Today, His Beatitude Mar Bechara Peter
Rai who’s the head of the Maronite Catholic Church worldwide visited
the Islamic Center of America and the American Muslim Center in
Dearborn. During his appearances at both mosques Patriarch Rai
encouraged interfaith unity between Muslims and Christians through
dialogue. Religious leaders from both communities were present and
echoed Patriarch Rai’s message.

After visiting the mosques the
patriarch attended a reception at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center in
Dearborn held in his honor by Houssam Diab, the Consul General of
Lebanon, where he was given special proclamations by Diab and several
other local, state and national leaders. 

According to Chorbishop Alfred Badawi,
Pastor of St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church Patriarch Rai is here
to visit his people-worshipers of all faiths from Lebanon and the
Middle East. Patriarch Rai brings a message of peaceful coexistence
built upon a foundation of unity, love and goodwill.

Patriarch Rai was enthroned on Mar. 25,
2011, and replaced Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir, who had
retired earlier this year at the age of 91 after 25 years as
Patriarch. 

On Sunday Patriarch Rai drew applause
from hundreds as he entered the St. Sharbel Maronite Church in Warren
where he spoke during mass.

“This communion also means being
open to our brothers and sisters from the Muslim
community,” Patriarch Rai said speaking to hundreds inside
the church.

Members of the local Muslim community
and their religious leaders including Imam Mohammad Mardini of the
American Muslim Center and Sheik Mohammed Dbouk of the Islamic Center
of America in Dearborn attended the mass.  

Rai’s visit was eagerly anticipated by
thousands in the in the local Catholic community. Nuns from Our Lady
of Chaldean Convent of Farmington Hills, Chaldean Priest Manuel Boji
and various other Middle Eastern Christians from Arab countries were
also present.

Jean Rachdan, a Lebanese Christian
supports the Patriarch’s message of bringing people of all faiths
together,and says it’s the most important message the Patriarch could
have brought with him.

“He talked about uniting people of
all faiths not just Muslims and Christians and that’s very
important. We’re one person with no divisions between us,”
Rachdan said.

Patriarch Rai asked political regimes
to respect all people, and says nations are in need of
reconciliation. His Beatitude says the world is in need of communion
so that wars and the violations of human rights may stop. 

“Our country Lebanon is also in great
need of living this communion in order to mend all the divisions that
you know about that exist among the various factions in the country,”
he said.

Following the mass worshipers gathered
around the Patriarch kissing his hand. He also held up a large gold
cross for worshipers to kiss.

Imam Mardini says the Patriarch’s visit
to the mosques in Dearborn are clear messages that he’s opening his
heart and hand for all people to come together and live as one
family. 

When asked about the Patriarch’s
message of unity between Muslim and Christians, Mardini said, “This
is a great message that we all aim for, and we all propose. This
message is important and vital to each and everyone living.”

Mardini was in Lebanon a few days ago.
When the Patriarch visited the American Muslim Center Mardini said
that Sunni Muslims in Lebanon asked him to tell Patriarch Rai they
supported his message of bringing different religious sects together,
and hope the patriarch continues to spread love.

Patriarch Rai also spoke directly to
members of the Maronite church.  “I cannot be a Christian
unless I can ask for forgiveness and I can forgive,” he said.
 Following Sunday’s mass, a grand banquet was thrown at the
Palazzo Grande in Shelby Township to celebrate the patriarch’s
historic visit to Southeast Michigan. More than 700 people attended.

Patriarch Rai is the first
Maronite Patriarch to come from a religious order in more than
200 years. The last date was Patriarch Toubia el-Khazen (1756-1766)
who was also a monk of the Mariamite Order. Tomorrow a press
conference will be held in Troy, following that the patriarch will go
to a luncheon at the Oakland Hills Club in Bloomfield Hills.