Vol. II No. 117 (277)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
August 8, 2011
Philadelphia Daily Record
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Our beloved Pastor Emeritus, Msgr. Sharbel Lischaa, passed away on Tuesday, August 2. Monsignor is survived by his sisters Maren Semaan Abi-Kattar of Lebanon and Manira Semaan Lischaa Baine of Australia. He is also survived by many nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces in Lebanon, Canada, Australia, and the United States. There will be a viewing during which Monsignor will lie in state at St. Maron's Church from 4PM on Sunday, August 7 and again from 9AM on Monday, August 8. A funeral mass of the Maronite Catholic Rite will be celebrated at 11AM on Monday, August 8 by His Excellency Bishop Gregory Mansour. Internment will follow at St. Denis Cemetery in Havertown, PA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the St. Maron's Church Restoration Fund, 1010 Ellsworth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147.
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Aug.11Friends of Ron Donatucci hold Delaware River Cruise at Independence Seaport Museum Terrace Ballrm., Columbus & Walnut Sts., 6:30-9:30 p.m. $145 per person. For info (215) 271-1667. Aug. 11St. Edmond’s Parish hosts Fish Fry celebrating St. Edmond’s 100th anniversary. at 21st & Snyder Ave., 58 p.m. Cost $10. For info (215) 334-3755. Aug. 11Fundraising event for Republican Council at Large candidate David Oh in Library Lounge at Union League, 140 S. Broad St., 6-8 p.m. Special guest Anthony Szuszczewicz, Chairman, CEO and
President of Polonia Bank. Music. Contributions $100 to $1,000. RSVP by Aug. 8 to Eunice Lee (215) 561-2000. Aug. 12-13 Nicetown CDC hosts Give Back Festival at Nicetown Park, 4300 Germantown Ave., starting with Boxing Exhibition on Friday. Aug. 13Celebration of 20th reunion of IBEW Local 98 retirees and active members at Keenan’s in Anglesea, N. Wildwood, N. J. Starts 4 p.m. Aug. 13State Rep. Angel Cruz hosts Seminar on How To Buy At Sheriff Sales, 2 p.m. at his officve, 3503 N. B Street, Corner of Tioga. Unit 7. Plenty of parking. All invited.
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8 AUGUST, 2011
Monsignor Sharbel Lischaa A Tribute to His Life and Service
H
e was God’s priest for
of miles away in their homeland of
everyone.....Maronite,
Lebanon was born a child – Ro-
Latin, Moslem, Protes-
manus – who would one day lead
tant, Jewish, Atheist... who came
their beloved parish.
to his door. And Monsignor Sharbel Lichaa answered the knock for thousands over his life of service
At the age of eight, Romanus left
to this community, this city, and
his family to enter a monastery and
the nation.
begin his seven decades of service to God as a Maronite monk. He
February 9 is an important date in the Maronite liturgical calendar for it is the feast of our patron, Saint Maron. However, on that date in 1933 little did the parishioners as-
shed his given name of Romanus and accepted the name of Sharbel, another Maronite monk who would eventually be elevated to
ther Sharbel developed skills as an
sainthood by Pope Paul VI.
administrator, teacher, and musical
sembled at St. Maron’s Church in Philadelphia know that thousands
director. In fact, it was Father During his years in Lebanon, Fa-
Sharbel‘s talent as a musician that led him to train countless numbers of seminarians in how to properly celebrate the Maronite liturgy. Father Sharbel’s journey as a man of God would take him across continents and, eventually, to America and the corner of 10th & Ellsworth Streets in Philadelphia where in March, 1974 he would become the eighth pastor of the first Maronite church in North America.
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Periodically, he would cite memo-
This monk from the mountains
at large. Why? Here are just a
ries from his first days as the pas-
served his purgatory well. He
few wonderful anecdotes about his
tor as he made rounds to introduce
quickly mastered the art of being a
ministry:
himself to the parishioners. He
central member and influence in
said, “At one of the doors, one of
the local community. He also em-
you said to me ‘You now begin
braced all who visited with him in
couldn’t leave their work places to
your purgatory on earth serving St.
the rectory or called on the phone.
go to Church … they couldn’t go
Maron’s Church’”.
He extended his ministry to all
to the Church so the Church came
who asked or were in need of spir-
to them!
•
Distributing ashes to the
workers in the Italian Market who
itual guidance or help of any kind. •
Taking the stage and
In 1986, Bishop Francis Zayek el-
singing at the annual Lebanese
evated Father Sharbel to the rank
Festival for St. Maron’s Church,
of Monsignor in recognition of his
which he began in the late 1970.
service to the Maronite church.
The festival became a major city draw in the late 70s.
Monsignor Sharbel is loved and respected not only by his parishioners but also by the community 4|
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
•
Leading the countless processions inside the church and around the neighborhood on Palm Sunday, 8 AUGUST, 2011
Good Friday, and during the St. Jude Novena … and just about any other day he decided would be a good one for a procession!
Over the course of these years, he presided over christenings, confirmations, weddings, and, sadly, too
•
Acting like the patriarch of
many funeral masses. But most
our parish family and hollering at
important, he presided over the re-
us during his Sunday sermons for
building of St. Maron’s Parish
any one of countless materialistic
which today stands as a beacon of
things in our society which were
tranquility, love, and a safe haven
cluttering our lives!
for all who seek respite and spiritual guidance.
He was instrumental in establishing the original mission in Newtown Square, known as The Saint Sharbel Mission, which continues today as the second Maronite parish in the Philadelphia region.
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He was a monk in the true tradition of the Maronites, never letting people know how vigorously he dedicated himself to its calls for sacrifice, hunger, and service. He
those, from outside the immediate church community, who grew to love him and adopted him and St. Maron’s as their very own.
loved all his parishioners and
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