Bulletin: Vol. 29 No. 12 March 23rd—March 29th, 2019

Sunday 8:30 A.M. English

11:00 A.M. Bilingual; English/Lebanese

Monday No Mass

Tuesday - Friday 9:00 A.M. English

Saturday 5:30 P.M. English

Reconciliation Saturday - 4:00 - 5:00 P.M.

Eucharistic Adoration Sunday: 2:00 P.M -7:00 P.M.

Rev. Assaad ElBasha, M.L.M., Pastor Mass Schedule

Monday - Friday: 9:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M.

Saturday: 9:00 A.M. - 5:30 P.M.

Altar Boys: Joseph Marincel

817-491-0763 Adoration: Sheila Hughes

817-430-3066

Choir: 8:30 A.M. Helen Marincel

817-491-0763 Library: Sharon Wood

214-497-0783

Choir: 11:00 A.M. Roula Vasquez

972-832-8507 Respect Life: Sheri Josefsberg

940-566-0585

RCIA: Sue Marincel

817-491-0763 Youth Ministry: Sean Widmer

469-323-5865

Lectors: 8:30 AM Mark Caputo

469-230-1533 Religious Ed / SE: Sue Marincel

817-491-0763

Lectors: 11 AM Trevor Rask

503-701-2236 Ushers Robert Kramer

214-488-5635

Parish Council Mouhib Helou

817-845-9953 Legion of Mary Rose Onoh

214-289-4300

Daily Scripture Readings Mar 24th—Mar 30th

Sunday, 3/24: 2Cor 13:5-13 Lk 15:11-32 Monday, 3/25: 2Cor 9:1a, 5-15 Lk 9:37-45 Tuesday, 3/26: 1Cor 16:15-24 Mk 8:22-26 Wednesday 3/27:Rom 14:1-13 Lk 7:1-10 Thursday, 3/28: 2Cor 1:23-2:5 Mt 15:29-39 Friday, 3/29: 2Cor 12:21-13:5 Mt 9:27-35 Saturday, 3/30: 2Tim 4:9-19 Mk 3:1-12

Sun^[y of th_ Pro^ig[l Son

On this Fourth Sunday of Lent we hear the seminal Parable of the Prodigal Son. Henri Nouwen was a Dutch Catholic priest. Henri struggled in his spiritual life and at one point he suffered a nervous breakdown. He had to go away for a time to find himself and recover from a very profound inner brokenness. He travelled to see Rembrandt’s painting ‘The Return of the Prodigal Son’ and read the parable. He spent hours deepening and going into the meaning of the parable. Henri finally began to comprehend that he was the beloved son of God. In the painting, the prodigal child is being welcomed by his father. To one side the elder brother who looks on and in the background are other unknown figures who, like us are observers of the scene. Henri analyses each of these players in his meditations. The father is a man in a great red cloak, tenderly touching the shoulders of his dishevelled son kneeling before him. The old man’s hands touch the boy’s shoulders and reach a place where perhaps the son has never before been reached. Who of us does not long for the tender embrace of the father? Who does not long for a home where we can feel safe, where we can rest and where we can enjoy a sense of belonging? Like the young man we can move past being an observer and step into the place of the young man, kneel down in spirit, and let ourselves be held by our loving God. We too can seek forgiveness and healing. We can surrender ourselves to the Father. The son rests against the father’s breast. The son left home with pride and money, determined to live his own life far away from his father and his community. He returned with nothing. He has no red cloak like the elder son to give him status and dignity. The soles of his feet tell the story of a long and humiliating journey. The only thing remaining is the sword on his right hip. The sword reminds us that the son in all his distance had not forgotten that he still was the son of his father. He came to himself and remembered that he is the son of his father. The son is against the father’s heart and he can hear and feel his father’s heartbeat. It is almost impossible to tell where the son’s head ends and the father’s heart begins. The edges between humanity and divinity meet. The Father is infinite in his compassion, unconditional in his love and everlasting in his forgiveness. The Father wants his children to be free to choose his love. That freedom may include the possibility that his children leave home, go far away and lose everything. The father’s heart knows all the pain that will come from that choice, but in his infinite love he allows his children that choice, no matter what pain it may cause. The light is concentrated on the father’s hands. The father’s left hand is touching the son’s shoulder and it is strong and muscular. The father’s right hand lies gently on the son’s shoulder. It is elegant and offers consolation and comfort. It is a mother’s hand. The elder son stands in the background. He is bitter and angry and can’t get over his own anger to allow his father’s love to heal him as well. Pride holds him back. He desires his father’s love, but his own emotions are stopping him from getting it. He finds it unacceptable that his father has received the younger brother back with such celebration. He has been loyal, hardworking and done everything his father asked. But his words give him away, he complains that he has been working like a ‘slave’ for his father. All these years, while he thought he was being obedient, he had been doing the work of his father in anger. He had not worked in the love of his father or in the spirit of love. He had worked in the spirit of resentment and anger. It is the older brother who needs healing now and to experience the true joy and love of his father. He has some way to go. Even though he has always been in his father’s house, his inability to rejoice in the return of his brother demonstrates he is living in his father’s house without letting his father’s love touch him. Henri Nouwen recounts in his book that one day he had a long discussion with one of his close friends and after talking with her about being the younger son or the older son, she said to him. “Whether you are the younger son or the older son, you have to realize that you are called to become the father – look at the father in the painting and you will know who you are called to be.” We are all called to be like the father who forgives others, offers compassion, welcomes us home and rejoices in homecoming. Written by: Theresa Simon

