Mary Livonia , May 8, 2016

AL-NOUR
The Light of Christ
May 8, 2016
Issue 520
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
May 8, 2016
SUNDAY OF ST. THOMAS
(NEW SUNDAY)
CHRIST IS RISEN!
INDEED HE IS RISEN!
T
AL MASIH QAM!
HAKAN QAM!
WHO IS ST. THOMAS?
he Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas was born in the Galileian city of Pansada and was a fisherman. Hearing the good tidings of Jesus Christ, he left all and followed after Him. The Apostle Thomas
is included in the number of the Holy Twelve Apostles of the Saviour. According to Holy Scripture, the
Holy Apostle Thomas did not believe the reports of the other disciples
The Antiochian Orthodox
about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ: “Unless I see in His hands the
Basilica of St. Mary
print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust
Fr. George Shalhoub - Pastor
Fr. Jim King - Director of Youth &
my hand into His side, I will not believe” (Jn 20:25).On the eighth day
Pastoral Outreach
after the Resurrection, the Lord appeared to the Apostle Thomas and
Programs
Archdeacon Issa Rizkallah
showed him His wounds. “My Lord and my God,” the Apostle cried out
313-690-2030
(Jn 20:28). “Thomas, being once weaker in faith than the other apostles,”
Deacon Dr. Dennis Bojrab
Deacon Samer Hanna
says St. John Chrysostom, “toiled through the grace of God more
Nidal Fakhoury - Parish Council
bravely, more zealously and tirelessly than them all, so that he went
Chairman
Linda Lawson - Choir Director
preaching over nearly all the earth, not fearing to proclaim the Word of
Stacey Badeen - Church Administrator
God to savage nations.” According to Church Tradition, the Holy Apostle
Christina Stavros - Parish Ministries
Coordinator
Thomas founded Christian churches in Palestine, Mesopotamia, Parthia,
Haitham Fakhouri - Communications
Ethiopia and India. Preaching the Gospel earned him a martyr’s death.
Richard Shebib/Sami Azzouz Ushers
For having converted the wife and son of the governor of the Indian city
Dr. Tom Saba - Young AdultsSt. John Divine
of Meliapur [Melipur], the holy apostle was locked up in prison, suffered
Nancy Ghannam- Ladies Society
tortured, and finally, pierced with five spears, he departed to the Lord.
President
Gloria Sultani - Teen Soyo President
Part of the relics of the Holy Apostle Thomas are in India, in Hungary and
Lina Nunu - Arabic School
on Mt. Athos. The name of the Apostle Thomas is associated with the
Keith Rowe - Cultural Center General
Manager 734-421-9220
Arabian (or Arapet) Icon of the Mother of God (September 6).
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The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary
THE EPISTLE
His sound has gone forth into all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God.
T
The Reading is from the First Epistle of St. John
Chapter 1:1-7
hat which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen
with our own eyes, that which we beheld, and which our hands handled, concerning the
Word of Life—for the Life was manifested, and we have seen it, and testify to it, and
proclaim to you the Eternal Life, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us—that
which we have seen and heard we proclaim to you, that you also may have communion
with us, and indeed our communion is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And
we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled. And this is the proclamation
which we have heard from Him and proclaim it to you; that God is Light, and in Him there is
no darkness at all. If we say that we have communion with Him and walk in darkness, we
lie, and we do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we
have communion with one another, and the bold of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from
all sin.
THE GOSPEL
O
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John
Chapter 20:19-31
n the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the
Disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them,
“Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side.
Then the Disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be
with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when He had said this, He
breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any,
they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Now Thomas, one of the
Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other Disciples told
him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of
the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will
not believe.” Eight days later, His Disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with
them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be
with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out
your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered
Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have
seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Now Jesus did many
other signs in the presence of the Disciples, which are not written in this book; but these
are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing
you may have life in His Name.
The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary
@ the Basilica of Saint Mary
2016
SOYO GOOD FRIDAY VIGIL
An Archdiocesan SOYO
HOLY WEEK TRADITION
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 Ms. Chrisna Stavros at (734) 422-0010.
