The MCS held the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 28 April 2015 at the Maronite Eparchy in Strathfield in the presence of his Lordship Antoine-Charbel Tarabay, Maronite Bishop of Australia, Monsgr Marcelino Youssef and Joseph Metledge, Founding President of the Maronite Catholic Society and all the MCS Members.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the members and his Grace to discuss the latest developments of interest to the Maronite Community both in Australia and in Lebanon.

Bishop Tarabay was commendatory and prideful of the important role of the MCS and of its unwavering support for the projects undertaken by the Maronite Eparchy in addressing the needs of the Maronite Community both in Australia and in Lebanon.

And in an atmosphere of harmony and consensus, the annual elections were held in accordance with the MCS Constitution and a new executive Committee was duly elected as follows:

President: Tony Khattar (elected unopposed)

Hon. Secretary: Raymond Abi-Arraj 

Hon. Treasurer: Chafic Saade (elected unopposed)

Executive members:  (In alphabetical order) Ghassan Awit – Joe P Baini- Lichaa Chidiac- Dani Geagea- Bakhos Georges- Fahd Gitani- Anthony Hasham- Anne Farah-Hill - Khalil Tartak 

Portfolios and other positions will be assigned at the upcoming meeting of the executive to be held soon..

For further information contact:

PRESIDENT: Tony Khattar on 04180201902  

OR SECRETARY: Raymond Abi-Arraj on 0413069004

Authorized by Tony Khattar, MCS President

It is with great distress and sadness that we are still learning about and mourning the loss of innocent Christian lives, at the hands of an unjust and cruel adversary.

The Maronite Eparchy of Australia and the faithful people of the Maronite Catholic Church stand in solidarity with their Christian brothers and sisters of Ethiopia, and assure them of our heartfelt sorrow and prayers.

We say no to terrorism, and to war and aggression against the defenceless. Christ, the Prince of Peace, died and rose from the dead to take away the suffering of the innocent. Yet, we continue to learn of further shocking violence being perpetrated against 30 innocent Ethiopians in Libya, only because they are followers of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

It makes no difference whether the victims are Catholic, Copt, Orthodox or Protestant, or if they are from Africa, or the Middle East. They have a right to find security and peace wherever they may be in the world, while freely professing their faith.

Let their martyrdom and the suffering of all Christians remind us to be grateful for our own blessings, to be moved to compassion for our brethren, and to work so that such suffering may cease.

Let us as a community here in Australia, carry the banner of reason and dialogue for a peaceful resolution to conflict, and send this banner around the world.  We pray that peace may reign and that dialogue may win, and that all Christians may live in safety.  We offer our condolences to the families of the martyrs, and to the people of Ethiopia, and pray for the protection of all innocent lives who are in danger.

+Antoine-Charbel Tarabay

Maronite Bishop of Australia

For further information, contact the Maronite Eparchy of Australia on 02 8831 0000 or by email to bpoffice@maronite.org.au 

The Power of Art in Promoting Peace 

Marcelle Mansour’s Artist Talk received the

UPF’s Ambassador for Peace Award

By Marcelle Mansour

The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) hosted my solo art exhibition named “Threshold” on Monday the 6th April 2015 at the UPF Embassy (826 George Street, Sydney.NSW) during their seminar event of the Ambassadors for Peace Meeting, to promote the world peace through my art of light and perception as a part of the 2015 UNESCO International Year of Light program. I was invited as a guest speaker to display my artworks and to present an Artist’s Talk titled “Art, Light and World Peace.” The Seminar was professionally organised by Mrs Catrine Van Dinklage, UPF Events Coordinator. Mrs Aila Willitts, the Women’s Federation for World Peace Australia performed the role of a fantastic MC who is very skilled at providing a genuinely unique atmosphere. The event was attended by a large number of UPF’s Ambassadors for Peace in Australia from various ethnic backgrounds with their families and friends including the Australian Iraqi, Mr Hormiz Eshoo and Dr Alaa Alawadi together with his wife Mrs Nadia Alawadi and his son Mr Sultan Alawadi, 

Mr Greg Stone first delivered a significant screen presentation titled “Creating a culture of Peace through Art”, explaining about the role and the power of art in promoting peace, which can be summed up as follows: The mission of UPF is dedicated to building a world of peace through the five principles of God, spirituality, family, service and unity, for peace comes through cooperation beyond the boundaries of authenticity, religion and nationality. In regards to the absolute values and the reassessment of the contemporary world, we notice that the natural and social order are suffering of violence and injury that lead to growing cause for despair. Mr Stone talked about the unification thought of theory of art that seeks to view art in acceptance with the fundamental principles of God. God is a great Artist and the universe is His work of art for there is a resemblance between the images of human beings and God. There is also an essential relationship between art and ethics and true beauty can only be established on the basis of true love. 

