Abouna's Corner

Edmonton Welcomes Patriarch Mar Beshara Boutros Rahi on May 9, 2012

Sat, 12 May 2012 18:56:11 -0600

Our guest speaker monsignor kheirallah Awkar for the Holy Week

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:46:08 -0600

Curriculum Vitae

Chorbishop Kheirallah Aoukar

Priest Ordination: September 30, 1967 in Tripoli, Lebanon

PASTORAL WORK & ACHIEVEMENTS

Apponted personal Secretary of His Grace Archbishop Antoine Abed, Archbishop of Tripoli, Lebanon (1967 - 1970)

Appointed Rector of the Diocesan Seminary of Tripoli Maronite Archdiocese (1973 1975)

Sent by the Holy Congregation of the Oriental Church to provide Spiritual Care to the Maronites in the Maritimes

Provinces. (1979)

Founder of the Parish and the Church complex of St. Charbel Frederiction, NB and serve as its parish priest

(1979-1985)

Founder of the Maronite Mission of Charlottetown PEI, NS and served as its priest until retirement.

Appointed Honorary Prelate (1984) and ordained Chor-bishop (1985)

Vicar General of the Diocese of St. Maron, Montreal

(1986-1996), Diocesan Administrator (1995-1996) and Judge in the Marriage Tribunal (1986-1983).

Appointed Judge in the United Maronite Tribunal (1970-1976)

Invited by Most Reverend James M. Hayes, Archbishop of Halifax, November 27, 1983.

Appointed Judge of the Regional Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Halifax, Yarmouth (2011)

EDUCATION

Doctorate in Canon Law from the Oriental Institute of (Rome) Graduated Magna Cum Laude (1976)

Doctorate History from University of Lebanon (1972)

Graduate in Theology -University of St. Joseph (SJ) Beirut, Lebanon (1967)

ACADEMIA

Taught Church History & Canon Law at the Diocesan Seminary of Tripoli Maronite Archdiocese

7867-1971,1974-1976)

Taught Middle East History at the University Level in Germany & Lebanon (1977-1979)

Fluent in Arabic, English, French, Italian and German languages as well as Biblical languages in Latin, Syriac, Greek,

Ugantic & Phoenician.

Author of numerous books and articles (in Arabic, French, German & English)

Saint Maron and Saint Valentine

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:05:47 -0700

Dear Parishioners,

Come & join us to celebrate THE FEAST OF OUR PATRON SAINT MARON AND ST. VALENTINE.

Date: Sunday, February 12, 2012
Place: Radission Hotel 4444 Gateway Boulevard
Time: 5:00 - 6:00 PM - Cocktails
6:30 pm - Dinner

Live Entertainment !

Tickets: Adults $60, Kids $30 9-12 years old, under 2 years old is free.

For reservation: Please contact Camil at 780-990-7717 or Pierre at 780-233-8784 or the parish office at 780-433-8571.

NB: All proceeds from this event will be used directly towards the Handicap entrance into Our Lady of Good Help Church

Thank you and hope to see you there!

Dear Monsignor Salame

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 15:24:02 -0700

Dear Monsignor Salame,
One year past working with you hand in hand and the field of the Lord in Edmonton. A year of proud achievement inspired by your strong personality.
Thank you for being a good shepherd and looking froward for many years of blessing and building a strong Maronite church in Edmonton that glorifies God's name.

The Sorority of the Rosary

A Rally to Support Christians in Egypt: A CRY FOR JUSTICE

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:02:03 -0600

As you most probably know, Twenty four (24) Egyptian Christians were killed either through live ammunition or were violently run over and crushed by military armored vehicles during the bloody crashes ordered by the governing Supreme Military Council last Sunday October 09, 2011.

Next Saturday, Various Christian organizations are planning to stage a peaceful demonstration as per the following:

Date Saturday 22, 2011.

Time from 12:00 to 2:00 PM

Location: In front of the City Hall, in Churchill Square

Please join us to support the persecuted church in Egypt by personally attending the demonstration and encouraging your congregation to join us .

We will no longer tolerate the INHUMANE MISTREATMENT OF OUR FELLOW CHRISTIAN IN EGYPT and will bring attention to the plight of the Copts living under oppression and continued tyrant leadership.

