Maronite Synod views 'tragedy of emigration' as a 'blessing'

By Rita Boustani
Daily Star staff
Wednesday, October 20, 2004

BEIRUT: The Maronite Patriarchal Synod endorsed a text on Maronites in the Diaspora, asserting that the "tragedy
 of emigration" will turn into a "blessing" for the Maronite church and community because of the outreach missions
and the successes of Maronites abroad.

The second session of the Synod opened on Sunday at Our Lady of the Mount Monastery in Fatqa, Kesrouan,
and will conclude on Oct. 27. The first session of the Synod was held in June.

Participants in the Synod include Maronite bishops, priests, monks, fathers superior, mothers superior, lay
people, observers from Catholic and non-Catholic churches and Islamic confessions.

Participants have placed the text, which received 78.59 percent of votes, into the file of the Maronite identity
as "an essential part of the Maronite Church's presence and message." Voting is computerized and is made
through a machine placed in front of every bishop and diocese representative.

The three-part text praised the success of the Maronites of the diaspora in preserving their identity and
establishing missions and parishes wherever they went. It also lauded them for "becoming prominent citizens"
in their countries of expatriation, mainly America, Australia, Europe, Arab countries and South Africa.

The text revealed that there are eight Maronite dioceses in the remote disapora, five dioceses in the close
diaspora, in addition to 13 dioceses in Lebanon.

It also said that Maronite prayers have been translated into several spoken languages.

The third part of the text focused on interaction between Maronites living in Lebanon and those in the
diaspora in order to develop their relations.

"Such unity would be based on their link to the patriarchal seat, the symbol and source of inspiration of that
 unity," it said.

Participants called for establishing a department at Bkirki to foster the relationship between the Maronites
of the diaspora and their mother church, on the spiritual, national, educational and church issues.

After the voting on the text, Sfeir addressed a telegram of congratulations to Pope John Paul II in the name
of the Synod on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of his election as pope.

On Monday, the Synod stressed the role of the Maronite church in "inventing a model of free
Islamic-Christian coexistence," that is the "Lebanese model," and the attachment of the Maronite church
to the "promotion of its Christian presence in the Arab world, through its solidarity with major human causes."

It called for "purifying" the memory of Islamic-Christian ties from "bad souvenirs."

It stressed the need to form a "global village" and establish dialogue among religions.

Clause 77, related to mixed marriages, did not receive the required majority of votes although the Synod asserted
 that such marriages could constitute a meeting point between both religions if the couple prioritized openness
and overcame complications with wisdom.

The Synod's aim is to discover the Maronite heritage and traditions to consolidate the Maronite identity, perform
 the required renewal in ecclesiastic life and confirm the unity of the Maronite church.