Arts brief: Pope receives Lebanese-Armenian artist’s work

Published: Thursday May 28, 2009

Micha Micheline E. Abounassar, the artist, with print 2 of 500 of The Savior, Jesus of Nazareth, before it was

shipped from Glendale Calif., to Jerusalem, and onward to the Vatican.

Glendale, Calif. - A work by Micheline Abounassar, better known as Micha,

was presented to Pope Benedict XVI on May 12 during his visit to Jerusalem.

The executive director of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops in the Holy Land,

Wadie Abunassar, presented The Savior to the Bishop of Rome.

The presentation took place during the Luncheon with the Ordinaries of the

Holy Land, the Abbots, and the Papal Entourage in the Patriarchate of the

Latins in Jerusalem.

The pope blessed Micha's work.

The work is a printed oil painting, number 2 of a limited edition of 500,

signed and numbered by the artist.

The work portrays Jesus as a blue-eyed man with a

light olive complexion and dark beard. The background is pitch black,

- so much so that it reflects the ambient light.

Micha, who lives in Glendale, Calif., is from Nazareth.

Her grandmother, Haigo-He Tabarjian, is Armenian.

connect:
1-818-522-7123
Michasgallery.com

 

 

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of Armenian-American community news, U.S. and international politics as they relate to Armenians;

Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh; and Armenians in arts, culture, and entertainment.

The Armenian Reporter appears on the web at www.reporter.am The full current content

is available online at no cost.

The Armenian Reporter also appears in two weekly print editions.

An Eastern U.S. edition is published in Paramus, New Jersey.

A Western U.S. edition is published in Burbank, California,

and is distributed throughout Southern California.

Mail subscriptions are available. Write business@reporter.am to subscribe.

With offices in Burbank, Yerevan, and Washington, and freelancers

around the globe, the Armenian Reporter is the largest single Armenian news

source in English in the world. It is part of the CS Media family,

the world's largest Armenian media enterprise.

Edward K. Boghosian (1927-2006) established the Armenian Reporter

in New York City in 1967. The first issue appeared on November 2.

 It grew quickly and maintained the highest paid circulation among

Armenian-American newspapers in the Eastern U.S.

Mr. Boghosian sold the newspaper to CS Media in May 2006.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

more Latest Peace news release, ‘The Savior’ The Prince of Peace oil

printed painting by artist Micha accepted & blessed by Pope Benedict XVI…

 

The Maronite Voice
A Publication of the Maronite Eparchies in the USA

As of January 2005 the two eparchial (diocesan) newsletters, The Maronite Voice and Maronites Today, have been consolidated into one monthly

publication. We have allotted space for the National Apostolate of Maronites (NAM) to publish their news as well.

 

There are over 750 million Catholics (Eastern and Western) in the world. Nearly 2 million Catholics of the Eastern Churches live in the United States 

 

 

 Gift to the Holy Father

 

 

Mr. Wadie Abounassar presents “The Savior” to His Holiness

Pope Benedict XVI.

 

Mr. Wadie Abounassar, the Executive Director of the

Assembly of Catholic Bishops in the Holy Land,

presented and gifted a signed limited edition (2/500)

print of “The Savior,” an oil painting done by artist Micheline

E. Abounassar, to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on May

12, 2009. The Pope accepted and blessed the artist’s work at

the luncheon with the Ordinaries of the Holy Land, the

Abbots and the Papal Entourage in the Patriarchal See of the

Latins in Jerusalem.

The artist is a member of Our Lady of Mount Lebanon-

St. Peter Cathedral in Los Angeles, California.

 

________________________________________________________________

 

The Maronite Voice        Volume V         Issue No. VI        Page 16       June 2009

 

Below: Pages 1, 2, 15, page 16 Gift to the Holy Father, & page 19 Nam Convention

http://stmaron.org/maronite_voice.html 

 

Click here for the June 2009 Newsletter: http://stmaron.org/Maronite%20Voice%20for%20June%202009.pdf  

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

The

Maronite Voice

            A Publication of the Maronite Eparchies in the USA  

Volume V            Issue No.              VI June 2009

 

It is Up to Us to Hand Down Our History and Traditions to Future

Generations

Dear Friends,

As you receive this issue of The Maronite Voice, we will

be ready for our yearly convention. The 46th Annual

National Apostolate of Maronites Convention in Los

Angeles, California, is quickly approaching, and I hope you

are all counting down the days to this important event.

