The Maronite Eparchy of Australia gathered in prayer and thanksgiving as Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay celebrated a solemn Mass to mark the conclusion of the Month of the Holy Rosary and the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality, celebrated in conjunction with the universal church’s Jubilee of Hope.
The Divine Liturgy, held in an atmosphere of deep reverence and joy, drew clergy and faithful across the community, at Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral in Harris Park, to honour the Blessed Virgin Mary, the model of hope.
The evening encapsulated the Maronite Church’s profound devotion to Mary and its unity with the universal Catholic family in embracing the church’s call to revivify hope through Marian devotion.
In his homily, Bishop Tarabay invited the faithful to “renew and deepen our devotion to Mary, the Mother and first disciple who always leads us to her Son.”
He linked the occasion to the Gospel of the day (Matthew 13:18-23), in which Jesus explains the Parable of the Sower, describing the Word of God as a seed that can only bear fruit in hearts open to receive it.
“Jesus had a wonderful pedagogy,” the bishop said. “He invites us first to listen to His Word, to receive it and understand it, and to allow it to change us. We learn from Mary how to listen, to receive, and to be changed.”
Through Mary’s example, the faithful learn what it means to let the Word of God take root in their lives:
“The Word of God found a home in Mary, and through her, the Word became flesh,” he said. “In this Jubilee, the Church invites us to renew our Marian spirituality by walking with her in hope, learning again the art of listening to God’s voice in our daily lives.”
Drawing on rich imagery, Bishop Tarabay described each Hail Mary of the Rosary as “a seed planted in Mary’s garden,” with the Rosary itself being “not just a string of beads, but a living garden of faith.”
Some seeds, he said, “are planted quickly in between our daily tasks, others with tired hearts at night, and some in moments of quiet contemplation.”
“Each mystery is a small patch, whether joyful, luminous, sorrowful, or glorious, and Mary is the gentle gardener who tends it with love and care.”
Bishop Tarabay went on to remind the faithful that the Rosary is not merely a repetitive prayer but a spiritual rhythm that cultivates virtue: “At first, it may not seem like much, but in God’s time, those prayers bloom into virtues and blessings. Patience, forgiveness, compassion, and courage are all fruits that we nurture by prayer and discipline.”
“Every seed of prayer sown in faith,” he continued, “will bear fruit, joyful spiritual fruit, even if we cannot see it yet.” Quoting the words of Mary at the Wedding of Cana, Bishop Tarabay encouraged the community to remain steadfast in faith: “Mary simply says to us, ‘Do whatever He tells you.’
In her garden, miracles begin quietly, slowly blooming in our hearts, our families, and our community.”
Reflecting further on the Parable of the Sower, the bishop spoke about the need to prepare the soul of one’s heart to receive God’s grace, like Our Lady.
“Are we distracted, busy, or closed to what God is saying?” he asked. “The Rosary helps us to cultivate good soil. When we pray the Rosary, we slow down, we make space for silence, and we allow Mary to lead us closer to Jesus.”
The Rosary thus helps to remove the obstacles that hinder spiritual growth, “the stones of pride, the thorns of anxiety, and the hardness of indifference, so that God’s grace can grow within us.”
Returning to the Jubilee theme of hope, Bishop Tarabay called on the faithful to become “sowers of hope” after the example of Mary, who stood in faith even at the foot of the Cross.
“Hope is the confident trust that God is at work even in the darkest of moments. Mary is the woman of hope, who stood beneath the Cross and believed in the dawn of the Resurrection.”
He concluded by inviting the faithful to carry the fruits of the Rosary into their daily lives: “Let us listen, reflect, and allow his Word to bear fruit within us. May our prayer and our witness sow seeds of hope wherever we go, so that, through Mary’s intercession, we too may bring forth a harvest pleasing to God.”
Following the Divine Liturgy, the faithful joined in a Rosary recital and spiritual concert led by Manale Nehme.
The meditative music and reflections between each decade deepened the evening’s sense of prayer and praise. The blend of sacred hymn and silent contemplation created a moment of grace that echoed Bishop Tarabay’s message: faith flowering through prayer, beauty, and Marian devotion.