About Holy Family [Maronite] · Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Holy Family Maronite Catholic Church is an Eastern-rite (Maronite) Catholic parish in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, serving the Twin Cities Maronite Lebanese community since 1918. The parish is part of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles (under Bishop Elias Abdallah Zaidan) and sits geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Worship follows the ancient Antiochene Syriac tradition of the Maronite Church, celebrated primarily in English with Syriac and Arabic elements, and the parish is known for its tight-knit community of about 200 families, its Lebanese cultural events, and its pastor, Father Emmanuel Nakhle-Ghorr (Abouna Emmanuel), an Antonine Maronite priest who has served since February 2016.
- Established
- 1918
- Patron
- The Holy Family
- Rector
- Father (Abouna) Emmanuel Nakhle-Ghorr
- Diocese
- Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles (Bishop Elias Abdallah Zaidan); geographically within the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
Holy Family offers the rare experience of an Eastern-rite Maronite Catholic parish in the Twin Cities — a community where the ancient Syriac Antiochene liturgy (rooted in the tradition of St. James the Less) is celebrated in a small, tight-knit family of about 200 households. Members grow in faith through Faith Formation for children, the MYO youth group (ages 12-17), a strong choir tradition, and frequent fellowship: weekly Sunday breakfasts, the famous fall Lebanese Dinner, Lenten fish fries with Lebanese sides, and parish groups like the Ladies Society, Men's Club, and Merry-Nites. Outreach to the homeless through Catholic Charities' Opportunity Center and ongoing charity drives keep the community connected to the wider Twin Cities.
Mass times at Holy Family [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
About Holy Family Maronite Catholic Church
Holy Family Maronite Catholic Church is an Eastern-rite (Maronite) Catholic parish serving the Twin Cities from its current home in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Though the parish falls geographically within the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, it is canonically part of the Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, headed by Bishop Elias Abdallah Zaidan. The parish shares the Maronite patrimony — the Antiochene Syriac liturgical tradition, devotion to the See of Peter, and a Lebanese spiritual heritage — with sister parish St. Maron's in Minneapolis. About 200 families make up the community today.
Our History
The parish traces its roots to the small group of Lebanese Maronite Catholic immigrants who settled in St. Paul in the early 1900s. For roughly 15 years the community worshipped at old St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church on the West Side, with the pastor of St. Michael's — Father Patrick O'Neill — encouraging a Maronite Mass station in the basement chapel and a priest shared from St. Maron's in Minneapolis.
The First Church (1918)
In 1918 the Lebanese settlers purchased a former Lutheran church at the corner of Ada and East Robie Streets in St. Paul for $2,250, remodeled it, and rededicated it as the Church of the Holy Family. It served the community for the next three decades, though it gradually fell into disrepair.
The Second Church on East Robie (1951-2009)
Ground was broken in 1950 for a new church at 203 East Robie Street. The completed building — designed to recall the simply detailed early Romanesque churches of Syria and Lebanon — featured brick walls trimmed with Mankato stone and a low-pitched red Spanish-tile roof. Archbishop John Murray blessed the cornerstone and the church was dedicated on Sunday, January 28, 1951. A new rectory followed in 1958. (This building is now used by an Orthodox community.)
Move to Mendota Heights (2009)
In July 2009 the parish relocated to its present home, another former Lutheran church at 1960 Lexington Avenue South in Mendota Heights, in order to be closer to where most parishioners now live. The parish marked its centennial in October 2018 with a sold-out celebration at the InterContinental Hotel in St. Paul.
Our Pastor: Father Emmanuel Nakhle-Ghorr
Father Emmanuel Nakhle-Ghorr — known to his parishioners simply as Abouna Emmanuel — has served as pastor of Holy Family since February 2016. Born on February 16, 1960 in Baabda, the regional capital of Mount Lebanon province in Lebanon, he was educated at the Ecole de la Sainte Famille Française and the Collège des Pères Antonins, joined the Antonine Maronite Order in 1978, and pronounced his religious vows in 1980. He studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and was ordained a priest at Saint Elias Antelias Basilica in Lebanon on September 13, 1986. After further study of music and architecture in Rome (through 1991), he served at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from 1991 until October 2011 (becoming a Canadian citizen in 1995), and then served in Rome, Dubai, and the Sultanate of Oman. He is fluent in Arabic, French, English, and Italian, with a strong background in Ancient Syriac/Aramaic language and manuscripts, and also serves as chaplain of the Antonine Association of Scouts.
- Parish email: [email protected] — phone: 651-291-1116
- Pastor's direct email: [email protected] — phone: 612-481-0543
Mass and Service Schedule
Holy Family celebrates the Maronite Divine Liturgy five days a week. The Sunday liturgy at 10:00 AM is broadcast live on the parish's Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy — 10:00 AM (live on Facebook)
- Saturday Divine Liturgy — 4:00 PM
- Wednesday Divine Liturgy — 9:00 AM
- Thursday Divine Liturgy — 9:00 AM
- Friday Divine Liturgy — 9:00 AM
- Office hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Clubs and Organizations
A hallmark of Holy Family is its many parish organizations. The parish encourages members to participate in the groups that match their gifts and 'serve Christ by serving one another and the Church.'
- Parish Council — Jim Abbott, Stephen Abbott, Patricia Anderson, Gary Kloncz, Tony Koury, Art Nasseff, Gloria Deeb Reyes, George Sonnen, Vicki Whebbe
- Financial Council — Dennis Deeb (Chairperson), Larry Josephs, Joe Mansur
- Holy Family Society — Mary Beth Dooher (President); Pat Anderson (Treasurer), Vicki Whebbe (Vice President), Dorothy Francis (Secretary)
- Holy Family Men's Club — Jim Abbott (President), Jerry Whebbe (Vice President); meets third Monday at 6:00 PM, September–May
- Holy Family Ladies Society — meets first Fridays (October–May) immediately following the 9 AM liturgy
- Merry-Nites social group — Anna Grimes; meets fourth Tuesday at 6:30 PM
- Sacristy Committee — Margaret and Michael Maloney, Mary Ann Raines, Najib Gubash
- Liturgical (Decor) Committee — Mary Boldt, Mary Deeb
- Altar Servers Training — Jim Abbott
- Church Ushers — James Douglas, Michael Hill, Debbie Mike, David Persons, Mark Madison
- Bingo Committee — Carolyn Marker, Jennifer Marker Johnson
- Kitchen Committee — Vicki Whebbe, Pat Anderson, Mardelle Whebbe
- Festival of Nations — Joanna Conover & Jackie Gubash-Mueller
- Fall Festival — chaired by Parish Council / Gloria Deeb Reyes
- Lebanese Dinner — Ed Joseph
- Lenten Dinners — Pat Anderson & Vicki Whebbe
- Heritage Committee — Mary Ann Mansur & Dorothy Francis
- Marketing Committee — Jackie Gubash-Mueller (Chairperson), Theresa Persons
- Event Coordinator — Kathy Douglas
- Event Photographer — Richard Graner
- Facilities Management — Ed Joseph
- Administration — Carolyn Marker (Executive Secretary), Pat Anderson (Collections Bookkeeper)
- Website Management — Sue Nasseff
Faith Formation & Youth
Children's Faith Formation classes meet weekly at the church, September through May. Children in second grade (or those preparing for First Communion) are expected to attend. Older youth are served by the MYO (Maronite Youth Organization) for ages 12-17, and a young-adult MYA group meets the second Thursday of each month.
