January 15, 2017

WHY DO WE BLESS HOMES?WHY DO WE BLESS HOMES?WHY DO WE BLESS HOMES?WHY DO WE BLESS HOMES?

TTTT he great blessing of Water takes place at the end of Liturgy on the feast of our Lord’s Theophany (January 6). Since our homes cannot be brought to the Church, the Church-through the priest-goes to the homes. There the service of blessing, which began in the church, is finished with the sprinkling of water in the home. Traditionally, in most Orthodox parishes, the priest personally visits all his parishioners each year to pray with them in the place where they live, and to bless their surroundings with the newly sanctified water of Theophany. By sanctifying our living quarters, our private place, we extend the grace of God to our individual dwellings. We also bring the blessed water to our homes to use throughout the year to bless our homes, and to drink, whether we are ill or as part of our daily prayer life. “There are many occasions in family life when a sip of holy water can help to remind us of the blessing that was given ‘to bestow sanctification’, ‘unto healing of soul and body’, ‘to be a fountain welling forth unto life eternal’, as the priest prayed in the litany of Epiphany day,” (Little Falcons: Water, Vo. 5, No. 2, 1998 p. 33).The blessing of homes by these holy waters maintains the spiritual association between the ‘family church’ and the parish, as well as again providing for the sharing of God’s spiritual gifts...This annual blessing should not be overlooked, for it is in this way that the grace of God is extended to individual dwellings. If the priest comes to bless the home when the children are present, they have the opportunity to see the parish priest in a different and personal situation. If the priest permits, they can lead the way through the house, or hold a candle. They can show him their rooms or pets or favorite toys. They receive a blessing with water. For children, the house blessing shows the connection of the Church to the home. What does it mean to ask God to bless something? All things in the world have been spoiled right along with us. God must bless His world again in order for it to be the way that He wants it to be. For this reason, God sent His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit to the world: to bless everyone and everything that He made, to make all things good again. When the priest comes to bless our homes, he asks God to have mercy on the house, to rid it of every evil and to fill it with every blessing. What a wonderful way to begin the New Year! By: Phyllis Meshel Onest

January 15, 2017 Issue 556

�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

Daily Confession by Appointment - Call the Church Office

“And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Acts 11:26

The Antiochian Orthodox

Basilica of St. Mary

Fr. George Shalhoub - Pastor Fr. Jim King - Director of Youth & Pastoral Outreach Programs

Archdeacon Issa Rizkallah

313-690-2030

Deacon Dr. Dennis Bojrab Deacon Samer Hanna

Nidal Fakhoury - Parish Council Chairman

Linda Lawson - Choir Director Stacey Badeen - Church Administrator Sonya Kassis - Parish Ministries

Coordinator Haitham Fakhouri - Communications

Richard Shebib/Sami Azzouz - Ushers

Dr. Tom Saba - Young Adults-

St. John Divine

Nancy Ghannam- Ladies Society

President Nicole Rumman & Natalie Samaan

Teen Soyo Co-Presidents

Lina Nunu - Arabic School Keith Rowe - Cultural Center General Manager 734-421-9220

The Light of Christ

AL-NOUR

PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY:

THE ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX BASILICA OF ST. MARY

Page 2 The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary

THE EPISTLE

How magnified are Thy works, O Lord! In Wisdom hast Thou made them all.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

The Reading is from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians

Chapter 3:4-11

BBBB rethren, when Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idol worship; for the sake of such things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience; wherein you also once walked, when you lived in these things. But now you also put them all away; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language out of your mouths. Do not lie to one another, having put off the old man with his works; and having put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of his Creator, where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond, or free; but Christ is all, and in all.

THE GOSPEL

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

Chapter 17:12-19

AAAA t that time, as Jesus entered a village, He was met by Ten Lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When Jesus saw them He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

We Would Love To Visit You! It’s House Blessing Season

House blessings have begun as we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany. All those who wish to have their house blessed, please call the church office at 734-422-0010 to make an appointment for one of the clergy to come and visit you and your family to pray together and bless your home.

The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary Page 3

Please visit www.saintmarylivonia.com for details about events and ac�vi�es happening

at the Basilica of Saint Mary. If you have any ques�ons regarding Youth and Outreach Events,

please contact Fr. Jim or Sonya Kassis at (734) 422-0010.

Parish Ministries Updates

The Basilica of Saint Mary

2017 Youth and Ministry Programs’ Events

20/40 Young Adult Fellowship

Upcoming Events:

February 2017: Marriage Seminar

March 2017: Lenten Retreat and Service Project

Teen SOYO Upcoming Events:

January 16: Ski Day at Pine Knob

January 18: Ice Ska7ng at Campus

Mar7us

February 17-20: Winter Camp

March 2017: Lenten Retreat and

Service Project

Church School Upcoming Events:

February 5: Godparent Sunday

February 27: Forgiveness Sunday

Vespers

April 1: Second Grade Confession

May 21: Last Day Picnic Mother-Toddler:

Meets Every Wednesday

Page 4 The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary

PRAYER CORNER memorials

IIII am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25) Jan. 15th - 9 day memorial in loving memory of Victoria Abdou Sultani offered by the family,

