Our Lady of Victory

Maronite Catholic Church

Rev. Samir Chebli, Pastor| Chorbishop Michael Kail, Adviser | Bahige Alchoufete, Subdeacon

Anne Ayoob, Financial Administrator | Lori Evans, Religious Education Director | Naji Farah, Choir Director

Address: 1000 Tropical Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15216 |

Office: 412-278-0841 For Emergencies: 914-309-6650

Website: www.olovpgh.org | Office: office@olovpittsburgh.org |Facebook: www.facebook.com/olovpgh

OFFICE HOURS: The Church office will be open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.

November 20 & 21, 2021

Blessed are you, Lord, source of all blessings. You were announced by the angel Gabriel and placed in the womb of the blessed Virgin. In memory of your incarnation, bless all of humanity,

that we may glorify you, your Father, and your Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen. Safro for the Announcement to Mary

LET US PRAY FOR A SYNODAL CHURCH :

COMMUNION , PARTICIPATION , AND M I SS ION

YOU ARE CHURCH AND THE CHURCH IS YOU

Weekly Collections for November 13th & 14th

Collection ........................................ $1,563.00

Mail Collection ................................... $420.00

Patriarchal Charities ........................... $115.00

Collection for Lebanon ....................... $845.00

Candles ................................................ $11.00

Church Fund ......................................... $10.00

Cookie Walk ...................................... $100.00

Total: ............................................... $3,064.00

Liturgy Intentions

Saturday Nov 20 4:00 PM B’day & Anniv Rem for Tony Barack & Elidio Monoriti Frances Barack & Family

Sunday Nov 21 8:30 AM Soul of Marilyn Torchia Michie &Joanne Samraney

11:00 AM Soul of Joseph & Maha Basil Joe & Jocelyn Chahine

Monday Nov 22 5:00 PM Deceased Members of OLOV Parish “Remember me in Your Kingdom”

Tuesday Nov 23 5:00 PM Deceased Members of OLOV Parish “Remember me in Your Kingdom”

Wednesday Nov 24 5:00 PM Soul of Karen Michael Cathy & David Nader-Syiek

Thursday Nov 25 10:00 AM Deceased Members of OLOV Parish “Remember me in Your Kingdom”

Friday Nov 26 5:00 PM Deceased Members of OLOV Parish “Remember me in Your Kingdom”

Saturday Nov 27 4:00 PM Soul of Eugene Mueck & Mario Merkel M/M Charles Joseph

Anniv. Rem. For Azziz & Mahassan Kazour The Family

Sunday Nov 28 8:30 AM Soul of Sarah Anna Rutland Cook Sam George & Family

11:00 AM Anniv. Rem. For Nick, Helen,

Sandy & Michael Romah Nick & Mary Romah & Family

1st Anniv. For Sonia Hoskowitz Frances Barack & Family

Weekend Scripture Readings

Announcement to Mary

Gal 3:15-22 Lk 1:26-38

Vis i ta t ion to El izabeth

Eph 1:1-14 Lk 1:39-45

All Scripture Readings are taken from the

Revised Edition of the New American Bible

In Our Prayers

Please keep in your prayers:

Maxine Schoen, Chuck Borik, Martha Kail, Peter DeSando, Angie

Joseph, Michael Rattie, Alicia Hruby, Helen McGoun, Diana Kuz-

ma, Elaine Moses, Alice Marratto, Dr. Adnan Abla, Ashley

Ayoob, Frances Barack, David Moses, David Zennie, Ingrid

Franklin, Donald Kovanis, Faten Fatfat, Marylou Joseph, Sr. Mary

Ann Karas, Franice Pattinato, Helen Mierski, Rebecca Rodgers,

Rina Molinaro, Patty Doerzbacker, Anna Marie Mecca, Ken Ko-

vach, Frank Joseph and Joseph Anthony.

MYSTERY OF RECONCILIATION/CONFESSION

Confession is available before and after Liturgies on Saturday and Sunday, and by appointment during the week. Confessions will also usually be available on Saturday during the Liturgy when

two priests are present.

PRAYER BEFORE THE EUCHARIST

The church is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM

for prayer and meditation

before the Eucharist in the Tabernacle.

Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday from

4:00 to 5:00 PM.

Saint Sharbel Liturgy

Every 22nd of the month we will celebrate the Liturgy of Saint Shar-bel which will be offered for the intentions of our parishioners, rela-tives and friends who need our

prayers.

Month of November Altar Bread and Wine In loving memory of Joe & Wadad Budway Requested by: The Borik Family

Sanctuary Lamps In loving memory of Tony Barack, Elidio Monori-ti & Joe Kovach Requested by: Frances Barack & Family Altar Bread and Wine or Sanctuary Lamps can each be sponsored for a donation of $25 per month, in loving memory of our loved ones.

