Beloved Parishioners and Friends of St. Maron,

Peace and grace to you from your spiritual home with the hope that you are well. Health is wealth they say and we pray that everyone would be rich and holy in health. Many people are challenged these days with sickness or with the loss of some loved ones or friends due to the covid or from other causes.

Easter comes to give us great hope and to give us peace, light, and courage, that the Lord of life has destroyed death by his own death. Christ has come from heaven to earth in order to take us from this earth to heaven, to make us one with Him. His life among us was a testimony of the power of God on earth, and the beauty of eternal life. True, no one has died and come back to life, but we have the Lord of Life who came to us to tell us about God and heaven and eternity, and He wants all of us to be with Him, to walk in His path, to follow His will, and to accept His gift of salvation as an admission to heaven. We all must live with this notion in mind, that we are on a short pilgrimage on this earth toward heaven, our final home. We are called to be happy and to celebrate and rejoice in every day that God gives us. Therefore let us live in His love and continue with Him this journey to eternity.

I urge you to continue praying with the Church for an end to the pandemic, for stability and peace in our cities, to pray for our beloved Lebanon that has been suffering so much from injustice and corruption, and recently from a great inflation that increased by at least 85%. Life is so hard for people there these days from the economical crisis and the top of that the Covid. Let us pray that the Lord may give them courage and strength to hold steadfast and to be united with each other and help one another, as well as for the international community to step in and to give them aid.

I want to thank many of you who acted very generously to support the poor families that are suffering so much in Lebanon. We have over 25 families that are being sponsored by your generosity. I know some of you are helping your own families and some of you are still looking for ways to give support there. It is never too late to try and give an aid to someone who is in need. We now that everything has an end, including covid-19, and hopefully soon it will be gone and we will be able to return to our normal, especially within the parish. While social activities were cancelled in the parish, the spiritual and liturgical life continues and you are all urged to come to church in a safe and healthy way, with masks on and social distancing. The church building continue to be safer than most places that we visit on a regular basis. Never keep distanced from Jesus!

I look forward to seeing you again soon, and I assure you of my prayers and love.

Devotedly yours,

Chorbishop sharbel Maroun

FROM THE EPARCHY OF OUR LADY OF LEBANON OF LOS ANGELES
2021 Lenten Appeal

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I sincerely thank you for your support of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, especially in light of the challenges of the past year. The Eparchy’s mission is to serve the People of God and proclaim the Gospel message in today’s world. We can only continue to do this with your prayers and financial support.

The past year was filled with adversity, including the pandemic and difficulties at home and abroad. But we are a people of hope, and God helps us through all adversity to get to a brighter future.

Today, I would like to ask for your help with our Annual Lenten Appeal, to address the Eparchy’s most important and immediate needs. The proceeds of the Lenten Appeal will contribute to three especially key areas:

• Opening New Parishes and Missions: There are many areas across the country where Maronite communities are unable to have Maronite services due to the lack of parishes and priests. Our goal is to strengthen existing parishes and build new missions so that our people can celebrate their faith and heritage.
• Expanding Services: In light of the economic and emotional hardships of the past year, it is more imperative than ever to offer our support to young people, families, and those with the greatest need.
• Helping our brothers and sisters in Lebanon and the Middle East: Lebanon has been especially affected after the Beirut explosion in August of 2020. Many people were displaced; and homes, hospitals, schools, and businesses suffered extreme damage. We need to give our support to our brothers and sisters as they go through these trying times.

Some people have asked about the Eparchy’s long-term Capital Campaign – Vision for the Future, Mission for Today. Unfortunately, the Campaign was temporarily suspended due to the pandemic, but we hope to re-start it at an appropriate time in the future.

In the meantime, I ask for your help through this Annual Lenten Appeal with the important and immediate needs described more fully in this short brochure. Please review it and prayerfully consider how you may help, and please be generous.

May God bless you and keep you!

Gratefully yours in Christ,

+A. Elias Zaidan

Bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles

From as early as the 5th century, holy icons have been handed down to Christians as a "sacred doorway" into heaven providing believers with a spiritual connection to the Divine.

Icons are painted in a way that is designed to be timeless and represent the eternal Kingdom or the Heavenly Jerusalem.

In this Icon:

Mary is shown wearing a veil typical of Jewish women of the period. The veil is red, the color of divinity, whilst the clothes under the veil are green or blue, the colors of humanity.

This is the exact opposite of the usual depiction of Christ: Who has humanity worn upon His eternal, divine nature.

Joseph is not depicted in the centrality of the scene in the same plane as the role of the Mary, but as the guardian of this most profound mystery and his role in the Holy Family.

Three stars on the veil of Mary, which represent her eternal virginity: before, during, and forever after the Birth of Christ.

Scroll in Jesus’ hand - A Scroll indicates holy Wisdom; rolled up revealing the Word yet not revealed.

2 doves- The Bible depicts doves as loyal, honest and loving. The doves also represent the spiritual nature of Joseph- pure, just, and faithful. White cloth- Joseph's hands are covered, in reverence, anticipating his future betrothal to the future Mother of God, pure virginal vessel of the Son of God.

Cross in Christ's halo- always identify Christ as our Savior; forbearing the passion.

May the Holy Family bless all families