Now’s your chance to experience Melkite Catholicism!

A Lebanese-American Catholic of my acquaintance sends this along:

Bishop of Galilee and Nazareth and a woman who experiences miracles part of annual Eastern Catholic convention in Bellevue, WA June 30

A woman whose skin exudes 100 percent olive oil, and who has felt Jesus’ wounds in her own body, will be the keynote speaker on July 2 at the 46th annual national Melkite Convention.

In just a few weeks, nearly 1,000 Melkite Catholics from all across North America are coming to Bellevue’s Hyatt Regency for the annual convention. This is the first time it’s been held in the Seattle area, and it’s being sponsored by the small but growing St Joseph Melkite Mission, an Arabic Catholic community which meets Sunday afternoons at St Matthew Parish in North Seattle.

Mirna Nazzour, who experiences visions of both the Virgin Mary and Jesus, is just one of many special guests coming to Bellevue June 30 to July 4 for the convention. Tickets are still available, and the convention includes fun parties every night, all open to the public.

Another esteemed religious guest includes Rev. Archbishop Elias Chacour, from Galilee and Nazareth, author of two bestselling books.

Americans of Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian descent will compose most of the attendees, and the organizers hope people of all backgrounds in Seattle will buy tickets to attend. All are welcome.

Parties include an event Friday night on Argosy Cruises with an Arabic DJ, and Saturday night at the Bellevue Hyatt with a live Arabic singer. For more information and tickets, please visit here.

Media Contact:
Father Samir Abulail 206-362-2519 or Organizer Soohad Michael Khoury, (425) 444-3082

I’m not so sure I buy the olive oil claim sight unseen. On the other hand, God, under carefully controlled laboratory conditions, does whatever he wants. So I don’t automatically reject the claim either. Call it “Dominican skeptical piety” if you like.

Anyway, if you want to plunge into some good old fashioned Arab Catholic spirituality, now’s your chance!