Early History of the Saint Rafka Maronite Mission
2/9/99 Preliminary list of Lebanese families in Greenville area faxed to Marlene Saad.
2/23/99 Marlene compiles and mails list of names with letter to Bishop Doueihi.
3/4/99 Marlene receives call from Bishop Doueihi thanking her for the list of names (600+)
and indicating his desire to establish Maronite Outreach Center in Florida to include
South Carolina.
3/8/99 Marlene sends thank you letter & summarizes call received from Bishop Doueihi.
6/15/99 First update to original list of Lebanese families sent to Marlene.
6/16/99 Maronite Outreach Meeting held at Marlene's home when it was announced that the
Pastoral Leader would be Ron Jebaily (Florence, SC) and the Outreach Director
would be Msgr. Ron Beshara (West Palm Beach, Florida). Handwritten notes exist
from this meeting.
6/18/99 Letter from Marlene indicating that 10 people/families are needed for core group.
8/19/99 Guidelines received from Marlene for First Tradition Day (Liturgy and Hospitality)
9/1/99 Letter received from Deacon Frank Farina indicating that room has been reserved for
Maronite reception on 10-31-99.
10/3/99 State Input Meeting for the Maronite Outreach Community held in Columbia, SC
and chaired by Ron Jebaily. It was decided at this meeting that the Upstate was
the best location for the first Maronite Tradition day with other days to be held later
in Charleston & Columbia.
10/6/99 Letter sent out by Ron Jebaily to "list" inviting all to the First Maronite Tradition Day.
10/31/99 First Maronite Tradition Day held at St. Mary's Church at 3pm with over 250 people
in attendance. Msgr Ron offers the mass and there is a reception afterwards
organized by Sherrill Howayeck.
11/18/99 Newspaper article (front page) in The New Catholic Miscellany entitled "Maronites
reunited with their culture".
12/1/99 Two articles in The Maronite Voice entitled "Greenville, South Carolina Celebrates
Maronite Tradition Day" and "South Carolina Maronites React to Tradition Day".
12/10/99 First Ramsho held at St. Mary's Church (22 people) led by Sub deacon Roger Daniels.
1/1/00 First Mary, Mother of the Life Good News Messenger mailing.
1/9/00 2nd Maronite Tradition day held at St. Mary's (200+people)
2/1/00 Article in The Maronite Voice entitled "The Maronite Community of South Carolina
Makes a Steady Progress"
2/23/00 Flyer for MML outlining upcoming events.
3/6/00 Ash Monday Ramsho at St. Mary's Church.
4/20/00 Letter to SC Maronites from Msgr. Beshara naming Marlene as Pastoral Team Leader.
4/30/00 First Maronite Picnic at East Riverside Park in Greer, SC.
5/8/00 Good News Messenger issue 3 mailed to all.
5/28/00 Third Maronite Tradition Day with Msgr. Beshara at St. Mary's Church.
7/1/00 Good News Messenger issue 4 mailed to all.
9/1/00 Good News Messenger issue 5 mailed to all.
9/16/00 First visit to Greenville & South Carolina by Bishop Doueihi. First Evening Gala (Hafli)
held at the Hilton Hotel.
9/17/00 Maronite Mass celebrated by Bishop Doueihi at St. Mary's Church.
11/12/00 Maronite Tradition Day at new location (Blessed Trinity Catholic Church) in Greer, SC.
12/22/00 Good News Messenger issue 6 mailed to all.
2/24/01 Dinner Dance with about 175 people.
2/25/01 Feast of St. Maron Mass celebrated by Msgr. Ron Beshara with first community
Baptism and Chrismation for Josephine Elaine Abikhaled.
3/17/01 Good News Messenger issue 7 mailed to all.
5/1/01 Good News Messenger issue 8 mailed to all.
5/20/01 Annual Family Picnic and Maronite Tradition Day at Blessed Trinity.
5/31/01 Good News Messenger issue 9 mailed to all.
7/28/01 Maronite Tradition Day at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in Greer, SC.
8/11/01 SC Maronite Community Meeting to discuss upcoming visit from Bishop Baker & Hafli.
8/26/01 SC Maronite Emergency Meeting to discuss upcoming Hafli Anniversary Celebration.
8/29/01 Good News Messenger issue 10 mailed to all.
9/16/01 SC Maronite Community Meeting to discuss upcoming visit from Bishop Baker.
