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

I was amazed and I could not believe what I read in your message to his Beatitude Patriarch Beshara El Raii in the time of Pope Francis ... both keen advocates of the truth and fairness...

Is it right that your legitimate case is still pending, despite the passage of more than a quarter of a century? 

Is it conceivable that your rightful case is still on the shelves in a country which claims to hold the cradle of all laws? 

Is it possible that your honorable case is undermined and belittled in the country of honor and dignity? 

Is it possible that the injustice which distressed you and your family was caused and propagated by those who were supposed to protect you?

Along with about seventy lawyers who defended and advocated for your stolen rights and by whom? ..... And despite their shameful deeds... we, from the other part of the world…Australia ... the country that values and highly respects its teachers…we cry out to His Beatitude and Eminence Patriarch El Raii whom we long to meet very soon, during his first visit to Australia ... and he will undoubtedly listen to our just and legitimate plea from afar ... 

Our dearest and beloved teacher ... You are forever in our minds.... We love you and we ask God to prolong your life and to grant you good health and lots of needed energy ... with our most sincere greetings to you, to Lady Georgette and to all the 

family...

                                                                                        Raymond

A delegation of MCC NSW, consisting of the Office Bearers, attended to NSW Parliament House on Thursday 14 August 2014 and presented its credentials to the Hon Victor Dominello, Minister for Citizenship and Communities.  

The delegation was led by the Chair of MCC Dr Anthony Pun, OAM and included Raymond Arraj (Secretary-General), William Seung (Vice-Chair) and David Dawson (Vice-Chair).

Despite a heavy and tight schedule in Parliament, Mr Dominello was able to spare some time welcoming the delegation.  At the meeting, Dr Pun briefed the Minister about the MCC NSW stating “our organisation has adopted the slogan ‘for a Multicultural NSW’ and as a membership-based organisation, we would collaborate and complement the work of those NGOs which are organisation-based. There are however unmet needs in the community that the MCC is able to address and particularly, outreaching to the West of Sydney and to new & emerging communities.  

Dr Pun added: “there has been no voice in the community for some time and the MCC NSW would assist in regenerating a loud and clear voice on issues affecting the community”.

MCC wishes to thank the Minister for his time in meeting with the delegation at Parliament House and this constitutes the beginning of warm and close working relations with the Government in community affairs.

Dr Anthony Pun, OAM, Chair

Considering his extremely busy schedule within his current visit to Australia, Father Estephan Frangieh took time last night to meet up and have a cosy dinner with friends at a quiet restaurant in Parramatta. 

The softly spoken father Estephan, who is well known as the President of Al Salam Soccer Club in Lebanon and as Head of Zgharta hospital ( Mustshfa al Saydeh) amongst other things, last night impressed me as a true man of God who preaches love and harmony. 

It ought to be mentioned that the Zgharta El Salam Soccer Team recently won the Soccer Lebanon Cup and the Club is now geared to represent Lebanon in the up-coming Asia Championship Cup. We all pray and wish all the best to Zgharta El Salam and we are sure that, with the leadership of Father Estephan, they will do us proud and keep the name of Lebanon on a high pedestal…

Father Estephan also struck me, as the others, as fully conversant with our Australian Lebanese Community affairs and all the wheelings and dealings….He appeared privy to details that many of us are oblivious about…A true leader with insight and vision…More importantly he was warmly welcome amongst friends…

Father Estephan was accompanied by Joe Mekary, President of BaTal Lubnaan’s Association and Peter Wakim, both good friends and colleagues in the Maronite Catholic Society (Al RaaBiTah Al Marouniya) and Ted Doueihi together with Father’s other members of the delegation: Charbel Azizi and Badoui Gitani.

Also in attendance were good mates: Ghassan Awit, former President of the MCS, George Tamer, Bakhos Georges, Current MCS Deputy President and Joe Khoury, OAM, Chief Editor of “Future Newspaper” and we were all pleasantly surprised by the attendance of Parramatta City Councillor Mekary accompanied by Deputy Lord Mayor Paul Garrard who wished to personally say Hello to Father Estephan whom he had met upon his visit to Lebanon..

A great company, good friendship ambiance and a serene and harmonious atmosphere…..sufficient recipe for a splendid evening enjoyed by all.

Raymond Abi-Arraj

Thanks to Joe Khoury. Done it again...

