What a year 2022 has been!

Here we are at the end of another year. The first full year we have had without any lockdowns since 2019. Having face-to-face events back again and being with people in person has been a blessing. So many highlights to share from the year gone by. We held our first fundraiser in three years, two international tours, a USA trip, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, bible studies, podcasts, blog articles, youtube videos, courses, brand new resources and the list goes on. I want to share some of this year’s highlights, which have come about thanks to so many of you!

Parousia Fundraiser and Events

Above: Over 400 people turned out for our first Parousia fundraiser in 3 years

It was very obvious earlier this year, when we opened the doors for our Parousia fundraiser, that people were so excited to finally connect in person after some years. It was so special to be able to host Ruben Quezada, who was our first international guest for some time. He was the very person who answered the phone over 17 years ago when I phoned to order a Scott Hahn cassette. He planted the idea in my mind to start a local distribution apostolate. His tour, along with a movie screening of ‘For Greater Glory‘ the story of the Cristeros from the Mexican persecution, was a great way to kick start our international events once more. May we too shout “Viva Cristo Rey!” Long Live Christ the King!

Above: Ruben Quezada was the Keynote at our fundraising dinner

Above: Some Aussie Speakers with Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers and Tim Staples

The second major tour we had was with the dynamic duo of Tim Staples and Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, for the ‘Be Not Afraid Tour‘. This was to be the seventh trip to Australia for each of these men, but their first time together. They were a great combination to fire up the Catholic faithful to take courage. People turned out in large numbers again to be inspired by two of the most dynamic speakers in the Church today. What a spark they provided!

USA Tour

Above: Some of the highlights of our USA tour

Another major highlight for us this year was our USA tour in late July. I remember how busy it all was, travelling from city to city, from the West Coast to the East Coast and back. I have to say what a privilege it was to be part of the ‘Pints with Aquinas‘ show, with Matt Fradd. I still get comments today about that show and am amazed as to how many people have seen it. We caught up with Dr Scott Hahn, Jeff Cavins, Chris Stefanick, Fr Robert Spitzer, Fr Chris Alar and the list goes on. Launching cmsunlimited.com was also a real highlight with Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers in Chicago, at the Catholic Marketing Network. We also held important meetings with our partners, including Catholic Answers, St Paul Centre, Ascension, EWTN, Sophia Institute, 5-stones, Ignatius Press, Augustine Institute, Hallow app team, Scepter Publishers, Tan Books, Herald Entertainment, Adventure Catechism and many others. Please pray for a fruitful outcome from this USA trip as it was very important for us to reconnect with these speakers, authors, publishers and apostolates who are doing amazing work for the Church. Next year we are planning our first ever Parousia speaking tour in the United States, scheduled for the second half of September. 

Above: Charbel Raish with Dr Scott Hahn, Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers and being interviewed by Cy Kellett for the Catholic Answers Focus Podcast

Pilgrimages to the Holy Land

After three years of no pilgrimages, we had not one group, but two groups going to the Holy Land this year. The first group travelled with Tim Staples and his brother, Fr Terry. I attended this trip and what a life-changing experience that was. The second group travelled just a few weeks later, with John Pridmore and Fr Frankie from Great Britain, along with Kevin Bailey. Both groups were very enthusiastic and equally amazed at being able to walk in the same footsteps that Jesus did almost two thousand years ago. In 2023, our next trip to the Holy Land will be with Tim Staples, in November. We thank our pilgrimage partner, Harvest Journeys, for helping us to make these trips possible.

Above: John Pridmore & Tim Staples led separate groups to the Holy Land this year

Parousia Podcast

It was a big year for our Parousia Podcast and other series in the podcast world. We had just launched towards the end of last year the ‘Speakin with Deacon‘ podcast series with Mark Griffin. We also launched ‘Defend the Faith Live‘, ‘Parousia World Spotlight‘ and ‘School of Sheen‘ podcasts with Matthew-Hermann Tague. I was able to continue the Parousia Podcasts in our office studio and have spoken with guests from around the world via zoom, along with in-person interviews as well. We have a big year planned for the Podcasts in 2023.

