- - - GOOD STUFF ABOUT THE SANCTITY OF LIFE - - -

Consider these 6 significant and most common topics pertaining to life matters at this time.

1) Understanding Conscience 2) How to Build a Culture of Life 3) What to Do When a Friend is Considering Abortion. 4) Catholic Considerations for Our Earthly Passing. 5) Top Reasons to Oppose Assisted Suicide.

6) Death Penalty: Catholic Q & A

The sixth topic in our LIFE series: Consider these valuable Catholic questions and

answers about The Death Penalty.

1st question: Who are we?

The essence of our identity and worth as human beings the source of our dignity is that we

are loved by God and made in His image and likeness. God’s love doesn’t change: even sin cannot

diminish God’s love for each person.

2nd question: What is the purpose of punishment?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church goes on to say, “in to defending public order and

protecting people’s safety, [punishment] has a medicinal purpose as far as possible. It must

contribute to the correction of the guilty party.”

3rd question: Aren’t some crimes so evil the offender deserves to die?...

God punished Cain greatly but also mercifully spared and protected his life by making him

“so that no one would kill him at sight” (Genesis 4:15)

4th question: Didn’t the Old Testament Law allow the punishment of death?...

For Israelites in the Old Testament, legal punishment of personal injury did allow” life or

life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth” (Exodus 21:23-24). However when Jesus came, He fulfilled the Old

Testament Law and deepened our understanding of both justice and mercy.

5th question; So, is the Death Penalty always wrong?....

As the Catechism states, “the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to

the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the

unjust aggressor.”

For more information about this LIFE TOPIC help yourself to a pamphlet on the

table at the back of the church. Please share this helpful information with family

and friends. This information is provided by the UNITED STATES CONFERENCE

OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS. For more recourses go online.

LITURGIES

Sundays 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 am.

Weekdays 8:00 a.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m.

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DAILY ROSARY DEVOTIONS

I pray the Holy Rosary daily at 7:30 a.m.

Please join me when you can. +

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CONFESSION

Every Saturday - 2:00 - 4:00 pm or by app’t.

Sunday - before Mass and ending 10 minutes before

Mass begins.

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READINGS Luk 2 : 41 - 52

Heb 7 : 11 - 19

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READERS Sunday, December 31 - 8:30am Danny Abou Elias

Sunday, December 31 - 11:00am John Jesser

Sunday, January 7 - 8:30am Chuck Abraham

Sunday, January 7 - 11:00am Mike Kelly

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Counting Our Blessings

Sunday, December 24, 2017 $991.00

Christmas Collection, 2017 $5,883.00

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EVENTS TO COME

LADIES GUILD MEETING

Sunday, January 21, 2018

MEN'S CLUB MEETING

Sunday, January 21, 2018

CAREGIVERS MEETING

Sunday, February 4, 2018

FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION

January 5, 2017 8:30am

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Next Second Collection - January 28, 2018 -

Eparchial Charities

IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY

Sunday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve Vigil Mass

at 5:00 pm Holy Day Obligation.

Monday, January 1 – New Year’s Day, Mass at

10:00am. Holy Day Obligation.

Wednesday, January 3, 6:30 pm, Planning Meeting

for St. Maron’s Feast Day. All Parish Advisory Board

Members and representation from all Parish Groups

are also urged to be present including members from

Ladies Guild, Men’s Club, Hall Advisory Board,

Youth Group, Religious Ed, Finance Committee,

Choir, Food Fair Committee etc.

Friday, January 5 – First Friday, Morning Mass

8:00am, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 8:30 –

12:00 noon.

Saturday, January 6 – First Saturday Devotions,

7:50am Rosary, 8:30 am Divine Liturgy.

Saturday, January 13 – Men’s Club & Ladies Guild

Party beginning with Liturgy 4:00 pm followed by part

time 5:00 pm.

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MEETINGS – MEETINGS – MEETINGS

Hall Advisory Board Monthly Meeting

Monday, January 22 – 6:30 pm - Board Member meet

7:00 pm - Meet with Bradley.

Parish Advisory Board Monthly Meeting

Wednesday, January 24 – 7:00 pm.

