About Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon [Maronite] · North Jackson, Ohio
The Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon is a Maronite Catholic church and minor basilica in North Jackson, Ohio, on a peaceful 80-acre site about two miles north of Ohio Route 18. It is a roughly half-size stone replica of the original Marian shrine in Harissa, Lebanon — the famous white-marble statue of the Virgin Mary atop a rock tower, mirroring the Mother of Light that overlooks the Bay of Jounieh. The Shrine was founded in 1963 by Msgr. Peter Eid, dedicated in 1965, and elevated to the status of a minor basilica by Pope Francis on July 8, 2014. It is the only Maronite national shrine in the United States and serves as both an active parish and a major pilgrimage destination, hosting an annual Assumption Pilgrimage in August and the Feast of Our Lady of Lebanon on the first Sunday of May.
- Established
- 1963
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lebanon (Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Lebanon)
- Rector
- Chorbishop Anthony Salvatore Spinosa (Rector / Protopresbyter)
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles (Maronite Catholic) — diocesan offices in St. Louis, Missouri; the Basilica is geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown.
Why belong here
The Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon is a working Maronite Catholic parish and a national pilgrimage site in one, offering the full rhythm of an Eastern-Catholic devotional life — Divine Liturgy celebrated in the Maronite tradition, regular Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the annual Assumption Pilgrimage in August, the Feast of Our Lady of Lebanon on the first Sunday of May, and a Lebanese Food Festival. Visitors and parishioners worship on a peaceful 80-acre pastoral setting with a barrier-free chapel, a Martyrs' Meditation Trail, the Prince of Peace Chapel, and the climbable tower of Our Lady, and they are explicitly welcomed as 'Maronites and the wider Church coming together.' As Chorbishop Spinosa has put it, the Shrine was 'intended from the start as a place for Maronites and the wider Church to come together,' making it a unique spiritual home for Lebanese-American Maronites, Eastern-Catholic faithful of any background, and Roman Catholics drawn to Marian devotion.
Mass times at Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- 1/2 hour before each Liturgy
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM (Eucharistic Adoration)
- Benediction of the Cross (Lent) — Friday 6:00 PM
About the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon
The Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon is a Maronite Catholic Church under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, with diocesan offices in St. Louis, Missouri. It functions as both an active parish and a national pilgrimage site on 80 acres in North Jackson, Ohio, and was elevated to the status of a minor basilica by Pope Francis on July 8, 2014. The Shrine is geographically located within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, with which it cooperates closely — most visibly through the annual Assumption Pilgrimage, when the Roman Catholic Bishop of Youngstown concelebrates a Roman-Rite liturgy alongside the Maronite Bishop of the Eparchy.
- Maronite Catholic sui iuris church
- Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles (offices in St. Louis, MO)
- Geographically within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown
- National Shrine of the Maronite Church in the United States
- Minor Basilica since July 8, 2014 (decree of Pope Francis)
History of the Shrine
The Shrine was conceived in 1960, founded in 1963, and dedicated in 1965 on an 80-acre site purchased in 1961 by Msgr. Peter Eid. Ground was broken August 16, 1964; the granite statue of the Virgin Mary was placed atop the tower on July 20, 1965; and the Shrine was formally dedicated on August 15, 1965 — the Feast of the Assumption — by Auxiliary Bishop James Malone of the Diocese of Youngstown. The project carried the personal approval of Pope John XXIII and the cooperation of Bishop Emmet M. Walsh of Youngstown and Maronite Bishop Francis M. Zayek, and was championed by the St. Maron Holy Name Society of Youngstown, with help from the Maronite parishes of Akron, Ohio and New Castle, Pennsylvania. On July 8, 2014, Pope Francis elevated the Shrine to a minor basilica, capping more than fifty years of continuous Marian devotion on the site.
