Liturgical Schedule
Saturdays: 5:30 pm
Sundays: 9:15 am, 11:00 am, and 12:30 pm
Daily Divine Liturgy
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday: 10:00 am
First Sunday of the Month – North County
Church of the Nativity
6309 El Apajo Road,
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
5:00 pm
Holy Days of Obligation: 7:30 pm
Confessions by appointment
Daily Bible Reading According to the Maronite Catholic Calendar
Monday of the Fourth Week of Great Lent
Monday, March 24
Second Letter to the Corinthians 9,1a.5-15
Now it is not necessary for me to write to you about the ministry to the saints,
So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you, and arrange in advance for this bountiful gift that you have promised, so that it may be ready as a voluntary gift and not as an extortion.
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ……..
SEASON OF GREAT LENT
“Lent- the Season to realize that only God brings happiness.”
“Lenten practices of giving up pleasures are good reminders that the purpose of life is NOT pleasure. The purpose of life is to attain to perfect life, to attain to all truth and to attain to an undying ecstatic love–which is the definition of God. In pursuing that goal, we find happiness. Pleasure is not the purpose of anything; pleasure is the product resulting from doing something that is good!” Quote from Archbishop Fulton Sheen
Benediction and Stations of the Holy Cross
Every Friday during Lent at 7:30PM
Confessions During Lent
You are encouraged to approach the Sacrament of Confession (Reconciliation) during this season of Lent.
Catholics must go to confession at least once a year and as often as is necessary in order to be cleansed of sin and be in a state of grace
Celebrating the feast of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary
Tuesday morning March 25
at 10:00AM
Bible Study in Arabic
All Wednesdays throughout the season of Lent
At 7:30 PM
This Bible Study will be held on all Wednesdays throughout the season of Lent.
Sr. Rose Therese Tannous from the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family will conduct the series in Arabic.
First meeting is
Wednesday, March 5
at 7:30PM
Let us grow in the spirit of Holy Lent together!
Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 19th
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Food, Games, Prizes, & Bounce House!
Bring Your Own Basket!
Visit from the Easter Bunny!
For more information or to sign up to volunteer, please contact church office or
Aimee Boiri
858.699.1710
aimee.boiri@gmail.com
National Apostolate of Maronites News
Keep the Flame Alive!
Preserving Maronite Traditions Since 1964
The National Apostolate of Maronites (NAM) is the official lay apostolate of the Maronite Church of the USA and the only one in the world. Its mission is to assist its bishops, serve as a link in unifying Maronite laity in the US, and strengthen the bond between clergy and laity. Helping to preserve Beit Maroun for generations to come. You can make a difference, keep the flame burning.
NAM Awareness Sunday
March 16
At St. Ephrem Church
NAM Upcoming Events:
July 3 – 6, 2025
60th National Maronite Convention
St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church
Raleigh, NC
Details on the website:
http://www.namaronites.org
Reminder! National Apostolate of Maronites Convention Coming to San Diego July 2 thru 5, 2026
Hosted by our parish at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina.
We have begun organizing/planning for this convention.
It is a huge undertaking! and we WILL need all hands on deck.
If you are interested in being part of the team please let us know; speak to Abouna directly or call the office.
Save the Date
61ST ANNUAL MARONITE CONVENTION
2-5 JULY, 2026
At Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Sponsored by
NAM-National Apostolate of Maronites
Hosted by St. Ephrem
Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Rome and Sicily
August 25 – September 4, 2025
The Eparchy will be hosting a Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Rome and Sicily from August 25-September 4, 2025.
There are only 50 spots open, so if you are interested, contact us as soon as possible.
Click below on the flyer and itinerary for more details.
For reservations, please call
Ivette Jackson at 323-336-3168
Jamileh Koury at 818-626-9193
or email info@eparchy.org
We look forward to having you join us.
St. Ephrem 2025 Festival
Dabkeh Sign Up
May 23 – May 25
Signups for St. Ephrem Folkloric Dance Groups are NOW OPEN!
Registration is limited and open to St. Ephrem parishioners only.
Register to join in on the fun and excitement of this year’s festival.
Support Evangilization in the Middle East
“Let your light shine before others.” Said our Lord.
Tele Lumiere and Noursat, like many other institutions in Lebanon and the Middle East, is suffering tremendously and in danger of shutting down if it is not supported.
Very few parishes in the USA, of all Middle Eastern traditions, are supporting it. True there are millions living in poverty in the Middle East and we need to help them, but there are more millions living in darkness and need the message of hope and salvation. It is our responsibility to evangelize them.
We urge you in Christ’s name to help support Noursat. Here are few brotherly suggestions:
Talk about Noursat’s role of evangelization in the Middle East.
Announce this weekend the two-days Telethon. Share on your social media the attached video and flier about the Telethon.
Include in your weekly/monthly bulletin the attached flier about supporting Noursat.
God entrusted Noursat into our hands, let us unite our hands and hearts to keep it shinning.
With prayers and thanksgiving.
Chorbishop sharbel Maroun
President of Noursat, USA
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
First Friday of EACH Month 12:00 PM
FOLLOWED BY BENEDICTION 6:00 PM
Daily Bible Reading
from the vatican
“Reading of the Day, Gospel of the Day, Words of the Holy Father”
REPORTING CHILD/VULNERABLE ADULT SEXUAL ABUSE in the eparchy
APOSTOLIC LETTER
ISSUED MOTU PROPRIO
BY THE SUPREME PONTIFF
FRANCIS
ON THE PROTECTION OF MINORS AND VULNERABLE PERSONS
OUR PRIEST
Reverend Toufic Nasr – Pastor
DEACONS
George Geagea and Georges Ghosn
VISITING PRIEST
Reverend Canon Thomas Thompson
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