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MARONITE CALENDARS -2018- Our Maronite Calendars are here for the New Year

2018. Please help yourself. Please make an offering of

$5.00 for each one for the support of the Eparchy

Vocation Office.

A great feature this year is an Icon for each month with

a lesson about the particular feast day. Enjoy the

beauty of these Icons, study them, and keep learning

more about our Maronite Church and share it with your

friends and neighbors.

December 31, 2017

The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple www.ourladyofthecedarschurch.org

Divine Liturgy Schedule December 31

st, 2017 through January 7

th, 2017

Sunday 31

8:30 Pray for Vocations

11:00 Pray for the Intentions of our Bishop Elias

5:00pm Pray for the Intentions of Our Youth

St. Sylvester I, Pope

Monday 1 10:00am Pray for World Peace Sts. Basil and Gregory, Doctors

of the Church, Confessors

Tuesday 2 8:00 Marleine Lababidi by the Lababidi Family

Wednesday 3 8:00 Special Intentions of Fr. Bill

Thursday 4 8:00 The Mattei Family by Anne Mattei St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Friday 5 8:00 Pete & Jean Espil by Fr. Bill

8:00 John Easterday by Linda Easterday

St. Paul, the First Hermit,

Confessor / St. John Neumann,

Confessor

Saturday 6 8:30 Catherine DiFeo by Fr. Bill

8:30 Fr. Bernard Grunewald by the Eparchy Feast of the Glorious Epiphany

Sunday 7

8:30 Norma Alexander by Robert & Marion Nemer

8:30 Elias & Afifi Maroon by Chuck & Mary Beth Abraham

11:00 Ester Sahlani, Jeanette Mazigi by

Deacon Bob & Barbara Foster

Praises to John the Baptist,

Martyr /

ALTERNATIVES TO ABORTION:

330-825-1900 * 330-644-4490 * 330-434-2221 * 330-253-4071

Email: sanctityoflife@live.com

800-712-4357 for other resources in your area

Troubled in Marriage? Visit www.helpourmarriage.org

RECYCLE Paper Here

HAVE A GREEN CHRISTMAS!

When Santa comes to town, he brings a LOT of paper with him!

So, remember to gather your Christmas cards, boxes and wrapping paper (minus the ribbons and bows) and drop all of that into our paper recycling bins here at church. You'll help the environment while you help to raise money for our church at the same time! Let's keep all of that paper out of the landfill! ********************************************

– CHURCH ENVELOPES – 2018 –

Delivery of our Church Envelopes for 2018 is super late this year. I ask all Parishioners to please be helpful by taking your set of envelopes and a set for any of our members unable to make it to church. Let me add an extra encouraging word about your faithful use of the offering envelopes, it helps us in the Parish Office to keep a record for you and this in turn is a testimony should anyone have to go through an audit. I thank all our Parish Members for your good cooperation in this church obligations. ********************************************

DEACON RAMI AND FR BILL’S

TRAVELS IN JANUARY

Deacon Rami will attend a retreat at the Seminary in

California from January 7 – 12. On his way back he

will visit his Uncle in Vegas from January 12 – 21.

Father Bill will attend the Annual Clergy Retreat in

Arizona from January 8 – 11. No daily Liturgies from

Monday – Thursday. Morning Masses will resume on

Friday at 8:00 and on Saturday at 8:30 am as usual. I

will take the Mass Intentions with me to our Retreat.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

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WELCOME NEW OFFICER S

2 0 1 8 La die s Gu i ld

President – Liz Boshara

Vice President – Nila Ellis

Secretary – Patti Staeger

Treasurer – Mary Beth Abraham Thank You past leaders of our Ladies Guild and we

look forward to a new year with our new officers.

We appreciate ALL the members of our Ladies Guild

More Ladies Guild News…

Thank you to everyone who participated in this

year’s Giving Tree event. The wonderful collection of

items brought in made a great Christmas for the

children and young adults at Safe Landing, a division

of Shelter Care.

The help was very impressed with all that we

donated and thanked us with sincere appreciation for

the kindness our parish provided for those in need.

God’s greatest gift was given to us at Christmas.

May his gifts of love, peace, and happiness be yours.