Jan. 15th - 40 day memorial in loving

memory of Michel Kehdy offered by the

family, Jan. 15th - 1 year memorial in loving

memory of Rimon Warra offered by his

wife Maha Warra and family, Jan. 15th - 1 year memorial in loving memory of Abdalla Rizqalla offered by his wife Nawal Rizqalla and family, Jan. 21st (Sat.)- 40 day memorial in loving memory of Cecilia Issa offered by her daughter Dr. Wafa (Dr. Tony) Sultani and family,

Thank You

“A Vigil Light is Burning”

FFFF or The Health and Well Being Of: Major Timothy Lawson, Jeffrey Wolenter, Olivia Fakhouri, Zain Fakhouri,

IIII n Memory Of: Joseph Michael Mouaikel, George Abodeely, Nawal Fakhouri,

HOLY BREAD OF OBLATION

HHHH oly Bread of Oblation is offered by the families, for the month of January, in loving memory of:

Fuad Ghannam

Suad Ghannam

Najla Hanoosh

Jad Harb

John Naser Afaf Rizkallah

Abdalla Rizqalla

George and Wadia Shami Geno Zayid

HHHH oly Bread of Oblation is offered by the families, for the month of January for the health and well being of:

Neil, Nancy, Lauren and Zack Hanoosh

Nabiha Kazaleh

Mike Simone

Magdoleen, Alex, Justin and Sharky Zayid

LLLL ord, You are the physician of our souls and body. We pray You grant the following parishioners good health and blessings: Metropolitan PAUL Yazigi, Archbishop Youhanna Ibrahim, Sahar, baby Mary Bardakjian, Delaini Walrich, Lucas Tams, Marie Abouassaly, George Mourani, Linda, Nancy Rizqalla, Haifa Zayed,

TTTT 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 Michel Kehdy offered by Dr. Nabil and Isabelle Sultani, $50-In loving memory of Jad Harb and George and Wadia Shami offered by Rima Harb, $100-In loving memory of parents Raji and Fahdeh Kakish and Salem and Nabiha Ghareeb offered by George and Nabeleh Ghareeb, $200-For the health and well being of John Allen Kadado, on the occasion of his baptism, offered by grandparents Dr. Nabil and Isabelle Sultani, $300-In loving memory of Geno T. Zayid and for the health and well being of Magdoleen, Alex, Justin and Sharky Zayid offered by Magdoleen Zayid, $500-For the health and well being of Linda Saleh Yazji offered by her parents Fred and Afaf Saleh, $500-For the health and well being of Neil, Nancy, Lauren and Zack Hanoosh offered by Neil and Nancy Hanoosh, $500-For the health and well being of newly baptized John Allen offered by parents Dr. Allen and Angela Kadado, $500-In loving memory of Afaf Rizkallah and Najla Hanoosh offered by their children, Neil and Nancy Hanoosh,

Condolences

TTTT he clergy and parishioners at the Basilica of St. Mary extend their deepest sympathy to husband Abou Sultani, children Dr. Nabil (Isabelle) Sultani, Dr. Tony (Dr. Wafa) Sultani, Wadia (Hala) Sultani, Hanna (Widad) Sultani, Halim (Nellie) Sultani, Ahlam (Anwar) Hanna, the grandchildren and the entire Sultani family on the passing of Victoria Abdou Sultani, age 84, in Syria.

May her memory be eternal.

Senior Heritage Fellowship Please us for our monthly service and luncheon on Thursday, January 26th. Service begins at 10:15am followed by lunch in the Activity Center classroom next to the elevator at 11:15am. Menu includes baked Macaroni with meat sauce, salad, garlic bread and fruit. Cost is $5.00 per person. All seniors are welcome.

Condolences

TTTT he clergy and parishioners at the Basilica of St. Mary extend their deepest sympathy to Tammy Lambert, son Anthony (Kristina Kharsa) Lambert and the entire Lambert family on the passing of her beloved husband, Phillip Lambert.

May his memory be eternal.

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Parish Council News

Anyone interested in running for the Parish Council for 2017 should inform the Nominating Committee (Fr. George Shalhoub, Andrew Ansara, Don Hayes, Nidal Fakhoury, or Emeel Ajluni) immediately. Those nominated must meet the following qualifications as stated in Article VI, Sec., 2 of our Constitution: “A candidate must be twenty-one (21) years of age or over and must have been a voting member of the Parish for a period of two (2) years and has fulfilled the Canonical requirements of the Faith.”

HE/SHE MUST BE A PLEDGED MEMBER AND HAVE FULFILLED THEIR PLEDGE FOR TWO (2) YEARS.

Please make sure all nominations are in prior to, or at the General Parish meeting on January 22, 2017 in the Cultural Center immediately following Liturgy. Due to term limitations, Arwa Ansara and Shaden Dababneh will be stepping down. Jason Amash, Robert Harb and Tony Musallam are eligible to run for a second term.

The General Parish meeting will be held on Sunday, January 22, 2017

immediately following the Liturgy in the Cultural Center.