Lebanese Pastry and Cookie Day

Thank you all for volunteering to help for our an-nual Pastry & Cookie Day on December 11th from 9am to 3pm. Together we can make this event a great success.

Please help spread the word concerning this event to friends and family. We will have a variety of homemade pastries and cookies for purchase and everyone is welcome to enjoy our indoor Coffee and Hot Chocolate Bar.

Please contact Anne Ayoob at 412-298-6305 or at finance@olovpittsburgh.org if you have any questions.

Pastry and Cookie Day Committee

New Chal ices for OLOV. . .

We have ordered two new chalices for OLOV. They will be arriving (hopefully) by Christmas. If you would like to donate a chalice or donate toward the purchase, please contact the Church Office. The gold chalice costs approx-imately $1500 and the silver/gold chalice costs $2400.

Happy Thanksg iving. . .

We wish all of our Parishioners and Friends a very Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.

Amidst all the food preparations and TV sports, please remember to give thanks to God for all the blessings he has bestowed upon us this past year.

We are having Liturgy here at the Church at 10:00 AM on Thanksgiving Day and hope you will be able to join us.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to our own Julian Jalkh

who received High Honors this grading peri-

od at Bishop Canevin High School.

As we honor our Veterans this weekend, we join as a Parish Community

and as fellow Americans

to thank all those who

have served this nation

in any of its military branches.

Your service is much appreciated as are you.

Victory Hall Rental

Our Victory Hall is the perfect location for your Personal and Business Events.

Victory Hall has ample Free Parking; 350 Person Capacity. We allow the renter to

bring their own food (Caterer).

Parishioners receive a special discount for their events.

Please recommend Victory Hall to your friends and business associates.

To rent or for more information, please contact the Church office

412-278-0841

NEW FACEBOOK PAGE FOR VICTORY HALL:

http://www.facebook.com/victoryhallolovgh

Please join and share with your friends and family members

Arabic Classes have begun. Classes are Sunday mornings from

10:20 to 10:55 AM in the MCF Area.

Follow Our Lady of Victory Church on:

Website: www.olovpgh.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/olovpgh

Download OLOV Mobile App

on your Smartphone

http://onelink.to/jnm7du

CHRISTMAS G IVING TREE FOR LEBANON

A Giving Tree will be set up in the Church Foyer to help families and individual children in Leba-non have a more merry Christ-mas. The tree will contain enve-lopes ranging from $100 dona-tions down to $10 donations with several amounts in between. Our Giving Tree will become a part of the Christmas Village Project. The deadline for donations will

be December 15th and your envelope/s can be sent to OLOV Church or dropped into the Week-end Collection Basket.

Think about it, pray about it, and let’s do our best to help Lebanese families and children who need our help to truly have a Merry Christmas.

Maronite Christian Formation Program

Sunday, November 28th is our Thanks-

giving Break so we won’t

have class next week.

Have a grea t Thanksgiv ing .

Artwork for Main Altar Area

Artwork for Chapel Altar Area

2021 Christmas Village Project & Christmas Giving Tree

for Lebanon at

OUR LADY OF VICTORY PARISH

November 4, 2021

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

I wish you a happy Season of the Glorious Birth of Our Lord.

This year, our Christmas mission is much bigger than last Christmas. Our Goal

is to help The Christmas Village Project in Lebanon become a reality for 3,000

people: Children, the Elderly and those with special needs. This Project will take

place over four days at the Maronite Eparchy at Antelias.

Our Giving Tree will be part of this project and will contain 100 envelopes, with

donation amounts ranging from $50 down to $10.

In the last 10 months we were able to collect $12,500. All funds were sent to

help feed and provide medicines for many patients and hundreds of families

throughout Lebanon.

3,000 people are looking forward to this event which they call The Christmas

Village and together we can do it­­. You did it before and you can do it again.

Attached are the details for this event.

God bless you all and stay safe.

Abouna Samir Chebli, Pastor

Our Lady of Victory

Over…

Christmas Village Needs

Food

Stand 1 – Shawarma Chicken

Stand 2 – Saj

Stand 3 – Crepes

Stand 4 – Soft drinks (glass) / Water / Popcorn / Ghazel el banet (Cotton Candy) Average $5/

person

Total $8,000 - $10,000 depending on food quantity

Entertainment

4 Musicians / Marching Band (20 minutes performance)

1 Main entertainer + Santa + Mrs. Clause + 4 mascots (90 minute performances)

Total (average $1,000) (4days)

Stage Equipment & Logistics

Tent for the Event ($2,000)

4 wooden kiosks (3m x 2m) ($1,000)

Sound system (stage & audience) / stage lighting / indirect lighting / stage for entertainment /

DJ / special effects (smoke, bubbles) ($4,000 / 4 days)

Christmas decoration (trees, crib, entrance, wall of fame, ticketing, banquet) ($2,000)

Total $9,000

Total Fees: $18,000 – $20,000 including setup, operation & transportation (4 days).

