Pastoral Letter From Bishop Stephen Hector Doueihi

May 12, 2003

My Dear People of Beit Maroun:

We are a Church of Hope, and an Act of Faith in our world.

In the next few weeks Beit Maroun will journey from the four corners of the world to gather around our Spiritual Father, Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Sfeir, in Bkerkee, during the days of June 1-22, 2003 to engage in an historic, memorable and important Patriarchal Council.

This Council, says His Beatitude, “is a journey of ecclesial renewal, practiced by our Church throughout the centuries. Its purpose is a revision of our own behavior with God and among ourselves.” We, the bishops, clergy, religious and laity of every Eparchy, as well as other invited guests, will assemble to study, discuss and propose the needed renewal of our Maronite Catholic Church in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council and the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II, “New Hope for Lebanon”.

We hope this assembly of faith will inspire us to follow the right path, to choose love over conflict, and to conform ourselves to the teachings of our Maronite Church. The Council is meant to provide our Church and her children with a new and sound beginning, firmly anchored in our historical roots while looking to the future with great hope. Your role as the people of God is one of active participation. The question you may ask yourself, most likely, is how do we participate in this Patriarchal Council? The Patriarch suggests three ways:

• Prayer for the Success of the Patriarchal Council
• Return to God to discover His will and accomplish it
• Intellectual Participation: in-depth study on the 5 topics

I am asking you and your children to actively participate in parish programs, study groups, special prayers and other activities that will be recommended and made available for your parish. To begin:

• I call upon you to unite your intention with ours for the success of the Council over the miles in all your spiritual and corporal works of mercy and kindness during the week. For as the great Maronite poet, Gibran, said: “remembrance is a form of meeting.”

• The Patriarchal Council poster will be displayed in every Church of the Eparchy as a sign of our solidarity with the Assembly in Lebanon and as a reminder to pray for us in Council.

• A Special Intercession is to be prayed at daily and Sunday Qurbono for the gift of the Holy Spirit upon our assembly during the Council.

• A weekly bulletin handout, ‘Synod Updates’, will be communicated to you from your representatives at the Synod through the Chancery Office. Please read them, stay informed and keep in touch.

• On June 1 and June 21 I am directing all pastors to celebrate the Holy Mysteries in solidarity with the Solemn Patriarchal Opening and Closing Liturgies in Bkerkee.

• Parishes are being asked to pray Ramsho once a week for the deliberations of the Council.

• Study group topics and questions will be made available to parish organizations for discussion and deeper understanding of the Council.

• Parish organizations, societies and clubs of men, women and youth are called upon to join together to pray safro, Eucharistic Adoration, rosary and other spiritual devotion during the weeks of the Synod

• Various activities and programs are being planned for the National Apostolate of Maronite and the MYO Assemblies in July that will focus on the Synod findings and their implementation in our entire Eparchy.

In closing, be hopeful and full of joy for as Christ our Risen Lord reminds us: “I am with you always until the end of time.”

Sharar,

Bishop Stephen Hector Doueihi, S.T.D.
Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn