Parable of the Ten Virgins – V -مثل العذارى العشر
Year 110 - Issue No. 42 |October 18– October 24, 2020
      In Solidarity we Pray for Lebanon
...If I send a plague among My people, 14and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.….
II Chronicles 7:13b-15
For those who have had the experience of keeping watch over a sick person through the night, especially if it was a very close loved one, you know what it means to fight off sleep. You do everything in your power to stay awake; but even so you fall asleep, perhaps only briefly, moments that escape your control. The same happens in life: though we try with all our might to stay alert, sometimes we just fall asleep. We fall asleep out of tiredness or out of distrust. We fall asleep because we are disappointed or because we don’t want to see the truth of things around us. We fall asleep because we are superficial or because we have lost the courage to hold out a little longer. This passage of today’s Gospel of the ten virgins, describes the sleepiness that spreads through the community that tires of waiting for the Bridegroom. It should be a night of celebration and joy because He that we have been waiting for is finally returning: the Bridegroom, the one that brings the fullness of life. But instead, the night becomes frustrating: things don’t happen as we had hoped. God doesn’t work according to our schedule and the Bridegroom does not arrive when we want him to. According to the parable, everyone falls asleep: both the wise virgins and the foolish ones. It is as if to say that falling asleep is inevitable, a fact of life. It is not avoiding sleep that differentiates the wise from the foolish. The parable centers on different symbols: the lamp and the oil. They are common symbols throughout the Bible. The lamp reminds us of Jesus’ invitation to be the light of the world, that the lamp cannot be hidden under a bushel. It reminds us that life should not be wasted and that we can’t hide from life. The ten virgins with their lamps especially remind us of the community invited to dance for joy and celebrate the coming of the Bridegroom. It is the symbol of the Church called to wait joyfully for the coming of Christ. The lamp however needs oil to continue to shine: it is the oil used to keep watch for and welcome the Bridegroom, the oil of welcoming. But oil is also what the Good Samaritan uses to heal the wounds of the man beaten down by life. And above all, oil is what is used to anoint and consecrate the Messiah, He for whom our hearts continuously hope. Therefore, oil is the symbol of very deep and very personal gestures. Perhaps it is for this reason the foolish virgins have little luck at the market.  There are things in life that we must do alone, things that no one else can do for us. There are situations that we must be prepared for because there won’t be another opportunity.
What is the difference then between the foolish virgins and the wise ones? It’s not in their ability to stay awake but in how they’ve prepared their lamps. Sometimes our lamp can even go out but if we know how to light it again and to use it, in dark times we will know what to do. The problem of the foolish virgins is not sleepiness but something more fundamental. They never took care of the lamp that they were given. The Bridegroom even says that he does not know them. In their lives they have never cared about the Bridegroom and that is why they are unprepared now. In the middle of the night, even in the deepest darkness, a cry of joy will wake us. The night cannot last forever; the Bridegroom will return. Do not put your lamps away in a closet but have them on hand and lit, even if the world says that it’s foolish and pointless.
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Online Maronite Enrichment Days
The Book of Steps with Dr. Robert Kitchen October 13, 20, and 27, 2020.
Dr. Kitchen will host us over ZOOM on three consecutive Tuesdays, October 13, 20, and 27,
from 1:00-2:30 pm Eastern Time.
The ZOOM link is Meeting ID Number: 202 876 6648;
Password: 105170.
Dr. Kitchen is uniquely qualified to give such lectures, for he is the authority on The Book of Steps: He has translated it from Syriac into English and has been studying it for decades. You may read his three recently published short articles on The Book of Steps on thehiddenpearl.org.
The National MYA Board has been hard at work hosting different virtual events and prayers for the last several months. They are reaching out to inform you of a special event for the month of October. We will be hosting a discussion entitled: 
Life Matters: Womb to Tomb
Monday, October 19th @ 8:30 pm on Zoom. 
With guest speakers Marise Frangie and Dr. Anne Borik who will be discussing topics related to Life and Church teaching and understanding this valuable gift our Lord has bestowed upon us, life.
OCTOBER 2020, PRAYER Intention
Guidance for our Nation
Remember O Lord our nation, so that we may choose leaders who hear your Word, live your love, and keep in the ways of your truth as they follow in the steps of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles and guide us to your Kingdom of justice and peace.
-We Pray to you O Lord
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May God abundantly bless every person who during this hard time, kept the offerings.

We have been asked on how to we can contribute to St. Anthony's discrete work of charity and how can we make and online offering.
The online donation link can be found here:
Rise above the Ashes!
An awareness and fundraiser event at W. Clermont H.S. by our dear parishioner and MYO member Julianna Elfar. A large photo collage and stories of our time in Lebanon will be displayed and a basket with Lebanese items will be raffled. Please send stories & photos to juliannaelfar33@gmail.com. || Items for raffle basket can be donated to St. Anthony’s for Juliana to collect! (proceeds will go to the Red Cross)
Thank you for your care and support!
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Reminders
Distance

In order to give the option for anyone who is not comfortable attending the Saturday/Sunday public celebration of The Divine Liturgy, There is the PRIVATE celebration on weekdays, at 6:00 pm. (Registration is online www.staparish.org or by telephone 513-917-3333.

We will continue live streaming our Liturgies online; this will be a permanent fixture for our church.

Please contact the church for communion if you are concerned about safety during this crisis.
May we all respect Social Distancing and wearing a mask during our presence in church.
With the Blessed Virgin Mary interceding on our behalf we will get through these challenging times and draw nearer to her Son, the Good Shepherd. May the Lord bless all our families.
DURING THE MONTHS OF OCTOBER
¨
Weekend is open to ALL (in the upper church) Saturday (4:00 pm); Sunday (10:30 am) - (6:00 pm)
Daily services (in the Chapel), are by registration only. Registration is available on: our website: www.staparish.org/registration-for-liturgy 
Or by calling the office .513-961-0120
The goal of the 3 years capital campaign launched on August 16, 2019, is:
The update, safety and usefulness of our campus:
The projects envisioned are:

  • Restrooms in small hall. COMPLETED (-$31,383.81)
  • Parking Lot Retaining walls & Courtyard
Parking Lot lights (COMPLETED)
  • Roof: Roof & wall leakage (COMPLETED); Roof insulation (in process)
  • The Church (plans & drawings process now).
  • Formation ctr. & Rectory switch. (In process)
  • Large Hall (floor, restrooms, kitchen, A.C.)
 

Campaign Goal:
$ 750,000
# of Pledges: 68
Amount Pledged:
$ 389,710.00
Amount Received:
$ 281,067.20




PLEASE JOIN THE EFFORT OF:
Build Together, Stay Together —نبني معاً ونبقى معاً
Estate Planning
Consider the Church as one of your children
One of our most important acts of stewardship is the final distribution of our life’s accumulation. How we distribute our estate speaks volumes about our values and our concerns for our loved ones. Bequests to our Home Parish, of St. Anthony, affirms our belief in the mission and ministry of our Maronite Church.

Please remember: St. Anthony of Padua, Maronite Catholic Church and
the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon when planning your estate.
Please remember to register your Kroger Plus Card to benefit St. Anthony's.

It is a ONE TIME registration online at:

Register your card, and assign, St. Anthony of Padua carrying the Non-Profit Organization (#NPO) number is: PV014


Thank you from, St. Anthony's. Every bit, helps.
"If you could cure all disease by killing one innocent child,
would you do it?"
 
2530 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH, 45206
Telephone: 513-961-0120 || Fax: 513-861-5075 || email:saintanthonycincinnati@gmail.com