Beloved Parishioners and Friends of St. Maron,
Peace and grace to you in the Lord Jesus with the hope that you are well and in good health with your loved ones. I also take the opportunity to wish you a very blessed holy lent. May it be a journey of renewal and transformation, and a deeper relationship with Jesus our Savior.
A year ago this month we started discovering Covid-19 in the USA. It has been a challenging year for all of us as we have been locked down, masked, and distanced physically from one another. Last March 14 we had the last social event in our parish, when our shepherd, Bishop Elias, was visiting us. Since then we stopped all our social activities and we have worked and prayed hard to keep our unity together. Although we are distanced physically I know we are united spiritually and praying for healing and protection of all our loved ones.
Covid-19 has taken many dear lives. It continues to challenge us but taught us many lessons: We lost many loved ones, families couldn’t visit one another, loved ones couldn’t hug one another or even get close to each other. Covid-19 taught us that our life was so beautiful but we did not appreciate it or we did not know it. Many today wish that those days can return back, to be able to shake a hand, have dinner with a friend, work together and celebrate our festival and dinners and parties, to be able to sit next to a person, to hug them and laugh with them. Hopefully soon those days will return and will be even better as we will open a new page and create great memories with our friends and loved ones. Covid-19 taught us, most importantly, that everything on earth is vain and has an end, but our spiritual life with God is eternal and lasts forever. Covid taught us that faith is more important than anything else, and hope is the only key that allows us to continue our journey toward heaven.
During this month of March we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph. This year has been dedicated as the Year of St. Joseph. We turn to him for assistance and guidance. We ask him to intercede on our behalf, to protect our families and communities as he protected Mary and the child Jesus, and sheltered them from harm and evil. I pray that his faith will be yours and he may protect your families and loved ones.
Our beloved Bishop Elias has chosen me as his Protosyncellus (Vicar-General), which I am not worthy of. I am thankful for his trust in me. I ask you please to pray for me, that I will serve faithfully and diligently for the good of our Eparchy, under the guidance and great leadership of our beloved Bishop. You might be happy to know that I will carry this office while staying in Minneapolis, but my work and my travel will increase more. Again, pray for me please.
I assure you all of my love and prayers. Please call upon me if I can be of any help.
With prayers and best wishes, I remain,
Devotedly yours,
Chorbishop sharbel Maroun
