Maronite Cathedral celebrates children’s First Holy Communion

A sunny, warm Sunday morning on April 28 greeted the First Communicants at Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral.  All sixteen children were excited and joyous to be finally receiving Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.  They had diligently prepared for receiving their Sacrament under the tutelage of Norma Haddad, Lily Elhage and Tresa Van Heusen who had spent untold hours with them—a true labor of love!

The children’s families were ushered into the reserved pews in the front of the Cathedral. The children processed into the Cathedral and were seated at the base of the altar. This was their Divine Liturgy! Each had a part of the reading to speak; each bore the Gifts of Bread and Wine to the altar; they offered the greeting of peace to the Community. Monsignor James Root, the Cathedral rector, invited the First Communicants to stand around the altar during the Consecration. They were in awe!

Instead of the usual homily, Msgr. Root greeted the children and proceeded to ask them questions about the significance of the Sacrament and how it related to their lives. Little hands were thrust up in response: ”Me…me, let me answer! Their enthusiasm was gratifying. They knew all the answers to his questions and demonstrated their readiness to join the community in the Blessed Sacrament.

When Communion was to be distributed, each child was called to the altar by name, with parents and siblings accompanying each First Communicant. It was beautiful to see an entire family escort their child to receive Jesus for the first time.

The First Communicants were Leonardo Argudo, Nida Chacar, Michele Chahwan, Christiana Chaya, Gabriel Chiha, Lorianna ElAdem, Pio El Gemayel, Kate Farhat, Kristen Farhat, Aya Hayek, George Elias Maroun, Sammy Nassour, Andrew Saade, Anthony Saade, Jonathan Safi and Teaney Sarkis.

Following the Divine Liturgy refreshments were offered to the Community in the Cathedral’s Social Hall where the children and their families were congratulated on this beautiful occasion.

Submitted by Salma Vahdat, parishioner

Melissa Gorga Celebrates Daughter Antonia’s First Communion: Picture

A family affair! Melissa Gorga and Joe Gorga of the Real Housewives of New Jersey feted daughter Antonia, 7, with a huge party to celebrate her first holy communion on Saturday, May 11.

Melissa, 34, showed nothing but pride for her daughter, tweeting pictures of Antonia’s communion day look — a white, custom-made Elena do Vale dress, complete with a veil. 

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“Look at my baby girl!” Melissa wrote.

The Bravo reality star, who famously feuded with sister-in-law Teresa Giudice during the show’s third and fourth season, looked just as stylish for the big day. Wearing a cream-colored dress paired with camel-colored heels, Melissa posed happily with husband Joe and their three kids together — Antonia and sons, Gino and Joey. 

After the church service, fellow housewives Jacqueline Laurita, Caroline Manzo, Joe’s cousin Kathy Wakile, and other party guests were on hand to celebrate at the Manzo family’s Brownstone catering hall.

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The party — complete with a DJ, dancing and a photo booth for guests to take pictures in — was a fun-filled day for Antonia. 

Noticeably absent from the communion celebration was the Giudice family, but Melissa told Us Weekly two days before the bash that there’s a drama-free explanation.

“Gabriella [one of Teresa's four daughters) is making hers [communion] at the same time, same church!” she said. “We’re both having parties at the same time, so unfortunately, we’re not going to each other’s parties.” 

She continued, “Nobody wants to re-dress their kid another day, and go through the party a week later. Nobody really wants to do that. It just happened to land this way.”

Melissa explained that her in-laws, (Teresa’s parents) had plans to make it to both girls’ parties, so neither Antonia or Gabriella would miss out. 

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“Joe’s parents are coming to both, yes,” she told Us. “They’re going to come to both of our parties. It’s not because we’re not getting along. It’s not that!”

In fact, Melissa hinted to Us that things between she and Teresa have been steadily improving.

“I’m gonna make sure I go over, and see Gabriella and give her a hug and a kiss before [the church service],” she said. “Hopefully we can get the girls to get a couple pictures together!”

The fifth season of RHONJ premieres Sunday, June 2.

Bishop invites all 2013 First Communicants to Mass on June 1

The following is a letter from Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, Bishop of Peoria.