Everyone was there...At least it felt like that...They all came to support and appreciate Lebanese Beauty...

The whole community was there...the leaders...the so-called leaders...the artists...La Fontaine’s frogs that kept inflating themselves until explosion...the literate and the semi-literate or should I say the Semi-illiterate....they all came with one purpose: support this worthy and well organised Spectacular..

Joseph Khoury welcomed and acknowledged almost every one present at the Doltone House...Well done Joseph! Otherwise “hell would break loose” from the “fat cats”...

The night was truly reminiscent and of the standard of the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant we see only on Television...The ambiance was great with great entertainment and great girls parading on the Catwalk both in swimwear and in their evening dresses....Not only were they beautiful but they displayed composure and intelligence through the intelligent answers they provided to the questions thrown at them....

It takes a lot of guts to parade on the catwalk and to be assessed by professional and experienced judges in front of a packed Doltone House...demonstrating great talent as they proudly represented their community....

In echoing Joseph Khoury’s words, each one of these pretty and intelligent young Lebanese girls is special in her own way. They all deserve to be crowned but unfortunately there can only be one winner.. And the winner was Cynthia Farah..Congratulations to Cynthia and to Vanessa Tamer who was the first Runner-up in the contest. In fact Congrats to all the contestants for their high spirit and for a good representation of their community..

Raymond Abi-Arraj

At 11am on Good Friday, the Honourable Tony Abbott, Prime Minister of Australia, walked into a packed Our Lady of Lebanon’s Cathedral to join the Maronite Community in the holy liturgy.

Worshippers came from all across NSW to attend the Good Friday Rite of Adoration of the Cross celebrated by Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay and to listen to his sermon and here is some of what he said: “There is a unity between the cross and the Crucified. When we adore the Cross, we adore Jesus”.

In the Liturgy “we pray the traditional prayer in Aramaic and it is at the centre of our Liturgy” which means “Oh Jesus who were crucified for us, have mercy on us”.

“Jesus prayed that His Father would open their eyes to see their sins, in order to repent and be forgiven. Jesus was fully human and fully divine on the Cross. His mission was to save the world with His suffering...”

The Bishop was aided by Mgnr Marcelino, Vicar General and by the OLOL Parish priests headed by Mgnr Shora Marie.

The Readings were done by Prime Minister Abbott, Mirella Khattar and one of the Sisters at OLOL..

Following the liturgy, Bishop Tarabay, accompanied by the Prime Minister and his First Lady, the Ruddocks and some VIPs: Mr &Mrs Anwar Harb, Mr & Mrs Joe Khattar, joe Rizk, Wally Wehbe, Mr & Mrs Joseph Assaf and Raymond Abi-Arraj.... they adjourned to the Community Centre next-door for some nibbles to break their fast....

A very holy day well spent in the presence of the One Who died for us...

With my best and most blessed wishes at Easter. Have a happy one!

Raymond Abi-Arraj

Writes Angela Arraj

On the 7th of January, Maronite-On-Mission, MOM, a group of 21 individuals (consisting of doctors, dentists, teachers, IT specialists and volunteers) left Australia and headed to the Philippines on a mission to assist the poor medically, socially, educationally and spiritually. 

On our first stop to Manila, our eyes were open to the poverty in the streets, with some families residing in one by two-metre boxes and others living in condensed, humid, broken and derelict areas. It would be wrong to call these homes as they were more so spaces of occupation.  

After a day spent in the capital, accompanied with Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay, we flew to Naga where our main work began. 

Approximately fifty brothers welcomed us to their monastery and assisted us in our humane mission. 

The remaining ten days consisted of providing food packages to the poorest of the poor (those living in rubbish dumpsters), providing medical healthcare (tooth extractions, vaccinations, diagnosis, drug treatment etc), education to the youth and visiting the disabled and sick. 

Prior to the beginning of this mission, many of MOM’s members had prepared what we were going to provide to these disadvantaged people in the Philippines. Little did we know that the Philippinos would give us more than we had given them: The love, faith and community spirit.

The experience learnt from this mission was phenomenal. Whilst having nothing, the joy and gratitude on each individual’s face was seen at all times. 

Although many of us have a list of requirements for content living, the members of MOM certainly returned to Australia with a replenished and lively soul filled with Christ and His love. 

“Al Mustaqbal” congratulates Bishop Antoine Tarabay and all the members of Maronite-On-Mission on their excellent and successful mission to the Philippines and for providing help to people in dire need.

