United with Jesus, 2009 Sunday School Summer camp. July 24-26, 2009

Thirty two teenagers and children attended the camp where they learned about the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist. The three day camp included open learning sessions and discussions based on two educational movies. The activities also included several crafts, games and contests at Elysian park. The students and teachers celebrated the mass twice during the camp.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to

Mark 7: 1-8,14-15,21-23                                                        

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.  So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastely, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

The Gospel of the LORD                

اَلْمَزْمُورِ.                                                                

  هَلِّلُويَا.

ِ إِنْجِيلُ مَرْقُسَ                              الأصحَاحُ السَّابعُ

¹وَاجْتَمَعَ إِلَيْهِ الْفَرِّيسِيُّونَ وَقَوْمٌ مِنَ الْكَتَبَةِ قَادِمِينَ مِنْ أُورُشَلِيمَ. ²وَلَمَّا رَأَوْا بَعْضًا مِنْ تَلاَمِيذِهِ يَأْكُلُونَ خُبْزًا بِأَيْدٍ دَنِسَةٍ، أَيْ غَيْرِ مَغْسُولَةٍ، لاَمُوا. ³لأَنَّ الْفَرِّيسِيِّينَ وَكُلَّ الْيَهُودِ إِنْ لَمْ يَغْسِلُوا أَيْدِيَهُمْ بِاعْتِنَاءٍ، لاَ يَأْكُلُونَ، مُتَمَسِّكِينَ بِتَقْلِيدِ الشُّيُوخِ. ⁴وَمِنَ السُّوقِ إِنْ لَمْ يَغْتَسِلُوا لاَ يَأْكُلُونَ. وَأَشْيَاءُ أُخْرَى كَثِيرَةٌ تَسَلَّمُوهَا لِلتَّمَسُّكِ بِهَا، مِنْ غَسْلِ كُؤُوسٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَآنِيَةِ نُحَاسٍ وَأَسِرَّةٍ. ⁵ثُمَّ سَأَلَهُ الْفَرِّيسِيُّونَ وَالْكَتَبَةُ:«لِمَاذَا لاَ يَسْلُكُ تَلاَمِيذُكَ حَسَبَ تَقْلِيدِ الشُّيُوخِ، بَلْ يَأْكُلُونَ خُبْزًا بِأَيْدٍ غَيْرِ مَغْسُولَةٍ؟» ⁶فَأَجَابَ وَقَالَ لَهُمْ:«حَسَنًا تَنَبَّأَ إِشَعْيَاءُ عَنْكُمْ أَنْتُمُ الْمُرَائِينَ! كَمَا هُوَ مَكْتُوبٌ: هذَا الشَّعْبُ يُكْرِمُنِي بِشَفَتَيْهِ، وَأَمَّا قَلْبُهُ فَمُبْتَعِدٌ عَنِّي بَعِيدًا، ⁷وَبَاطِلاً يَعْبُدُونَنِي وَهُمْ يُعَلِّمُونَ تَعَالِيمَ هِيَ وَصَايَا النَّاسِ. ⁸لأَنَّكُمْ تَرَكْتُمْ وَصِيَّةَ اللهِ وَتَتَمَسَّكُونَ بِتَقْلِيدِ النَّاسِ: ¹⁴ثُمَّ دَعَا كُلَّ الْجَمْعِ وَقَالَ لَهُمُ:«اسْمَعُوا مِنِّي كُلُّكُمْ وَافْهَمُوا. ¹⁵لَيْسَ شَيْءٌ مِنْ خَارِجِ الإِنْسَانِ إِذَا دَخَلَ فِيهِ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يُنَجِّسَهُ، لكِنَّ الأَشْيَاءَ الَّتِي تَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ هِيَ الَّتِي تُنَجِّسُ الإِنْسَانَ. ²¹لأَنَّهُ مِنَ الدَّاخِلِ، مِنْ قُلُوبِ النَّاسِ، تَخْرُجُ الأَفْكَارُ الشِّرِّيرَةُ: زِنىً، فِسْقٌ، قَتْلٌ، ²²سِرْقَةٌ، طَمَعٌ، خُبْثٌ، مَكْرٌ، عَهَارَةٌ، عَيْنٌ شِرِّيرَةٌ، تَجْدِيفٌ، كِبْرِيَاءُ، جَهْلٌ. ²³جَمِيعُ هذِهِ الشُّرُورِ تَخْرُجُ مِنَ الدَّاخِلِ وَتُنَجِّسُ الإِنْسَانَ».

