentions of All Fathers.
Leamington Ministerial Association invites all the Christians to pray for each other. This week we pray for : Leamington Evangelical Mennonite First Banns Between: Jeffrey Robert Raffoul
Congratulations to Edmond Nakhle who won the Statue of the St. Joseph for the Raffle Tickets Draw held in St. Anthony's Parish. May the May St. Joseph bless him and his family.
Please Mark your calendar for our next Bingo Sessions on Friday, June 22nd at 6:30PM & 9:30PM, Monday, June 25th at 12:30PM & 6:30PM at Bingo Country, 14 Mill St. East. Everyone is welcome.
Pilgrimage Trip to Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Youngstown, New York on Saturday, July 14, 2001. $ 45.00 per person. If you are interested, please register your names on the list to the Secretary Rima Nohra at 322-2282. Must have a Canadian Citizenship or a Valid Visa to the U.S.
We would like to welcome Rev. Father Emmanuel Nakhlé in St. Anthony's Parish. May God bless him and give health to continue to preach the Good News.
Corpus Christi: Thursday, June 14 is Corpus Christi. The Mass will be celebrated in St. Anthony's Parish at 7:00PM. Everyone is welcome.Congratulations to D'André Arnold Caine, who received the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation in St. Anthony's Parish on Sunday, June 3, 2001. May God bless him and give him health and happiness with his family.
A Daughter of Lebanon, St. RafcaThe Arabic Baptismal name of St. Rafca is Boutrossieh. She was born about the year 1832 in the village of Himlaya. Her mother died when she was seven years old. After her death. St. Rafca's father married again. A childhood with a great emptiness, which her stepmother never succeeded in filling.
When she was fourteen her stepmother wanted her to marry her brother and her maternal aunt wanted her to marry her son. Her refusal caused aversion and enmity. Depressed, she had the idea of becoming a nun and went straight to the Convent of Our Lady of Liberation at Bikfaya.
St. Rafca was a secret soul. She devoted herself with the other nuns to the full time education and religious instructions of girls. On February 9, 1855, she commenced her noviciate in Ghazir Convent. After her final vows she was sent to the eastern seminary of Ghazir.
In 1860, she went to southern Lebanon, to Deir-el-Qamar, where the known battles and bloody massacres took place. Two years later, St. Rafca was transferred to Jbail, where she remained for two years, In 1871, the Mariamettes religious institute went through a grave crisis.
The Jesuit Fathers decided to found another equally dependent on them. As always happens, the decision gave rise to differences with the result that both congregations were dissolved. On the 12th of July 1871, when she was thirty-nine years old. St. Rafca began from the start, this time certain that she had reached her goal. Two years later, on August 25, 1873, she solemnly professed her perpetual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in the spirit of the strict Rules of the Baladia Order.
She was granted the grace of pain. She did not have a day of respite. Her right eye swelled up and was almost coming out of its socket, while her left one became inflamed and misted over. After years of suffering, three days before her death Sister Rafca had some difficulties in speaking, but she was calm and collected. As the hour approached, she received the sacrament of the sick with immense joy and complete possession of her mental faculties.
At dawn of the 23rd, of October 1914, she asked for the Viaticum and as long as she had breath kept repeating: "Jesus, Mary and Joseph I give you my heart and my soul". When she could no longer speak she gave the superior the agreed sign to receive the final absolution and the plenary indulgence. Four minutes later, she died sweetly. Under the dark glasses that hid her devastated eye sockets, St. Rafca's face appeared distended, placid, almost radiant. Her fame for sanctity quickly spread throughout Lebanon. Pilgrims began to pour in from all parts of the country, and not only Christians. And today, the Daughter of Lebanon becomes the Saint for all those in need and she will continue to intercede for all of us as we face the obstacles of life.
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