“My mission in life is to take Jesus through Mary with me wherever I go.”

Fr Paul Joseph Joubeir was born in Tripoli on 5 February 1935 to Wahib Joubeir of Aintourine and Marie Riaiche of Bnashee. He is the youngest (twin) of a family which is made up of 6 boys and 4 girls. When Paul was only 5 months his father died suddenly at the age of 42 and his mother was left with the task of bringing up 10 children by herself. Paul remembers that his mother had a big influence on his life. The most important thing that he learnt from her was how to pray the rosary. Paul’s grandfather was a priest, so from a very young age he was exposed to this holy vocation.

Paul started school with the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul in Tripoli. He then moved to Christian Brothers and continued his education at St Elias’ school of the Carmelite Fathers in Tripoli. Paul excelled in his education. He especially enjoyed studying maths and Arabic literature. In fact he topped his class in “Certifica” and “Prevet” and was the number one student in Arabic literature in all of Lebanon when he completed his “Baccalaureate”.  At school, Paul played the flute in the school orchestra. At the age of 16, he co-founded with Fr Francois Tomb the Christian Youth Student Group which was affiliated with the worldwide “Action Catholique” which was recommended by Pope Pius XII.  Paul was a very active member of the student body and represented the school in many social events. He was loved very much by all and from a young age, people noticed his love for Jesus and his spirituality - so much so that they would call him “Abouna Paul”. In fact the superior of the Carmelite Order had asked him to join the order and become a priest.

In 1955 and after completing his education, Paul left Lebanon and travelled to Brazil with his mother and was reunited with his other brothers and sisters. In Brazil he worked as business man in the clothing industry. While in Brazil, he founded with a group of 19-20 people a Lebanese folkloric group called “Groupo Folclorico Libanes” which represented Lebanon through the dabke dance and travelled from state to state performing the dabke during national Lebanese and Brazilian festivals. His excellent skills in public relations always meant that he could communicate well with anyone that he came into contact with.

While in Brazil, Paul remained very close to God. He would organise rosary nights and helped coordinate adoration every Friday night at the local church providing transport to the elderly in Brazilia so that they could come to the church and pray. In 1975, Paul’s brother Fr. Antoine Joubeir was ordained Bishop of Tripoli. Paul was very proud of his brother and recalls that this was certainly a big event in his life. He lived in Brazil for 31 years and was privileged to meet many high ranking officials; however joining Opus Dei was the highlight and turning point of Paul’s life.

On Christmas Eve in 1985, Paul arrived in Adelaide and stayed with his brother Antoine and his family with the intention of living in Australia. He entered into a partnership and operated a delicatessen for 3 years.  All through his life he felt the calling to the priesthood and Msgr. Ndaira who was the parish priest in Adelaide witnessed this and encouraged him to pursue his vocation. It wasn’t until the death of his brother Bishop Antoine Joubeir in 1994 that he truly acted on his calling. Bishop Hitti was in Adelaide attending the requiem mass of the late Bishop Joubeir and he encouraged him strongly to become a priest because he saw the qualities of a good priest in him and his yearning to become one. On 17 November 1994 he was ordained a deacon before being ordained to the holy priesthood on 25 February 1995 at the age of 60. Fr Paul served in Adelaide for 5 months and then moved to Brisbane for 2 years before returning to serve in Adelaide for 6 years and finally arriving to Our lady of Lebanon Parish in Sydney in April 2004. Fr Paul is devoted to the Divine Mercy and compares his life to the second joyful mystery – the visitation and uses this mystery to guide him in everything that he does. He believes that his mission is to take Jesus through Mary wherever he goes with an abundance of joy and happiness – just like Our Lady carried Jesus in her womb and visited Elizabeth. Fr Paul’s welcoming smile and joyful nature are a testament to this lifelong mission.

Fr Paul considers himself to be a cousin, uncle or grandfather of everyone. He is related to everyone and his sense of humour and charisma is second to none. He truly transcends joy and happiness into the lives of everyone that he comes into contact with. Fr Paul’s favourite food is Mjaddara (bi loubyi) and kibbi nayi. His favourite singers are Fayrouz and Wadih Alsafi. His favourite movies are Safar Barlik (Fayrouz) and Ben Hur and his favourite colour is Marian blue. His favourite song is “bihibak ya libnan” (Fayrouz) and his favourite hymns are “Nearer to thee my God” and “Fi zili himaytiki”. Fr Paul can speak Arabic, English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. His patron Saints are St Joseph and St Paul.  Finally when I asked Fr Paul what was it that he would like to achieve that he hasn’t already achieved, he answered; “I would like to be a real saint, however I still have to work very hard for it.”

