Mary Livonia , June 26, 2016

AL-NOUR
The Light of Christ
June 26, 2016
Issue 527
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY:
THE ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX BASILICA OF ST. MARY
18100 Merriman Road Livonia, Michigan 48152 www.saintmarylivonia.com Office: (734)-422-0010 Sunday Services
Confession: 8:30AM
Matins: 9:00AM
Divine Liturgy: 10:00AM
St. Mary’s Cultural
and Banquet Center
(734) 421-9220
“And the disciples were first called
Christians in Antioch.” Acts 11:26
Daily Confession by Appointment - Call the Church Office
June 26, 2016
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
COMMEMORATION OF ALL SAINTS
H
onoring the friends of God with much reverence, the Prophet-King David says, “But to me, exceedingly
honorable are Thy friends, O Lord” (Ps. 138:16). And the divine Apostle, recounting the achievements of
the Saints, and setting forth their memorial as an example that we might turn away from earthly things and from
sin, and emulate their patience and courage in the struggles for virtue, says, “Wherefore seeing we also are
compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every burden, and the sin which doth so
easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:I).This commemoration
began as the Sunday (Synaxis) of the all Martyrs; to them were added all the ranks of Saints who bore witness
(the meaning of “Martyr” in Greek) to Christ in manifold, ways, even if occasion did not require the shedding of
their blood. Therefore, guided by the teaching of the Divine Scriptures and Apostolic Tradition, we the pious,
honor all the Saints, the friends of God, for they are keepers of God’s commandments, shining examples of
virtue, and benefactors of mankind. Of course, we honor the known Saints especially on their own day of the
year, as is evident in the Menologion. But since many saints are unknown. And the number has increased with
time, and will continue to increase until the end of time, and will continued to
increase until the end of time, the Church as appointed that once a year a comThe Antiochian Orthodox
Basilica of St. Mary
mon commemoration be made of all the Saints. This is the feast that we celeFr. George Shalhoub - Pastor
brate today. It is the harvest of the coming of the Holy Spirit into the word; it is
Fr. Jim King - Director of Youth &
the “much fruit” brought forth by that “Grain of wheat that fell into the earth and
Pastoral Outreach
Programs
died” (John 12:24); it is the glorification of the Saints as “The foundation of the
Archdeacon Issa Rizkallah
Church, the perfection of the Gospel, they who fulfilled in deed the sayings of
313-690-2030
the Saviour” (Sunday of All Saints, Doxasticon of Vespers). In this celebration,
Deacon Dr. Dennis Bojrab
Deacon Samer Hanna
then we reverently honor and call blessed all the Righteous, the Prophets,
Nidal Fakhoury - Parish Council
Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Shepherds, Teachers, and Holy Monastics,
Chairman
Linda Lawson - Choir Director
both men and women alike, known and unknown, who have been added to the
Stacey Badeen - Church Administrator
choirs of the Saints and shall be added, from the time of Adam until the end of
Sonya Kassis - Parish Ministries
the world, who have been perfected in piety and have glorified God by their
Coordinator
Haitham Fakhouri - Communications
holy lives. All these, as well as the orders of the Angels, and especially our most holy
Richard Shebib/Sami Azzouz Lady and Queen, the Ever-virgin Theotokos Mary, do we honor today, setting
Ushers
Dr. Tom Saba - Young Adultstheir life before us as an example of virtue, and entreating them to intercede
St. John Divine
our behalf with God, Whose grace and boundless mercy be with us all.
Nancy Ghannam- Ladies Society
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
President
Gloria Sultani - Teen Soyo President
We wish to welcome His Grace Bishop ANTHONY and the
Lina Nunu - Arabic School
Midwest Parish Life family to our Basilica.
Keith Rowe - Cultural Center General
Manager 734-421-9220
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The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary
THE EPISTLE
God is wonderful among His saints.
Bless God in the congregations.
B
The Reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews
Chapter 11:33-12:2
rethren, all the saints through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the
edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, and turned
to flight armies of the aliens. Women received their dead by resurrection, and others were
tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And
others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were
stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword; they
went about in skins of sheep and goats, being destitute, afflicted, tormented (of whom the
world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the
earth. And all these, having obtained a witness through their faith, did not receive the
promise, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should
not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which does so easily beset us, and
let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the Author and
Perfecter of our faith.
THE GOSPEL
The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew
Chapter 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30
T
he Lord said to His disciples, “Every one who acknowledges Me before men, I also
will acknowledge before my Father Who is in heaven; but whoever denies Me before
men, I also will deny before My Father Who is in heaven. He who loves father or mother
more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not
worthy of Me; and he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.”
Then Peter said in reply, “Lo, we have left everything and followed Thee. What then shall
we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the New World, when the Son of
Man shall sit on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who has left houses or
brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My Name’s sake,
will receive a hundred fold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and
the last first.”