—–

As part of our diocesan celebration for the Year of Faith, I am inviting all the children of the Diocese of Peoria who have received First Holy Communion in their parishes during 2013 to a special Mass of Thanksgiving in their honor. Please join me at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, 607 N.E. Madison Avenue, Peoria, on Saturday, June 1, 2013, at 4 p.m.

First Communicants are also invited to wear their Communion dresses, veils, suits, etc. Due to some other celebrations in the cathedral earlier that day, seating for this event will begin at 3 p.m. Please do not plan to arrive any earlier.

The celebration of First Communion truly becomes a family event, touching the lives of siblings, parents, grandparents and the larger family of the Church. It is my hope that all of you will join me, together with other diocesan families, to give thanks for this gift of Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist.

As your bishop, let me join you in thanking God for the gift of your First Holy Communion! I am truly filled with “fatherly� joy with you and for you. I look forward to celebrating with you at the cathedral.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, CSC
Bishop of Peoria

It’s spring. Must mean First Communions and Weddings. – Patheos

With spring comes wedding and First Holy Communion season.  Here in my parish we have five large sessions of First Communions and we have at least three weddings every saturday for the foreseeable future.  These celebrations are among the best of the year.  It’s always so beautiful to see children receiving Our Lord in the Eucharist for the first time.  Getting to know a couple and witness their vows renews in me hope for my generation.  I enjoy very much getting to know young couples and becoming a part of their lives.

These celebrations bring the best and unfortunately the worst out in us too.  It seems many people come to these celebrations haven’t been to Church in a (seemingly) very long time.  I would never want to be cold or discourage anyone from coming to Church.  But I do hope that anyone who comes to a church ceremony would be respectful.  Unfortunately, some people don’t know how to compose themselves in Church any more.  I’ve found those experiences to be incredibly discouraging.  As someone who loves the Church and her sacraments it’s hard to fathom how people can act in church as though they are at a ball game.  Every priest or deacon could tell you some horror stories!  I think we are all to blame in a way for this.  Too easily do we stop to chat in the Church either before or after Mass.  We have to recapture the church as a place of quiet and prayer.

I’m still new at this and I don’t have all the answers to fix this problem.  I’ve however picked up a few tricks here and there.  Let me share them with you:

• Before each of the First Communions here at my parish the pastor leads the congregation in the Rosary.  It helps to calm every one down and reminds them they are in a sacred space.
• Immediately prior to the beginning of Mass at First Communions and Confirmations we remind everyone to put their cameras and phones away.
• I try and remind the congregation before any big celebration that they are in church and should maintain a prayerful atmosphere to the space we are in.  Unfortunately this doesn’t always work.  I’m still not sure how to keep the ceremony prayerful when members of the congregation talk through out the Mass or especially during the distribution of Holy Communion.
• Immediately before the distribution of Holy Communion, after I have received the eucharist I have made it my practice at Funerals and weddings to invite those present to Holy Communion by stating: “I now invite those practicing Catholics who are prepared to do so to please come forward to receive holy Communion.  I invite everyone else to please be seated at this time.”  That has seemed to help keep the distribution of Holy Communion dignified and respectful.  I always try to maintain a spirit of charity and a tone of welcome in my voice.
• Before each wedding I celebrate I speak to the entire bridal party – reminding them to walk slowly, to remove any chewing gum and to not talk during the ceremony.  Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn’t.  I’m not comfortable singling anyone out from the altar to keep quiet.  Ultimately, I think we just have to keep ourselves composed and lead through our prayerful and composed example.

So far these are just my experiences.  It can be very discouraging when it seems as though no one else in the church gets what is going on.  But then there are those celebrations that truly remind us what we are doing there.  The couples that truly get it.  The kids that attend Mass regularly.  In the end, every Mass is perfect.  Jesus Christ is present, the couple is married, the person is buried, the child is confirmed.  Would that we could all attend Mass in a respectful and dignified manner.  Would that we all realize just what is going on.  It all starts with me.  It all starts with you.

Brother priests, if you have any tips please leave them in the combox or drop me an email.