Click here to Contact Fr Paul Joubeir

“The essence of my priesthood and Christianity in general is to fall in love with God with passion and joy and love His people with the same passion, with a smile, with simplicity, humility and silence”

CHILDHOOD

Sam (Saba) Wehbe was born on 4 February 1972 to Wehbe and Barbara Wehbe from Blouza. He is the eight child of nine (5 boys and 4 girls). As a child, Sam loved school and attended primary school at the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family in Blouza, complimentary school at Fr. Philip Shbay3a School in Bcharre and high school at Bcharre High School. Sam recalls that his childhood life was very simple but filled with much love and happiness. He would wake up every morning to the fresh Blouzian air and to his father’s prayers which follow him wherever he goes. The month of March was especially special in the Wehbe household as they would dedicate the whole month to praying to St. Joseph and would argue with each other about who would read the prayers that the celebrant would usually pray – off course Sam would win! He loved to play soccer, “guilli” and remembers how he used to make his own go-cart and play with it in the gardens around the family home.

VOCATION

Fr. Sam recalls that his first encounter with a thought which related to his vocation was while he was attending his first religious class in year 6. He remembers Fr. Philip Shbay3a (who became a bishop afterwards) saying “When we pray, we should understand what we say.” These words had a big impact on the young Sam whose spiritual life changed greatly after that moment. All of a sudden, he found himself analysing each word and each sentence and he started developing a good relationship with the “book”.

At the age of 15, he went camping in Kozhaiyah. It was here that he met the hermit, Fr. Antonious Chayna and then regularly started to go to confession with him and visiting him. At the age of 17, while at another retreat in Kozhaiyah he felt something unexplainable happen to him while he was praying. He began crying passionately but could not understand what had taken over him. From this moment, his life changed and he became aware of a wider meaning to his existence. He started attending the Divine Liturgy daily and helping at the church, he started to help the elderly and the sick, and he helped his father more and more in the fields. During this time, he developed a relationship with a young girl from his village. They became very fond of each other, travelling in the bus together to school, attending the Divine Liturgy together every day. This relationship lasted for 10 years, however he always thought of the priesthood in the back of his mind.

When he finished high school, Sam was confused and sought the advice of the local priest. The priest encouraged him to enter into the seminary and made the proper contacts. Sam although not convinced that this was the right decision, entered the seminary for one week. During that week, he did not feel comfortable with the environment which he was placed in and so he decided to leave even though they accepted him.

After leaving the seminary, Sam worked for 5 years between Lebanon, Sydney and Miami. He worked in many trades but always ensured that he would attend the Divine Liturgy on a daily basis. During the 5 years, he always would ask God, crying and begging, “What do you want me to do?” But there was always no response from God, no sign, no nothing. After living one year and three months in Miami, he discovered that he was asking God the wrong questions. It was here that he decided that he definitely wanted to become a celibate priest. He realised that he should have said to God, “this is my decision, please help me with my decision!”

ENTERING THE SEMINARY

Sam immediately came back to Lebanon and entered the seminary. He compares this experience to Jonah and Nineheh. Although he left the seminary, he found himself returning to it after 5 years of searching. However this time it was different, he came back of his own accord. The Bishop at the seminary forced him to study in French. Sam was very disappointed with this decision as he mainly new Arabic and English. He quickly picked up French and after his preparatory year sat for his University entrance exams in French. He did not do very well. His results were not published so he went to see the Priest who was responsible. In his mind, he had decided that if he had failed, he would leave and not return again. The priest informed him that he was accepted and from then, he excelled in his studies of philosophy and theology.

On 8 December 2002 was ordained a sub-deacon in Ghazir and on 25 August 2003 was ordained a deacon in Blouza. He did one year of pastoral experience in Zgharta with Mons. Boutros Barakat who he learnt may things from. During this time Bishop Ad Abikaram spoke to Bishop Baysari about him coming to Australia because he could speak English. Sam accepted and was ordained to the priesthood on 6 August 2004 at the Patriarchate in Diman.

COMING TO AUSTRALIA

Fr. Sam arrived in Sydney on 22 January 2005 and says that for the last seven and half years he has been living and serving at the feet of Jesus and under the wings of Our Lady and when he dies would like to die on the altar serving the Lord. Fr. Sam loves to preach from all his heart and finds great solicitude in praying the rosary while walking and admiring the stars of the sky. He also loves travelling a lot because it gives him the opportunity to spend time between heaven and earth.

Favourites

By Danny Nouh

Click here to Contact Father Sam Wehbe

“People call us “Father” (ya Abouna) and it is up to us to truly be a Father figure to the people”

Fr. Antoun was born on 12 October 1933 to Antonious and Tamini in the northern village of Imar in Lebanon. He is the second eldest of a family of four boys and four girls. He went to school in the village but was not able to continue his education so that he could help his father with the work in the village. He recalls that life back in those days was very different. It was very simple and everyone showed much love and respect for one-another. The whole village lived as one family. Fr. Antoun recalls living through the era of World War II. People were afraid that they would die of hunger because the memory of World War I was still implanted in their memories. During these times, the villagers would gather in the house of the village priest and would pray the Rosary.

From a very young age, Antoun would dream of himself in the church flying with the angels and spending his days and nights with them. By the age of 18, he was seriously discerning a vocation to the holy priesthood or to the monastic life. However, his parents did not allow him to leave home and enter the seminary because he had to help his father and eldest brother with the land.  Antoun was very upset and being the obedient son, he abided with his parents’ wishes.  He was so upset, that he decided to travel to Brazil with a family friend and see if he could make a future for himself.  He spent seven years working in Brazil however he could not forget his calling and was determined to come back to Lebanon and to convince his parents to allow him to enter the seminary.