During the first NAM Convention that was held in

Washington, D.C., during May 1964 I was ordained by

Bishop Francis M Zayek. Now forty-six years later we

continue to celebrate our Maronite faith and heritage. Even

though we are removed from the land of our origin, we carry

Lebanon and the Middle East in our hearts and celebrating it

together each year keeps us connected to one another. During

this time, we have grown and expanded to reach out to many

people welcoming them into our Church.

 

The Maronite community has come together each year from

all over the United States to celebrate as one family. This

year is no different but it is a little more special. We are

being joined by our extended family across the globe. His

Eminence Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the

Congregation for the Oriental Churches, Mr. Carlos Slim

Helu, entrepreneur and businessman from Mexico, and

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood are among our

esteemed guests who will be joining us on this momentous

occasion along with religious and civic dignitaries, city

officials and a delegate from Lebanon as well.

 

I urge you all to follow the star to the City of Angels in order

to attend the Convention this year. Let us come together to

celebrate being Maronites. Our ancestors immigrated to this

country seeking a better life, but they never lost touch with

their heritage. It is now up to us to hand down our history

and traditions to the future generations. We are alive thanks

to the grace of God and its work in our midst.

 

St. Maron, Founder and Patron of the Maronite Church.

 

Know that Bishop Gregory and I are keeping you in our thoughts and in our prayers.

We hope to see you all in July.

With every best wish, I remain,

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Robert J. Shaheen, D.D.

Bishop of the Eparchy Of Our Lady of Lebanon

 

_______________________________________________________

Page 2

 

Schedule of Bishop Robert Shaheen

May 29-June 14, 2009

Annual Maronite Synod of Bishops, Bkerke, Lebanon

June 25, 2009

Los Angeles, Calif.

June 29- July 2, 2009

Annual Clergy Conference, Los Angeles, Calif.

July 1-5, 2009

Annual Maronite Convention, Los Angeles, Calif.

July 11, 2009

Dedication of St. Sharbel Apartments, Minneapolis, Minn., and Subdeaconate

Ordination. .

 

Eparchial Assignments

His Excellency Bishop Robert Shaheen, Bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady

of Lebanon, with the approval of Bishop Gregory Mansour, Bishop of the

Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, has made the following Eparchial

appointments effective June 1, 2009:

 

Chorbishop Richard Saad, Pastor of Saint Elias Church in

Birmingham, Alabama, as the Chaplain of the National Apostolate of

Maronites (NAM) for both Eparchies. He will replace Fr. John Paul

Kimes.

 

Chorbishop Joseph Kaddo, Pastor of St. Anthony of the Desert in

Fall River, Mass., as the Chaplain for the Order of Saint Sharbel of

the Eparchy of Saint Maron as well as the Eparchy of Our Lady of

Lebanon.

 

Fr. Elias Sleiman, Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Mount Lebanon

Cathedral in Los Angeles, Calif., to be in charge of the Maronite Young

Adults (MYA) for the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon. He will work

closely with Fr. Elie Mikhael, Pastor of Our Lady of Lebanon in

Miami, Fla., who is in charge of the MYA of the Eparchy of Saint

Maron.

 

Fr. Gary George, Pastor of St. Maron Church in Youngstown, Ohio,

remains in charge of the Maronite Youth Organization (MYO) retreat

for both Eparchies..

 

Annual Clergy Conference

T he Annual Clergy Conference, for the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon and

for the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, will be held from June 29 –

July 2, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles,

California. The Conference will start with a Divine Liturgy at Our Lady of Mount

Lebanon-St. Peter’s Cathedral on June 29, at 6 p.m., and concludes with a

luncheon with His Eminence Cardinal Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for

Eastern Churches, on Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 12:30 p.m.

 

The Maronite Voice

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Glen Allen, VA 23060

Phone: 804/270-7234

Fax: 804/273-9914

E-Mail: gmsebaali@aol.com

http://www.stmaron.org

http://www.usamaronite.org

The Maronite Voice, (ISSN 1080-

9880) the official newsletter of the

Maronite Eparchies in the U.S.A.

(Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of

Los Angeles and Eparchy of Saint

Maron of Brooklyn), is published

monthly.