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Sunday, August 30, 2009 (Week of Prayer for Christian Unity)
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

The first reading from

Deuteronomy 4: 1-2,6-8

Moses said to the people: “Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin upon you, you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it.
Observe them carefully; for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?”

The word of the LORD                                                             P. Thanks be to God

رِسَالَةُ يَعْقُوبَ        الأصحَاحُ الأَوَّلُ                       بركاته علي جميعنا آمين

   ¹⁷كُلُّ عَطِيَّةٍ صَالِحَةٍ وَكُلُّ مَوْهِبَةٍ تَامَّةٍ هِيَ مِنْ فَوْقُ، نَازِلَةٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ أَبِي الأَنْوَارِ، الَّذِي لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ تَغْيِيرٌ وَلاَ ظِلُّ دَوَرَانٍ. ¹⁸شَاءَ فَوَلَدَنَا بِكَلِمَةِ الْحَقِّ لِكَيْ نَكُونَ بَاكُورَةً مِنْ خَلاَئِقِهِ. ²¹لِذلِكَ اطْرَحُوا كُلَّ نَجَاسَةٍ وَكَثْرَةَ شَرّ، فَاقْبَلُوا بِوَدَاعَةٍ الْكَلِمَةَ الْمَغْرُوسَةَ الْقَادِرَةَ أَنْ تُخَلِّصَ نُفُوسَكُمْ. ²²وَلكِنْ كُونُوا عَامِلِينَ بِالْكَلِمَةِ، لاَ سَامِعِينَ فَقَطْ خَادِعِينَ نُفُوسَكُمْ. ²⁷اَلدِّيَانَةُ الطَّاهِرَةُ النَّقِيَّةُ عِنْدَ اللهِ الآبِ هِيَ هذِهِ: افْتِقَادُ الْيَتَامَى وَالأَرَامِلِ فِي ضِيقَتِهِمْ، وَحِفْظُ الإِنْسَانِ نَفْسَهُ بِلاَ دَنَسٍ مِنَ الْعَالَمِ.

ِنعمة الله الآب تكن مع جميعنا آمين َ.

Sunday, August 23, 2009 (Week of Prayer for Christian Unity)
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to

John 6: 60-69                                                                  

Many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.  Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

The Gospel of the LORD                   

اَلْمَزْمُورِ.                                                                                                هَلِّلُويَا.

ِ إِنْجِيلُ يُوحَنَّا

الأصحَاحُ السَّادِسُ

⁶⁰فَقَالَ كَثِيرُونَ مِنْ تَلاَمِيذِهِ، إِذْ سَمِعُوا:«إِنَّ هذَا الْكَلاَمَ صَعْبٌ! مَنْ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يَسْمَعَهُ؟» ⁶¹فَعَلِمَ يَسُوعُ فِي نَفْسِهِ أَنَّ تَلاَمِيذَهُ يَتَذَمَّرُونَ عَلَى هذَا، فَقَالَ لَهُمْ:«أَهذَا يُعْثِرُكُمْ؟ ⁶²فَإِنْ رَأَيْتُمُ ابْنَ الإِنْسَانِ صَاعِدًا إِلَى حَيْثُ كَانَ أَوَّلاً! ⁶³اَلرُّوحُ هُوَ الَّذِي يُحْيِي. أَمَّا الْجَسَدُ فَلاَ يُفِيدُ شَيْئًا. اَلْكَلاَمُ الَّذِي أُكَلِّمُكُمْ بِهِ هُوَ رُوحٌ وَحَيَاةٌ، ⁶⁴وَلكِنْ مِنْكُمْ قَوْمٌ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ». لأَنَّ يَسُوعَ مِنَ الْبَدْءِ عَلِمَ مَنْ هُمُ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ، وَمَنْ هُوَ الَّذِي يُسَلِّمُهُ. ⁶⁵فَقَالَ:«لِهذَا قُلْتُ لَكُمْ: إِنَّهُ لاَ يَقْدِرُ أَحَدٌ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ إِلَيَّ إِنْ لَمْ يُعْطَ مِنْ أَبِي».

⁶⁶مِنْ هذَا الْوَقْتِ رَجَعَ كَثِيرُونَ مِنْ تَلاَمِيذِهِ إِلَى الْوَرَاءِ، وَلَمْ يَعُودُوا يَمْشُونَ مَعَهُ. ⁶⁷فَقَالَ يَسُوعُ لِلاثْنَيْ عَشَرَ:«أَلَعَلَّكُمْ أَنْتُمْ أَيْضًا تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تَمْضُوا؟» ⁶⁸فَأَجَابَهُ سِمْعَانُ بُطْرُسُ:«يَارَبُّ، إِلَى مَنْ نَذْهَبُ؟ كَلاَمُ الْحَيَاةِ الأَبَدِيَّةِ عِنْدَكَ، ⁶⁹وَنَحْنُ قَدْ آمَنَّا وَعَرَفْنَا أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ اللهِ الْحَيِّ».