In 1963 on his way back to Lebanon from Brazil, Antoun stopped in Rome. The second Vatican Council was in session and he recalls being lucky enough to attend one of the sessions. He remembers that he pretended to be a helper of one of the priests so that they would let him into St. Peter’s Basilica. When he entered the Basilica, his heart dropped! He thought that he was walking into a church full of saints and angels. No words could describe the joy that he was feeling at that moment. He was hoping for and dreaming about this moment all his life. Antoun remembers getting close to Pope Paul VI and kissing his gown.

When he returned to Lebanon, he was 30 years old. When he went to see the Bishop, he tried to convince him to become a married priest but he refused. Antoun entered the seminary of St. Yaacoub at Karm Sadi. The priests and seminarians were all amazed by how quick he was able to learn theology and philosophy even though he was not very well educated.

Antoun was ordained to the priesthood on 6 March 1976. He stayed in the Bishopric of Tripoli for four years and then came to Australia on 27 November 1980 with Bishop Joubeir (Fr. Paul’s brother). He stayed at Our Lady of Lebanon Church for four years. In 1984, he went back to Lebanon to visit his parents. After his father died, Bishop Abdo Khalife asked him to come back to Australia to serve at Our Lady of Lebanon and he abided by his request.

Fr. Antoun remembers that there was a big need for priests at the time and the people were yearning for the word of God. He recalls giving confession for 5 to 6 hours at a time due to the lack of priests.  From this, he was convinced that his vocation was to serve in Australia even though he loved Lebanon very much and desperately missed it.  Fr. Antoun says that “God has always lead my vocation and my way and opened the doors for me and I believe that he has truly chosen me for a reason.” 

Click here to Contact Fr Antoun Bou Antoun

“My aim in life is to stay close to Christ, trust in the power of his Spirit and share in His mission for the glory of the Father” 

Mons. Shora was born on 19 December 1961 to Ronny Maree from Kferzghob and Georgette Tabet from Bhamdoun at St. Margret’s hospital in Surry Hills, Sydney. The second eldest of seven children, he grew up in Campsie (now we know why he supports the Bulldog’s) and attended St. Mel’s Primary School as a child. His father Ronny was a very active and respected member in the Maronite Community and took part in many aspects of the management of St. Maroun’s Cathedral in Redfern. The Maree family would attend Mass at St. Maroun’s every Sunday and it is here that Shora began to discern his calling to the priesthood. At a young age, he fell in love with the Maronite Liturgy. So much so that he would actually play “Mass” with the other children at home.

As a teenager, Shora attended Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School in Bowral and St Patrick’s College in Strathfield. During these years, he discovered his love for cricket and modern history and he was inspired by the faith witness of the brothers and lay teachers (some were not Catholic) at the schools he attended. He would get into long debates with them about Christianity and many other issues. During these years, he also took part in the Our Lady of Lebanon choir where his love for the Maronite Liturgy grew even stronger.

After Shora completed his education at school; he enrolled into a Bachelor of Arts course at Sydney University. Having studied for one year at Sydney University, he realized that his calling to the priesthood was much stronger and thus decided to enter St. Patrick’s Seminary in Manly. Shora spent five years in the seminary at Manly and eight months in a seminary in Lebanon. He was ordained to the priesthood on 14 August 1987 by the late Bishop Abdo Khalife at the age of 26.

Father Shora was allocated to St. Maroun’s Parish in Adelaide where he served for four years before returning to Sydney in 1991 to become the Parish Priest of St. Maroun’s Cathedral in Redfern. The young priest recalls crying when he left Sydney to go to Adelaide and also crying when he left Adelaide to come back to Sydney. St. Maroun’s was Father Shora’s first experience as Parish Priest.

On 25 March 1995 he was elevated to Monsignor after just eight years of being ordained into the Priesthood. This off course brought many challenges for him. One of the biggest challenges was being appointed as Parish Priest at St. Joseph’s Parish in Croydon in December 1998. This parish was a very “Lebanese” parish that was not used to an Australian born Parish Priest. Monsignor Shora spent six years in Croydon and in 2004 was appointed as Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lebanon, Harris Park. The sheer size of this Parish was Monsignor Shora’s biggest challenge. However, he quickly acquired the management skills required to run such a big Parish with the help of his assistant Parish Priests and the many volunteers that to this day support him in everything that he does.

Monsignor still enjoys a good game of cricket, loves to read biographies of people who have contributed greatly to the world and loves watching movies with a historical context. In fact his favorite movies are “Titanic” and “The Passion of Christ”. His favorite hymn is “Be not afraid”, his favorite song is “My heart will go on” by Celine Dion and his favorite artist is Andre Brocello. His favorite colour is Maroon (not Maroun!) and would love to travel to Rome and to the Holy Land. His favorite food is chicken with lots and lots of toum (Lebanese through and through). Please Monsignor not before Mass though!!

By Danny Nouh 

Click here to Contact Msgrr Shora Maree