Our Demand

We urge and request Canada to lead the international community (G8, G20, United Nations, and NATO), to publicly denounce the atrocities committed against Coptic Christians and to call on the Egypt Ambassador to Canada to appear in front of a House Committee to answer Human Rights questions, freedom of religion and protection of Coptic Egyptians.

We also urge the Canadian to join us to mourn the loss of our brethren and pray that God comforts their families

For more information and details you can visit our website

http://www.albertacoptic.org/

BASSAM T ABDELMALEK

The Coptic Heritage Society of Alberta (C.H.S.A)
Edmonton,AB
Canada

Lebanese Maronite Edmonton Festival

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:15:03 -0600

Victory & Triumph Festival

Our Lady of Good Help 8th Annual Festival will be held on the 26, 27 and 28th of August 2011.

The Program:

Lebanese Cuisine
Folkloric Dance
Bar and Shisha Garden
Kids Fun Zone
Raffle
Entertainment and More...

Friday 26: 6 PM - 11 PM
Saturday 27: 11 AM - 11 PM
Sunday 28: 11 AM 10 PM

Location:

102 Avenue and 100 Street
Behind the Edmonton Public Library

Graphic credited to Maya Merhi

غبطة ابينا البطريرك مار بشاره بطرس الراعي الكلي الطوبى بطريرك انطاكيه وسائر المشرق

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 09:01:07 -0600

غبطة ابينا البطريرك مار بشاره بطرس الراعي الكلي الطوبى بطريرك انطاكيه وسائر المشرق . "مجد لبنان اعطي له" قرعت الاجراس سمع صداها في ارجاء المسكونة خير خلف لخير سلف ، دوى صوت من السماء هذا هو الراعي الصالح صوت البشارة اختاره الروح القدس مبارك لكم فكونوا الخراف الوديعة بفيص العناية الالهية

ان رعية سيدة المعونات قي مدينة ادمنتون مقاطعة البرتا – كندا تهنىء غبطتكم لمناسبة انتخابكم بطريركياعلى السدة البطرسية ، لتتابعوا مسيرة البطاركة في الحفاظ على وحدة لبنان واستقلاله وتثبيت الوجود المسيحي فيه وترسيخ العيش المشترك . صلاتنا الى الله لكي يوفقكم في مهامكم الجديدة

ابنكم المطيع الاربعاء 2011-03-

16 المونسنيور جوزيف سلامه خادم رعية سيدة المعونات – ادمنتون

السيرة الذاتية لبطريرك السابع والسبعين للكنيسة المارونية بشارة الراعي

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:05:02 -0600

السيرة الذاتية لبطريرك السابع والسبعين للكنيسة المارونية بشارة الراعي

التعريف الأساسي
الاسم : المطران بشاره الراعي، مطران ابرشية جبيل المارونية
الاب والام : يوسف وثمينه الراعي
مكان وتاريخ الولادة : حملايا - المتن (لبنان) في 25 شباط 1940
النذور الاحتفالية : في الرهبانية المارونية المريمية بتاريخ 31 تموز 1962
الرسامة الكهنوتية : 3 أيلول 1967
الرسامة الاسقفية : سيمَ نائباً بطريركياً عاماً في بكركي بتاريخ 12 تموز 1986

الرسامة البطريركية : انتخب بطريركا في 2011-03-15 ، وتم تنصيبه في عيد البشارة 25 أذار2011

الدروس
1957-1962 : الدروس التكميلية والثانوية في كلية سيدة الجمهور للآباء اليسوعيين.
1962-1975 : فلسفة ولاهوت (ليسانس) وحقوق كنسية ومدنية (دكتوراه) ومحاماة روتالية (3 سنوات) في روما (جامعة مار يوحنا اللاتران - محكمة الروتا الرومانية).

النشاطات والمهام في الرهبانية المارونية المريمية
1975-1981 : شغل منصب رئيس مدرسة سيدة اللويزه
1978-1984 : أسّس وتولّى إدارة "مركز اللوزة للتعليم العالي" - جامعة سيدة اللويزه.
1975-1984 : خادم لرعايا زوق مصبح (البلدة، نهر الكلب - المسيح الملك، أدونيس).
1977-1982 : قاض في المحكمة الابتدائية المارونية الموحدة.
1982-1986 : رئيس المحكمة البطريركية الاستئنافية.
1984-1986 : رئيس مدرسة القديسة ريتا ضبيه وكاهن رعيتي الصعود ومار جرجس - الضبيّه.

