Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay | Public figure
Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay
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23.01.2022 Year of Maronite Outreach 13th Sunday of Pentecost Dear Brothers and Sisters,...Continue reading
23.01.2022 Friends, On this eve of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, it is a Maronite tradition to light bonfires or candles in remembrance of St Helena who lit bonfires on mountains all the way from Jerusalem to Constantinople to notify Constantine that she had found the Cross. As we cannot gather in large groups this year, I invite you on this occasion to light a candle tonight in your home asking our Lord Jesus Christ to protect Lebanon and the Lebanese people during th...is time of hardship and suffering, by the power of His Holy Cross. We also pray for Australia that it may be safe from disasters and protected from every harm. I wish you all a Blessed Feast of the Holy Cross! (Photo from Australian Maronite Youth Convention - ARISE 2015)
23.01.2022 Year of Maronite Outreach 15th Sunday of Pentecost Dear Brothers and Sisters,... St Luke tells us, in this Sunday’s Gospel, about the Lord being anointed by a sinful woman at the house of Simon the Pharisee. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she isthat she is a sinner. Jesus, knowing what’s in the heart and mind of Simon, pointed out to him what he had missed: the depth of the woman’s sorrow. We need so much courage to seek forgiveness, and we need sincerity and repentance to go to Confession with sorrow for our sins. Trust in the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness led the woman to Jesus, and it should be the same for us. It is important to learn both from this woman and from the example of Simon: being sincere and courageous, like she was, and not putting on a show like Simon did, hiding the suspicion and doubts in our hearts. The Lord then turns to the woman and tells her that her sins were forgiven. He was implying that He had authority to forgive them. Only God can forgive sins, because sin is an offence against God. Jesus used the form of words which the priests in the Maronite Church use today: Your sins are forgiven. Priests, and even bishops, do not say: I forgive you, for only God forgives and we declare what God has done. This Sunday’s Gospel is about appearance and reality, repentance and hypocrisy. It teaches us that we need to look below the surface to the truth, not only the truth about other people, not only the truth of our own hearts, but ultimately to the truth about God. He made Himself known through His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He waits for us to come to Him sorrowful for our sins not because we have been found out, but because sin offends the goodness of God. To truly repent for our sins is to welcome God back into our lives with the kiss of friendship, to wash His feet with tears of repentance and to anoint His head with our love and trust. The Centennial of the Declaration of Greater Lebanon The 1st of September marked the 100th anniversary of the declaration of the State of Greater Lebanon. 100 years on this declaration, the mood in Lebanon could not be more sombre. The culmination of decades of crisis, mismanagement and endemic corruption, have left the Lebanese people marking this centennial with sadness rather than joy, with despair instead of hope, and with a fear of what the future holds. On this anniversary, we pray for Lebanon, for its people and its leaders. We pray for change, for hope and for a better tomorrow. We also need to work for this better tomorrow, in unity and hand in hand.
22.01.2022 Year of Maronite Outreach 16th Sunday of Pentecost Dear Brothers and Sisters,... In this Sunday’s Gospel, the last of the Season of Pentecost for our Maronite Church, St Luke writes about the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The evangelist explicitly tells us that the Lord addressed this parable to those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt. How often these two features go together in us: it seems that the more sure we are that we are good, the more we look down on others as being bad. Of course, the true Christian way of thinking about this is to be grateful for any good that we may able to do, and to refrain from judging and condemning others. We want to have a good heart; one which thanks the Lord that we have had the opportunity to be of service to Him and to our brothers and sisters. In the Gospel, the Pharisee was so focussed on his own good acts, and comparing himself to other people, that he did see the pride in his own heart. Not only did he not see himself as he really was, neither did he understand the tax collector. This sin is known as the sin of rash judgment or judgment by suspicion. It means a quick judgment made on the basis of guesses, and can lead to much antagonism between people. Do we often commit this sin? Do we rush to judge based on half-truths? On the other hand, the tax collector stayed in the background, and was so ashamed of himself he did not raise his eyes to heaven, but rather beat his breast a sign of penitence and prayed only this: God, be merciful to me, a sinner! The Pharisee noticed the tax collector, but the latter did not notice the Pharisee: his thoughts were fixed on God. The tax collector showed humility and repentance. Friends, humility is the foundation of the Christian life. Why? Because the humble man denies the "me", does not give in to selfishness and is then filled with the humble and merciful love of God. Only the humble man, filled with the love of God can truly love others. Without humility, charitable love cannot be achieved, that is to say, a love that is not focused on oneself. This is why humility is the foundation of Christian love and life. Let us not ever cease to apply the lessons from this Gospel to ourselves. We become too divided from one another through the pride of our hearts. We take the unimportant differences between us as signs of our superiority but we are all equally children of God. We are all infinitely precious to Him. We should always remember this truth and act with charity, not only through charitable giving, but also in the humility of our thoughts, so that our hands are only acting from the fullness of our hearts.