- 1960: First proposal for a U.S. Maronite Marian shrine (with Archbishop Patrick O'Boyle of Washington)
- 1961: Msgr. Peter Eid purchases 80 acres in North Jackson
- 1963: Project formally initiated by the St. Maron Holy Name Society
- August 16, 1964: Ground broken for the $200,000 stone replica
- July 20, 1965: Granite statue of the Virgin Mary placed on the tower
- August 15, 1965: Shrine dedicated by Auxiliary Bishop James Malone on the Feast of the Assumption
- 1980: Rectory addition (guest rooms and expanded garage) added to the original trailer home
- July 8, 2014: Elevated to minor basilica by Pope Francis
- 2016: Designated a Jubilee Church for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy
- 2025: Named a Jubilee Church for the Holy Year 2025; hosts its 60th Annual Assumption Pilgrimage
Architecture and Grounds
The Shrine is a roughly half-size stone replica of the Our Lady of Lebanon shrine in Harissa, Lebanon, built of stone to match the original. Its central feature is a 55-foot rock-faced tower crowned by a 16-foot granite statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary with outstretched arms, weighing 7.5 tons, with a spiral staircase inside that allows visitors to climb up beside the statue. The site's interior Maronite iconography — including the 'Christ, Giver of the Eucharist' icon, side icons of Saints Peter and Paul, decorative wall borders, and a Holy Spirit motif in the high ceiling — was designed and painted by New Guild Studio. The 80-acre grounds are pastoral, barrier-free, and include the Prince of Peace Chapel (capacity 450), the smaller Tower Chapel (capacity 35), the Martyrs Meditation Trail, a gift shop, and indoor facilities for use in inclement weather.
- Stone replica of the Harissa shrine
- 55-foot rock base tower
- 16-foot granite Virgin Mary statue (7.5 tons)
- Spiral staircase to the top of the tower
- Prince of Peace Chapel (capacity 450)
- Tower Chapel (capacity 35)
- Martyrs Meditation Trail
- Shrine Gift Shop
- Maronite-style iconography by New Guild Studio (Christ Giver of the Eucharist; Saints Peter and Paul)
- Barrier-free access throughout
Pilgrimages and Visiting
The Shrine defines a pilgrimage as 'a journey to a sacred place undertaken as an act of religious devotion,' and offers individual, one-day, and overnight group pilgrimages. A recommended schedule typically includes conference time, Confession, Eucharistic Devotion, Benediction, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Rosary, Way of the Cross, and free time for personal prayer. The Shrine can also host conferences and retreats; outside groups may provide their own program and celebrant(s) for liturgy while the Shrine supplies the chapel, meeting rooms, facilities, and home-cooked meals (with advance reservation). The grounds are barrier-free, the facilities include indoor space for inclement weather, and the site is close to the Ohio Turnpike and major lodging.
- Individual, one-day, and overnight group pilgrimages
- Spiritual exercises: conference time, Confession, Eucharistic Devotion, Benediction, Mass, Rosary, Way of the Cross, personal prayer
- Conference and retreat hosting (chapel, meeting rooms, meals provided)
- Home-cooked meals for groups (advance reservations required)
- Barrier-free access
- Indoor facilities for inclement weather
- Close access to turnpike, major interstates, and lodging
Annual Feasts and Pilgrimages
Two annual observances define the Shrine year. On the first Sunday of May the Basilica celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Lebanon — a day of Plenary Indulgence — with the 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy, the crowning of Our Lady's statue, blessing with the icon of Our Lady of Lebanon, and the Lebanese Food Festival that follows. In mid-August the Shrine hosts the multi-day Annual Assumption Pilgrimage, normally featuring a Roman-Rite Divine Liturgy celebrated by the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, a candlelit procession with the icon of the Blessed Mother, and fellowship in Cedars Hall, with August 18 observed as the Feast of Saint Rocco.