The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary
8th Annual
Michigan Fun Fest!
Please visit www.saintmarylivonia.com for details about events and acvies happening
at the Basilica of Saint Mary. If you have any quesons regarding Youth and Outreach Events,
please contact Fr. Jim or Sonya Kassis at (734) 422-0010.
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The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary
PRAYER CORNER
L
ord, You ar e the physician of
our souls and body. We pray You
grant the following parishioners
good health and blessings:
Metropolitan PAUL Yazigi,
Archbishop Youhanna Ibrahim,
Samar, Rosie, Louis, Maroun
Samaan, Suad, Violette Khalife,
HOLY BREAD OF
OBLATION
H
oly Bread of Oblation
is offered by the families, for the
month of June, in loving memory
of:
Albert Abdelnour
Esther Ajlouny
Raji and Fahdah Kakish
Naim and James Kawwas
Hilda Naser
Betros J. and Wadia Sabb
Georgette Tams
H
oly Bread of Oblation
is offered by the families, for the
month of June, for the health and
well being of:
Abdelnour Abdelnour
Mike Simone
OUR NEW ARRIVALS
C
ongratulations and best
wishes to Marc and Alexa Nassif
on the birth of their baby girl
Alexandra Grace. Proud grandparents are George and Jeanette
Nassif and Fr. George and Nouhad
Shalhoub.
May God bless parents,
grandparents and child.
Thank You
memorials
T
he following parishioners and
friends of the Basilica of St.
Mary have given special donations
to the Church in the past few
weeks:
$50-For the health and well being of
newly churched Lucas Nemeh offered
by parents Jack and Lydia Nemeh,
$200-Grateful to reach his 95th birthday in good health, with good friends
and the prayers of Fr. George offered
by Walter Shamie,
$500-For the health and well being of
newborn Alexandra Grace Nassif
offered by her grandparents Fr. George
and Nouhad Shalhoub,
$500-For the health and well being of
newly baptized Charlotte Rose offered
by her parents Brett and Sarah
(Biedron) Karl,
Condolences
I
am the Resurrection and
the Life. He who believes in
Me shall never die.”
(John 11:25)
June 26th - 2 week memorial in loving
memory of Nouha Saba Cassar offered
by her brother Dr. Souheil and Kenda
Saba,
June 26th - 40 day memorial in loving
memory of niece Joumana Maher
Geraisy offered by Nadia and Dr.
Radwan Khoury and Sam and Salam
Geraisy,
July 3rd - 40 day memorial in loving
memory of JoAnn Asfour offered by
the family,
July 3rd - 6 month memorial in loving
memory of Abdalla Rizqalla offered by
his wife Nawal Rizqalla and family,
July 10th - 6 month memorial in loving
memory of Rimon Warra offered by his
wife Maha Warra and family,
T
he clergy and
parishioners at the Basilica of
St. Mary extend their deepest
sympathy to husband Jean Cassar,
children Michelle, Matthew and Paul,
parents Edmond and Albera Saba,
siblings Dr. Souheil (Kenda) Saba,
Nahla, (Nabil) Nakouzi and the entire
Cassar and Saba families on the
passing of Nouha Saba Cassar, age
47, in Montreal.
T
he clergy and
parishioners at the Basilica of
St. Mary extend their deepest
sympathy to wife Maggie Baran, her
children, sister Linda (Bill) Lawson
and the entire Baran family on the
passing of Daniel Baran, age 59.
T
he clergy and
parishioners at the Basilica of
St. Mary extend their deepest
sympathy to Bob and Christine
Louwers, grandparents Joe and Kathy
Faissal and the entire family on the
passing of their son David Louwers,
age 17.
May their memories be eternal.
“A Vigil Light is Burning”
In Loving Devotion
F
I
or The Health and Well Being Of:
Major Timothy Lawson, Andrew
Numeir, George Said,
n Memory Of: J oseph Michael
Mouaikel, George Abodeely, Nawal
Fakhouri,
OUR NEW ARRIVALS
C
ongratulations and best
wishes to Alex and Merna Harb on
the birth of their baby boy Joseph
Alex. Proud grandparents are Rima
and the late Jad Harb and Joseph
and Gina Haddad.
May God bless parents,
grandparents and child.
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The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary
visit our website: www.saintmarylivonia.com
The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary
18100 MERRIMAN ROAD LIVONIA, MICHIGAN 48152
Return service requested
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
LIVONIA, MI
PERMIT NO. 413
Dated Material
Save the Date!!
August 15th - August 19th
2016 Vacation Church School
9:30am - 12:30pm
Grades: K - 5th
For more information, please contact,
Sonya Kassis - 734-422-0010