The Jesus the King Church Summer Festival started the Friday 2nd, Sat 3rd, & Sun 4th August 2024 at the Cathedral of Transfiguration in Markham. It is an annual event on the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. The primary purpose of the Festival is to celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ and also to bring the Melkite Catholics and other Middle East Christians together with famous tunes and singers from all the Middle East cultures, of Lebanon, Syria, Holy Land, Iraq, & Egypt. Thanks to OLG, Bingo World + Gaming and The City of Richmond Hill, whose charitable gaming funds enabled the Knights of Jesus the King Council 15045 support the event by donating the bright red FESTIVAL VOLUNTEER TEE SHIRT printed with the KOFC crest on the right arm. The entertainment was performed by famous singers in the GTA from Lebanon, Syria, Holy Land & Iraq. The crowds danced the Dabke, the local folkloric dance in the Middle East, which means STUMP your feet to the beat. There were around 130 volunteers from the community, many of them Knights and their ladies. The children and youth Ministry IMAC also helped to supervise the kids rides. All the church ladies helped in preparing and serving the delicious chicken Shawarma, Falafel with tehineh sesame oil sauce, manakish zaatar ie thyme pizza, and sweet delicacies as baklawa, and hot knafe with cheese. There was free face painting for the kids, and friendly Backgammon games that is always won by the parish pastor Monsignor Makarios who always gets the right numbers with his dice.
Jesus the King Church Festival received the Knights of Columbus 2019 Best Over All Ontario Community Award. To get an idea about the atmosphere, watch the video here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/VJ8iuHdnE1aCb1r9/.
For more information, contact Brother Hikmat, the Deputy Grand Knight of Jesus the King Council 15045 and the Ontario Christian Refugee Relief Director at 416-893 8060 or email [email protected].
To learn about the Christian Refugee Relief program, visit www.christianrefugeerelief.org