As Pope Francis is doing some incredibly progressive things to lead the Catholic Church worldwide, our bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay has joined the Maronite-On-Mission (MOM) delegation that flew on Tuesday to the Philippines to personally feed the homeless and console the sick. He is definitely taking our Australian Maronite Catholic Church to a new dimension and definitely commemorating Jesus’ gesture of humility.

May God bless our bishop and all the members of MOM and grant them the patience and the strength to carry on this excellent mission.

Thanks to my daughter Angela, who is part of this delegation, for sending me these photos and in particular for the photo of Bishop Tarabay eating McDonald’s during a stopover in Malaysia.

Raymond Abi-Arraj

The highlight of the evening was the Bishop’s message: “As Cardinal George Pell says, ‘the Maronites are the backbone of the Catholic Church’. It is all about a revolution and hope. As Saint Aghostinos said ‘hope has two facets: Anger and Courage- Anger to stop what is not right and courage to effect change. Maronites are invited to have courage in order to change for New Horizons and cooperation is the key word.

Bishop Tarabay then proceeded to thank the members of the Maronite Catholic Society stressing on the word “LOVE” and quoted St Paul to deliver his Christmas message inviting all to practise what we preach, to take action and not mere words...and carry out an introspection and dig deep into the inner self....He wished for the MCS to open the door for new members and hoped for a significant increase of members by this time next year...and stressed that the increase should encompass both men and women...in order for the MCS to be the real force within the Maronite Church....

The Bishop took time to thank the Maronite Youth and congratulated them on the mention of their name in the NSW Parliament following an Anti-Gay Marriage letter they had written to a Member of the Upper House. 

Finally his Excellency wished all a Blessed Christmas to: Consul-General of Lebanon, Sister Josephine Wehbe, representing all the Maronite Sisters, all the clergy present and to all the members of the Maronite Catholic Society and their families- alluding to Professor Philip Salem, symbol of international success, currently visiting Australia, adding that the secret of Prof Salem’s success lies in the fact that he has loved every patient that he treated. If there is no love, there is no success.

To wrap up and before the MCS members exchanged Christmas greetings they presented Bishop Tarabay with a valuable gift: a Golden Cup bearing the following inscriptions: “Faithfulness and Openness”(Bishop Tarabay’s Motto),“Token of Loyalty” and “From the Maronite Catholic Society”.

Raymond Abi-Arraj

Doing a great job in the education of future Maronite generations in maintaining their language and preserving their identity. The Arabic Language is at the heart of Australian Multiculturism supported by all spheres of Government. One can speak volumes about all the benefits of learning a maternal language and about the great benefits of Bilingualism and even Triligualism etc.

To mark the end of a successful school year the students put on a play. It was quite entertaining and the little angels amazed the audience with the stadard of their performances and their ability to deliver the Arabic language which they have been learning at the Community Arabic Language Centre at St John the Beloved.

In attendance were Bishop Tarabay represented by the Vicar General Monsignor Marcelino Youssef, Mr Albert Vella, President of NSW Federation of Community Languages Schools, Mr Raymond Abi-Arraj, Head of the Maronite Diocesan Arabic Language Schools who was also representing the Maronite Catholic Society, Mrs Amal Bousamra, editor of eMarounia, the Parish Priest and Reverend Fathers at St John the Beloved and a great number of the parents and Community members.

“As Head of the Maronite Diocesan Arabic Language Program and on behalf of Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay I take the opportunity to extend our deep appreciation to both Federal and NSW State Governments for their support to our five Arabic Language Centres operating within our Maronite Diocese” Mr Abi-Arraj said.

“Further I wish to thank Nada, the Coordinator of the Program at St John The Beloved Arabic School and to her beautiful angels for their kind invitation and for their hard work in achieving a great and successful night enjoyed by all”.

In support of the Arabic Language Program, Mr Toufic Kayrouz, President of the Maronite Catholic Society donated $300. The amount was presented to the Program Coordinator, on behalf of Mr Kayrouz, by Raymond Abi-Arraj, Hon Secretary of the MCS.

Bishop Antoine Charbel celebrated this evening a Thanksgiving Mass at St Charbel where he served for a decade as a Priest, School Principal and Rector.....

The popular Bishop cut through the crowds assembled outside St Charbel's Church at Punchbowl-Sydney to greet him as one of their own......