2/10/02 Maronite Tradition Day at Blessed Trinity with Msgr. George Sebaali.
8/15/02 New name, St. Rafka, and appointment of a full-time priest, Father David Michael
made by Bishop Doueihi who will reside at Church of the Risen Savior in Spartanburg.
8/21/02 Good News Messenger issue 16 mailed to all.
9/29/02 St. Rafka Mission mass at new location in Spartanburg celebrated by Father David.
11/3/02 First monthly Middle Eastern lunch following divine liturgy.
1/1/03 Good News Messenger mailed to all.
2/1/03 Annual Hafli held at Embassy Suites in Greenville.
5/18/03 Visit from Msgr. Ron Beshara.
9/14/03 Picnic at Brushy Creek Park in Greer after divine liturgy at Monastery of St. Claire.
11/30/03 Father Bartholomew Leon installed as new pastor of mission during a mass at St.
Mary's. Mission mass will now be celebrated at new location (St. Mary's at 1pm)
where Father Bart will reside.
1/4/04 Special "potluck" Middle Eastern Meal after liturgy to introduce new pastor.
2/14/04 Saint Maron Annual Hafli at Marriott Hotel.
3/2/04 Bishop Gregory Mansour ordained.
4/4/04 Shaneenee (Palm) Sunday luncheon held after divine liturgy.
4/27/04 Bishop Gregory enthroned.
5/22/04 Hafli at Embassy Suites Hotel.
6/6/04 St. Rafka Mission mass moved to Gallivan Hall on campus of St. Mary.
7/10/04 Fr. Bart transferred to Wilkes-Barre parishes in Pennsylvania; final liturgy with him.
7/23/04 Fr. Peter Boulos appointed as Protopresbyter of Far East Region that includes St. Rafka.
8/14/04 Fr. Peter starts to celebrate masses on Saturday evenings at Poor Clare Monastery.
12/28/04 Bishop Gregory visits St. Rafka.
1/22/05 Hafli at St. Mary Magdalene Hall in Simpsonville.
2/5/06 Father Bart returns to Greenville and offers mass at Poor Clare Monastery.
2/11/06 Feast Of St. Maron Hafli at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Simpsonville.
Something missing? Let me know!
2/9/99 Preliminary list of Lebanese families in Greenville area faxed to Marlene Saad.
2/23/99 Marlene compiles and mails list of names with letter to Bishop Doueihi.
3/4/99 Marlene receives call from Bishop Doueihi thanking her for the list of names (600+)
and indicating his desire to establish Maronite Outreach Center in Florida to include
South Carolina.
3/8/99 Marlene sends thank you letter & summarizes call received from Bishop Doueihi.
6/15/99 First update to original list of Lebanese families sent to Marlene.
6/16/99 Maronite Outreach Meeting held at Marlene's home when it was announced that the
Pastoral Leader would be Ron Jebaily (Florence, SC) and the Outreach Director
would be Msgr. Ron Beshara (West Palm Beach, Florida). Handwritten notes exist
from this meeting.
6/18/99 Letter from Marlene indicating that 10 people/families are needed for core group.
8/19/99 Guidelines received from Marlene for First Tradition Day (Liturgy and Hospitality)
9/1/99 Letter received from Deacon Frank Farina indicating that room has been reserved for
Maronite reception on 10-31-99.
10/3/99 State Input Meeting for the Maronite Outreach Community held in Columbia, SC
and chaired by Ron Jebaily. It was decided at this meeting that the Upstate was
the best location for the first Maronite Tradition day with other days to be held later
in Charleston & Columbia.
10/6/99 Letter sent out by Ron Jebaily to "list" inviting all to the First Maronite Tradition Day.
10/31/99 First Maronite Tradition Day held at St. Mary's Church at 3pm with over 250 people
in attendance. Msgr Ron offers the mass and there is a reception afterwards
organized by Sherrill Howayeck.
11/18/99 Newspaper article (front page) in The New Catholic Miscellany entitled "Maronites
reunited with their culture".
12/1/99 Two articles in The Maronite Voice entitled "Greenville, South Carolina Celebrates
Maronite Tradition Day" and "South Carolina Maronites React to Tradition Day".
12/10/99 First Ramsho held at St. Mary's Church (22 people) led by Sub deacon Roger Daniels.
1/1/00 First Mary, Mother of the Life Good News Messenger mailing.
