Cedar Revolution - March 14, 2005
I stopped watching the MSM months ago - they now depend on us for their news ;-D! You asked about Patriarch Sfeir. Here is some background information, compliments of AP.
"President Bush has invited the Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir for a meeting at the White House on March 16.
He is Patriarch of the powerful Maronite Catholic Church and a leader of opposition to Syrian occupation.
The White House spokesman said the cardinal is "respected throughout Lebanon and around the world for his religious leadership and for promoting intra-communal harmony among the different faiths in his country. "He is an important voice for Lebanese independence, freedom and democracy," the White House spokesman said.(AFP) "
The tentative schedule of events is as follows:
Mon. 3/14: Arrival of Patriarch in evening to Washington, DC
Tue. 3/15: Honorary Doctorate at Catholic University
Wed. 3/16: Private Meeting with President Bush
Thu. 3/17: Private Luncheon with Members of both Houses; Inter-Eparchial celebration: Mass at 6:00 pm at the National Shrine, banquet to follow
Fri. 3/18: Arrive in Brooklyn: 12:00 pm Private Lunch with Archbishop Migliore at United Nations; 7:00 pm Lenten devotions at Cathedral; Honorary Doctorate from Fordham University, followed by Lenten meal
Sat. 3/19: (Feast of St. Joseph): 5:00 Liturgy at Cathedral; 7:00 pm Banquet
Sun. 3/20: 11:00 am Palm Sunday celebration at Cathedral
Mon. 3/21: Return to Lebanon
His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir,
Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East
Born on May 15, 1920, in the Maronite town of Rayfoun in Kesrouan. Son of Maroun Sfeir and Hanneh Fahd (From Ghosta) with five sisters: Matilla, Jawhara, Audith, Laure, Milaneh.
Status: Cardinal Sfeir is the 3rd Maronite Cardinal and the 76th Patriarch of the Maronite Church.
Education: Completed his Primary and Complementary studies at Mar Abda School in Harharaya and his Secondary studies (i.e. High School) at St. Maron Seminary in Ghazir. Holds a Doctorate degree in Philosophical and Theological studies from Saint Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon
Career: Ordained Priest on May 7, 1950. Priest of Rayfoun Parish, in charge of the secretariat of the Maronite Bishopric of Damascus (1951 - 1955). Secretary of the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke and Professor of Translation in Literature and Philosophy at the Freres Maronite School in Jounieh (1956). Appointed Titular Bishop of Tarse and Patriarchal Vicar (June 19,1961). Appointment confirmed by His Holiness Pope John XXIII (July 3, 1961). Ordained Bishop (July 16, 1961). Patriarchal Vicar and Secretary of the Maronite Patriarchate (1961 - 1986). Elected Maronite Patriarch for Antioch and all the East (April 19, 1986). Entrusted by His Holiness Pope John Paul II with the "ecclesiastic communio" (May 7, 1986). Created Cardinal by His Holiness Pope John Paul II (November 26, 1994). Delegate President of the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Lebanon (1995).
Languages: As the case is with most Maronite Patriarchs and monks, his Eminence is fluent in Arabic, Syriac/Aramaic, French, Italian/Latin, and English .