22.01.2022 Live with His Excellency Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay. I AM the True Vine ~ John 15:5
21.01.2022 Today is a special day for families in Australia celebrating Father’s Day. On this day, we pray for and thank God for all the dads, for the commitments they make in our world to defend the most vulnerable and to care for their families. We pray for every man who fulfils the role of a father and for fathers who are separated or deprived of their children. We are grateful for good fathers who understand their immense role and fulfil their mission in the heart of this world and ask the Lord to bless every father and grandfather. HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!
21.01.2022 Year of Maronite Outreach Sunday of the Annunciation to Mary Dear Brothers and Sisters,... This Sunday in our Maronite Church is the Sunday of the Annunciation to Mary. We celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation on the 25th of March every year, 9 months before Christmas, but we also read the Gospel of the Annunciation again on this Sunday in preparation for the Glorious Birth of our Lord. Every week in this Season is drawing us a little closer into the wonderful mystery of the Incarnation. This Sunday’s Gospel presents Mary to us as the woman chosen by God to be the mother of His Son. She is chosen from all women. When the angel makes this marvellous announcement to Mary, she does not run outside and cry out in the square: "An angel has spoken to me! I was chosen!" She simply responds to the angel with humility: "I am the handmaid of the Lord! Those around her at the time do not know yet this wonderful grace she received. She simply says yes to God with all her heart and with all her being. Mary is the one who knew how to recognize the love of God for her and for humanity, she is the one who always knew how to say yes to this divine love. The Virgin Mary is filled with grace, the Lord is with her; she is humble and accepting of the will of God. God has his plans for her, as for you and for me, but He hopes for the free and loving cooperation of each one to bring these plans to fruition. Mary gives us the perfect example of this in her YES. It is not a simple yes to the angel's message, it is placing everything in the hands of the Lord. It is a trusting abandonment to his providence. And the course of history and the destiny of humanity depended on this yes. Similarly, the course of our life and our salvation depends on our response to God’s plans. Dear friends, we are getting ready to celebrate Christmas. Homes are being decorated and shopping lists are getting bigger. However, the best way to celebrate Christmas is by staying close to Mary, contemplating her life and trying to imitate her virtues in order to welcome the Lord with an open heart. 2020 has been a year of unexpected events, but God is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He awaits us and He remains faithful to His promises. With the changing circumstances around us, let us ask: what does God expect of me, now, today, in my work, with the persons I meet, and in my relationship with Him? These are small daily occurrences but they depend on the answer we give. Is our answer one of love and of trust in God? May we, in preparation for Christmas, return more deeply to the infinite love that God has for us, know how to say yes to God's will in our life and also know how to seek humility in all things, in the example of Mary. I wish you a blessed Sunday!
20.01.2022 I look forward to you joining me tonight LIVE, in Part 5 of the I AM live series talks. In tonight’s Bible Study talk, I will be discussing ~John15:5 I AM the True Vine.
20.01.2022 Dear friends, Earlier this year, our Eparchy and Maronites On Mission launched the to buy grain for farmers to plant and harvest. In this short report prepared by MTV Lebanon, I speak about this appeal which was well received by farmers and Maronite parishes all across Lebanon. We hope that the harvest in spring is plentiful and helps the struggling farmers. ... Thank you for your donations and I encourage you to keep helping Lebanon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIFWmGjodC0&feature=youtu.be
18.01.2022 Dear friends, I arrived back from Lebanon a few days ago and I am currently in my mandatory quarantine for 14 days. I would like to share with you this video about my visit to some regions of Beirut and to the port. The damage, the loss and the destruction are beyond what words can describe. As I say in the video, what we are doing may only be a drop in the ocean but it is definitely making the lives of many a little better. Thank you to our generous donors and organisations.... Through your generosity, we are able to help the people of Beirut rebuild their homes and lives.
