OLOL
Faith of the Mountain: A Catechesis for Maronites

The title of the series Faith of the Mountain reflects the faith of our Maronite ancestors, which was as unshakable as the Lebanese mountains. The title also refers to the mountains mentioned in Scripture and in our Divine Liturgy. They are the dwelling place of God, the place where God communicates with His people.

Each of the eight grades in the elementary series contains 24 lessons, arranged in six units. The approach to the series is multifaceted. The lessons especially encourage pride in our Maronite heritage and liturgy. Teachers manuals are also available from the St. Maron Publications for instructors and group leaders.

As mentioned above, this series derives its name from our rugged Lebanese homeland, where mountains symbolize our desire to reach the God who calls us to the heights. We hope you will find delight and enrichment from these books as you join along with the students on the upward path.... May God richly bless your willingness to step into a role for spiritual growth...



Grade 1: Holy Trinity
Once the students understand the concept of Church as family, they are introduced to Jesus. They learn how Maronites prepare for the birth of Jesus, and see how the Holy Family-- Jesus, Mary, and Joseph-- loved and obeyed God. Jesus calls us to forgive those who hurt us and that his life message is of love and to have faith that He is always with us. They discover how people become followers of Jesus as Maronites. They will understand that Baptism is only the start of our journey of faith in the Church. They will also learn that Jesus is really present in the blessed bread and wine at the Divine Service of the Holy Mysteries. Next they explore the Divine Father of Jesus. They learn that God mad everything in the world and we give thanks for the gift of life and recognize God as a good and loving Father. Students also explore ways they can show others what God the Father is like. The last unit focuses on the Holy Spirit as our friend and ways they can live in the Holy Spirit in today's world.

Woven throughout the year are stories of Maronite saints and holy ones, notably St. Maron and St. Ephrem.


Grade 2: Meeting Jesus in the Holy Mysteries
In this grade, the text introduces children to the seven Holy Mysteries and how they can find Jesus in each one. The students will discover they can also meet the risen Jesus through personal prayer, the Bible, and Maronite Church celebrations throughout the year. The units focus on the seasons of the church: Glorious Birth of Our Lord, and Epiphany reveals that the mission of Jesus was to bring love to all people. Season of Great Lent and the Holy Mystery of Penance defines sin and they will learn of God's great mercy and forgiveness. The children will be introduced to the Holy Mystery of Eucharist and study the parts of the Divine Liturgy and the Communion Rite. They will learn how the Holy Mysteries help us follow Jesus. They will discover ways they can act as good neighbors and good stewards. They will lean how Maronites celebrate Jesus' unselfish love, especially of Lazarus Saturday and the days of Passion Week and some of the ways Maronites celebrate the Glorious Resurrection. In the last unit, students will learn more about our Maronite prayers and traditions, as well as saints Maron, Sharbel, Blessed Rafka, and Massabki brothers. The children will discover why Mary holds a special place in the Maronite Church and see that the Holy Spirit is always with us to help us meet Jesus in the Holy Mysteries.


Grade 3: Our Church Family
The Church is the focus of Grade 3. Church is described in the context of a sheepfold, with Jesus as the Good Shepherd. They will see that faith grows when we are rooted in Jesus, and what it means to say that the Church is the temple of the Holy Spirit. And, that God loves the church like a groom loves his bride and a mother loves her children. Students will learn about the four characteristics of the Church: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. They will grow in their desire to be united with all other Church members. They will learn that all Church members are called to holiness. The third unit focuses on church organization which summarizes the duties of eparchs, priests, deacons, and other Church leaders. They will also learn about the role of monasticism in the Maronite Church. Students will see that faithful Church members are art of the Communion of Saints and explore different ways that Maronites remember and pray for the departed. They learn that saints in heaven are role models who can show us how to imitate Jesus. They will also learn about the feasts of Mary throughout the Maronite Church Year. They will learn more details of the Seasons of the Church and review the seven Holy Mysteries and see the Church itself as a Holy Mystery. Students will end the year by considering ways they can use their own talents to serve others each day.


Grade 4: Following Jesus
Throughout the fourth grade, students study about Christian morality. Students will discover that free will, baptismal grace, and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are additional gifts God has given them to help them make good decisions throughout life. Students learn that the Maronite Way involves Christian morality, the Ten Commandments, guidance of the Holy Spirit, and imitating certain Maronite saints in following the way of Jesus. Students will discover their own call to work for the common good through humble service to others. In the last unit, students will explore what it means to live in God's Kingdom through morality and the Holy Mysteries. As in previous years, the text includes stories of Maronite saints and holy one who can serve as role models. Included among these are St. Maron, St. Simon the Stylite, St. James (disciple of Maron), and St. Gregory the Wonderworker.