النشاطات والمهام في الحياة الاسقفية
1986 - 1990 : نائب بطريركي عام في بكركي
1990 : مطران أبرشية جبيل منذ سنة 1990، بعد فصلها عن الأبرشية البطريركية وجعلها أبرشية قائمة بذاتها.
1986 - 1992 : مشرف على المحاكم الروحية المارونية.
1986 - 1991 : مشرف على رابطة كاريتاس لبنان.
1992 - 1995 : عينه البابا يوحنا بولس الثاني منسّقًا لسينودس الاساقفة الروماني الخاص بلبنان.
1988 - 2000 : عينه الكرسي الرسولي رئيسًا للجنة تنسيق النشاطات الاجتماعية والراعوية والانمائية في كنيسة لبنان.
1988 - 1994 : عينه البابا يوحنا بولس الثاني عضوًا في المجلس البابوي " قلب واحد"
منذ 1992 : منتخب من قبل سينودس أساقفة الكنيسة المارونية لعضوية اللجنة القانونية ومحكمة السينودس.
منذ 1995 : عينه البابا يوحنا بولس الثاني عضوًا في المجلس البابوي لراعوية المهاجرين والمهجرين والسواح واللاجئين.
منذ 1997 : منتخب من قبل جمعية البطاركة والاساقفة في لبنان (APECL ) رئيساً للجنة الاسقفية لشؤون العائلة في لبنان.
1998-2003 : عضو في اللجنة البطريركية لتطبيق الارشاد الرسولي "رجاء جديد للبنان" (لخمس سنوات).
منذ 1998 : منتخب من قبل سينودس اساقفة الكنيسة المارونية عضواً في السينودس الدائم.
منذ 1999 : عيّنه البابا يوحنا بولس الثاني عضواً في مجلس رئاسة المجلي الحبري للعائلة.
1999 - 2001 : عيّنه الكاردينال سيلفستريني رئيس مجمع الكنائس الشرقية، عضواً في اللجنة العلمية للمؤتمر الدولي حول مجموعة قوانين الكنائس الشرقية (19-23 تشرين الثاني 2001).
منذ 2000 : عينه الكاردينال البطريرك مار نصراللّه بطرس صفير ممثلاً للكنيسة المارونية في اللجنة الأسقفية لخدمة المحبة.
2000 - 2006 : انتخبه السينودس الماروني عضواً في لجنة التنسيق والتخطيط بين السلطة الكنسية والرهبانيات المارونية.
منذ 2003 : منتخب من سينودس اساقفة الكنيسة المارونية امين السر للسينودس.
منذ 2004 : منتخب من سينودس الكنيسة المارونية مشرفاً على توزيع العدالة في محاكم الكنيسة المارونية ورئيس محكمة السينودس في الدعاوى القضائية للاساقفة والابرشيات.
منذ 2005 : عيّنه مجلس بطاركة الشرق الكاثوليك منسّقًا للجان الأسقفية للعائلة في بلدان الشرق الأوسط.
2009 : منتخب من قبل جمعية البطاركة والاساقفة في لبنان (APECL) رئيساً للجنة الاسقفية للاعلام الكاثوليكي في لبنان.
2010 : عيّنه البابا بندكتس السادس عشر عضوًا في المجلس الحبري لوسائل الاتصالات الاجتماعية.

تعليم
1978-1987 : استاذ محاضر في مادة الحق القانوني في جامعة القديس يوسف (بيروت).
1992-2000 : استاذ محاضر في مادة الحق القانوني في كلية الحقوق (الكسليك).
منذ عام 2001 : استاذ محاضر في اللاهوت الراعوي وسرّ الزواج في كلية اللاهوت الحبرية (الكسليك).
منذ عام 2001 : استاذ محاضر في مادة الحق القانوني في جامعة الحكمة بيروت.

