Cathedral of Our Lady of Lebanon [Maronite]

History of the Cathedral

Our Lady of Lebanon traces its origin to the Brooklyn Maronite community established in 1903 by Father Khairallah Stephen. Housed since 1944 in the landmark former Church of the Pilgrims in Brooklyn Heights, the parish was elevated to cathedral in 1977 when the Eparchial See of Saint Maron was transferred from Detroit to Brooklyn. The full parish history — including the move from Hicks Street, the purchase of the Upjohn-designed building, and the subsequent bishops served — is documented on the official parish history page.

• Founded February 17, 1903 (Certificate of Incorporation signed)
• Worship on Hicks Street, Brooklyn, 1904 onward (dedicated January 1906)
• Purchase of the former Church of the Pilgrims signed December 8, 1943 for $70,000
• Maronites took possession February 9, 1944 — the Feast of Saint Maron
• First Divine Liturgy in the new building celebrated November 26, 1944 by Father Mansour Stephen
• Designated a cathedral on June 27, 1977

The Church of the Pilgrims (Building History)

The building that the Maronites acquired in 1944 has its own century of history. Constructed 1844–46 as a Congregational church designed by Richard Upjohn, it is recognized as the first Romanesque Revival church in the United States and counted among the earliest works by the architect of Trinity Church, Manhattan. Over the nineteenth century it was expanded (a truss bridge and ten supporting columns in the 1850s; a 450-seat addition by Leopold Eidlitz in 1869), and in 1934 it merged with Plymouth Church. The Maronites acquired the property in the early 1940s after declining Congregational membership left the building underused.

• Architect: Richard Upjohn (1844–46); east addition by Leopold Eidlitz (1869)
• Cost: approximately $65,000 including $10,000 for the land
• First pastor: Rev. Richard S. Storrs Jr., served 1847–1900
• Construction hampered when roof timbers proved inadequate — a truss bridge was added
• Merged with Plymouth Church in 1934 to form Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims
• Sold to the Maronites for $70,000, deed recorded February 1, 1944

Architecture and Notable Interior Features

The cathedral's fabric combines Upjohn's Romanesque Revival shell with an extraordinary collection of salvaged and donated elements — bronze doors from the SS Normandie, marble and onyx from the 1939 World's Fair pavilions, mahogany doors from Charles Schwab's mansion, 17th-century Italian/German bronze baptistery gates, and stained-glass windows by Jean Crotti. A Lebanese mural of Our Lady of Harissa by Saliba Douaihy presides over the altar.

• Romanesque Revival style; contributing structure in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District (1966)
• Bronze SS Normandie doors with ten medallions (nine Norman cities and the SS Ile de France)
• Marble and onyx flooring from the French and Lebanese Pavilions of the 1939 World's Fair
• Mahogany doors and marble pilasters in the narthex from the Charles M. Schwab mansion (demolished 1948)
• Solid bronze baptistery gates, 17th-century, Northern Italy/Southern Germany
• Saint Rafqa Chapel with a circa-1526 bas-relief of Our Lady in Chains
• Mural of Our Lady of Harissa by Saliba Douaihy, 1952
• Ten Gemmaux stained-glass windows by Jean Crotti, 1953; further work by Sabiha Douaihy in the late 1950s

Clergy and Leadership

The cathedral is served by the Most Reverend Gregory J. Mansour as Eparchial Bishop, with Chorbishop Michael G. Thomas as Vicar General. The Rector is the Very Reverend Monsignor Dominique Hanna, J.C.L., who assumed the role in 2018 and is to be ordained a monsignor in the Order of Periodeut in April 2025. Liturgical assistance is provided by Deacon Nadim Khaled and Subdeacon Norbert Vogl.

• Eparchial Bishop: Most Reverend Gregory J. Mansour, J.C.D.
• Vicar General: Chorbishop Michael G. Thomas, J.C.D.
• Rector: Very Reverend Monsignor Dominique Hanna, J.C.L.
• Deacon: Nadim Khaled
• Subdeacon: Norbert Vogl

Organizations and Ministries

A wide slate of parish organizations sustains the cathedral's community life across age groups and interests — from grade-school religious education through adult service organizations. All programs are coordinated through the Cathedral Office (718-624-7228 / CathRectory@verizon.net).

• Maronite Catholic Formation (MCF) — Pre-K through high school, Sundays 10:00–11:15 AM
• Junior Maronite Youth Organization (Jr. MYO) — Grades 5–6
• Maronite Youth Organization (MYO) — Grades 7 through high school
• Maronite Young Adults Organization (MYA) — College freshmen through age 30; annual October retreat in Florida
• Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception — Women's organization, ages 25+, meetings after the 11:00 AM Divine Liturgy the first Sunday of each month
• Knights of Saint Maron — Men's service organization; meets third Wednesday of each month (September–June)
• National Apostolate of Maronites (NAM) — Eparchial lay organization preserving Syriac-Maronite heritage
• Pastoral Council — Elected and appointed advisory body to the Rector
• Finance Council — Advisory body on parish finances
• Capital Campaign Committee — Overseeing ongoing restoration of cathedral properties

Sacraments

Sacramental preparation is coordinated through the cathedral office and the Maronite Catholic Formation program. Couples should contact the Cathedral Office to schedule marriage; families seeking Baptism, First Communion/Confirmation, or Anointing of the Sick should likewise contact the cathedral in advance.

• Baptism
• First Communion and Confirmation (via MCF catechesis)
• Marriage / Holy Matrimony
• Anointing of the Sick and pastoral care for the homebound
• Funerals and Christian burial

Lebanese Festival and Pilgrimages

Each year the parish hosts the Lebanese Festival — a Brooklyn Heights tradition that draws visitors from across the diocese to share Lebanese food, music, and culture. The rector also organizes international parish pilgrimages for parishioners, such as the upcoming Southern France pilgrimage led by Monsignor Dominique Hanna, September 29 – October 9.

Contact

The Cathedral Office can be reached by phone, fax, email, or in person at the rectory next door to the church at 113 Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights.

• Phone: (718) 624-7228
• Fax: (718) 624-8034
• Email: CathRectory@verizon.net
• Eparchial Chancery: 109 Remsen Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201; (718) 237-9913