Inspiration
Saint Charbel
Charbel Makhlouf, O.L.M.[1] (born Youssef Antoun Makhlouf; Arabic: شربل مخلوف, May 8, 1828 – December 24, 1898) was a Lebanese Maronite monk and priest. During his life, he obtained a wide reputation for holiness, and for his ability to unite Christians, Muslims and Druze.[2] He was a member of the Baladites.
He is known among Lebanese Christians as the "Miracle Monk of Lebanon" because of the favours received through his intercession, especially after prayers are said at his tomb in the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya, Lebanon.[3] He was beatified in 1965 and canonized in 1977 by Pope Paul VI.[4] His feast is celebrated on 24 July by the Latin Church, and on the third Sunday of July by the Maronite Church.
The Medal of Saint Charbel was created in his honor.
He is our Patron Saint because of his holiness and ability to unite people.
The Saint has many miracles attributed to him.
Cardinal Slipyj
Patriarch JOSYF was a man of strong character and unbending loyalty — a staunch defender of the faith. On account of this he suffered 18 years of imprisonment in Russian prison camps but continued, throughout his life, to fight undauntedly for the rights of his Church and nation.
During his 21 years in freedom, Patriarch Josyf consistently strived for the establishment of a single Patriarchate of the Ukrainian Church for both faithful of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its formal recognition by both the Vatican and the Phanar.
Cardinal Slipyj offered the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and the Orthodox Church offers the same liturgy. We are working to teach priests of the Roman Rite about the Divine Liturgy that Cardinal Slipyj saw that this is key in bringing East and West together.