Send all changes of address, news,

p i c t u r es a n d p e r s o n a l

correspondence to The Maronite

Voice at the above captioned

address. Subscription rates are

$20.00 per year. Advertising rates

are available upon request.

Publishers

• Most Reverend Bishop Robert

Joseph Shaheen

• Most Reverend Bishop Gregory

John Mansour

Editor Msgr. George M. Sebaali

Consultor Fr. Abdallah Zaidan,

M.L.M.

Editing and proofreading

Mary Shaia

Anne-Marie Condlin

Printed in Richmond, Virginia.

Maronite Convention 2009

Our Lady of Mount Lebanon

Cathedral

Los Angeles, Calif.

July 1-5, 2009

For more information

contact the NAM office

at (914) 964-3070

or visit www.Namnews.org

 

The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VI Page 2 June 2009

 

______________________________________________________

 

Plenary Indulgence

Offered for Year for

Priests

T he Vatican is offering a plenary indulgence for all

faithful on the occasion of the Year for Priests, which

is set to begin June 19, 2009 and last one year.

The decree was made public on May 12 and signed by

Cardinal James Francis Stafford and Bishop Gianfranco

Girotti, respectively Penitentiary Major and Regent of the

Apostolic Penitentiary.

The Year for Priests marks the 150th anniversary of the

death of St. Jean Marie Vianney, also knows as the Curé de

Ars.

The decree noted that Benedict XVI will preside at the

opening liturgy June 19, the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of

Jesus, "a day of priestly sanctification." He will celebrate

vespers before the relics of the saint, brought to Rome for the

occasion by the Bishop of the French Diocese of Belley-Ars.

The Year will end in St. Peter's Square, in the presence of

priests from all over the world "who will renew their

faithfulness to Christ and their bonds of fraternity."

For priests, the plenary indulgence can be gained by

praying lauds or vespers before the Blessed Sacrament

exposed to public adoration or in the tabernacle. They must

also "offer themselves with a ready and generous heart for the

celebration of the sacraments, especially the sacrament of

penance."

The plenary indulgence, which under current norms must

be accompanied by sacramental confession, the Eucharist and

praying for the intentions of the Pope, can also be applied to

deceased priests.

Priests are granted a partial indulgence, also applicable to

deceased priests, every time they "devotedly recite the

prayers duly approved to lead a saintly life and to carry out

the duties entrusted to them."

For the faithful, a plenary indulgence can be obtained on

the opening and closing days of the Year for Priests, on the

150th anniversary of the death of St. Jean-Marie Vianney, on

the first Thursday of the month, or on any other day

established by the ordinaries of particular places for the good

of the faithful.

To obtain the indulgence the faithful must attend Mass in

an oratory or Church and offer prayers to "Jesus Christ,

supreme and eternal Priest, for the priests of the Church, or

perform any good work to sanctify and mould them to his

heart."

The conditions for the faithful for earning a plenary

indulgence are to have gone to confession and prayed for the

intentions of the Pope.

The elderly, the sick, and all those who for any legitimate

reason are unable to leave their homes may obtain the plenary

indulgence if, with the intention of observing the usual three

conditions as soon as they can, "on the days concerned, they

pray for the sanctification of priests and offer their sickness

and suffering to God through Mary, Queen of the Apostles."

A partial indulgence is offered to the faithful when they

repeat five times the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be, or

any other duly approved prayer "in honor of the Sacred Heart

of Jesus, to ask that priests maintain purity and sanctity of

life." (Zenit.org, May 12, 2009) .

Pray a Lot and Well, Pope Urges

Priests

P ope Benedict XVI is encouraging priests to pray a lot

and pray well, saying that in this way they will be

increasingly united to Christ. The Pope made this

invitation on May 3 when he ordained nineteen new priests

for the Diocese of Rome at a Mass held in St. Peter's Basilica.

The Holy Father encouraged them to live a life of total

surrender to God, like that of the apostles who changed the

course of history proclaiming salvation in the name of Christ.

"The disciple, and especially the apostle, experiences the

same joy of Jesus in knowing the name and face of the

Father; and he shares as well his same sorrow at seeing that

God is not known, that his love is not reciprocated," the

Pontiff said.

He added: "On one hand, we exclaim as John did in his

First Letter: 'See what love the Father has bestowed on us that

we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are.' And on

the other hand, bitterly we attest: 'The reason the world does

not know us is that it did not know him' (1 John 3:1).

