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Good Shepherd in Yonkers Welcomes Patriarch
The Good Shepherd Church in Yonkers, New York, welcomed His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem. Led by Fr. Sami Totah, our priest, the faithful filled the arrival hall of John Kennedy Airport as they hoisted welcoming banners for the Patriarch who was accompanied by Fr. Emile Salaytah
, President of the Latin Ecclesiastical Court in Jerusalem and Fr. Ala’ Alamat, who will serve the parish for the summer period. The parishioners threw a warm reception in honor of His Beatitude at the Church Hall, with ululation, food and sweets. On the second day, the Patriarc visited sick parishioners in their homes and in hospitals.
On Sunday midday, the parishioners once again gathered at St. Mary’s Church courtyard to receive His Beatitude for this special visit among relatives and friends. He was accompanied by Fr. Sami, Fr. Emile, Fr. Ala’, Fr. Currigan - the American Church Parish Priest, Fr. Dani – Greek Catholic Parish Priest, and Deacon Salim El Naber. During this first pastoral visit to the parish of the Good Shepherd Church, the Patriarch gave his benediction to high school and university graduates.On Sunday evening, the parishioners held a big dinner party in honor of the Patriarch and the accompanying delegation, when Fr. Sami Totah presented financial aid in the name of the parishioners for the Church in the Holy Land.
The Patriarch, on this occasion, presented an olive wood cross from the Holy Land as a memento of his visit.
We express our gratitude to His Beatitude for the wonderful visit and hope that he will have another visit soon. May God give you long life, Your Beatitude, for the promotion of our Church.
Report and photos: Hiyam Aboudi – New York (abouna.org) Picture -
Fr. Sami 40th Anniversary
احتفلت كنيسة الراعي الصالح في يونكرز في ولاية نيويورك بمرور 40 عاماً على رسامة كاهن الرعية الأب سامي طوطح كاهناً للرب، وقد حضر الاحتفال جمع غفير من أبناء الرعية العربية ولفيف من الكهنة، كما حضر الاحتفال أهل الكاهن الذين قدموا من ولاية كاليفورنيا، وأيضاً من لونغ ايلاند
وبعد القداس الإلهي الذي ترأسه الأب سامي، شاكراً للرب على عطيته، ومسبحاً مع الأم مريم العذراء بقوله: تعظم نفسي الرب. تبادل التهاني مع جمع الحضور، فيما دعت سيدات الرعية إلى غداء المحبة على شرف الأب سامي والضيوف
من هنا يهنئ موقع أبونا الأب سامي متمنين له طول العمر والصحة حفظه الله
لنا وللكنيسة، ألف ألف مبروك أبونا سامي وعقبال اليوبيل الذهبي والماسيPictures 6-5-11- By Heyam Aboudi