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Our Lady of Lebanon 

We are a Maronite Catholic Parish in the heart of Washington, DC

An open house held by Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary on St. Maron’s Feast day in 1962 provided the spark for the formation of a parish community in the nation’s capital.

Our Parish

Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church is in the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn under the leadership of Bishop Gregory John Mansour. The Eparchy is composed of 45 parishes and missions in the Eastern United States.

Our parish is home to Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary. The seminary provides the educational and spiritual environment for seminarians to excel and serve the Maronite faithful throughout the world. 

Each Catholic Church practices a common faith according to one of the six major traditions. The Maronite Church follows the Antiochene Tradition. 

All Churches within the communion of Catholic Churches share the same:

  • Dogmatic Faith
  • Seven Mysteries (Sacraments)
  • Moral Teachings
  • Unity with the Pope of Rome

 

The Maronite Church 

Pastor

About

Msgr. George M. Sebaali

Msgr. Sebaali has served as pastor for Our Lady of Lebanon since September 2018. He previously served in Richmond, VA.

+1 (202) 291-5153

History

An open house held by Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary on St. Maron’s Feast day in 1962 provided the spark for the formation of a parish community in the nation’s capital. From that time until today, the House of Maron in Washington, DC has been an active ecclesial and cultural presence.

After the establishment of the Maronite Apostolic Exarchate in Detroit, Michigan, Washington DC’s Maronite community was established canonically under the Exarchate in 1966 with Bishop Francis M. Zayek as Ordinary. Monsignor Elias El- Hayek, the first rector of Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary, was appointed administrator of the officially established new parish.

Before 1966, the Maronite community used the facilities of Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary for parish activities and the conduct of its liturgical life. After its establishment, the parish continued to use the facilities of the Seminary until 1976, when Bishop Zayek dedicated a combination of the new Church and hall. This building is the Church currently in use by the parish.

Four priests have occupied the pastoral chair of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church since its founding. Monsignor Elias EI-Hayek served from 1961 to 1967 both as pastor and rector of the Seminary. Monsignor Seely Beggiani was pastor from 1967 to 1979 and, like Monsignor EI-Hayek, held the position of Seminary rector at the same time. Monsignor Hector Y. Doueihi (now Bishop of the Eparchy of St. Maron) served as pastor from 1979 to 1987. During that period, Monsignor Doueihi was also the Diocesan Director of Liturgy. Chorbishop Dominic F. Ashkar led the parish since 1987 and served concurrently as Diocesan Director of Religious Education. On September 1, 2018, Chorbishop Ashkar retired due to canonical age, and Msgr. George M. Sebaali became the Pastor.

Over the years, the Washington, DC, Maronite community has been visited by many dignitaries from the Eastern and Western Churches: distinguished members of the United States and foreign governments; papal nuncios; ambassadors and other officials of the diplomatic corps; university presidents and outstanding names in various academic fields; and well-known names in many different professional areas. Special moments in the life of the community include:

  • 1961

    Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary Opens

    Visit by the Papal Secretary of State, Amleto Cardinal Cicognani, shortly after the opening of the Seminary doors in September.

  • 1962

    Official Dedication of the Seminary

    Visit by Patriarch Paul Peter Cardinal Meouchi for the official dedication of the Seminary.

  • 1964

    Formation of National Apostolate of Maronites (NAM)

    Leadership in the formation of the National Apostolate (formerly Association) of Maronites (NAM) and sponsorship of the first NAM convention.

  • 1966

    Our Lady of Lebanon Parish Established

    Establishment of Our Lady of Lebanon Parish under the Maronite Apostolic Exarchate.

  • 1976

    Dedication of New Church and Hall

    Bishop Francis Zayek dedicates the new Our Lady of Lebanon Church and social hall.

  • 1981

    Visit by Patriarch Anthony Peter Cardinal Khoreiche

  • 1988

    Visit by Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir

  • 1992

    Visit by Cardinal James Hickey, Archbishop of Washington, DC

    Cardinal Hickey was the guest of honor for St. Maron’s feast day.

  • 2005

    His Beatitude Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir consecrates the altar in the new church