Our History

Holy Family Maronite Church is an Eastern Catholic Church.

* We belong to the large communion of Churches that constitute the Universal Catholic Church. Within this communion of Churches, there are 21 Eastern Catholic Churches (Maronite, Melkite, Ukrainian, etc.) and one Western Catholic Church (the Roman Catholic Church).

* In the Eastern Churches, we are a part of the Syriac-speaking Churches that have flourished in the Patriarchate of Antioch, founded by Peter, Head of the Apostles.

* St. Maron the hermit (410 A.D.), who lived in Apamea, Syria, is the patron Saint of our Church. Hence "Maronite," the name of our Church.

* The Maronite community started as a monastic community in the Monastery of St Maron on the Orontes river in Syria, but considerably grew and sought refuge from persecution in the Mountains of Lebanon.

 * St John Maron was our first Patriarch (707 A.D.) and resided in Kfarhay, Lebanon.

* We pride ourselves on being one of the few Churches preserving the Language of Christ (Aramaic) in our Divine Liturgy.

  QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE MARONITES

• Official name: Maronite Syriac Antiochene Church.
• Founder: Followers and disciples of St. Maron the Hermit (5^th Century).
• Present Head of Church: Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Sfeir. Resides in Lebanon.
• Catholicity: In union with the Church of Rome and the Supreme Pontiff since its inception in the 5^th century. The only Eastern Catholic Church with no Orthodox counterpart.
• Affinities: All Syriac Churches, especially Chaldeans, Syriac Orthodox, Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankar, etc.
• Spirituality: Syriac Antiochene tradition.
• Liturgical Language: Syriac-Aramaic (language of Jesus).
• Fathers of the Church: St. Ephrem, St. James of Saroug, St. Isaac the Syriac, etc.
• Canonized Saints: St Sharbel, St Rafka, St Hardini and others.
• Country of Origin: Syria (until 6^th century), then Lebanon.
• Population: Estimated One million in Lebanon, and more than 1.5 million in Expansion.

• Expansion: In the USA: two Eparchies (dioceses): Eparchy of St Maron (East Coast), Chancery in Brooklyn NY; Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon (Midwest and west Coast), Chancery in St Louis, MO. 
• Between the two Eparchies in the USA, there are 110 priests, 24 permanent deacons, 59 parishes, 21 missions and over two hundred thousand Maronites.

For more info on the origin and identity of the Maronite Church visit: http://www.stmaron.org/origin_identity.html

History of Holy Family Maronite Church

The opportunity to immigrate to America and other part s of the world attracted many of the Lebanese Maronites. Only a small group settled in the city of St. Paul. The early settlers were blessed with the privilege of attending the Church of St. Michael. The pastor permitted the Maronites to celebrate the Maronite Liturgy at St. Michael's Church in West St Paul. This arra ngement continued for a period of approximately 15 years. During the year 1918, the small group of settlers were authorized to purchase a Protestant Church for the sum of $2,250.00. It was remodeled, somewhat, and converted to the Church of the Holy Family. Overtime the church became dilapidated. Ground was broken for a new church at 203 East Robie Street in 1950. The Holy Family Church building is reminiscent of the simply detailed early Romanesque churches of Syria and Lebanon, the ancestral homeland of its parishioners. The walls of brick, trimmed with Mankato stone are surmounted by a low pitched roof of red Spanish tile. The Church of the Holy Family was dedicated on Sunday, January 28, 1951. A new Rectory was later built in 1958.

Holy Family Church has had many pastors over the years that have shepherded the community. We are grateful for all those priests who served us since the beginning of the last century.

Father Joseph Chebala Al-Ladakane: the first to unite the people. and found the alrea dy existing Society of the Sacred  Heart to purchase the Church for the Maronites and all Eastern Catholics in the City of Saint Paul in 1918.

Father Paul Rizk

Father Emmanuel Al-Khoury: First pastor of the Church of the Holy Family

Father Joseph Yazbek

Father Gabriel Malkoun

Monsignor Peter Ashkar

Father Francis Shea Served from 1946-1948

Father Joseph Ziade Served from 1948-1977

Father Michael Kail (asscociate pastor) served in 1977

Father John McGuire Served from 1977-1983

Father Peter Mahfoud Served from 1983-1992

Father Joseph Akiki Served from 1992-1993

Father Anthony Weiler Served from 1993-1995  

Father Louis Baz Served from 1995-1996

Father Bakhos Chidiac Served from 1996-2001

Father Stephen Bonian Served from 2001-2003

Father Rodrigue Constantin Served from 2003 to present