17.01.2022 Year of Maronite Outreach 3rd Sunday of the Season of the Glorious Cross Dear Brothers and Sisters,...Continue reading
16.01.2022 Child Protection Sunday 13 September 2020 The Church in Australia dedicates the second Sunday of September to Child Protection Sunday. On this Sunday, we acknowledge the damage caused and make a commitment to practices and protocols that create and maintain safe environments for all people, especially children and other people who are at risk. On this day, we also affirm that the Maronite Eparchy of Australia and its parishes and related organisations are committed to the safety and wellbeing of all people, especially minors and vulnerable individuals. Let us join each other in prayer for the children and the vulnerable people who have been hurt in any way, and let us work collaboratively to ensure the happiness and confidence of every person, and foster an environment of safety and protection.
15.01.2022 Dear Friends, On the Eve of the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, please join me via Facebook Live at 6:45 pm for Evening Prayers, Talbet and Ziyeh in honour of our Blessed Mother, from St Maroun’s Chapel in Strathfield. Let us continue to pray for Lebanon and its suffering people, and all those affected by or suffering from COVID-19. Through the intercession of Our Lady, may she be for us the beacon of hope and light amidst despair and darkness. Amen
15.01.2022 Dear friends, Two days ago, on Tuesday, I visited the new Chancery offices in the Diocese of Parramatta. The invitation was extended by my brother, Bishop Vincent Long, after a letter I sent to him. The visit provided an opportunity for me to also meet with the Chancery staff for the first time. I was welcomed with great hospitality and charity. I was also surprised to be presented with a donation towards the relief efforts in Beirut, generously raised by the Parramatta Dioce...se. It was a kind and compassionate gesture and I thank them for it. This money is going directly to our charitable work in Lebanon and is not tied to any funding for our Eparchy. During the visit, we discussed the new Religious Education curriculum that is being developed in the Diocese. The curriculum is currently in the first draft, out of a 4 draft process. I understand that some parents have concerns. However, I am confident that a process is in place which will ensure that schools in the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta will continue to deliver Catholic Education which inspires our children to Christ and teaches in line with our Catholic Church. Despite some media reports to the contrary, the program does not teach gender theory or gender studies. As clergy and laity, we all want our teachers to be equipped to answer questions that the students ask them. That comes with formation and direction. It does not come with vilification. More importantly we want our children to be equipped for the questions that the world is going to ask them and in the end we want to have confidence that our children will go out into the world and choose Christ and give witness to him. We will be afforded the opportunity to read and provide feedback on the coming drafts of the curriculum as they become available. I ask you all to be prudent in your use of social media, your comments, your words and what you share. If you have questions, please direct them to the Diocese of Parramatta with charity, remembering that every staff member of the Diocese is worthy of our respect and should not be attacked or abused while they perform their job. As we are closing this season of Pentecost, let us not forget the Scriptures we have heard in the Maronite Lectionary. Our job as a Church is to build each other up in love and to seek God’s mercy in humility. Finally, I assure you that I will not allow any teachings against our faith and Maronite spirituality or moral values in any Maronite school. Please remember that we are all working towards the same goal, that is to raise a future generation of saints, formed in conscience, equipped to take Christ with them wherever they go and to make a difference for a better world. (Photos courtesy of the Diocese of Parramatta)
12.01.2022 Dear friends, His Holiness Pope Francis has called for a worldwide day of prayer and fasting for Lebanon on Friday, 4 September, one month after the massive explosion at the port of Beirut. One month after the tragedy that struck the city of Beirut, my thoughts turn once again to Lebanon and its people, so sorely tried, the Pope said during his weekly General Audience.... Addressing the people of Lebanon, His Holiness added: "Do not abandon your homes and your heritage. Do not abandon the dreams of those who believed in the dawn of a beautiful and prosperous country. " He also encouraged all to demonstrate their closeness to Lebanon through concrete works of charity. Let us all join Pope Francis tomorrow in this day of prayer and fasting for our beloved Lebanon, and let us continue to help the Lebanese people by all means at our disposal.