In his address, Bishop Antoine Charbel, as he prefers to be called in future. had this to say and in particular to the youth: " You know me and I know you and I am one of you....The venue of my office has changed but everything else remains unchanged...You seek me anytime...and I am there for you..." "and I am open to all denominations and to all. This is our role in the Multicultural fabric of this wonderful nation Australia- We must meet the challenges together".

Bishop Antoine Charbel will board a flight back to Lebanon tomorrow to attend the Bishops’ Synod in Bkerke. We wish him well and look forward to his return towards the end of the month of June. Bon Voyage Sayyidna!

Raymond Abi-Arraj

Thanks and Congrats to the Australian Lebanese Christian Federation (ALCF) on their Excellent Reception for Bishop Tarabay

Maronites, Orthodox, Melkites, Syriac, Sunnis, Shiites, Druze......You name it...They all were there last night at packed Bellevue on the invitation of ALCF headed by President Wally Wehbe especially to honour the new Bishop His Grace Dr Antoine Charbel Tarabay.

The Maronite Catholic Society-MCS, World Lebanese Cultural Union-WLCU, in addition to almost every Lebanese and Arabic Speaking Organisation in NSW attended this happy and important reception for Bishop Tarabay who was accompanied by the ever-smiling and Down-to-Earth Bishop we all loved, his Grace Mounir Khairalla, Sponsor of Bishop Tarabay as well as representative of his Beatitude Beshara El Rahi, Maronite Patriarch and most Reverend Abbot Tannous Nehme, Superior General of the Lebanese Maronite Order.

Antoine Kazzi and Sayed Mikhael, Chief Editors of El Telegraph and Al Anwar respectively were the Masters of Ceremony and with their eloquent and poetic words they introduced the important speakers: Sheikh Mouselmani, Sheikh Zeidan, Maitre Aziz Azzi, prominent Lawyer who accompanied his Grace Tarabay on his trip back to Australia, Sydney Bank CEO and Reverend Abbot Tannous Nehme and the honoured Bishop Dr Antoine Charbel.

All the messages were excellent and in particular the final message delivered by his Grace Bishop Tarabay which called for Unity, Harmony, Faithfulness and Openness.....A promising chapter in the life of our Australian Lebanese Community in Australia.....which will undoubtedly and hopefully flow on to our beloved country Lebanon....

Unparalleled event within the recent past as it brought together the Community at large in all its dynamics and diversity.

Well done Wally and Sincere Thanks and Congrats to Members of ALCF.........

Raymond Abi-Arraj

Last night, crowds from everywhere converged onto a packed and even congested St Maroun's Cathedral to attend the greatest event of the decade.

They came from all over Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and even from distant and faraway Lebanon .....just to witness the installation of Bishop Antoine Charbel Tarabay as the 4th Maronite Bishop of Australia.

The Ambassador of Lebanon Mr Jean Daniel representing the Lebanese Government together with representatives from the three spheres of the Australian Government-Federal,State and Local- participated in this happy event and promising chapter in our Australian Maronite Community.

At the start of the ceremony the representative of his Beatitude Patriarch Bshara El Rahi Bishop Mounir Kheiralla read the Patriarchal Decree and the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia Archbishop Paul Richard Ghallagher read the 17 April Appointment of Bishop Tarabay by Pope Francis.

The hand-over of the baton then took place between Bishop AbiKaram and Bishop Tarabay to the warm applause of all present.

In his speech, Bishop Antoine Charbel declared that his motto is: "Faithfulness and Openness"

Following the Mass, a huge reception was held at Le Montage in commemoration of this great happening with over two thousand people in attendance during which Bishop Antoine Charbel received the congratulatory greetings from the long queues eager to have a close glimpse of the new Bishop.

Congratulations to our champion!