COME JOIN US FOR

THE PARISH CHRISTMAS PARTY

At our new location, 1000 Tropical Avenue

Enjoy live entertainment from our youth

DATE: DECEMBER 19, 2021

TIME: 12:00 PM (After 11:00 am mass)

Lunch will be catered but as you know, the holiday season is for

sharing so feel free to bring your favorite beverage or dessert:

Last name with the letter A-M share your favorite beverage and N-Z desserts. Volunteers for clean-up are always appreciated and needed so a big thank you in advance.

Happy holidays to you and your families!

RSVP by clicking on the link above or call the office 412-278-0841 on or before December 14.

A Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Galatians 3:15-22

The Promise to Abraham

Brothers and Sisters:

I give an example from daily life: once a person’s will has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring; it does not say, “And to offsprings,” as of many; but it says, “And to your offspring,” that is, to one person, who is Christ. My point is this: the law, which came four hun-dred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise. Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a media-tor. Now a mediator involves more than one party; but God is one. Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was prom-ised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Praise be to God always!

The Announcement to Mary

The Gospel of Life and Salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded by the evangelist Luke 1:26-38

The Birth of Jesus Foretold The Evangelist Luke writes:

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called

Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.

The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The

Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of

greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found

favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will

name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the

Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house

of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How

can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon

you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born

will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age

has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren.

For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the

Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

This is the truth. Peace be with you.

The Announcement to the Virgin Mary

Sunday of the Announcement to Mary

The Second Sunday of the Season of Announcement commemorates the announcement

to Mary that she is to be the Mother of God. The feast actually recalls two aspects of the

same salvific mystery: the incarnation of the divine Word and the motherhood of Mary.

For this reason, the feast was given different names according to which aspect was be-

ing emphasized. With time, the incarnation of the Son of God was stressed on the feast

of the Birth of our Lord and today’s feast became a Marian feast.

In addition to this second Sunday of the Season of Announcement, the Maronite Church celebrates the

Annunciation on March 25th. The feast of the Annunciation appeared in the West, in Italy, during the

fifth century, and was eventually adopted by the Maronite Church as an addition to this feast.

This great announcement to Mary, the fulfillment of the promises of the prophets, took place in the

humble home of Mary in Nazareth. At the time, Mary was probably between fourteen and sixteen

years old. Again it was Gabriel, the messenger of the end times, who brought the wonderful message to

the young girl.

In many ways, the announcement to Mary can be compared to the announcement to Zechariah. Both

apparitions took place during the day and both Zechariah and Mary were to be found at prayer. Mary,

the Queen, is speaking with her Lord in her own home. It was necessary for Zechariah to go to the

Temple and encounter the Lord in the holy of holies. When the angel appeared to Zechariah, he was

described as “standing.” During the announcement to Mary, the angel greets her with signs of respect,

gives her the good news and departs. She is not described as “standing.” The angel himself praises

Mary, “You have found favor with God.” In the name of all humanity, Mary consented to be the in-

strument through which salvation was to be brought into the world. One recalls Eve, who consented to

bring darkness and sin into the world. With Mary, the New Eve, salvation history is at a turning point.

She is to be the “Mother of the Light.”

Notice throughout the Season of Happy Announcements, the emphasis placed upon hearing the Word

of God and placing trust in that Word. The theme of the season––Blessed is the one who trusts that

the word of the Lord will be fulfilled––resounds again and again. The word of God must be first,

heard; then, believed; then, responded to.

Gabriel (Hebrew gabri ‘el, “El [God] is strong”) is the name given the angel who appears in the Christmas narratives of this Season of Announcement. He is not called an archangel in the Bible; he is one of the seven archangels mentioned in the Apocryphal book of Enoch, probably one of the seven who stand before God (Tobit 12:15; Lk 1:19). In the Book of Daniel, Gabriel is an interpreter who explains the vision of the ram and he-goat (8:16-26) and the meaning of the 70 years of captivity of Jeremiah 25:11; 29:10 (Daniel 9:21-27). Gabriel is probably chosen as the announcer of the happy news of the mystical and marvelous Birth of Jesus because he is associated in the Old Testament with messianic fulfillment. His appearence in Luke is modeled after his mission in Daniel and is con-ceived as the completion of his mission in Daniel.