THIS WEEK’S MASS INTENTIONS Saturday, 3/23: Patrick Brown

Sunday, 3/24: Julia Marincel

Tuesday, 3/26: Sr. Maria Bernadette, Michael Marincel, +Kirsti Anderson, +Joseph Enot

Wednesday, 3/27: Henke Family

Thursday, 3/28: Tracie Swayden Family

Friday, 3/29: Michelle Henke, +Kirsti Anderson

+ Repose of the Soul

Next Week’s Liturgical Roles

Saturday, March 30th @ 5:30 PM Lector: Jerry Milam Altar Servers: Chidozie Ugochukwu, Nicholas Anderson, Tarun Louis Ushers: Antonio del Rincon, Mike Hanchette

Sunday, March 31st @ 8:30 AM Lector: Valentina Harmjanz Altar Servers: Andrew Wegendt, John Wegendt, John Paul Nwaiwu Ushers: Daniel Shults, Jim Ashmore

Sunday, March 31st @ 11:00 AM Lector: Lorna Hornbuckle Altar Servers: Kevin Wood, Steven Wood, Luke Elakattu Ushers: Ghattas Akl, Raphael Adam

Prayer Corner

Lord, I know how much you love me. It’s hard for me to feel it sometimes, but I know your love is always with me. Help me to use your love as a way to persevere in my Lenten intentions. I am weak, but I know with your help, I can use these small sacrifices in my life to draw closer to you.

“For I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was naked, and you gave me clothing.”

Homeless Feast Day Our parish will be sponsoring, preparing, and serving a

meal for the homeless on March 28th, 2019

We will need help in the kitchen on March 26th, 27th, and 28th from 9 AM-Noon. Please enter the kitchen through the side door. We also need help with covering the cost ($600) for the event. If you are interested in helping, please contact the Church Office.