This was followed by my artist’s talk, accompanied by my poetry reading of “Spiritual Dialogue with Light” and screen presentation of my artworks. These are some extracts of the text of my speech given at UPF: “Threshold Art Exhibition Threshold Art Exhibition was created to be exhibited over the two years of 2014 & 2015, for it has coincided with the world‘s commemorating the centenary of the First World War, along with UN declaring 2014 as the ‘Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People’. The exhibition is also coinciding and celebrating the 2015 International Year of Light in Australia as a part of the year calendar that is a mix of business, education, art and science to celebrate the importance of light in our life. Threshold Art Exhibition first won the competition to be included in the international art show of ‘Year In Review Two Thousand Thirteen Competition” in York Space, New York City, USA March 2014. It was also exhibited in Bankstown Arts Centre in April 2014, and in Mary MacKillop Museum from 10th December 2014 to 30th March 2015.” 

“Through my art, I present a kind of an intersection between me, my identity, my country cause, the history and the world. In my vision, I visualize the reality of the world. For in fact, works of art do not represent reality, and real world, rather, art creates realities and worlds. That is why art is central to politics and to social relationships, for works of art can transform common perceptions and they can transfigure experiences and take part in our continual remaking of the world.....In this context I hope for politicians to be a little bit creative and spiritual. For, if they were creative and spiritual, they can lead the world in a better way. There is no doubt that politicians and community leaders need spiritual guidance. Spiritual leaders need to redirect and re-educate the new generation regarding to the actual purpose of faith. We really need a kind of deep transformation which will make a radical change to enable us to recreate the world’s reality....Art has the power to encourage peace and to urge people to be anti-war, anti violence, anti -terrorism or barbarism, anti-genocide and anti-oppressing nations...Finally, I hope that my artwork may inspire Individuals, politicians and community leaders; to change, to transform, to cross the threshold of perception through contemplating and reshaping the reality of the world towards recreating universal humanity that working for love and peace.”

Four people from various nationalities were appointed as Ambassadors for Peace and they received the Ambassador for Peace Award including the Public Affairs Director in Sydney, Ms Churlya Wurfel, I - the writer of this journalistic report - (Marcelle Mansour) and Maurice Mansour. It was a delightful surprise to see my husband Maurice is getting an award for his encouragement and his great support for my art career. The seminar event was highlighted by the performance of an interesting music band with the composer/artist Mr Chihiro Midorikawa, the Secretary General of UPF. Light refreshments and drink were served and the ceremony concluded with networking of empowered ambassadors for peace.  

I would like to thank the UPF members who participated in the seminar, in particular the UPF President Mr Greg Stone, the UPF Event Coordinator Ms Catrine Van Dinklage, Women’s Federation for World Peace Australia Mrs Aila Willitts. I would also like to extend my thanks to the volunteers from the UPF Youth Group who gave their time and efforts to help in a positive ways. A massive thank you for the people who attended the event including Mr Bedro Hajje, Photographer and 2ME Radio presenter, and all the UPF Ambassadors for Peace who attended the evening for they all shared an enjoyable inspiring evening together and made the event such a great success.

The French Language in Lebanon

                                   by Dr Dennis Walker, CRS Monash University [email: dnnchdh@gmail.com]

                           I have just spent two months in Lebanon, mainly in the Jabal (Mountain) area with the kind hospitality of the Maronite monastries of Ghusta and Kafifan, researching plural cultures and movements among the Maronites up until

1925.  It is a rich intellectual and literary heritage still understood only in simplified ways in the West and its academia. 

                           Following World War I, the Maronites were divided.  After the trauma and famine during that conflict, most Maronites were in no shape

to think or agitate about politics, Yet a surprising number did.  This sharp interest in politics has always been a central aspect of the Maronite Lebanese. 

                           The brutal choice was whether (a) to take a risk of standing with King Faysal and the Arab nationalists in Damascus --- the issue was whether they could trust Arfab Muslims after 1860 and the World War I famine --- OR (b) opt for a mandate under the bled and exhausted French whose language quite a few Maronites had learned but with concealed opponents among them..

                           I have left Lebanon with a folio of issues of the magazine _La Revue Phoeniciene_ published  by a circle of Lebanese nationalists after World War I who had chosen France.  I found it relaxing reading.  The French style was clear with articles on French literature that took in even writers in medieval French such as Villon.  Some of these Lebanese had learned a range of aspects of the people who produced that language: it was an acquired language for Lebanese Christians but some of them were not just in iFrench language for what they could get out of it in commerce or politics --- the money and jobs.

