Pray daily for vocations
Beloved in Christ,
Our brother priests, sons and daughters of this cherished Eparchy,
Ever since we came to know more deeply the history of the Maronites of Cyprus, and since we began to serve this blessed island — adorned by the prayers of our patriarchs, bishops, priests and monks , watered by the tears of mothers and fathers, and sanctified by the footsteps of saints — our hearts and minds have been entirely focused on the future of this authentic Maronite presence.
Yes, we are constantly concerned about the fate of our villages and the paths that might lead us back to them, about how to preserve our identity, our language, our customs, and our traditions. But we believe, with all our hearts, that none of this will last or bear fruit
unless it is rooted in faith and built upon a deep spiritual life.
That is why we proclaim clearly:
Our absolute pastoral priority is the care for the spiritual life of our people, and the strengthening of the bond between the Maronites of Cyprus and the Maronite Church—not just in words, but in daily life, through the sacraments, prayer, and a living priestly presence that comes from within their own community.
This bond can only be fulfilled and bear fruit if the Maronites of Cyprus themselves take responsibility for it, and realize that the Church is not just something they attend —it is something they build and serve!
Here lies the urgent and essential need for priestly vocations. Vocations that are born from the heart of our community, that carry in their spirit the language of the land, the history of the people, and the hope of the Eparchy.
This is why we have set before us a vital and unwavering goal:
To build a spiritual environment that nurtures vocations, to discover and accompany them, to help them grow, and to lead them to the fullness of the priestly ministry.
Our measure of success is not the number of projects we complete, nor the beauty of restored buildings, but rather the number of vocations the Holy Spirit awakens in the hearts of our youth, and the number of sincere “yeses” spoken by young Cypriots to Jesus Christ.
How great our joy will be when we see among our youth new priests, deacons, and servers,
who receive the torch, lift the cross, and lead the flock to the green pastures of life.
We are grateful for the service of bishops and priests who have come from Lebanon and elsewhere, but we are convinced that true success happens only when we plant and harvest from our own soil.
Our ambition, our hope, and our effort is for the Maronite Eparchy of Cyprus to become a source of vocations, not only for our own parishes, but for the service of the Maronite Church throughout the world — as in the days of our ancestors:
Patriarch Cyril of Cyprus, remembered by Patriarch Douaihy, and Father Andraos Iskandar, assistant to Patriarch Sema‘an at the Lebanese Synod, and so many others whose lives testify to the spiritual fruitfulness of this island.
Among the projects we are working on is the creation of a Maronite seminary in Cyprus,
or at least a Cypriot section within the Patriarchal Seminary, with a program tailored to the identity of the Maronites of the island, that would strengthen their sense of belonging to the Antiochene Maronite Church.
Dear beloved,
These are not passing wishes, but a call to life — a responsibility that concerns our very future. If we do not sow today, we will not reap tomorrow. And if we do not stay watchful now, we will regret it later.
Cyprus needs priests from among her sons!
This is the Lord’s call to our Church today… will we respond?
We call upon you all, in the name of the Lord and with sincere pastoral love, to:
Encourage priestly vocations without fear or hesitation.
Accompany our youth spiritually with depth and trust.
Pray daily for vocations.
Make every Maronite home fertile ground for vocations and servants of the altar.
Plant a culture of consecration and service within your families.
We place this journey in the hands of the Lord, and we implore the intercession of His Holy Mother Mary, Mother of Priests, of Saints Paul and Barnabas, the Apostle of the Nations and the native son of Cyprus, of Saint Maron, our father and protector, of Saint Charbel, the burning flame of monastic love for the Church, and of Saint John Mary Vianney, the Curé of Ars and model of faithful pastors, that He may inspire our youth and send workers into His harvest from this land He has loved.
With you, for you, and on your behalf, we pray and serve,
† Selim Sfeir
with his brother priests serving in the Maronite Eparchy of Cyprus
Nicosia, 4 August 2025