- Feast of Our Lady of Lebanon — first Sunday of May (day of Plenary Indulgence; crowning of the statue; blessing with the icon; Lebanese Food Festival)
- Annual Assumption Pilgrimage — mid-August (Roman-Rite Divine Liturgy with the Bishop of Youngstown; procession with the icon of the Blessed Mother; fellowship in Cedars Hall)
- Feast of Saint Rocco — August 18
- Lebanese Food Festival — Sunday following the Feast of Our Lady of Lebanon
Spiritual Enrollment and Devotions
Through the Spiritual Enrollment program, the living and deceased may be enrolled so that their names are remembered in the book placed on the altar at the Shrine. Annual enrollments keep the name of the intention in the book for one year; perpetual enrollments keep the name in the book for as long as the Shrine exists. The Basilica also offers Mass intention forms and membership enrollment forms for the intentions of loved ones, and accepts donations to support the Shrine's ministry.
- Annual Spiritual Enrollment (one year)
- Perpetual Spiritual Enrollment (for the life of the Shrine)
- Mass Intention Form
- Membership Form for intentions of loved ones
Leadership, Clergy, and Parish Staff
The Basilica is led by Rector and Director Chorbishop Anthony Salvatore Spinosa, who has served at the Shrine since 2002, was elevated to Chorbishop on August 13, 2016, and also serves the Eparchy as Protopresbyter of the Midwest Region and president of the College of Consultors, Presbyteral Council, Personnel Board, and Office of Admissions. The wider Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon is led by Bishop Abdallah Elias Zaidan, MLM, the third bishop of the Eparchy. Successive administrators of the Shrine since 1965 have included Msgr. Peter Eid (1965–1969), Msgr. Peter Tayah (1971–1973), and Msgr. Dominic Ashkar (1975–1983); successive directors have included Fr. Ronald Zidian, Msgr. George Webby (with Fr. Joe Thomas as assistant), Fr. Mike Kail, Fr. Bill Bonczewski (in two stints), and Fr. Bill Decker.
- Rector / Director: Chorbishop Anthony Salvatore Spinosa (since 2002; Chorbishop since 2016)
- Eparchial Bishop: Most Rev. Abdallah Elias Zaidan, MLM
- Administrators: Msgr. Peter Eid (1965–69), Msgr. Peter Tayah (1971–73), Msgr. Dominic Ashkar (1975–83)
- Directors: Fr. Ronald Zidian, Msgr. George Webby (+ Fr. Joe Thomas), Fr. Mike Kail, Fr. Bill Bonczewski, Fr. Bill Decker
Contact and Practical Information
The Shrine office can be reached by phone at 330-538-3351 (with fax 330-538-0455) and by email at [email protected] or [email protected]. The mailing address is 2759 N. Lipkey Road, North Jackson, OH 44451, USA. The official website is https://ourladyoflebanonshrine.com, and the Shrine maintains an active Facebook presence for news of feast days, pilgrimages, and special events.
- Phone: 330-538-3351
- Fax: 330-538-0455
- Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
- Address: 2759 N. Lipkey Road, North Jackson, OH 44451, USA
- Website: https://ourladyoflebanonshrine.com/
- Facebook: Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Peter Eid1965–1969
Founder; purchased the 80-acre site in 1961; first Administrator of the Shrine.
- Rev. Ronald Zidian1965–1969 and 1972–1974
Director (concurrent with Administrator role).
- Msgr. George Webby1969–1972
Director; assisted by Father Joe Thomas.
- Msgr. Peter Tayah1971–1973
Administrator.
- Father Mike Kail1974–1976
Director.
- Msgr. Dominic Ashkar1975–1983
Administrator.
- Father Bill Bonczewski1976–1978
Director.
- Father Bill Decker1978–1980
Director.
- Father Bill Bonczewski1980–into the new millennium
Director; long-serving priest at the Shrine.
- Msgr. / Chorbishop Anthony S. Spinosa2002–present
Current Rector and Director; elevated to Chorbishop August 13, 2016; also Protopresbyter of the Midwest Region and president of the Eparchy's College of Consultors, Presbyteral Council, Personnel Board, and Office of Admissions.