"It is true, and we priests know this from experience: The

'world,' in the sense that John uses the word, does not

understand the Christian, does not understand the ministers

of the Gospel -- in part, because in fact it does not know God

and in part, because it does not want to know him."

Trapped

Nevertheless, Benedict XVI cautioned, the "world" also

ensnares the Church, "contaminating its members and even

the ordained ministers."

This world, he explained, "is a mentality, a way of

thinking and living that can contaminate even the Church,

and in fact does contaminate it, and therefore demands

constant vigilance and purification."

"We are 'in' the world and we run the risk of also being

'of' the world," the Pope added. "And in fact, sometimes we

are."

Prayer, he said, is the way to reach sanctity and a

complete surrender to God, "above all, in the holy Mass of

each day."

"The Eucharistic celebration is the greatest and highest

act of prayer and constitutes the center and the fount from

which the other forms of prayer receive their 'sap': the

Liturgy of the Hours, Eucharistic adoration, lectio divina, the

holy rosary, meditation," the Holy Father stated.

"The priest who prays a lot and prays well becomes ever

more detached from himself and ever more united to Jesus,

the Good Shepherd and Servant of his brothers," he went on.

"In conformity with him, the priest too 'gives his life' for the

sheep who have been entrusted to him" (Zenit.org, May 3,

2009). .

 

The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VI Page 15 June 2009

____________________________________________________________________

 

Scranton, Pennsylvania

May Crowning

 

Anna Catherine Ligorio crowning the

Blessed Virgin.

 

by Fr. Francis J. Marini

On Sunday, May 17, 2009, St. Ann Maronite Church in

Scranton, Pennsylvania, celebrated its annual May

Crowning during the 11a.m., Divine Liturgy. The

May Crowning was sponsored by Our Lady Queen of Peace

Sodality, as was the Mother-Daughter Tea which followed

immediately in the Church Hall. During the liturgy, the

newly commissioned Icon of Our Lady Queen of Peace was

presented by the iconographer and parishioner Judy Soma,

accepted on behalf of the Sodality by Sodality Prefect Ann

Abbott Bryant and Vice-Prefect Kathryn Karam Cawley and

blessed by the Pastor, Father Francis J. Marini.

The liturgical ministries of lecturing, carrying the gifts

and giving the sign of peace were performed by the members

of the May Court. After Communion, the members of the

May Court processed to the altar of Our Lady, and a crown

of roses was placed on the statue of the Virgin by First

Communicant and May Queen Anna Catherine Laager,

daughter of Atty. Donald C. and Maria Deep Laager. Cochairs

of both events were Sodality members Maria Deep

Laager and Nicole Siconolfi Wheeler. .

Phoenix, Arizona

Mission’s Tenth Anniversary

by Fr. Ghattas Khoury

S t. Joseph Maronite Church in Phoenix, Arizona,

celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Dedication of the

actual church building on March 21-22, 2009 with a

banquet held on Saturday evening.

 

His Excellency Bishop Stephen Hector Doueihi, Retired

Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, presided

at the Divine liturgy on Sunday in the presence of the Most

Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix, and the

Byzantine Catholic Bishop of the Byzantine Catholic

Eparchy of Van Nuys, California, His Excellency Gerard

Dino, and many Eastern Roman Catholic clergy.

 

 

 

 

Gift to the Holy Father (Pope Benedict VXI)

 

Mr. Wadie Abounassar presents “The Savior” to His Holiness

Pope Benedict XVI.

 

Mr. Wadie Abounassar, the Executive Director of the

Assembly of Catholic Bishops in the Holy Land,

presented and gifted a signed limited edition (2/500)

print of “The Savior,” an oil painting done by artist Micheline

E. Abounassar, to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on May

12, 2009. The Pope accepted and blessed the artist’s work at

the luncheon with the Ordinaries of the Holy Land, the

Abbots and the Papal Entourage in the Patriarchal See of the

Latins in Jerusalem.

The artist is a member of Our Lady of Mount Lebanon-

St. Peter Cathedral in Los Angeles, California. .

Anna Catherine Ligorio crowning the

Blessed Virgin.

 

The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VI Page 16 June 2009

 

_______________________________________________________

 

Final Preparations for

the 46th Annual

Maronite Convention

 

T he 46th Annual Maronite Convention is approaching.