OLOC Ladies Guild

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NEWS FROM THE EPARCHY…

Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary will be

holding a discernment weekend from Friday

April 13 to Sunday April 15 in Washington DC

for men considering the celibate priesthood.

Contact Fr. Gary George, Eparchial Vocations

Director (314-363-3300) for more information.

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First Saturday 7:50am Rosary

Men’s Club 7:00pm

Reverse Raffle

Benefactors: In Memory of:

Bob & Marion Nemer George and Blanche Nemer

Bob & Marion Nemer Kelly and Mae Alexander

Cheryl Owen & Family Gary Louis Owen, Gary John Owen

Mary Beth & Chuck Abraham Our Deceased Parents and Grandparents

Deacon Bob & Barbara Foster The Massoud & Foster Families

Mona Nemer Joe Nemer

Ghassan Lababidi Marleine Lababidi

Dr. & Mrs. Robert Skiffey Deceased Members of the Skiffey & Stare Families

Paul & Nila Ellis Ellis & Osborne Families

Deacon Tom & Bernie Maroon The Nofel & Maroon Families

Monna Sue Ezzie Ralph J. Ezzie

Tom & Yvonne Jesser Norman Jesser

Sandy Hamad Chris Hamad

John & Erin Jesser Edna & Norman Jesser

Mireille Sahlani Paul, Janet & Louis Mazigi

Mr & Mrs. Dave Reusch For the Blessings of the Reusch & Maroon Families

Walid & Renee Lababidi Marleine Lababidi

Pierre Sahlani Joseph & Ester Sahlani

Pierre & Monique Sabbagh Salwa Sabbagh

Manuel & Colette Nemer Deceased Members of the Nemer Family

Dunia Mourad & Family The Mourad & Jesser Families

Therese Nahra The Eid Family

Michael & Monique Binkley Fariz Nemr, Carol Rabe

Michael Harris For the Welfare of the Church

George & Nancy Sahlani Ester Sahlani, Joseph Sahlani, Simon Younes

& Almaz Farhat

Dear NAM Members and Friends,

We hope the Christmas season brings blessings upon

you and your loved ones. As you know, NAM's

mission is to unite and preserve the Maronite heritage

throughout the United States. Serving as an umbrella

organization, NAM seeks to keep alive the traditions of

the Syriac Antiochene Maronite Church as founded by

St. Maron. NAM accomplishes this though several

ways: regional and national conventions; and various

cultural, educational and religious programs.

NAM works on numerous religious, educational,

cultural and social levels to better serve you. The

measure of NAM's success is fulfilled when our

members are able to develop a spiritual bond through

our various programs. Throughout the past 54 years,

NAM has established numerous successful programs

for our members and parishes; including various

scholarships, The Cedar Tree Program, Disaster Relief

Fund, Massabki and Faith of the Mountain Awards,

Vocation Contests; and many others. NAM has also

initiated many programs that are now serving both

Eparchies as independent organizations such as Faith

of the Mountain CCD program, MYO and MYA; that

we continue to support.

We rely on the generosity of our members and friends,

for support in order to continue to keep these programs

alive. Without your assistance, we would not be able to

host our conventions and provide you with our

programs. Every dollar we receive in donations gives

us more resources to work on our programs,

conventions and the organization as a whole.

This Christmas season, we ask that you consider

making a donation to NAM. Your donations will help

us better serve you. There is much more work to be

done, and we hope you are inspired to help us in these

efforts by returning the form below with your tax-

deductible gift. For your information, our tax ID is 34-

1179197. Thank you, Merry Christmas and Happy

New Year!

Dear Msgr Bonczewski,

On behalf of St. Bernard Parish, we would like

to thank you for thinking of us and for your

generous donation of food for our “food pantry

program”. Bags of groceries go out to the

needy every Thursday, from 9am – 10:30am

As you know, the Hunger Center does much

more than physically feed the men and women

who come here. Our hope is that it also gives

them a glimpse of the loving gaze of Christ in

the midst of their need. It is a way that we too

encounter Christ who claims a special presence

in each of our hungry brothers and sisters, “For

I was hungry and you gave me food.” (Matt

25:35a) Thank you for allowing us to continue

this twofold mission and ministry.

Please note: There was no exchange of goods or

services for your donation.