الرسائل الرعوية
1. "أنا معكم كاهن ولأجلكم أسقف"، إحتفال تولية المطران بشاره الراعي على أبرشية جبيل، الأحد 8 تموز 1990.
2. "أجهزة الأبرشية الادارية والاجتماعات والرعوية"، سلسلة حضارة المحبة، عدد1، 1990.
3. "مدخل إلى إعداد الجمعية الخاصة لسينودس الأساقفة من أجل لبنان"، سلسلة حضارة المحبة، عدد3، 1991.
4. "تجدّد وشهادة، على هدى المجمع الراعوي من أجل لبنان"، سلسلة حضارة المحبة، عدد4، 1992.
5. "أوقاف الرعايا في أبرشية جبيل، الوقف وغاياته - النظام الداخلي - دور العلمانيين"، سلسلة حضارة المحبة، عدد5، 1994.
6. "رجاء وتجدد وشهادة، دخول في مسيرة سينودس الأساقفة من أجل لبنان"، سلسلة حضارة المحبة، عدد6، 1995.
7. "تطبيق الشرع الخاص بالكنيسة المارونية في أبرشية جبيل"، سلسلة حضارة المحبة، عدد7، 1996.
8. "مواضيع لتحضير الزواج في أبرشية جبيل المارونية"، سلسلة حضارة المحبة، عدد8، 1998.
9. "المجمع الأبرشي، يسوع المسيح ينبوع النجدد والشركة في الكنيسة"، سلسلة حضارة المحبة، عدد9، حزيران 1999.
10. "سنة اليوبيل الكبير المقدسة وترتيبات لنيل الغفرانات"، سلسلة حضارة المحبة، عدد10، 2000.
11. "خدمة المحبة في الأوقاف والرعايا والأبرشية، توجيهات إدارية وراعوية"، سلسلة حضارة المحبة، عدد11، 2006.
12. "اللّه محبة، رسالة البابا بندكتوس السادس عشر، مواعظ الصوم"، سلسلة حضارة المحبة، عدد12، 1996.
13. "دليل الكاهن والرعية والعمل الرعوي"، سلسلة حضارة المحبة، عدد13، 2007.
14. "دليل الأسقف والدائرة والهيكليات"، سلسلة حضارة المحبة، عدد14، 2008.

مؤلفات مطبوعة
- سلسلة التنشئة المسيحية، الجزء الأول، 2005-2006 (منشورات جامعة سيدة اللويزة).
- سلسلة التنشئة المسيحية، الجزء الثاني، 2006-2007 (منشورات جامعة سيدة اللويزة).
- سلسلة التنشئة المسيحية، الجزء الثالث، 2007-2008(منشورات جامعة سيدة اللويزة).
- سلسلة التنشئة المسيحية، الجزء الرابع، 2008-2009(منشورات جامعة سيدة اللويزة).
- الزواج، تعليم وإجتهاد قضائي، 2007 (منشورات جامعة الحكمة).

أوسمة
1994 : وسام الاستحقاق الوطني رتبة كومندور من رئيس جمهورية إيطاليا.
2007 : وسام الأرز الوطني رتبة كومندور من رئيس جمهورية لبنان.

Edmonton Priests Meeting

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 17:26:38 -0600

Monsignor Joseph Salame in a dinner meeting with the pastor of Saint Philip, Father Elias El Ferzli.

Pastor Msgr Joseph Salame Meets with Steeve Mandel

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:16:26 -0700

The Pastor of Our lady Of Good Help, Msgr Joseph Salame, meets with Edmonton's Mayor, Stephen Mandel on Feb-25-2011.

Prayer to St. Valentine - Love

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 09:17:32 -0700

Prayer to St. Valentine

Dear Saint and glorious martyr. Teach us to love unselfishly and to find great joy in giving. Enable all true lovers to bring out the best in God and in each other. Love Love is patient and kind, it doesn't envy or boast and it's never proud. Love is not rude or selfish. It doesn't get angry or keep track of wrongs. Love doesn't delight in bad things, but it rejoices in the truth. Love always protects, trusts, hopes, and preservers. Love never fails.

St. Paul to the Corinthians

Saint Maron - كلمة الراعي بمناسبة عيد مار مارون

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 20:35:15 -0700

كلمة الراعي بمناسبة عيد مار مارون

يطل علينا عيد ابينا القديس مارون ، في غمرة الاحتفالات التي تقام في روما بوضع تمثال القديس مارون مع القديسين الذين زينوا الكنيسة باعمالهم الايمانية بمناسبة 1600 عاما على وفاة هذا القديس العظيم

كتب الكثير عن الموارنة ، فما هو سر بقائهم واستمراريتهم ؟هو فعل الايمان والافتخار بتدبير الله الخلاصي الذي تحقق بالكلمة الالهي المتجسد ، وهذا ما ضمن لهم هذا الكيان الديني والحضاري والثقافي رغم الحروب والاضطهدات ، فغدت تراثا روحيا يجسد حياة الانجيل ويضخ حياة القداسة في الكنيسة ، انها تلك الروحانية المتجسدة في الارض والتائقة الى السماء حيث الوطن الحقيقي