Anissa Rivera: Two boys linked by communion, one now tragically gone

In one photo of Boston bombing victim Martin Richard, 8, he is dressed in all white and holding a First Communion banner.

His name is glued jauntily, and a bit crookedly, in white felt letters, at the top. His mother must have let him do most of the work because all of the felt symbols included in the banner kit are used: a brown dove, pink heart, white host, red alpha and omega, mustard-colored chalice, grapes, chaffs of wheat and even the loaf of bread are glued on the banner.

Another mom would have advised restraint, selecting only a certain color scheme, vetoing her child if he wanted to cram everything in there. Another mom would have done most of the work. God bless Denise Richard for letting her son decorate his First Communion banner the way he wanted.

Wonder Boy and I worked on his banner a week before the bombings. I spread out the same felt pieces Martin Richard used in his banner, helped him find the white letters of his name, and hot glued his chosen design. Wonder Boy chose the brown cross, gold chalice, and host for his smaller banner. He carefully drew a small cross on the host with gold glitter. He wanted to include a bunch of grapes and the loaf of bread but it wouldn’t fit.

In the end, my son was happy with his banner, which will mark our place in the church pews on May 4, when he receives his First Holy Communion. Later, it will be framed and have pride of place in the room he shares

with his brother.

I will take a similar picture on May 4 that the Martins did early this year, of their own boy, now, unbelievably, gone. I will have my 8-year-old son hold his banner before him, and I will tell him to smile. I will make sure everything is perfect before I press the shutter. Then I will give him a hug and hurry him along. There will be lunch waiting, and guests ready to greet him on his special day.

I will pause to admire this banner, a bond between two boys, one of whom will stay forever 8. If I move the banner just so in the sunlight, the gold glitter in the cross glistens just so.

Columnist Anissa Rivera can be reached at anivriv@yahoo.com.

Boston solidarity

By Brian Caulfield *

My 8-year-old son will receive his First Holy Communion next month, so I was struck with an overflowing sense of empathy when I saw the online image of the 8-year-old boy in his First Communion suit who was killed in the Boston Marathon bombing. That could have been my boy in the picture, dressed in a white tie and jacket, smiling innocently while standing outside the church, holding an art project with symbols of the sacrament – chalice, bread, host – very similar to the First Communion banner of my Justin that hangs on our door at home.

How incredibly sad that Martin Richard, this child of God, this child who was such a gift to his parents, should die as a result of a cowardly act of terrorist violence, on a sunny day of celebration at the Boston Marathon. I showed the picture to my son, who simply whispered, “Oh,” when I explained what had happened. The look on his face indicated that the world outside had suddenly become a lot bigger and more inexplicable to him. Who would do such a thing? Why do bad things happen to good First Communion boys?

According to news reports, Little Martin’s mother and sister, also standing along the spectator route near the end of the marathon, suffered serious wounds. The father, Bill Richard, was able to walk away from the bloody crime scene. The family was active in the Dorchester community and their parish. As a fellow Catholic father, I feel a spiritual bond with Bill Richard, a man I have never met, and I pray each night, and at times throughout the day, for him and his family.

What can he be thinking, what must he be feeling, having lost his little boy and with his wife and daughter in the hospital? I know I would feel grief, coupled with anger at the attacker, and a good deal of emptiness and confusion. Yet this good man, no doubt supported by his faith, his family and his parish, released a statement the day after the bombing:
“My dear son Martin has died from injuries sustained in the attack on Boston. My wife and daughter are both recovering from serious injuries. We thank our family and friends, those we know and those we have never met, for their thoughts and prayers. I ask that you continue to pray for my family as we remember Martin.”

The goodness of this man’s soul shines through these words. There is a touch of the Holy Spirit about them, in what they say and in what they silently acknowledge can never be expressed. Through a delicate declaration of grief, facts, love and measured emotion, Bill Richard has shared an appropriate part of his loss with the world. Fathers, especially, should be inspired now to pray for him and his “dear son Martin.” Let not this sadness pass without it lifting us up to become better fathers and husbands, men of deeper prayer and more practical and charitable action at home, at work, in our parishes and in our communities.

