Daily Reocrd

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.

The Philadelphia Public Record Calendar

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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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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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

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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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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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