About Massabki Martyrs · Notre Dame, Indiana
The Blessed Massabki Brothers Maronite Catholic Mission is a Maronite (Eastern Catholic) mission community serving the University of Notre Dame campus in Notre Dame, Indiana. Officially established in fall 2022 by Bishop Abdallah Elias Zaidan of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, the mission gathers Maronite faithful — students, faculty, and families — for the weekly celebration of the Maronite Divine Liturgy (the Qurbono), celebrated in Syriac, the liturgical language descended from the Aramaic spoken by Jesus Christ. The mission is named in honor of the three Massabki brothers (Francis, Abdel Moati, and Raphael), Maronite laymen from Damascus who were martyred on July 10, 1860 for refusing to renounce their Christian faith; they were beatified in 1926 and canonized by Pope Francis on October 20, 2024.
- Established
- 2022
- Patron
- The Three Blessed Massabki Brothers (Francis, Abdel Moati, and Raphael Massabki) — Maronite lay martyrs of Damascus
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles (Maronite Catholic Eparchy) — under Bishop Abdallah Elias Zaidan
Why belong here
The Blessed Massabki Brothers Mission offers Maronite Catholics — and friends from any Catholic tradition — a regular weekly Divine Liturgy in the Syriac-Aramaic liturgical heritage on the Notre Dame campus, ending each Sunday with a coffee and breakfast social that builds real community. Families can raise their children in continuity with their Maronite faith, observe traditional fasting practices, and have sacraments such as baptism and chrismation administered by Maronite priests. It is also a uniquely welcoming place where Roman Catholics can experience the richness of an Eastern Catholic rite in full communion with Rome.
Mass times at Massabki Martyrs
Weekly Mass schedule
About the Massabki Martyrs Mission
The Blessed Massabki Brothers Maronite Catholic Mission is an Eastern Catholic (Maronite) community officially established in fall 2022 on the University of Notre Dame campus by Bishop Abdallah Elias Zaidan of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles. The mission gathers Maronite students, faculty, and families for the weekly celebration of the Maronite Divine Liturgy (the Qurbono) in Syriac, the liturgical dialect of Aramaic. Although its principal mailing address is Moreau Seminary on the Notre Dame campus, the Sunday Divine Liturgy is celebrated in the St. Thomas More Chapel of Notre Dame Law School's Eck Hall of Law. The community shares coffee and breakfast after each Liturgy.
History
Maronite Catholics have been present at Notre Dame for decades, but for many years there was no regular Maronite liturgy on campus. Families and students had to travel nearly two hours each way to reach the nearest Maronite church. In 2022 Fr. John Paul Kimes, a Maronite priest and member of the Notre Dame Law School faculty, began celebrating a weekly Maronite Divine Liturgy on campus. That same fall, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan formally established the Mission of the Blessed Massabki Brothers, naming the three Maronite martyr brothers from Damascus as the community's patrons. The mission was incorporated as a domestic nonprofit corporation in the State of Indiana on May 3, 2023.
- Fall 2022: Weekly Maronite Divine Liturgy begins on Notre Dame campus
- Fall 2022: Bishop Elias Zaidan officially establishes the Mission of the Blessed Massabki Brothers
- March 2023: First baptism and chrismation celebrated in the mission
- May 3, 2023: Mission incorporated in Indiana as 'Massabki Brothers Maronite Catholic Mission, Inc.'
The Patron Saints — The Massabki Brothers
The mission is named after the three Blessed (now Saint) Massabki Brothers — Francis, Abdel Moati, and Raphael — Maronite laymen from Damascus, Syria and sons of Nehme Massabki. On the night of July 9–10, 1860, during the 1860 civil conflict in Mount Lebanon and Damascus, the brothers were killed inside a Franciscan church in Damascus for refusing to renounce their Christian faith. Pope Pius XI proclaimed their beatification on October 10, 1926 at Saint Peter's Basilica. On October 20, 2024, Pope Francis canonized them at Saint Peter's Basilica, making them the first Maronite laymen to be raised to the altars of the universal Catholic Church. Their feast day is celebrated on July 10.
- Beatified October 10, 1926 by Pope Pius XI
- Canonized October 20, 2024 by Pope Francis
- Feast Day: July 10
- First Maronite laymen to be canonized saints of the universal Church
- Venerated alongside eight Franciscan martyrs of Damascus
Clergy
The mission is served by Maronite priests who combine pastoral ministry with academic life at Notre Dame. Fr. John Paul Kimes is a professor at Notre Dame Law School and principal celebrant of the Maronite Divine Liturgy. Fr. Michael Shami serves as Administrator of the Mission while pursuing doctoral studies in liturgics at Notre Dame.
- Rev. Fr. John Paul Kimes — Maronite priest; Professor, Notre Dame Law School
- Rev. Fr. Michael Shami — Administrator of the Mission; Maronite priest; doctoral student in liturgics, University of Notre Dame
Liturgy and Schedule
The Maronite Divine Liturgy, known as the Qurbono, is celebrated every Sunday at 11:00 AM in the St. Thomas More Chapel in Eck Hall of Law on the Notre Dame campus. The Liturgy is prayed in Syriac, a dialect of Aramaic — the language of Jesus. Members and guests gather afterward for a coffee and breakfast social. Roman Catholics are warmly welcomed to attend the Maronite Liturgy as well.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy (Qurbono) — 11:00 AM, St. Thomas More Chapel, Notre Dame Law School
- Coffee and breakfast social following each Liturgy
Maronite Tradition
The Maronite Church is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with Rome. Its tradition developed in the Syriac world, particularly between the cities of Edessa and Antioch. The mission gathers Maronites — including those who are not of Middle Eastern origin but have come to the Maronite faith through its liturgical and catechetical life — so they can worship in their own particular tradition, observe their stricter fasting customs, and receive the sacraments in the Maronite rite. The mission also welcomes Roman Catholics to experience this Eastern Catholic heritage.
- Liturgical language: Syriac, a dialect of Aramaic
- Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with Rome
- Distinct Maronite fasting customs and sacramental practice
Sacraments
The mission celebrates the sacraments according to the Maronite tradition. In March 2023 the community celebrated its first baptism and chrismation in the mission. Families wishing to have their children baptized or chrimated according to the Maronite rite are encouraged to contact the mission's clergy.
- Baptism and Chrismation (Maronite rite)
- Eucharist (Maronite Qurbono / Divine Liturgy)
Diocese and Governance
The mission falls under the canonical jurisdiction of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, a Maronite Catholic eparchy of the Antiochian tradition headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri and led by Bishop Abdallah Elias Zaidan, MLM. The eparchy's territory covers 34 states of the United States, including Indiana. It was erected by Pope John Paul II in 1994 from what had been the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn.
- Diocese: Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles (Maronite)
- Bishop: Most Rev. Abdallah Elias Zaidan, MLM
- Eparchy erected: March 19, 1994
- Immediately subject to the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches
Visit and Contact
Visitors are warmly welcomed to attend the Sunday Maronite Divine Liturgy. The Liturgy is celebrated at the St. Thomas More Chapel in Eck Hall of Law on the University of Notre Dame campus. The mission's official website is the best source for up-to-date information on the schedule, ministries, and how to get involved.
- Address: St. Thomas More Chapel, Eck Hall of Law, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
- Mailing: Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, IN 46556
- Website: http://www.massabkibrothers.com/