On behalf of myself, Fr Badaoui and my Brother Priests, we would ...

“People of the Cedars”
by Jan Fitzgerald
For this month’s Maronite Memo I’d planned on describing the sets of icons for the Syro-Maronite
Liturgical Year which occupy a position of honour to the side of the altars at Our Lady of Cedars and
Our Lady of Lebanon.
But it seems that God and Ken Hanna had a another plan for me, and as Ken has been so gracious to give
m e t o p s p o t i n h i s f e a t u r e d p i e c e i n t h i s i s s u e , I f i n d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y o f w r i t i n g a b o u t m y d e a r f r i e n d j u s t
too delicious to let slip.
First, let me declare my credentials. Unlike our stunning new Miss Lebanon who got lucky by being born
Lebanese, I had to wait until the second half of my life to be adopted by our beloved church, priests and
community. I love Lebanon and am passionate about all things Lebanese – and that’s even before I get into
s t u f f l i k e A n t o u n F a h r y ’ s f a m o u s k i b b e .
The opening Mass of the Easter Mission last night at Cedars was awesome, and Abouna El Badaoui was
on target when he described our valued visitor from Lebanon, Abouna Fadi Tabet, as the most handsome
and talented priest to come our way in a long time. (He forgot to mention that all our priests are
b e a u t i f u l . ) S o , d o n ’ t m i s s a n y o f t h e s e M i s s i o n M a s s e s . T h e y p r o m i s e t o b e r i v e t i n g . A n d A b o u n a F a d i
sings in a voice to knock the wings off a seraphim.
I f l o a t e d o u t o f M a s s o n s o f t l i t t l e p u f f y c l o u d s w i t h t e a r s o f j o y s t i l l r o l l i n g d o w n m y c h e e k s . N o r w a s I
alone. Ken’s cheeks were still a little damp as well.
Right now I am having one of the best times of my life because I have the extraordinary privilege of
editing Ken’s book ‘People of the Cedars’. Most of our community know Ken in his professional
capacity as a community pharmacy. Also as the editor of the Cedar Leaf publication which kept us
informed of matters Lebanese all these years.