نعيد ابرشيتنا وشعبنا الماروني في كل انحاء العالم طالبين شفاعة هذا القديس العظيم ، شائلينه ان يلهم ابناء مارون ان يحافظوا على هذا الارث الثمين

المونينسور جوزبف سلامه ، خادم رعية سيدة المعونات – ادمنتون ، البرتا

July and August

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:29:56 -0700

July and August are the summer months of each year, but in our religious traditions these are the two months of celebration for St. Charbel the Maronite monk, St. Elias (Elijah) the prophet, and the assumption of the Virgin Mary.

St. Charbel Makhlouf, born May 8, 1828 in Bekaa Kafra (North Lebanon), joined the Lebanese Maronite Order in 1851. He was ordained a priest in 1859. He lived in Saint Maron�s Monastery, in Annaya, for 16 years and 23 years in the hermitage of Annaya. Pope Paul VI declared him Blessed on December 5, 1965 and a Saint on October 9, 1977.

St. Charbel teaches us how to live a humble life with chastity, obedience, and poverty. The three vows of monastic life. St. Charbel provides us with a new vision to walk these vows in the way of our Lord Jesus Christ.

On the third Sunday of July the universal church celebrates the feast of St. Charbel. Prior to the feast day, we celebrate with a novena consisting of nine days of prayer and meditation on his life. St. Charbel gives us many signs to be stronger in faith and to work as our Lord teaches us.

St. Elias or Elijah whose name means �Yaheweh is my God�, was a prophet in Israel in the 9th century B.C. He was a lofty and wonderful prophet of the Old Testament. His life is sketched in a few narratives, in the First (Third) Book of Kings. These narratives, very likely took shape in Northern Israel. Every part of his life therein is described by the writer of Ecclesiasticus: "He was �as a fire, and his word burnt like a torch� (48:1)�.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is Catholic doctrine that after her death the body of Mary, the mother of Christ, was taken into heaven and reunited with her soul. Defined as an article of faith by Pope Pius XII in 1950, the assumption was first commemorated as the Feast of the Dormition (falling asleep) of Mary in the 6th century. This feast later developed into the Feast of the Assumption, now celebrated each year on August 15.

These celebrations - one from the old testament (St. Elias), one from Christ�s time on earth (Blessed Virgin Mary), and one after Christ resurrection (St. Charbel) � yet each celebration carries the same message of Christ�s love and sacrifice "Love one another, as I love you� (John 15:12).

Wishing all parishioners a blessed summer full of graces,

Fr. Michel

My departure from Our Lady of Good Help

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:29:47 -0700

Dear parishioners,

My departure from Our Lady of Good Help parish leaves me with mixed feelings. Even though I am leaving the parish, I will always remember the parish and its people.

It has been an honor and joy to serve you for the past year and 1/2 as pastor. Over the past years we prayed together and accomplished some of our vision to enhance our beautiful church � pastorally, spiritually, and socially. We were a family working together through the guidance of our Lord Jesus Christ and the intercession of the Virgin Mary. Always, it is time for change, but change should never affect our faith and belief. We must always support the church with our presence, work, and unity as people of God.

Dear parishioners, the church is not just a priest who we liked or work with. The priest is a human being who has been anointed by the Holy Spirit and separated from his own family to serve the church family. The church for him is a mission. It is not related to any space, place, or people. His mission is to continue what Jesus started during his earthly life. The priest serves the people by working and guiding them to the kingdom of God.

Although the parish of Our Lady of Good Help is physically located in Edmonton, it is actually a vital part of the universal mission. Every one of you must keep supporting the parish in unity with our Savior, Jesus Christ. I ask each and every one of you to be a disciple in this universal mission. According to the Savior's promise, the gates of hell will never prevail against this parish.

My beloved parishioners, I am leaving you but I am sure that Mary, our Lady of Good Help, will remain with you to answer your call and to fulfill your needs. Remember the good times we shared. Continue in your work and devotion to benefit the parish. When we pray, even though we are in different places, we are still united in Our Lord Jesus Christ.

God bless all of you!