We may never face the devastating grief that Bill Richard is facing, but we are tested in so many ways each day to rise above our weakness and bring strength, peace and love into our own lives and the lives of those who depend on us.

As a start, perhaps we could suggest in our parishes that every First Communion class next month remember little Martin Richard, who may serve as a modern model for those receiving the sacrament for the first time.

Latest Release in Hi God Series Delivers Music for First Holy Communion

Contact: Erin McClellan, OCP, 503-460-5363

PORTLAND, Ore., March 19, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ – On the 40^th anniversary of the acclaimed Hi God series, Carey Landry and Carol Jean Kinghorn present their latest volume to inspire youth: Hi God: First Communion.

Teachers, Catechists and Liturgists alike have relied on Hi God to develop faith in children for decades. This new installment brings a wealth of music and opportunities for participation to one of the most important sacramental moments in a young Catholic’s life: First Holy Communion.

“We compiled this collection because we felt we had many songs that were appropriate for First Communion. We wanted musicians, teachers and catechists to have access to those songs, hymns and psalms in a single collection. We hope it will be a useful resource for First Communion celebrations and for catechetical lessons preparing children to receive their first Holy Communion,” said Cary Landry. From energetic processional pieces — such as “God Is Here” and “Let Us Sing” — to reflective selections for the Communion Rite — like “We Receive the Lord” and “At the Center of My Heart” — Hi God: First Communion delivers a variety of age-appropriate and theologically sound music to lift voices in praise throughout this important sacramental moment.

In celebration of this release and in honor of the 40^th anniversary of the Hi God series, OCP is set to host a contest exclusively for their Facebook fans. To participate, fans will be asked to submit videos, photos with captions or essays explaining how the series has made an impact on their spiritual life and the lives of the young Catholics they work with. The winner, chosen by Landry and Kinghorn will receive copies of each volume and book in the entire 40-year span of Hi God, along with a special thank you from the composers.

The contest will launch in April 2013 and is open to fans of OCP’s Facebook page (OCPmusic) that reside in the U.S.

To learn more about or to purchase Hi God: First Communion, please visit OCP.org/HiGod. For all other inquiries including media requests, please contact Erin McClellan at erinm@ocp.org or 503.460.5363.

About OCP
OCP, a not-for-profit publisher of liturgical music and worship resources based in Portland, Oregon, has been in operation for more than 85 years. Worship programs produced by OCP are used in over two-thirds of Catholic churches in the United States and are distributed worldwide. Find OCP on Facebook at Facebook.com/OCPmusic.

Latest release in Hi God series delivers music for First Holy Communion

PORTLAND, Ore.— On the 40^th anniversary of the acclaimed Hi God series, Carey Landry and Carol Jean Kinghorn present their latest volume to inspire youth: Hi God: First Communion.

Teachers, Catechists and Liturgists alike have relied on Hi God to develop faith in children for decades. This new installment brings a wealth of music and opportunities for participation to one of the most important sacramental moments in a young Catholic’s life: First Holy Communion.

“We compiled this collection because we felt we had many songs that were appropriate for First Communion. We wanted musicians, teachers and catechists to have access to those songs, hymns and psalms in a single collection. We hope it will be a useful resource for First Communion celebrations and for catechetical lessons preparing children to receive their first Holy Communion,” said Cary Landry.

From energetic processional pieces—such as “God Is Here” and Let Us Sing”—to reflective selections for the Communion Rite—like “We Receive the Lord and “At the Center of My Heart—Hi God: First Communion delivers a variety of age-appropriate and theologically sound music to lift voices in praise throughout this important sacramental moment.

In celebration of this release and in honor of the 40^th anniversary of the Hi God series, OCP is set to host a contest exclusively for their Facebook fans. To participate, fans will be asked to submit videos, photos with captions or essays explaining how the series has made an impact on their spiritual life and the lives of the young Catholics they work with. The winner, chosen by Landry and Kinghorn will receive copies of each volume and book in the entire 40-year span of Hi God, along with a special thank you from the composers.

The contest will launch in April 2013 and is open to fans of OCP’s Facebook page (OCPmusic) that reside in the U.S.

