1998-1999 (11/98)

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

As we once again enter the beginning of our Church School Year, my earnest priority is religious education in our Melkite Eparchy. I write to wish you success in this endeavor and to ask God's blessings on your efforts.

While great strides have been made in increasing the number of church schools in our Eparchy and in the numbers of students attending them, my wish as we make our way to the year 2000 is that Christian education emphasize a total parish experience, not exclusive of what takes place in our Church Schools.

In this regard, it is essential that parents share in the responsibility of their children's religious education as well; to come to liturgy with their children, to seek to grow in their faith and to witness to living a good Christian life. By their example, parents transmit their faith through the many ways in which they live their lives together and in the parish.

In light of the recent ecumenical events, we should be more conscious that we have as Melkite Catholics an indispensable vocation given us by divine Providence to present to the whole Church; East and West, a new and wonderful vision of ourselves. It is necessary therefore, to know that we have a different theology, a different tradition, a different Church government, a different concept of morality. Our difference adds to the beauty and splendor and richness of the Catholic Church, the coat of many colors.

Christian education is intended to be more than informational; it is meant to be life-transforming. It should aim to bring our faith to a fuller maturity so that it can become a vibrant force in our lives and in the lives of our children.

This is particularly important for children who are being educated in a parochial school where religion is taught as part of the curriculum. It is necessary for these children to know their own Eastern Catholic tradition, to identify with their tradition, to be proud of it, to be nurtured by it and to participate in the parish community with their parents and thus be enabled to take ownership of their Church.

The parish community is a school of faith. In this school, the words and actions of its members and the quality of its life together express the meaning the members give to their faith. A total Eastern Christian education program fosters a coordinated, adult-centered and parish-centered program that allows growth and development at all ages. To that end the Office of Educational Services provides programs for the enrichment and renewal of adults as well as services for Church School students. As believers we are all called to continually deepen our faith in a lifelong journey of spiritual growth and development.

I urge efforts be taken to harmonize all the expressions of parish life with the goals of Christian education so that the people of God become a true family. Our programs will be successful as we come to see ourselves as becoming a people of faith through them, a people that acknowledge Him in truth and serve Him in holiness, growing together in the praise of His Glory.

"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus."

Most Rev. John A. Elya

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