- Faith Formation for children — Wednesdays 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM (September–May); contact Nikki Abbott
- Director of Religious Education & Faith Formation: Gary Schwery
- Teachers: Michelle Kloncz, Carolyn Marker, Joyce Deeb, Anne Thomas, Grace Thomas, Nikki Abbott
- MYO Youth gathering (ages 12-17) — Sundays at 6:30 PM; Advisors Mary Beth Dooher and Nikki Abbott
- MYA young-adult group — second Thursday of the month at the church; contact Annemarie Schwery or Eddie Mueller
- Faith Enrichment Committee — Mary Boldt, Diane Corey, Anna Grimes, Mary Mansur, Barb Schwery
Music & Liturgy
Music is central to Maronite worship, and the parish choir practices weekly. Holy Family's Maronite Divine Liturgy follows the ancient Antiochene structure — a Service of the Word (with hymns, incense, Scripture, and homily) followed by the Anaphora (Service of the Eucharist) — based on the Liturgy of St. James the Less, first bishop of Jerusalem. A distinctive element is the Hoosoyo (Prayer of Forgiveness) and the chanting of the Trisagion in Syriac.
- Choir practice — Thursdays 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM (September–May)
- Choir Directors: Krista Abbott & Karla Abbott
- Organists: Jeanne Abbott, Dominic Abbott & Carolyn Marker
Outreach & Community Service
Holy Family's social hall is described as 'the busiest room' outside the church itself — a reflection of the parish's commitment to fellowship and service. Outreach is built into the rhythm of the parish: a monthly collection for a chosen charity, an ongoing drive for the Wakota Life Care Center in West St. Paul, and a regular commitment to serving the homeless in Minneapolis.
- Catholic Charities / Opportunity Center — Holy Family parishioners serve lunch to the homeless the first Saturday of every month, 9 AM–1 PM, in Minneapolis. Contact Joe Coury, 651-245-6382 or [email protected].
- Monthly Outreach Project — parishioners bring requested items to the cedar donations box in the Narthex.
- Wakota Life Care Center Donation Drive — collecting material items to be given to pregnant women in West St. Paul.
- Famous parish meals: fall Lebanese Dinner, Lenten fish fries with Lebanese side dishes, and Sunday breakfasts after Mass.
The Maronite Faith & Heritage
Holy Family identifies as fully Catholic while practicing the Maronite (Antiochene) tradition. The parish website emphasizes the church's five distinguishing marks identified by the 2003-2004 Maronite Patriarchal Assembly: Maronites are Antiochene, Chalcedonian, Patriarchal and Monastic, devoted to the See of Peter, and tied to Lebanon as their spiritual homeland. The liturgical language is Syriac, the sister of the Aramaic that Jesus spoke, and the Divine Liturgy — known as Qurbono (Syriac), Quddas (Arabic), the Sacrifice of the Mass, the Divine Liturgy, or the Service of the Holy Mysteries — is one of the oldest in the Catholic Church.
- One of two Maronite Catholic parishes in the Twin Cities (alongside St. Maron's, Minneapolis)
- Liturgy based on St. James the Less, first bishop of Jerusalem
- Liturgical language: Syriac (sister of Aramaic)
- Patriarch of the Maronite Church resides in Lebanon and is a member of the College of Cardinals in Rome
- Five distinguishing marks: Antiochene, Chalcedonian, Patriarchal/Monastic, devoted to the See of Peter, tied to Lebanon
Visiting & Contact
Visitors and new members are always welcome at Holy Family. The parish office is open Tuesday through Saturday from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, and the contact page of the website includes a Google Maps link for directions to 1960 Lexington Avenue South.
- Address: 1960 Lexington Avenue South, Mendota Heights, MN 55118
- Parish phone: 651-291-1116
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Pastor's direct email: [email protected] — phone: 612-481-0543
- Sunday liturgy live-streamed on the parish's Facebook page
- Donations accepted securely via PayPal on the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Paul Rizk1913-1916
Came from St. Maron's, Minneapolis to serve St. Paul's Maronite community at St. Michael's.
- Fr. Emanuel Al-Ksouri1916-1917
Early visiting Maronite priest; preceded the 1918 parish purchase.
- Father Emmanuel Nakhle-GhorrFebruary 2016 – present
Current pastor; Antonine Maronite Order priest from Baabda, Lebanon, appointed by Bishop Elias Zaidan.