1/9/00 2nd Maronite Tradition day held at St. Mary's (200+people)
2/1/00 Article in The Maronite Voice entitled "The Maronite Community of South Carolina
Makes a Steady Progress"
2/23/00 Flyer for MML outlining upcoming events.
3/6/00 Ash Monday Ramsho at St. Mary's Church.
4/20/00 Letter to SC Maronites from Msgr. Beshara naming Marlene as Pastoral Team Leader.
4/30/00 First Maronite Picnic at East Riverside Park in Greer, SC.
5/8/00 Good News Messenger issue 3 mailed to all.
5/28/00 Third Maronite Tradition Day with Msgr. Beshara at St. Mary's Church.
7/1/00 Good News Messenger issue 4 mailed to all.
9/1/00 Good News Messenger issue 5 mailed to all.
9/16/00 First visit to Greenville & South Carolina by Bishop Doueihi. First Evening Gala (Hafli)
held at the Hilton Hotel.
9/17/00 Maronite Mass celebrated by Bishop Doueihi at St. Mary's Church.
11/12/00 Maronite Tradition Day at new location (Blessed Trinity Catholic Church) in Greer, SC.
12/22/00 Good News Messenger issue 6 mailed to all.
2/24/01 Dinner Dance with about 175 people.
2/25/01 Feast of St. Maron Mass celebrated by Msgr. Ron Beshara with first community
Baptism and Chrismation for Josephine Elaine Abikhaled.
3/17/01 Good News Messenger issue 7 mailed to all.
5/1/01 Good News Messenger issue 8 mailed to all.
5/20/01 Annual Family Picnic and Maronite Tradition Day at Blessed Trinity.
5/31/01 Good News Messenger issue 9 mailed to all.
7/28/01 Maronite Tradition Day at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in Greer, SC.
8/11/01 SC Maronite Community Meeting to discuss upcoming visit from Bishop Baker & Hafli.
8/26/01 SC Maronite Emergency Meeting to discuss upcoming Hafli Anniversary Celebration.
8/29/01 Good News Messenger issue 10 mailed to all.
9/16/01 SC Maronite Community Meeting to discuss upcoming visit from Bishop Baker.
2/10/02 Maronite Tradition Day at Blessed Trinity with Msgr. George Sebaali.
8/15/02 New name, St. Rafka, and appointment of a full-time priest, Father David Michael
made by Bishop Doueihi who will reside at Church of the Risen Savior in Spartanburg.
8/21/02 Good News Messenger issue 16 mailed to all.
9/29/02 St. Rafka Mission mass at new location in Spartanburg celebrated by Father David.
11/3/02 First monthly Middle Eastern lunch following divine liturgy.
1/1/03 Good News Messenger mailed to all.
2/1/03 Annual Hafli held at Embassy Suites in Greenville.
5/18/03 Visit from Msgr. Ron Beshara.
9/14/03 Picnic at Brushy Creek Park in Greer after divine liturgy at Monastery of St. Claire.
11/30/03 Father Bartholomew Leon installed as new pastor of mission during a mass at St.
Mary's. Mission mass will now be celebrated at new location (St. Mary's at 1pm)
where Father Bart will reside.
1/4/04 Special "potluck" Middle Eastern Meal after liturgy to introduce new pastor.
2/14/04 Saint Maron Annual Hafli at Marriott Hotel.
3/2/04 Bishop Gregory Mansour ordained.
4/4/04 Shaneenee (Palm) Sunday luncheon held after divine liturgy.
4/27/04 Bishop Gregory enthroned.
5/22/04 Hafli at Embassy Suites Hotel.
6/6/04 St. Rafka Mission mass moved to Gallivan Hall on campus of St. Mary.
7/10/04 Fr. Bart transferred to Wilkes-Barre parishes in Pennsylvania; final liturgy with him.
7/23/04 Fr. Peter Boulos appointed as Protopresbyter of Far East Region that includes St. Rafka.
8/14/04 Fr. Peter starts to celebrate masses on Saturday evenings at Poor Clare Monastery.
12/28/04 Bishop Gregory visits St. Rafka.
1/22/05 Hafli at St. Mary Magdalene Hall in Simpsonville.
2/5/06 Father Bart returns to Greenville and offers mass at Poor Clare Monastery.
2/11/06 Feast Of St. Maron Hafli at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Simpsonville.
Something missing? Let me know!
