It was a joy to see them again on Tuesday and Wednesday. Many blessed years!
Bless, Father,
I had hoped to have an opportunity to say hello to you on Tuesday - but, hectic as things were, that didn't happen.
Many years,
Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
Thanks for linking that Tomassus; I didn't think it would be online until tomorrow. There is one error in it. Father Exarch Joseph (Hajjar) did not proclaim the papal bulla. That was read by Right Reverend Monsignor Jean-Francois Lantheaume, Charge d'affairs of the Apostolic Nunciature, who represented His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI due to the recent repose of the Apostolic Nuncio (for whom a replacement has yet to be named, as far as I know).
Many years,
Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
Thank you so much for identifying the individuals in the photos. I am the author of that blog. Someone copied your lists into the Comments section [tasteandsee2.blogspot.com] of that entry, so now it is more complete.
Kathleen,
Glad I could be of assistance, although I can't take credit for copying the lists over to the blog.
The [b]third photo there [facebook.com] is of Sayedna Nicholas with the presbyters, although it's difficult to identify most of them.
To Sayedna Nicholas' left, as one views the photo, are:
Father Archimandrite Robert (Rabbat), until now Rector of the Melkite Cathedral of Our Lady of the Annunciation, and Bishop-Elect of the Eparchy of St Michael's in Sydney for the Melkites in Australia & New Zealand; Right Reverend Monsignor Jean-Francois Lantheaume, Charge d'affairs of the Apostolic Nunciature, representing His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI (I may have been mistaken in thinking that he was also in the photo taken of the bishops); Father Archimandrite Charles (Aboody), the first Melkite presbyter ordained in the United States, now retired but assisting at Holy Transfiguration Melkite Church, Falls Church VA.
Seated, more or less in front of Father Archimandrite Robert, is Father Alam (Alam), retired, but assisting at Our Lady of the Cedars Melkite Church, Manchester (NH); and, also seated, to the (facing) right of Father Alam, looks to be Father Youssef (Youssef), BSO.
Standing to the right of Sayedna Nicholas is Father Exarch and Archimandrite Joseph Haggar, Pastor of St Basil the Great Melkite Church (Lincoln RI) & St Elias Melkite Mission (Woonsocket RI) and, until this past Tuesday, Administrator sede vacante of the Eparchy of Newton of the Melkites.
In the forefront, in front of Father Exarch Joseph, with back to camera, is Right Reverend Monsignor Joseph (Lahoud), Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of the Cedars of Lebanon Maronite Church in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, the Cathedral's neighbor and sister parish (Monsignor Lahoud is a dearly beloved and long-time friend to the Boston Melkite community); immediately to Monsignor Lahoud's right, also with back to camera, is Father Joseph (Thomas), BSO, Pastor of St Joseph Melkite Church, Lawrence MA; second to Father Joseph's right, with back to camera, is Father Lawrence (Tuminelli), BSO, of St Basil Melkite Seminary & Salvatorian Center in Methuen MA; second to Father Lawrence's right, in profile (closely cut hair on the sides) is Father Basil (Samra), retired, elder brother of Sayedna Nicholas.
I can't make out features well enough to put names to others (and I'm not about to risk misidentifying people whom I know too well to make excuses ).
Many years,
Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
Abouna Frank said everything was just wonderful! There wasn't really anymore standing room.
Rose,
Abouna is absolutely correct. Even after moving the laity seated on the right side of the Cathedral back a few rows (and encouraging them to make as much room as possible in each row), there was still not adequate seating for all of the clergy present. The majority of the presbyters stood in the aisle on the right side, lining it from the front to the very back. There was a pretty solid line of standees, including myself, along the back right as well, behind the last row of pews. We did try to keep the aisle on the left and the back left free for processing.
Considering that it was a weekday afternoon, the turnout was very impressive. My best estimate is that, of those present for the Divine Liturgy, about one hundred did not remain for the banquet afterwards. Yet, there were still four hundred to four hundred and fifty clergy and laity in attendance at it.
All but two of the (eparchial and religious) priests who are currently actively assigned in the Eparchy were present, as well as several of our retired priests. Additionally, the majority of our active deacons were there. In all, some 90 odd Melkite (and bi-ritual Melkite) priests and Melkite deacons came.
Many years,
Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
The enthronement was videotaped for broadcast on NourSat/Telelumiere. Any information available on when? The network's website and facebook have nothing on it yet.
I spoke with one of the videographers during the Divine Liturgy. They were returning to Montreal either Wed or Thurs - he wasn't certain at that point.
Figure that they then had to edit, add voice-over commentary, etc. Not sure if the voice-over was going to be done in Boston (Father Robert did it at the time of Archbishop Cyril's enthronement, but he did so simultaneously with the event - I know because I didn't know him at the time and tried, unsuccessfully, to chase him downstairs and into the procession ), which might have been a factor in the uncertainty as to when the crew was leaving.
Keep in mind, too, that they typically don't broadcast these types of events as 'breaking news', so time isn't as critical as it might otherwise be. So, I'd expect at least a couple of weeks, based on past experience.
Many years,
Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
Keep in mind, too, that they typically don't broadcast these types of events as 'breaking news', so time isn't as critical as it might otherwise be. So, I'd expect at least a couple of weeks, based on past experience.
It's true. The exhibiton of Abir Nehme, Lebanese religious singer, I attended with my Seminary colleagues in Beyrouth took maybe one month to be broadcasted in Tele Lumière. And they had not to add any extra thing!
A very nicely done job. Kudos to Paul for all the effort that he puts into the eparchial website!
Many years,
Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
It always amazes me when the Roman Catholic Church calls the Melkite Church an "Eastern rite" and not a Church. Also, the Pope refers to the Melkite Catholic Church as an "ecclesial communtiy," a term normally used in reference to Protestant organizations. How are Eastern Catholics going to be recognized as full members of the Catholic Church? We need to evangelize other catholics!
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