Fr. Michel

The Beatification of Brother Stephen (1889-1939)

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:29:37 -0700

The Beatification of Brother Stephen (1889-1939)
Sunday, June 27, 2010

Brother Stephen had an expression � "God sees me�. His special and calm presence was reflected in his devotion to Christ. He lived his life on earth as if God saw his every action. He was austere and detached from food, he was humble, living his earthly life as Christ would want him too. Yet he was thankful and happy with his life. He never complained. He was a very wise man � wanting everything to be in balance and equal. He earned trust, respect, and love from all who worked with him. As a man of prayer, he valued the land that was his school of sanctity and spirituality. He was focused in fulfilling his vows as a monk (obedience, chastity, poverty) in order to receive the light and the eternal word of God.

Brother Stephen awoke every day before the sun shone to pray and work. Like his master and teacher Jesus Christ, a clear mind always showed on his face. In his silence he meditated on his harvest. Humble of heart, calm, firm like the rock, he built his life on a strong and stable faith. His face shone with righteousness and wisdom, with love and peace, his eyes enlightened with the light of the gospel and faith. He had the face of the cedar which is known as the faith of the mountain. He kept the beliefs of his ancestors � humbleness and joy. He crucified himself with faith, justice, sanctity, leaving all earthly possessions behind him to meet Jesus and obtain the fullness of his kingdom.
We ask Brother Stephen to pray for us. Congratulations to the catholic church on his the beautification.

Faith

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:29:26 -0700

An act of faith cannot be shaken by the winds of exile. Jesus said "Whoever wants to live, let him carry his cross and follow me".
The children of Our Lady of Good Help carried their cross and walked across the ocean and sky. They came with nothing but their faith in Our Lady, knowing that she would protect them from harm, and guide them on the right path.

They carried the message of Christ, inherited from their ancestor over 2000 years ago. They carried the message with them so they could share it with others in joy, love, friendship, and faith. They worked hard as a team to share the message of Christ with everyone they met. This is our faith and this is our mission in life. Our mother the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Good Help Church is the result of this act of faith.

Today, in the month of May, Mary is our honorable mother. To her we pray. From her we ask for good help. To honor her we do the will of God. With her we grow in faith. Through her we reach the harbor of peace in our Savior Jesus Christ.

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow we will raise our prayers and hymns to her. Whether we are crying with loud voices or in silent meditation, we know that she will answer our pleas.

My message is only one word for you � Christ.

My prayers are for you � the people of Christ.

My truth is the Risen Christ.

Simply, love one another.

The Meaning of Christmas

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:40:30 -0700

معنى عيد الميلاد

Dear Friends,

Christmas is a special season. "For unto us a Child is born," tells us that Jesus was born as God's gift to each one of us. Like the Wise Men, who sought truth and found Jesus, we are pilgrims on a journey toward Christ. We see the wisdom, the peace, and the joy that only the spirit of Christ can provide. We invite you to gather around the Lord's Table with us to celebrate the richness of Christ's presence with all the people of God in our parish family. May this Christmas season find you abounding in love, rejoicing in hope, and secure in God's Peace. May God's richest blessings continue with you through the coming year.
Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Joseph Salame, Pastor

Dear Families

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:06:03 -0700

Dear Families,

As we begin a new year, we should give thanks to the Lord above for all that He has provided for us, though we are most unworthy. First on the list is that we have a full-time priest since November 28th. We look to the future with hopeful eyes that our current growth will continue well into the future! God has been very good to us and for this we should all be most grateful. However, to show our gratitude to God, we should assess how we have lived in relation to God�s will in our personal lives. As we make resolutions for the new year, we should remind ourselves that the spiritual life is the very purpose of a parish. Without our personal sanctification in mind, we would lose the view of our final end. A parish exists to sanctify the faithful and nourish them through the Mass and Sacraments, to provide a centre for a full Catholic life in all its aspects. We must ever keep before us this central purpose, to ensure that any successes can only be assessed, in the end, in relation to our spiritual successes. Without the spiritual life in view, we would have a short-sighted, even dangerous outlook both for ourselves and for those under our care. I would like to thank-you all for your generous support and dedication. We look forward to serving the needs of our parish and for this we would beg for your daily prayers. May Our Blessed Mother Mary, Queen of All Saints, and Saint Joseph, protector of Holy Mother Church, intercede for you all before the throne of God.

May God bless you. Father Joseph Salame, Pastor