12.01.2022 Year of Maronite Outreach 14th Sunday of Pentecost Dear Brothers and Sisters,... In this Sunday’s Gospel, we read about the Lord’s visit to the house of Martha and Mary. St Luke tells us that Mary remained by the Lord’s side, and at his feet, listening to His teaching. Meanwhile, Martha was busy attending to the guests and taking care of hospitality. She was exasperated and finally approached the Lord, and asked Him why he appeared not to care that Mary had left Martha to do all the work. Our Lord replied to her by calling her name twice: Martha, Martha (Luke 10:41). This is very unusual. On only one other occasion, when the Lord was strengthening Simon Peter, does He call anyone by name twice. It would appear to be a very gentle way of speaking: of assuring Martha that He is considerate and conscious of her feelings. And what is He saying to her? He does not tell her that she has no right to complain, or that she is unimportant. He says, rather, not to lose sight of the most important thing in her life: being in the presence of God. If she was serving the people who were there to hear Jesus, then what she was doing was praiseworthy: she was making it possible for them to receive the Gospel. This is a wonderful thing, and is a virtue. When Our Lord spoke to Martha, he was not saying that what she was doing was wrong, but that she was anxious while doing it. Her service should have been a joy, but she was making it a worry. It is appropriate that on this Sunday, when we remember Martha and Mary, that we should also remember Blessed Estephan Nehme. Blessed Estephan was a brother of the Lebanese Maronite Order, who died just over eighty years in 1938. And this is the whole story of Blessed Estephan: he chose the Lord, and was always aware that he was in the sight of God. He was famous for saying: God is watching me. Like both Martha and Mary, he was sometimes at work in the monastery fields, and he was sometimes at prayer in the monastery church. The two sides of life, the active and the contemplative go together to provide us with the fullness of life. The story of Martha and Mary makes us ask ourselves: We know God is watching us, but are we watching him? We learn from these saints, Mary, Martha and Blessed Estephan, that we can be at work and yet remember God. Our eyes can be on the physical work before us, but our souls can be turned to God at the same time. It can be very helpful to work like this. I can dedicate my day to God, and I can say a little prayer before undertaking a task such as doing the washing up or cleaning the floor. Then, as I work at it, it is a work I do for love of Him, and for love of my family. I can then be without complaint, without self-pity, without worry. I wish you a Blessed Sunday!
10.01.2022 Year of Maronite Outreach Sunday of the Announcement to Zechariah Dear Brothers and Sisters,...Continue reading
10.01.2022 Dear Brothers and Sisters, In a few days, I will be travelling to Lebanon to partake in the Annual Spiritual Retreat and Synod of Maronite Bishops called for by His Eminence and Beatitude Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Rai. The visit will also be an opportunity for me to receive an update about the situation in Beirut and all of Lebanon from the various charities we are supporting through your generous donations and contributions. I am grateful to our Maronite community in Aus...Continue reading
07.01.2022 , Today is the 1st of October, the month often called in our Catholic Church, the month of the Holy Rosary. The Rosary is a rich method of prayer that helps us reflect on the mysteries of Christ along the journey of salvation, with a special companion, the Mother of God and our Mother. Praying the Rosary, particularly in the family, is an excellent way of bringing us together in the faith under the protection of Our Lady. ... Today is also the , a wonderful saint and doctor of the Church. Many of St Therese’s writings also direct our attention to Mary. Here is an excerpt from one of her poems: Near you, Mary, I like to stay little. I see the vanity of greatness here below. At the home of Saint Elizabeth, receiving your visit, I learn how to practice ardent charity. There, Sweet Queen of angels, I listen, delighted, To the sacred canticle springing forth from your heart. You teach me to sing divine praises, To glory in Jesus my Savior. Your words of love are mystical roses Destined to perfume the centuries to come. In you the Almighty has done great things. I want to ponder them to bless him for them. I wish you a Blessed Feast Day!
07.01.2022 A week on from the explosion in the heart of Beirut, the Australian Lebanese community’s hearts and minds are still with Lebanon. We are still thinking of our families there and making every effort to help them. It is important that we keep supporting the plight of the Lebanese people from all countries of expansion. Tonight, the Sydney Opera House was lit with the cedar of Lebanon, in a symbol of solidarity and unity. ... Thank you Australia, not only for this symbolic gesture, but for being a home for thousands of Lebanese migrants when our homeland could not provide a safe haven for our families and dreams. Let us pray and work for a better Lebanon and for peace, stability and prosperity.