To learn more about or to purchase Hi God: First Communion, please visit OCP.org/HiGod. For all other inquiries including media requests, please contact Erin McClellan at erinm@ocp.org or 503.460.5363.

About OCP

OCP, a not-for-profit publisher of liturgical music and worship resources based in Portland, Oregon, has been in operation for more than 85 years. Worship programs produced by OCP are used in over two-thirds of Catholic churches in the United States and are distributed worldwide. Find OCP on Facebook at Facebook.com/OCPmusic.

###

Contact

Erin McClellan
Erinm@ocp.org

503.460.5363

Kelcee Marcum
Kelceem@ocp.org

503.460.5358

St. Tammany gun shakedown

Under current federal scrutiny, a Louisiana sheriff shifts his position after spending years defending two lawsuits that request the return of items seized at the residence of a former deputy.

“I’m not surprised that, two days after I was served with a subpoena to appear before a federal grand jury on February 28, the sheriff’s office now claims we can have our son’s shotgun back,” said the former St. Tammany Parish deputy, Norman J. Manton, Jr.

Sherrie Buras-Manton, his wife, and plaintiff in the action against St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Rodney “Jack” Strain and other St. Tammany Parish deputies, told Human Events that when she and her husband met with Strain in 2008, after her husband was released from jail and all charges were dropped, she requested that her personal items be returned.

“None of the personal items seized were returned, and no one ever gave us a reason why,” she said. “We filed papers in federal court requesting those items and alleging that our First and Second Amendment rights were violated.”

“One of the items was a Remington 870 Youth Model 20 Gauge Shotgun with the initials ‘DJM’ that belonged to my then 18-year old son David J. Manton,” she said.  Her son David died in 2010 in a freak gun accident.

Also seized as a result of a search warrant, were religious items to include a Bible, Missal (used to celebrate Catholic Mass), David’s rosary beads, and various Catholic medals and prayer cards, she said.

“David’s rosary beads were a first Holy Communion gift from my husband and me when he was a young boy.  He had the rosary beads hung on his shot gun in a locked closet in his bedroom,” Buras-Manton said.

“We have been demanding the return of our Bible, David’s rosary beads and his shotgun for close to five years,” she said. “Since my son is deceased, each memory of him is all we have left.”

“The Sheriff’s office has the Remington 20 Gauge Shotgun in its possession,” said Charles M. “Chuck” Hughes Jr., attorney for Strain. “We have always had it.  They [Mr. and Mrs. Manton] have always known that we have it, but they chose to ignore it.”

When asked whether the sheriff’s office possesses any of the other items listed in the federal complaint, Hughes told Human Events that the only item seized from the Manton home was the shot gun.

“That’s a lie,” said Manton.  “I was told by the evidence custodian, that high ranking members of the sheriff’s office told him to hide the items, which included the religious materials and the shot gun.”
“I was also told by a senior deputy that my items were locked-up,” he said.

Hughes said the shot gun was seized because Manton is a convicted felon and was in violation of probation.

Attorney for Buras-Manton in the federal action, Daniel G. Abel said, “Manton could not be in violation of his probation because Louisiana statute and federal law outlines which crimes limit the right of a person to keep and bear arms.  The crime of construction malfeasance is not one of them. ”

“The shot gun was not even owned by Manton.  The owner of the shot gun was his son David.  The gun was in David’s room, in a locked closet, when authorities removed it,” he said.

“The entire search and seizure of Manton’s home and subsequent arrest was initiated to cover-up underlying criminal activity at the hands of the sheriff’s office,” he said.

“St. Tammany Parish Sheriff attempted to blame Manton for the death or disappearance of Albert Bloch,” he said.  “Bloch’s death or disappearance in 2007 is the subject of an ongoing investigation by federal authorities, in which Manton has been called to testify before a grand jury as a victim of departmental misconduct, not a suspect.”

Abel said that until recently the Sheriff’s office claimed they seized the religious items because they thought the items belonged to Bloch.  “It is outrageous for them to now claim they did not seize them at all.”

“Of course the sheriff’s office has the shot gun, who else would have it?” said Richard Feldman, president of Rindge, N.H.-based Independent Firearm Owners Association, who is an attorney and co-plaintiff in the federal lawsuit against the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office.

