Dear brothers and sisters,    

The month of August looks like a break, relax and vacation month, and that’s true and we wish all families joyful vacations and breaks during this month. During this month Holy Family will celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord on Tuesday, August 5 at 6:00 PM and Wednesday, August 6 at 9:00 AM. The second main Feast day is the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Friday, August 15 at 9:00 AM and the following weekend.

Our MYO leaders have again organized a children summer camp activity for all church children age 9 to 17, including Faith Formation, altar servers and MYO, Thursday through Saturday, August 7, 8 & 9, at both the Church campus and a half day at Lebanon Hills. The camp will include a beautiful variety of activities: spiritual, games, swimming, canoeing, hiking, heritage, culture etc. Parents are invited to encourage their children participate in this annual event.

The annual church Festival will be held Saturday, September 6. Our crews are preparing food for sandwiches and dishes filled with delicious Lebanese items. You can contact Gloria Deeb-Reyes or Carolyn Marker for more information.

The church continues to celebrate the legacy and memories of the fathers and mothers and grandparents and ancestors of the community, as expressed in the following Syriac Aramaic Maronite hymn verse: “On your altar o Lord, are remembered our departed fathers and brothers and teachers. They will rise again at your right hand on the day when your majestic power appears, our Lord Christ and King� and Syriac Aramaic phonetics are the following: "al madebhokh Mor netdakhroun, abohain w ahain w rabonain, wanqoomoun men yaminokh, byawmo ddonho raboutokh, malko Mshiho. Halleluia." On this occasion, there are more ways to remember the departed, such as offering Masses and prayers in their memory, or donating for a cause to support church services and mission, or remembering the church in your will and in memory of a deceased dear parent or family or church member. This way the deceased are being remembered and their memory will make a great difference in the life of your community and its future generations.

Many of you, members and friends of Holy Family, are willing to support the church but sometimes can’t due to distance or another reason. One easy way to support and donate is through the church Website. Your donation will be transferred in your name to the church account and will be recorded for church records and acknowledgement. Thank you everyone for your constant support. This brings us closer to achieving the basic needs for a building expansion.

Our flourishing MYA group remains very active. They continue their monthly gatherings and participation in the NAM Convention and their attachment to the faith and traditions of the Maronite and Lebanese faith and culture.

Holy Family parish participated actively in the preparations for the Priesthood ordination of Fr. George Younes, held on July 26, at Saint Maron Church, by Bishop Elias Zaidan. Holy Family will welcome Fr. George as he celebrates his first liturgy at Holy Family on Sunday, August 3. Liturgy will be followed by a breakfast in honor of his ordination.

We encourage you to continue to pray for the deceased, the sick and the suffering members of our parish. We also encourage you to pray for all those suffering around the world, children and adults alike, especially in Gaza and the Middle East. Your prayers will always make difference.

To our generous donors we extend a big thank you for your generosity. It will always be appreciated and will bring us closer to our very soon building expansion project.

I wish you a great and blessed month of August.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Father Emmanuel Nakhlé-Ghorr, Pastor +

Copyright (c) 2025 Holy Family Maronite Church, Medota Heights (v.25.09.a)