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The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary
PRAYER CORNER
CHRIST IS RISEN,
INDEED HE IS RISEN!
AL MASIH
HAKAN QAM!
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, David, Assad Najjar,
Farida, Samir, Louis, Rick, Fouad,
Fr. Anthony Sabbagh, Maroun
Samaan, Nidal,
HOLY BREAD OF
OBLATION
H
oly Bread of Oblation
is offered by the families, for the
month of May, in loving memory
of:
Metropolitan CONSTANTINE
Clair Harb
Jo Ann Leja
Jack and Helen Mansur
Harold and Betty Mason
Hilda Naser
Ellia Snage
Leo Snage
H
oly Bread of Oblation
is offered by the families, for the
month of May, for the health and
well being of:
Jenny Snage
Lynda Snage
Shirley Snage
OUR NEW ARRIVALS
C
ongratulations and best
wishes to Dan and Donna Ghareeb
on the birth of their baby girl
Lillian Rose.
Proud grandparents are Michel and
Gayle Ghareeb and Salim and
Mary Jano.
May God bless parents,
grandparents and child.
memorials
I
Thank You
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-In loving memory of Naja
Khalaf offered by his wife Rima
Khalaf and family,
$100-Anonymous donation for the
needy,
$200-In loving memory of Clair
Harb offered by her sister Sally
Kandah and husband Fred Harb
and family,
am the Resurrection and
the Life. He who believes in
Me shall never die.”
(John 11:25)
May 22nd - 40 day memorial in loving
memory of father, Nassif Elias
Abdallah Saliba offered by Drs. Amal
and Gregory Dalack and family,
May 22nd - 40 day memorial in loving
memory of Sylvia Hanania offered by
the family,
May 22nd - 1 year memorial in loving
memory of Clair Harb offered by her
husband Fred Harb and family and
sister Sally Kandah,
May 29th - 40 day memorial in loving
memory of Naja Khalaf offered by his
wife Rima Khalaf and family,
June 5th - 1 year memorial in loving
memory of Suhail Shaya offered by his
wife Carol Shaya and family,
Condolences
T
he clergy and
parishioners at the Basilica of
St. Mary extend their deepest
sympathy to Ayda Mughannem,
children Masada (Donald)
McGrady, Albert Mughannem,
Gloria Leonard, the late Jalil
Mughannem, the grandchildren and
the entire Mughannem family on
the passing of her beloved husband
Shauqi Mughannem.
T
he clergy and
parishioners at the Basilica of
St. Mary extend their deepest
sympathy to children Lorraine
(Michael) Aubrey, Gabriel (Haifa)
Nicholas, Karyn (Labib) Hajjar,
Tina Nicholas, the grandchildren,
great grandchildren and the entire
Nicholas family on the passing of
their beloved mother, Peggy June
Nicholas.
May their memories be eternal.
“A Vigil Light is Burning”
In Loving Devotion
F
I
or The Health and Well Being Of:
Maram Fakhouri,
n Memory Of: J oseph Michael
Mouaikel, George Abodeely, Nawal
Fakhouri,
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
“The most important person in
the world is a mother. It is true,
she cannot claim to have built
the Notre Dame Cathedral. She
has built something far more
wonderful and lasting - the
cathedral of her child’s immortal
soul. She has been privileged
to share with God in His great
work of creation. Not even the
angels have been so honored.
What on God’s green earth is
more wonderful than this - to be
a mother!”
Josef Cardinal Mindzenty
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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
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Dated Material
SAVE THE DATES!!
St. Mary’s Annual
Fun Fest
June 9-12, 2016
Volunteers are needed.
Please contact Freddy Sackllah at 248-348-5555
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We ask all High School and College Graduates to send us their names, parent’s
names, degree and a photo to the church office, as soon as possible, to be placed
in our Recognition Sunday Commemorative Book.
The deadline is May 15th.
Seniors will be recognized during the Parish Life Conference Grand Banquet on Saturday,
June 25th at the Edward Village Michigan Hotel in Dearborn.