WATERVILLE — St. Joseph Maronite Catholic Church will host a Hafli on Oct. 5 at MacCrillis-Rousseau Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8835 at 175 Veterans Drive in Winslow. The event will benefit a new roof at the church’s rectory. Dinner will begin at 6 p.m. and an evening of dancing will follow from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Tickets cost $35 per person, with tables of 10 are available for $300.

“To many in the Maronite Community, a Hafli is considered a homecoming of sorts,” said Kevin J. Michaud, president of the St. Joseph’s Maronite Catholic Community, in a news release from the church. “With many Lebanese scattered all around Maine, we felt it would be wonderful to have an evening featuring traditional Lebanese foods as well as music by a traditional Arabic band from the Boston area, with traditional and American-style dancing.”

The Maronite Catholic Church is the largest of the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches in the Middle East with around 3 million members, including nearly 1 million in Lebanon. The Maronite Church traces back to a community formed around St. Maron, a fourth-century monk, receiving papal recognition in 518 A.D.

The Maronite Church is in full communion with the Church of Rome and the pope.

“We are truly blessed to have a Maronite community in Maine,” said Michaud. “There are many living from the Fort Fairfield area down to Portland who go the distance to attend liturgy. This evening will celebrate the central Maine Lebanese community and its culture.”

For reservations or more information, contact David Elias at 692-4586, or the Rev. Larry Jensen at 872-8515.

Those interested in attending or donating can also send an e-mail to stjoesinmaine@yahoo com.

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