Grade 5: The Church's Liturgy
The text begins by discussing some basic signs that communicate God's love, and identifying some symbols that help them see with "the eyes of faith". They will also learn about some of the symbols Jesus used to describe himself and the Kingdom of God. Next, the students will learn that liturgy is a form of communication in which we worship God and grow in holiness, and realize that all liturgy is basically prayer, heartfelt communication with God. They will also review the seven Holy Mysteries as celebrations that enable us to sense God's presence and love. Unit 3 focuses on the experience of Christian initiation and how people become members of the Maronite Church. They will continue to explore the parts of the Divine Service of the Holy Mysteries. They will study the Divine Service as the Church's sacrifice offered in union with the sacrifice of Jesus. Students will learn to value frequent participation in the Divine Liturgy as a way to increase their union with God and other Church members.


Grade 6: The Bible
Holy Scripture is the focus of the sixth grade. An overview of the Bible as the inspired Word of God is given, with students exploring the different kinds of writings found in Bible. They will learn about history and about some of our ancestors of faith from both the Old and New Testaments including the prophets and the importance of prayer and worship. Then, they focus on Jesus as Messiah and His message both in his parables and in his miracles. Finally, the students will study the parts of the New Testament dealing the the apostles and first Christians and learn what is meant when we say the Church is apostolic. They will see that true disciples of Jesus are called to holiness and prayer.


Grade 7: The Creed
This year focuses on what we believe as Maronites. They will discover why faith is important to human happiness and explore what Maronites believe about the Trinity. They will recognize that Jesus is the center and foundation of our Maronite faith. They will examine how the birth of Jesus calls us to live as peacemakers, and they will discover their own call to bring the light of God's love to others regardless of race or nationality. They explore also the meaning of Baptism and Chrismation and see how these Mysteries strengthen us to live as Maronites. Third unit focuses on faith in times of struggle. The text helps students explore the importance of discipline and perseverance in a life of virtue and in their realization that God loves us and always offers us healing and reconciliation. Students will affirm the Eucharist as spiritual food that continually strengthens, heals, and reconciles us with God and others. Next focus is on faith in glorious times as they explore the Resurrection as the central truth of our faith. They will learn what Maronites believe happens after death. Students will connect their own call to holiness with other members of the Communion of Saints. They will also see how the Holy Spirit helps us grow as a Church and that they are called to have lifelong faith. Students will discover how some people are called to live out their baptismal commitment through religious vows. They will then examine the role of the laity in today's church. Finally, the students will explore their call to daily faith. They will see how Jesus defines true happiness in terms of the Beatitudes. They will affirm their responsibility to show active care and concern for the poor and that true love of others involves responding to psychological and spiritual needs in addition to physical needs. And that there is a need for constant prayer in Maronite life. As with previous years, the text provides saints and holy ones as role models of faith. Among the ones for this book are: St. Shmooni and her seven sons, St. Maura, St. Jude, St. Anthony the Abbot, and Our Lady of Lebanon.


Grade 8: Our History as Church
Throughout this year, the eighth graders will study the history of our Maronite Church. They will connect the Church to the Old and New Covenants and explore the early Church's struggle to explain its faith in Jesus. They will also explore the link between our Maronite family and monasticism. The second unit covers the 5th-11th centuries. Students will learn how the first Maronites were a community of believers, steadfast in their faith. They will learn about some of the spiritual gifts (charisms) present in the early Maronite Church and appreciate the diversity of the universal Church as expressed in its six Traditions. The third unit deals with 11th -15th centuries. Students will learn that the cross of Jesus is an important focus of Maronite spirituality and will connect the crusades with our present-day call to justice and the protection of human rights. Students will study the 12th century re-establishment of communication between Maronites and Roman Catholics. They will grow in their appreciation that Church unity is enriched, not threatened, by cultural diversity in the celebration of the Holy Mysteries. In their study of the Church from the 15th-17th centuries, the students will appreciate the teaching authority of the Maronite eparchs, in union with the pope. The students will explore reasons for the Protestant Reformation and will understand the Church's teaching regarding the Mystery of Crowning. Finally, the students will learn how the Council of Trent affected the Maronite Church. Unit 5 deals with the Church in the 17th-mid-18th centuries and the last unit covers the mid-18th century to the present. Students will study how ongoing conversion is an important part of Maronite faith, how the Maronite Church Year celebrates the mystery of Christ, the structure of Divine Service of the holy Mysteries, both the Service of the Word and the Anaphora, explore the history and nature of priesthood and appreciate the devotion to Mary. They will discover ways the Maronite Church is presently working toward religious and civil unit in Lebanon. Finally, the students will examine the history and development of the Maronite Church in the U.S. since the second Vatican Council. A number of Maronite Patriarchs serve as role models through this grade level. Among the patriarchs discussed are: St. John Maron, Patriarch Jeremias Al-Amchid, Patriarch Gabriel of Hjoula, and Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Peter Sfeir.
© Copyright Our Lady Of Lebanon Maronite Church. All rights reserved.
(202) 829-5554