On Monday September 7th, we gathered at the Holy Transfiguration Antiochian Orthodox Monastery for our parish picnic, and what a blessing it was, nearly 300 parishioners came out to share the day together on the monastery grounds.
We were especially honoured to welcome Archimandrite Mikhael Razzouk from Lebanon, who was visiting family and joined us for the day, and Archpriest Elias Ayoub from St. Mary Church, Mississauga. We also had a very special guest whom all the campers know well, Aunt Saloma who feeds our children at Camp T every year.
The day began at 10:00 a.m. with the Divine Liturgy for the Forefeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, served by our pastor Fr. Georges Mokbel with Dn. Nabil Salib. The responses were chanted by the Choir of St. George, joined by Fr. Mikhael.
In his sermon, Fr. Georges took up the words of the Psalmist: “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Ps. 18:1), and reminded us that these words were not written in a study, but outdoors, under an open sky, beside water. Creation itself preaches, and our presence at the Monastery’s grounds in the middle of that sermon was to add our own small “Amen.”
He spoke of our need for a true place of retreat: not a holiday, not an escape, but a place set apart where the noise falls away and the soul can hear itself again, a Bethany, a house where the Lord may be received and where His people may sit at His feet.
Turning to the lake before us, he reflected on Christ’s call to become fishers of men. The fisherman must enter the world of the fish, know its depths and its currents, but he cannot live there. So too we must enter into the lives of others, love them, share their sorrows, speak their language, in order to draw them into the life of Christ.
And then the turn: just as the fish cannot imagine the open air, so the heavenly life seemed foreign to us. We cannot reach it by swimming harder. So the Lord came down and entered our element, and He entered through one door, a young woman of Nazareth. The Theotokos is not only the door but the pattern: she consecrated her whole life to God, and in her we see that the heavenly life can be lived even while our feet are still on the earth. The Virgin Mary became an example to all the monastics who consecrate themselves to God.
Following the Liturgy, Fr. Georges shared with everyone how this project came to life and the vision for the monastery and the retreat centre.
Then came a wonderful day of games, barbecue, walks in nature, and a great deal of joy and laughter together. The day closed with Great Vespers for the Nativity of the Theotokos, served by Fr. Elias and Dn. Nabil.
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who organized the event, to all the men at the barbecues, to those who prepared the games, and to everyone who stayed behind to tidy up at the end of the day. We are blessed to have you all, and we thank God for His many blessings.
Through the prayers of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos, may God bless the beginning of this work.