Sunday, August 23, 2009 (Week of Prayer for Christian Unity)

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

The first reading from                      Joshua 24: 1-2,15-17.18

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, summoning their elders, their leaders, their judges, and their officers.
When they stood in ranks before God, Joshua addressed all the people: “If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD
for the service of other gods. For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among the peoples through whom we passed. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”

The word of the LORD                                                          

رِسَالَةُ بُولُسَ الرَّسُولِ إِلَى أَهْلِ أَفَسُسَ                          بركاته علي جميعنا آمين

      ²¹خَاضِعِينَ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ فِي خَوْفِ اللهِ.                 

²²أَيُّهَا النِّسَاءُ اخْضَعْنَ لِرِجَالِكُنَّ كَمَا لِلرَّبِّ، ²³لأَنَّ الرَّجُلَ هُوَ رَأْسُ الْمَرْأَةِ كَمَا أَنَّ الْمَسِيحَ أَيْضًا رَأْسُ الْكَنِيسَةِ، وَهُوَ مُخَلِّصُ الْجَسَدِ. ²⁴وَلكِنْ كَمَا تَخْضَعُ الْكَنِيسَةُ لِلْمَسِيحِ، كَذلِكَ النِّسَاءُ لِرِجَالِهِنَّ فِي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ. ²⁵أَيُّهَا الرِّجَالُ، أَحِبُّوا نِسَاءَكُمْ كَمَا أَحَبَّ الْمَسِيحُ أَيْضًا الْكَنِيسَةَ وَأَسْلَمَ نَفْسَهُ لأَجْلِهَا، ²⁶لِكَيْ يُقَدِّسَهَا، مُطَهِّرًا إِيَّاهَا بِغَسْلِ الْمَاءِ بِالْكَلِمَةِ، ²⁷لِكَيْ يُحْضِرَهَا لِنَفْسِهِ كَنِيسَةً مَجِيدَةً، لاَ دَنَسَ فِيهَا وَلاَ غَضْنَ أَوْ شَيْءٌ مِنْ مِثْلِ ذلِكَ، بَلْ تَكُونُ مُقَدَّسَةً وَبِلاَ عَيْبٍ. ²⁸كَذلِكَ يَجِبُ عَلَى الرِّجَالِ أَنْ يُحِبُّوا نِسَاءَهُمْ كَأَجْسَادِهِمْ. مَنْ يُحِبُّ امْرَأَتَهُ يُحِبُّ نَفْسَهُ. ²⁹فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يُبْغِضْ أَحَدٌ جَسَدَهُ قَطُّ، بَلْ يَقُوتُهُ وَيُرَبِّيهِ، كَمَا الرَّبُّ أَيْضًا لِلْكَنِيسَةِ. ³⁰لأَنَّنَا أَعْضَاءُ جِسْمِهِ، مِنْ لَحْمِهِ وَمِنْ عِظَامِهِ. ³¹«مِنْ أَجْلِ هذَا يَتْرُكُ الرَّجُلُ أَبَاهُ وَأُمَّهُ وَيَلْتَصِقُ بِامْرَأَتِهِ، وَيَكُونُ الاثْنَانِ جَسَدًا وَاحِدًا». ³²هذَا السِّرُّ عَظِيمٌ، وَلكِنَّنِي أَنَا أَقُولُ مِنْ نَحْوِ الْمَسِيحِ وَالْكَنِيسَةِ.                                                             نعمة الله الآب تكن مع جميعنا آمين َ.

Mary K. Hanna            August 23, 2009

Mary R. Michail           August 23, 2009

Ataf Khozam              August 25, 2009

Adel Mikhail                August 26, 2009

Stephanie El Masry    August 26,2009

Ramzy Said               August 28, 2009                     

Daniel Elias                August 29, 2009

Victor Khalil                August 29, 2009 

Francois And Emily Asmar          August 18, 2009

Magdy And Neveen  Soliman      August 22, 2009

Marianne M. Kolta    August 16, 2009

Brenda N. Toma      August 16, 2009

Morris Khalil             August 18, 2009

Marianne H.Gabra    August 18, 2009

Danny  B. El Masry  August 18, 2009

Sonia A.Faltas          August 20, 2009

Diana Doss              August 21, 2009

Mary Francis            August 21, 2009