OrderofSt.Sharbel&Bishop’sVisitPleasemarkyourcalendarsforMay5th!OurBishopEliasZaidanwillbevisitingourparishtoelevateoursub-deacontodeaconatthe11:00AMMassonMay5th.Lastyear,whentheBishopcameforavisit,TonyAndaryandAndreNicholaswereordainedintotheOrderofSt.Sharbel.SomepeoplehaveaskedmewhatthisOrderis.TheSt.SharbelOrderexistsinourDiocesetospirituallyand inanciallysupporttheeducationofourseminarians.Themembership

donationisa$5,000one-timepaymentor$500peryearover10years.Paymentscanbemadequarterly.IfyouareinterestedinjoiningtheorderofSt.Sharbel,pleasecontacttheChurchOf ice,sothatyoucanbeordainedonMay5th!~Fr.Assaad

COME JOIN OUR LADIES KNIT AND CROCHET BABY CLOTHES FOR THE LORETTO HOUSE IN THE CHURCH

CONFERENCE ROOM! Next Meeting: Monday, April 1st from 2-3 PM

We are also accepting donations of yarn!

We are starting a Maronite Young Adults (MYA) Chapter at our parish. This group is open to all single and married young adults ages 20-35 and will be under the direction of our Sub-deacon George Elandary. If you are interested in joining, please contact the Church Office!

The Benediction of the Cross The Benediction (Stations) of the Cross will be offered every Friday during Lent beginning at 6:30PM starting on March 8th, 2019 and end-ing on April 12th, 2019. During Lent, please remember to abstain from meat on all Fridays, and to Fast & Abstain on Ash Monday (or Ash Wednesday) and on Great Friday.

Confessions during Lent You are encouraged to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this season of Lent. Catholics MUST go to Confession at least once a year and as often as they need it in order to cleanse themselves of sins and be in a state of grace. Fr. Assaad is waiting for you eve-ry Saturday from 4:00pm—5:00pm in the Chapel.

HOSANNA SUNDAY CANDLES Hosanna Sunday Candles blessed by Father Assaad are ready for purchase for parishioners and non-parishioners! They can be purchased in the Church Lobby after Mass!

Continue Our Journey with Us Lenten Workshop series on “Catholics and Salvation”

being presented by Eric Hendry, PhD.—Systematic Theology Join us on Thursday Nights in the Chapel

March 7th thru April 11th, 2019 from 6:30pm—7:30pm

March 28th– The Necessity of a Christian Spiritual Life

Diocese Lenten Appeal

As you are aware, this year, our Bishop is asking us to raise $13,000.00 for the Diocese Appeal. So far, we have raised $2,210. Plea se continue to

give generously so that we may meet our parish’s goal. PLEASE, parishioners, remember to MAKE SURE to write your check to:

Our Lady of Lebanon and DELIVER IT TO US, NOT THE DIOCESE, via mail or the collection baskets.

We will send ONE collective check the week after Easter.

THANK YOU for your generosity!

NAM Annual Scholarship Program

Scholarships are available for high-school seniors, college students, and graduate students. For details, please visit www.namnews.org. If you have any questions, please call 330-212-9207 or email namscholarships@gmail.com. Application deadline: May 17th, 2019

Guadalupe Radio Network Invites you on a

Danube River Catholic Cruise Pilgrimage 11 Day—Cruise, Land, and Air from Newark or Houston

November 3-13, 2019 Daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and Inspirational Talks

For more info, contact 800-842-4842 or email rebecca@select-intl.com

N@M 2019 Vo][tions @w[r_n_ss Cont_st Post_r, Ess[y, Multim_^i[

Students in Grades K thru 12 are invited to participate in the NAM 2019 Vocations Awareness Contest. Students can submit posters, essays, or multimedia video presentations. Entry deadline is May 15th, 2019. For a list of topics for each grade level and more details, please contact the Church Office.

Details about topics, rules, and prizes can also be found at: www.namnews.org

CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church #989776 719 University Place Lewisville, TX 75067 TELEPHONE 972 436-7617 CONTACT PERSON Mattye Thompson SOFTWARE MSPublisher 2007 Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Windows XP Professional PRINTER HP Laserjet CP1215 TRANSMISSION TIME Tuesday 12:00 SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION January 31, 2010 NUMBER OF PAGES SENT 1 through 4 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

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