Raymond Abi-Arraj

 

For them you are the Michael Angelo of this era ....
As for us ... You are still the son of Sebhel ... our beloved hometown and the son of the soil that we adore ....
Departed ... And in the depths you left a deep cut...
Today we mourn you ... overflowed with tears in our eyes ...  and Sebhel is clad with its black dress and overwhelmed with sadness ...
Your inspiration which stems from its air has added a great flair and an important touch to the real and genuine art ... carving stubborn rocks into luxurious statues which amazed the world with their accuracy and wonder..
The chisel in your hand has known the rock and it revealed its secrets to it.... and your chisel used to say to the newborn: "Be, and it was" ... Complex and flexible majestic creation...
You were a pioneer in the art of sculpture... You have given a great deal to Sebhel and to Lebanon... as gave Assad Sebaali and Antoine Sebaalani and Youssef Rouhana in the field of poetry and literature and as gave Wadih Ayoub in the field of sports.... You all are a source of pride for us and you set an example for both Sebaalese and Lebanese wherever they are ...
We will not forget the good old days which brought us together ... You are wandering in our mind and in our faded photo memory ... especially the time when you designed and sculptured the  memorial for the great poet Assad Sebaali which stands today erected in Sebaal’s Square to greet you on your way to your final home ...
In your departure both Sebhel and Lebanon have lost a large branch from the immortal Cedar and a great artist.
As we say good-bye today we salute you and vow to protect the school founded by you ... the School which reared the international artist Tony Badwi Farah who grew up on its principles and without any doubt he will safeguard your legacy and complete your mission with professionalism and dedication.... ...
As we say good bye, we hold on to our hearts filled with the love you exchanged cordially and generously with all your family members and with all those around you ... With sincere heartfelt condolences to all of them and to the Sebaal community in everywhere.

Khalil Tartak and Raymond Abi-Arraj
Sydney – Australia

“The Cedar” –“Lebanon”:

Two words that we all cherish and strive to uphold and protect for what they represent.....

Today I had the pleasure of attending a most enjoyable day at Darling harbour.

A day where the name of Lebanon was placed on a pedestal, thanks to the Folkloric Group which carries its name.

I had the impression that I was going to see there all or at least many of the Community Leaders whom I thought would attend to see the Lebanese Flag flying and to support a Lebanese group honouring the name of Lebanon. 

For obvious reasons I will keep my opinion to myself....

May we all rest in peace..

Congratulations Elie on a very successful Carnival and Thank you for positively promoting the name of Lebanon.

Sincerely and God Bless

Raymond

Bishop AbiKaram blesses the mission of President Kayrouz and his new team
The Maronite Catholic Society Executive held its first meeting on Tuesday in order to distribute the various Executive responsibilities in accordance with its constitution and determine the way forward in the service of the Maronite community both in Australia and Lebanon.
The result was as follows:
President: Toufic Kayrouz
First Vice-President: Ghassan Awit
Second Vice-President: Antoine Doueihi
General-Secretary: Raymond Abi Arraj
Deputy General-Secretary: Toufic Laba
Treasurer: Ghassan Hatem
Assistant Treasurer: Ray Wehbe
Advisor: Chafic Saade
Advisor: Pierre Salame
Chair - Information Committee: Camille Harb
Chair- Social Committee: Joe Peter Khoury
Chair- Youth Committee: Nelson Semaan
Immediate Past President: Samir Azzi
Founding President: Joe Metledge

Immediately after the announcement of the final result, President-elect Toufic Kayrouz and the Executive Committee visited the Maronite Eparchy in Strathfield, and were warmly received by Bishop AbiKaram, head of the Maronite Catholic Church in Australia.
The meeting was an opportunity for the new president to thank his grace for his continued support for the Society and to reach out and extend his sincere appreciation to all the Maronite parishes – priests, monks and nuns, promising to communicate and cooperate with all of them in order to uphold and support the Maronite community.
And specifically from “Beit Maroun” President Kayrouz chose to thank all those who carried on the presidency of the MCS, starting from the founding President Joe Metledge up till the immediate past President Samir Kazzi, in addition to all the members without exception, since its inception 25 years ago.
Bishop Abikaram stressed the importance of the Maronite Catholic Society and the role it plays as he explained his ambitious vision for the new Executive to adopt and put down to action in the coming year. He went on to offer important suggestions to President Kayrouz which will assist the youth and future generations in preserving their”Maroniteness”. The Arabic language, in his view, is the vehicle which carries this rich heritage and forms the bridge of communication with their predecessors and ancestors.
At the end of the meeting, memorial photos were taken. His Lordship then blessed their mission as they set out to serve their community both in Australia and Lebanon.
For more information, please contact: Toufic Kayrouz on 0414293978 or Raymond Abi-Arraj on 0413069004

Issued by Raymond Abi-Arraj
General- Secretary - Maronite Catholic Society
Sydney – 10 May 2012