St. Anthony's Maronite Catholic Church

05/23/2026

The Order of Saint Sharbel is an organization of lay people and clergy who have pledged their spiritual strength and financial support for Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary and the retired Maronite clergy of the Maronite Eparchies in the USA.
For more information about the Order ask Pastor Bassam or visit www.orderstsharbel.org.

05/22/2026

Registration is open for the 61st Annual Maronite Convention from July 2-4, 2026 in San Deigo, CA.
Sponsored by the National Apostolate of Maronites and hosted St. Ephrem Maronite Catholic Church, this event is being held at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina.

05/18/2026

PRAYER FOR LEBANON
God of refuge, hear our prayer as we hold the people of Lebanon in our hearts and implore Your protection and peace.
In Your mercy, bring comfort to those who mourn, healing to those who are injured, shelter to those who are homeless sustenance to those who hunger.
Give strength to those who are working to rebuild shattered lives, and protect those who have fled homes to find safety.
Lead us in Your ways so that together we may bring the light of new hope wherever there is destruction and despair.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

05/17/2026

7th Sunday of the Resurrection falls between the Ascension and Pentecost, acting as a "suspense" period where the church waits for the Holy Spirit. It focuses on Christ’s prayer for unity among disciples, his ascension, and the handover of his mission to believers, highlighting their calling to be his hands and feet on earth.

05/16/2026

Taken from the Maronite Voice March/April editon
On 28 February, 160 youth gathered at Our Lady of the Cedars Church in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, for the New England Regional Lenten Retreat, centered on the theme “Hands of Christ.” Through engaging talks by Amanda Tarantelli, the youth reflected on the Lenten pillar of almsgiving and their call to be instruments of Christ’s love in the world. The retreat included prayer, confession, adoration before the cross, fellowship, games, and joyful community.
A particularly meaningful moment came when participants turned reflection into action by creating 30 fleece blankets to be donated to a local homeless and women’s shelter—a tangible way of becoming the “hands of Christ” for those in need.
Together, these gatherings reflect the vitality of our Maronite youth as they grow in faith, serve others, and continue their journey with Jesus Christ.

St. Anthony's Maronite Catholic Church MYO was in attendance.

05/15/2026

Posting the Maronite Voice March/April 2026 edition.
Please note the April 17, 2026 Pastoral Letter
How, Jesus, the Fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, Transformed Our World for the Good by Bishop Gregory John Mansour

Issue II of The Maronite Voice 2026, the Intereparchial Magazine of the Maronite Church in the United States.

05/10/2026

6th Sunday of the Resurrection
Focuses on themes of abiding in Christ’s love, the promise of the Holy Spirit (the Advocate), and preparing for the Ascension. Readings emphasize loving one another, keeping commandments, and the transition from Jesus' earthly presence to the empowerment of the Spirit.
The message for the 6th Sunday of Resurrection is that, although Jesus is returning to the Father, he does not leave his disciples alone, but sends the Spirit to guide them. The focus is on love, intimacy with God, and experiencing the peace that Christ gives.

05/09/2026

Mother’s Day Remembrance ~ If you would like to remember your mother, grandmothers, godmothers, etc., Living and deceased, please write their names on an envelope and drop it in the collection basket with your donation or mail it to the Parish Office. Their names will be put on the Altar during the Masses the weekend of Mother’s Day May 9-10.

05/08/2026

FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
This month we celebrate Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is not just a “Hallmark” day but is celebrated in many countries throughout the world. In Lebanon it was on March 21st this year like a number of countries in Europe. For Christians, this feast has a special meaning and originated in the practice of sons who had left home to find work returning in mid-Lent, which is usually near the feast of the Annunciation, to visit with their mothers. It therefore became associated with the Blessed Mother and also with “Mother Church.”

The fourth commandment: “Honor your Father and your Mother that you may live long in the land” comes directly after the commandments relating to God and signifies its importance. It is indeed a great privilege to be a parent and in honoring our mothers, we are giving thanks for the gift of life and the nurturing love we received from them. Not that we should neglect the importance of a fathers’ role but we have Fathers’ Day for that.

This life-giving and nurturing role links our mothers with the Blessed Mother through whom the author of life was born into the world and also with Mother Church where we receive the new life of the Spirit through baptism and are nurtured in our faith through word and sacrament. It also calls upon us to honor those who have ‘mothered’ us. Those who, though not our mothers and perhaps not mothers at all, have still had a nurturing and life enhancing impact on our lives. They too are worthy of our respect and our gratitude.

If Mothers’ Day is about looking back with appreciation and gratitude, the Feast of Ascension is about looking forward with hope. Our Lord told his disciples that if he did not leave the Holy Spirit would not come. It is that Holy Spirit that has formed us into the Church, the body of Christ, of which Christ is the head. Our Lord’s departure, though sad for the disciples, opened up the way of new life to all who believe. It is our hope that where the Head has already gone we will one day follow into that fullness of life and love that God alone can give. If we are to have our hopes fulfilled we must continue to live lives of faith which bears fruit in good works. Salvation is a gift which is offered to us. It is not enough to say “I believe” we have to live our faith.

God Bless You,
Father Bassam