“The Sheriff’s attorneys went through all this costly litigation yet only now admits to having the shotgun?  Why didn’t they say it in their Reply papers?” he asked.  “The seized shot gun has not been made available to us, although we have tried to obtain it on numerous occasions.”

Feldman says that in addition to the current FBI investigation, the Sheriff’s office is under heightened scrutiny with an ATFE investigation underway into a claim that the St. Tammany sheriff’s office has an ongoing and seemingly lucrative business in the sale of illegally confiscated firearms in violation of the Gun Control Act of 1968.

Robrt Pela’s Heartwarming Valentine Tale: "If It’s Friday, This Must Be the …

Katie Johnson
Chow Bella has a valentine for you. For the rest of February, we’re handing out Candy Hearts — stories of food and love from some of our favorite writers. Enjoy.

I know a 12-year-old who eats nothing but peanut butter and chicken fingers. Three meals a day. No kidding. She has, as that old poem about eating peas with honey goes, done so all her life. My little friend is one of those poor, early-21st-century kids who are allergic to pretty much everything: potatoes, red meat, oxygen. She can’t be in the same room with a lettuce leaf, but it’s okay. She’s lucky enough to have parents who allow her to eat Peter Pan Extra Crunchy straight from the jar and call it “lunch.”

See also:
- Robrt Pela’s Dreaming of a Moist Christmas
- Candy Hearts archives

If this pisses me off, it’s because I was one of those now impossible-to-fathom kids who ate anything. Sauerkraut, sushi, okra–I loved it all. This was in the Sixties before it became fashionable for children to be terrified of contact with white flour; long before any of us had ever even heard of gluten. And so I devoured plantains and mutton stew and beef liver. I asked for seconds of cioppino and broccoli and veal-stuffed cabbage. I ate everything. But I drew the line at one foodstuff: I refused the body of Christ.

I was too young to spell transubstantiation, but old enough to know that one should never eat some dead guy, no matter how famous he was. But I was a little Catholic boy, in the second grade, and this meant that the time for my First Holy Communion was drawing near. I was now old enough, my parents explained, to once a week eat the little round communion wafers that were served at the end of Sunday mass. These disks, my father explained to me, were magically turned into the flesh of God’s son, and eating them somehow made everything right with the world.

My subconscious was the first to protest. I began having nightmares in which I was forced to attend a Jesus-hosted progressive dinner party that ended with a dessert made up of the Virgin Mary’s lady parts.

My parents remained unconvinced that eating Jesus was a bad idea. I held my ground. I didn’t care, I insisted, that Jesus’s dad was a vengeful god who could see everything I did and punish me for not wanting to taste his son. I was not swayed by reports that Christ had plans to return to earth one day soon to scoop up all the people he liked best, and that refusing to swallow pieces of him would land me on his Divine shit-list for all eternity. I was not going to eat the son of God.

My parents, both staunch Catholics, tried to reason with me.

“After you make your First Holy Communion, you’ll really have a relationship with the Holy Spirit,” my father explained, hopefully.

“Not to mention indigestion!” I replied. “Can’t Jesus and I just be pen-pals?”

“You’re a Catholic,” Dad tried. “You have to complete all your sacraments, and Holy Communion is one of them.”

“Marriage is a sacrament,” I squeaked. “Instead of doing Communion, couldn’t I just get married twice, like my sister did?”

My 8-year-old sarcasm was no match for my father’s impatience, and so, every Thursday afternoon, I joined the kids from St. Jerome’s Catholic School to learn about the joys of drinking the Blood of Christ and how to eat a Communion wafer without chewing it, which was a sin that would cause the floor to open up and send me straight into the fiery depths of Hell.

I nearly ended in Hell anyhow, after our priest, Father Pat, turned up at our final First Communion class for a dress rehearsal of that Sunday’s big event, when we’d receive “the body and blood” for the first time during mass.

“Very well, kiddies,” Father lisped to all of us cannibals-in-training. “Everybody form a line. I’ll be the priest, and you be the parishioners. Remember: this is a joyous occasion, but joy is no excuse for forgetting your lines.”