                          _La Revue Phoeniciene_ published  quite a quantity of poetry in French.  It was a particularist-nationalist poetry that detailed the national scenery and vegetation of the Lebanese Homeland.  There was some real lyricism about it.  _La Revue Phoeniciene_ published articles assessing the economic and trading resources and prospects of Lebanon, hoping that Mandatory France could oversee and guide the capacity of the Lebanese to develop their country and achieve Progress.

                          The attitudes of French officials by the mid-1920s had lost them any support from most Lebanese including Maronite Patriarch Ilyas Butrus al-Huwayyik who had supported a take-over by them to the Western powers at the Versailles Peace Conference.  Yet France provided a Constitution and carved out communications that enabled the Lebanese to advance to independence as a relatively modern polity.  It was a stated marred by structural sectarianism which most Lebanese had preferred, and the French only ratified.  Overall, the French deserve some credit for providing some of the means that Lebanon needed to advance into modernity.

Why are you afraid…it is I myself!” (Luke 24:38-39)

Beloved Brothers and Sisters,

The glorious feast of Easter is upon us again, bearing once more the glad tidings which, although they were first told two thousand years ago in Jerusalem, are always fresh: the news that Christ is risen! Truly he is risen!

After the sufferings, the outrage of the crucifixion, and the darkness of the tomb, a new dawn has appeared: the morning of the Resurrection, shining brighter than the sun, calling us all to profess that the Lord Jesus has truly suffered, truly been crucified and has truly died … but also, he has truly risen! The reality of the Resurrection is cause to celebrate the victory of love over evil, light over darkness, grace over sin, and life over death. It is the cornerstone in the edifice of Christian life and faith. As St Paul teaches us: “And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith has nothing to it; you are still guilty of your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17)

The Risen Jesus appears to us, victorious over the grave, death, evil and sin, saying to us: “Why are you afraid…it is I myself!” These words are echoed through human history from the beginning until today, holding a special place in Holy Scripture, being found in both the Old and New Testaments. They reflect the call of love which first appeared in the creation, was renewed in the mystery of the incarnation, and reached its pinnacle in the crucifixion of Our Lord, his death and his Resurrection.

“Why are you afraid…it is I myself!” The Lord Jesus addresses these words also to us, we the children of the Maronite Eparchy in Australia. In these words we find a new beginning in our spiritual journey of faith. Let us put off the old man, the man of sin, selfishness, arrogance and death, and put on the new man, the man of grace, giving, humility and life. Let us leave the old identity and shroud: our shrouds of fear, hesitation, introversion, and even concealment – concealing sometimes our Maronite identity and our Christian faith. We can indeed overcome these fears, following the example of Mary Magdalene by kneeling down and saying: “Rabbouni! My teacher!” (John 20:16) … and then, like her, go quickly to spread the good news of the Resurrection to all the world.

The words of the Lord Jesus: “Why are you afraid…it is I myself!” are especially pertinent today for the children of the Eastern Churches, who are persecuted and tortured, especially the Christians of Syria and Iraq, who are hated only because of their faith in the Lord. On this Feast of the Resurrection, we implore the Risen Lord to strengthen them in their faith, and to allow them to stay secure in their ancestral lands and churches. We believe that their true witness to the Lord will gain for them the final victory over fear, oppression, and persecution. We ask the Lord to inspire the minds and consciences of the politicians and world leaders, so that they no longer resort to war, and to the killing of the innocent. We seek a return to the language of dialogue, to seeking the peaceful resolution of intractable conflicts. On this occasion of Easter, the Church and her people pray for the least and weakest of our brethren, especially children, women and the elderly. We beseech the Lord that he may awaken us all to our responsibilities towards them, so that we might assist and encourage them, protecting them from every kind of exploitation and mistreatment.

At Easter, we in the Australian Maronite Church live, in our spiritual and pastoral journeys, different dimensions of that hope which finds its wellspring in the Resurrection. The heartbeat of that journey is our active and promising youth, always thirsting for a deeper spirituality and the Word of Life. Today, on this Feast of Easter, we begin preparatory work, planning and readying ourselves, with registration throughout all our parishes, for the First Maronite Youth Convention to be held in our Eparchy, between 24 and 26 July 2015. All are called to encourage and assist our youth, especially to accompany them with your prayers for the success of the Convention, that it may be fruitful and successful.

Beloved, for you I pray, and with you I exalt the Risen Lord Jesus, praising him for his eternal existence in the Eucharistic sacrament. The Risen Christ goes before us leading our journey to a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1), where we shall all be united as one family, children of God the Father in truth and in spirit.

Let us then fearlessly follow him through this world which is filled with joy and sadness. Our faces, marked with both smiles and tears reflect the reality of our earthly lives. May our journey with Christ who rose from the tomb be a journey of hope, praise and joy. Amen.

Christ is risen! Truly he is risen!

Sydney, 5 April 2015 + Antoine - Charbel Tarabay 

Maronite Bishop of Australia