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Who are we?
First and foremost Maronites are Antiochene – where Christ’s followers “were called Christians for the first time” (Acts 11:26). 
Maronites share an historical, liturgical and spiritual heritage with all the other Catholic and Orthodox Antiochene Churches. Maronites are also heirs of Syriac cultural and religious heritage, whose language, poetry, and hymnody were the means used to express the mystery that God is beyond all descriptions yet has come close to us in Christ.
Second, Maronites are Chalcedonian, meaning they were staunch supporters of the Council of Chalcedon, convened in 451 A.D., which taught that Jesus was true God and true man. In this formula Maronites found a balance, and way of life that placed them forever in the communion of the universal Church.
Third, the Maronite Church is a Patriarchal and Monastic Church. Saint Maron was a hermit-priest. The first Maronites were monks, priests and laity associated with the monasteries of Saint Maron in the 5th - 8th centuries. Maronites have a cherished history known for an ascetical life of sacrifice and devotion.
Fourth, the Maronite Church is known for Her love and devotion to the See of Peter in Rome. This relationship has allowed Maronites to fully express the Catholic faith held from the beginning, and at the same time be part of the balance between East and West.
Fifth, the Maronite Church is tied to Lebanon, Her spiritual homeland and the land of Her Patriarch and people. Maronites take great pride in the joint accomplishment of the Muslim-Christian co-existence, which today we call Lebanon.
(From "The Maronite Catholic Church," Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn)
Therefore our proper title is:
Saint Joseph Antiochene Syriac Maronite Catholic Church
On the mountains of Lebanon, in this mystical land, in these deep valleys, among these white mountains,in the land of honey and milk, in the nation of the Cedar and the Alphabet, in the Phoenician land, there the Maronite Church, the smallest of all the churches, has grown like a mustard seed and became a tree,so that several churches and denominations have come to be sheltered in its branches. The history of the Maronites was sealed by persecution and martyrdom for the sake of Faith, Freedom, and Independence.
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EPARCHY OF SAINT MARON OF BROOKLYN
OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
109 Remsen Street
Brooklyn, New York 11201-4212
Tel: (718) 237-9913 Fax: (718) 243-0444
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.stmaron.org
5 August 2020 Prot No. 301/1/20
Circ No. 20.24
Dear Brother Priests, Deacons and Subdeacons, Consecrated Men and Women, Lay Faithful:
In these unprecedented times in which we are living and in light of the recent explosion in Lebanon, I ask that we take this opportunity as an invitation to increase our practices of fasting, prayer and almsgiving. These three recommended practices are given to us by Christ and the Church to draw us closer to God and one another. Thus, I ask each of you to join me in a special time from the Feast of the Assumption, August 15th until the Feast of the Holy Cross, September 14th, for a time to increase our Christian generosity by these special spiritual practices.
Let us pray for Lebanon and her people. May God have mercy on our dear Lebanon. Let us pray for an end to the pandemic; for the safety, health and well-being of our children, elderly and the vulnerable and for those serving the public good, and those who are in harm’s way. Let us pray for the Church, for vocations to the priesthood, religious life, faithful married life, and the generous single life. Let us pray for our world, for a resolution of civil strife, and for political stability, both here and in Lebanon. Let us pray for a renewed appreciation of the innate dignity of each human person, for a deeper solidarity with the poor, for an increased respect for the common good, and for a deeper engagement of all of us in what we call Catholic Social Teaching.
I also ask each of you to join me in a fast. Let us add Wednesdays to our traditional Friday fast. The traditional fast consists of eating nothing before noon, as well as abstaining from meat, eggs and dairy products. But I invite each of you to fast in any way you can on those days. Fasting reminds us that our deepest longing is for God and for his Kingdom to rule over us.
Lastly, I know many of you are already extended beyond your usual means to helping others, but I ask each of you to practice an even greater charity these days in almsgiving. This includes your own family members in need, your parish, the poor who are near you, and the poor who are far away. I ask for donations to Caritas Lebanon and Saint Vincent de Paul Society of Lebanon. This can be done by way of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn with a check payable to the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, 109 Remsen Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201, or a donation made on our website www.stmaron.org
These unprecedented times call for unprecedented prayer, fasting and almsgiving. May God hear our prayers and accept what we offer him, so that our world, and we ourselves, can be more just and pleasing to him.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Gregory John Mansour
