The Parish of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Organizes its Annual Celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
The Parish of Our Mother of Perpetual Help organized its annual 14th celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help under the title ” Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
The celebration included a 4-day festival where H.G. Archbishop Bashar Warda conducted 3 lectures, reflecting on the meaning of the Church. Moreover, different activities and contests took place during the 4 days. The festival started on June 24th and concluded on June 27th.
On the first day, H.G. Archbishop Warda spoke about the Church and Divine Providence; and the way people view the Church. H.G. highlighted that in today’s day and age, people would say that they follow Christ but refuse His Church. In response to that, Archbishop Warda emphasized that God wants to come to us through the Church. The movement is not that of a human toward God, rather, God Himself starts the initial movement toward us, to make us like Him. And this movement is not meant for one individual but to all of humanity. Hence, God chose the Church to convey His love and mercy to the world. As the gospel says, we did not choose Him, but He chose us.
Moreover, following the lecture, the parish’s Al-Safaa Fellowship had organized various activities and entertaining games for children to enjoy. A charity bazaar was also opened on the first day of the celebration.
On the second day, H.G. Archbishop Warda spoke about the Eucharist which makes up the body of the Church. Archbishop Warda emphasized that the Eucharist unites us and makes us one body. H.G. highlighted that every part of the Divine Liturgy is toward this unity and fellowship, and toward having peace among us. And since faith is a grace that we share with others, so is every prayer during Mass. For the Mass is not a lecture, it is a celebration during which we enter into the Mystery of Faith, and we are joined to the Body of Christ. The Eucharist is a clear and direct proclamation that Christ is present, and that He is coming. The lecture was followed by a Biblical Contest.
On the third day, Archbishop Warda spoke about the role of the laity in the Church. H.G. spoke briefly about Church history and the way things were ordered in the Church centuries ago, as well as the distinction between the clergy and the laity with their different responsibilities. Archbishop Warda stated that the strength of the Church lies in the strength of the people’s faith and their commitment to their vocation. The laity have to work together, like they did in the Early Church, in order to announce the good news. The mission of the laity as people who live in the world, is to carry the word of God to the world, and to be a witness to the hope that is in them. It is in everyday life that the Christian reflects his values, his faith and his message. H.G. also talked about the mission and role of the laity within the Church and the world, as taught by Vatican II. Furthermore, the activities and contests resumed on day three of the celebration.
The fourth day, the 27th of June, makred the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, where H.G. Archbishop Warda celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the parish, along with Fr. Nashwan Yonan, the parish priest. After the celebration of the Mass, further activities took place marking the closing of the festival.
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