Bible Studies and Local Events

We had very large turnouts for our bible studies this year. I was also one of a handful of local speakers that gave talks across the country. With our new speaker bureau, we look forward to organising many more events in 2023 with our local talent. Look out for these events!

Above: Some of the bible studies, talks and book launches we had this year

This wraps up another very busy year at Parousia. It is thanks to your support that we are able to do this work. Please continue to pray for this important work and consider supporting us in any way you can. As we approach 2023, I want to wish you all, on behalf of the team at Parousia, a Blessed and Holy Christmas and a Happy and Holy New Year.

God Bless,

Charbel Raish

Director

Legacy of Love: Biblical Wisdom for Parenting Teens and Young Adults

– Kimberly Hahn (Paperback)

Every stage of parenting presents its own challenges, but raising teens and young adults can be a unique time that many are unprepared for. In Legacy of Love: Biblical Wisdom for Parenting Teens and Young Adults, Kimberly Hahn draws from Proverbs 31 to help families navigate the transition from childhood to adulthood.

Topics in Legacy of Love include developing compassion for the poor and undertaking works of mercy, friendship and courtship, and growing into new relationships with in-laws and extended family.

Perfect for personal or group use, Legacy of Love will help you foster fruitful and lasting relationships with your children as they grow into young men and women.

Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet: Sung and Recited

– Anna Nuzzo with Fr. Dan Cambra, MIC (Full Album – MP3 Download)

Enjoy praying along with Anna’s beautiful Musical Rendition of the entire chaplet! Also includes a complete Recited Version of the chaplet by Fr. Dan Cambra, MIC w/instrumental music. Bonus songs including Ave Maria, Divine Mercy & the Marian Consecration Song, along with a lovely teaching Prayer Guide on how to pray the chaplet! A Great Gift of Prayer !

Approaching the Mystery of the Nativity with St. Ephrem and the Virgin Mary

– Dr Carl Vennerstrom (CD)

The nativity story is one the biggest mysteries of the Catholic faith, as it has us consider even the mysteries of the Trinity. In St. Ephrem’s writings, he contemplates these mysteries through Our Lady, and finding beautifully unique understanding of the meaning of the nativity story through the very human experiences of Mary. Join Dr. Carl Vennerstrom as he explains and answers these important questions about the mystery of the nativity as we approach the Christmas season.

The Papacy: Revisiting the Debate Between Catholics and Orthodox

– Erick Ybarra (Paperback)

The Lord Jesus Christ intended his kingdom present on earth, the Church of God, to be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. Prior to the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, history tells of the most egregious division in the Church between the Latin West and Byzantine East in AD 1054 and following. How can it be that Catholics and Orthodox share a thousand years of ecclesial life together in one faith, sacramental order, and hierarchical government, only to have that bond of communion broken?

Historians and theologians throughout the years have spilled much ink in recounting the causes and effects of this dreadful and heart-wrenching division, and among the many debates that exist between Catholics and Orthodox, none are as vital to the task of reconciliation as the subject of the papacy. In The Papacy: Revisiting the Debate between Catholics and Orthodox, Erick Ybarra examines sources from the first millennium with a fresh look at how methodology and hermeneutics plays a role in the reading of the same texts. In addition, he conducts a detailed investigation into the most significant points of history in order to show what was clearly accepted by both East and West in their years of ecclesiastical unity.

In light of this clear evidence, the reader of The Papacy is free to decide whether contemporary Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy has maintained the heritage of the first millennium on the understanding of the Papal office.

Prophecies Concerning the Coming of Christ

– Robert M. Haddad (Parousia On Demand)

In this presentation, Robert Haddad outlines over thirty Old Testament prophecies identified by the Gospel writers as referring to the future Messiah and fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth. These prophecies are contained in books written over a span of thirteen centuries and predict all the principal aspects of the Messiah’s life, including his birth, preaching, miracles, betrayal, passion death, resurrection and glorification in Heaven.

There are also prophecies concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the triumph of the Church. This is a must-see presentation and one that should be distributed to all people of goodwill, including Jews, Moslems and atheists.