06.01.2022 Dear Brothers and Sisters,...Continue reading
06.01.2022 Year of Maronite Outreach First Sunday after the Holy Cross Dear Brothers and Sisters,... Our Maronite Church has now entered a new season in our liturgical calendar the Season of the Glorious Cross. The Gospels of this season direct us towards suffering and the cross as instrument of our salvation. In this Sunday’s Gospel, we learn that two of the apostles, James and John, asked the Lord to be seated at His right hand and left hand. It seems to us to be a fairly bold request. But we should not forget that just before they make this request, St Mark tells us that as the apostles were going up to Jerusalem, the Lord took them aside and told them what would happen to Him: that He would be betrayed, condemned to death, mocked, scourged, spat on, and killed, but that on the third day He would rise again. So when James and John made their request, they knew that Jesus was to suffer and also to overcome that suffering. They wished to be associated with the Lord as those closest to Him and sharing in the rule of His Kingdom. There was nothing greater that they could ask for. Our Lord then tells them that they would share in the fullness of His experience: they would undergo the sufferings of both soul and body which He would face. James and John knew that the Lord meant they would suffer before entering into His glory, but they did not understand how much. They bravely replied to Him that they were able to share in what He was to suffer. This was a great privilege. We cannot understand this passage if we do not see that the Lord and His apostles also saw being able to share in His sufferings as being a great privilege and a reward. This is the opposite of how we think of suffering. The Lord then taught them this great truth, that suffering prepares us for the Kingdom of Heaven, by purifying us of selfishness and self-attachment, for whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant. And whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. The Lord led the way by His example. This suggests to us a way to make this Gospel reading practical for us: we can change the way we even think about service. Service is not a chore or something to be avoided, it is a sign of responsibility. And service for the sake of Our Lord and His Gospel is a sign of responsibility in the Kingdom of Heaven. Friends, this Season of the Cross is an opportunity for us to reflect on the great love of the Lord demonstrated on the Cross. We must respond to this love which goes so far as to give his life for us by being ready as well to love Christ to the very end. And it is this love for Christ that will allow us to be the slaves of our brothers and sisters. It is this love for Christ that will allow us, too, to seek first the happiness of our brothers and sisters through unity and solidarity.
06.01.2022 Mass for the Feast of the Assumption and Ziyeh of Our Lady Celebrated by His Excellency Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay
05.01.2022 Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Assumption celebrated by His Excellency Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay 6 pm | 15 August 2020 | OLOL Feast Week
04.01.2022 Feast of the Assumption of Mary Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Catholic Church celebrates on the 15th of August the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the oldest Marian Feast. It is a day to contemplate the most authentic beauty, the beauty of holiness. ... Mary was taken up body and soul into Heaven and this shows us that there is room in God for man. Jesus tells us that God himself is the house with many rooms for us. God is man’s home. Heaven is no longer a very remote sphere unknown to us. We have a mother in Heaven. And the Mother of God, the Mother of the Son of God, is our Mother Heaven is open, Heaven has a heart (Pope Benedict XVI, 2005). The other lesson that Mary, the Holy Ark who bears the presence of God, tells us is that, in every human there is room for God. This presence of God in us is so important for bringing forward light to the world. Mary is the perfect example of a woman filled with God who radiated Him to the world. We Maronites have always had a unique devotion to Our Lady. When we walk the roads of Lebanon, her statue is to be found in shrines all along the streets and highways. Her great hymn, the Ya Oum Allah could almost be described as our Maronite anthem. We honour her in every village and entrust to her our land, our families and our lives. She is Our Lady of Lebanon. Today, Lebanon and his people are suffering, in a way which we have never seen since the days of the civil war, and which we had thought and prayed were gone forever. The cup of Lebanon has been filling with suffering, and the Lebanese people have been drinking it for decades. We pray to the Mother of God, to Our Lady of Lebanon, to intercede and pray for Lebanon and for his people, tormented and suffering. Filled with faith, I am certain that she will intercede and ask her Son to deliver and save Lebanon, first and foremost from the corruption and negligence of political leaders who, for decades, neglected the people and served only themselves and their interests. As Lebanese Australians, let us persevere in prayer and work for our brothers and sisters in Lebanon. Let us be their hope and their voices all around the world, and let us continue to express our solid faith in the Lord that he will never abandon his flock in Lebanon. Our faith and our prayers should also translate into action and I was moved over the last days to see the generosity and outpouring of love from our community here towards our brothers and sisters in Lebanon. On this Glorious Feast, we rejoice with Mary, knowing that there is room for God within us and room for us in God. May we, in the example of the Holy Mother, bring him to our world and make His mercy and love known to all. May she help us to make the reality of heaven, God's greatness, also present in the life of our world.
02.01.2022 Feast of Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina - 23 September Today is the Feast of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. Although not a Maronite saint, many Maronites have a great love and devotion to this saint. Padre Pio recommended to those who came to see him to be souls of prayer:... Be souls of prayer. Never tire of praying. This is the essential thing! " With him, let us turn to the Lord and pray this excerpt from his prayer: Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You, I am without fervor. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You, I am in darkness. Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will. Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You. Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much, and always be in Your company.