Sponsored by the National Apostolate of Maronites and

hosted by Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral, it will be

held July 1-5, 2009 at the luxurious Hyatt Regency Century

Plaza in Los Angeles, California. The Convention will be a

great opportunity for Maronites and friends from all over the

United States to see the City of Angels while celebrating our

Maronite faith, heritage and history. The Convention is great

for all ages as everyone will have a program that fits his/her

liking.

 

The Los Angeles skyline.

This year we will have several important events:

Welcome to Los Angeles Reception

The Convention will open with a welcoming reception

with Lebanese food, drinks and music on Wednesday,

July 1, 2009 at 8 p.m. This event is great for the whole

family as we gather as a single, united Maronite

Community.

 

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri

We will be honoring His Eminence Cardinal

Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for

Eastern Churches, on Thursday, July 2, 2009

at 12:30 p.m. This is a great event to learn

about the Maronite Church and its connection

to the Vatican. Cardinal Sandri will join us

during the whole convention.

Joumana Mdawar

Superstar Joumana Mdawar, a familiar face

on Noursat, will hold a special concert on

Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 8:30 p.m. along

with the performance of the Talent Show

finalists and the presentation of the NAM

scholarship recipients. Joumana will delight

you with her angelic voice as she will be singing in various

languages.

 

Mr. Carlos Slim Helu

Successful businessman and Mexican

Maronite entrepreneur of Lebanese

descent Mr. Carlos Slim Helu will be

joining us for a special reception and

luncheon in his honor on Friday, July 3,

2009 at 1p.m., preceded by a private reception for people

with tickets of $500, $750 and $1,000. This is a once-ina-

lifetime opportunity to meet one of the richest men in

the world who has greatly succeeded and is leaving a

great legacy behind.

 

Hollywood Night

Friday, July 3, 2009 at 8 p.m. we will have Hollywood

Night. This is a great chance to experience the glamour

of Hollywood and to know more about our Lebanese

stars in the entertainment industry. We will have special

shows. There will also be performances by two American

and Lebanese bands along with an elegant dinner and

perfect setting.

 

Grand Banquet

Don’t miss this gala event taking place

on Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 7 p.m.

Secretary of Transportation Ray

LaHood will celebrate Independence

Day along with His Eminence Roger

Cardinal Mahony and many

distinguished dignitaries. We will have

an exciting program that showcases our

contributions to the U.S.A. and that

highlight our distinctive culture. We

will also celebrate the 4th of July with a special tribute to

this beloved country, the U.S.A. Then superstar Ghassan

Saliba will delight us with his performance.

 

‘Till we meet in Birmingham

The closing brunch will take place Sunday, July 5, 2009

at noon. Each NAM Convention comes to a close with

the promise that next year we will gather together once

again as a family united by our faith and heritage.

The Convention will also have children’s activities for the

younger children who are not part of the MYO. They will

have the opportunity to learn and play as well in a very

specific and exciting program designed for them.

We will have exciting tours and activities for the

different groups.

 

The Convention will be a week full of special guests,

learning, praying, socializing and much more. Don’t miss

this opportunity to visit the City of Angels and learn about

our Maronite faith and heritage. Fill out your registration

form and don’t delay! We are opening our hearts and hands

to welcome you to our beautiful city.

For more information please contact the NAM office at

914-964-3070 or Our Lady of Mt. Lebanon Rectory at 310-

275-6634; or visit the website at www.namnews.org .

 

The Maronite Voice Volume V Issue No. VI Page 19 June 2009

------------------------------------------------------

 

 

  

• • Biography
  • Business activity
  • 
  • from his thoughts
  • questions and answers
  • Comments
  • 
    
    

    "Carlos Slim is one of the world’s most important philanthropists and most people

    have never heard about his humanitarian activities. He owns stock in more than 200 companies

    that employ more than 200,000 people in Latin America and beyond. He has used his resources

    to help develop the communities where his businesses are located. In his own country, Mexico,

    he has personally supported more than 165,000 young people in attending university,

    paid for numerous surgeries, provided equipment for rural schools and

    covered surety bonds for 50,000 people who were entitled to their freedom but could not afford.

    He recently created the Carso Institute for Health, and designed it to provide a new approach

    to health care in Mexico. He has four billion dollars of investments ready to promote education,

    health and other great challenges, and has recently announced an additional six billion dollar

    investment in several programs, including his Telmex Foundation."