About Our Lady of Lebanon seminary [Maronite] · Washington, District of Columbia
Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church is a Maronite Catholic parish in Washington, D.C., sharing its grounds and history with the Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary. Founded canonically in 1966 as part of the Maronite Apostolic Exarchate (later the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn), it grew out of a 1962 open house at the seminary on the feast of St. Maron that sparked a Maronite community in the nation's capital. Today the parish, led by Msgr. George M. Sebaali since September 2018, celebrates the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and serves Lebanese-American Maronite faithful in the Washington area under Bishop Gregory John Mansour.
- Established
- 1966 (parish) / 1961 (seminary)
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lebanon (also historically tied to St. Maron, whose feast day open house in 1962 gave birth to the parish)
- Rector
- Msgr. George M. Sebaali
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn (Maronite Catholic)
Why belong here
Our Lady of Lebanon offers the rare chance to worship in the Syriac-Maronite tradition in the heart of the nation's capital, with the Sunday Divine Liturgy celebrated in English, Aramaic, and Arabic. The parish combines an intimate small community with deep roots — it is home to the historic Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary, and its members gather for Sunday Rosary, Maronite Catholic Formation (religious education) for children, the Maronite Youth Organization, a Couples Ministry, an adult choir, altar servers, and a Parish Council. Annual traditions like the St. Maron Feast Day lunch, the Ash Monday Divine Liturgy, Lenten Stations of the Cross and Benediction, and the St. Sharbel monthly Divine Liturgy give the parish a rich devotional rhythm for any Maronite Catholic — or anyone curious about this Eastern Catholic Church — looking for a spiritual home in the D.C. area.
Mass times at Our Lady of Lebanon seminary [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Every Sunday from 10:15 AM to 10:45 AM before the Divine Liturgy
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Benediction with the Holy Cross follows the Friday Lenten Divine Liturgy at 7:30 PM during Lent
History of Our Lady of Lebanon
The parish traces its origins to the founding of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary in 1961 and was canonically established in 1966 under Bishop Francis M. Zayek, with Msgr. Elias El-Hayek as the first pastor. A 1962 open house at the seminary on the feast of St. Maron is credited as the spark that formed the Maronite community in Washington. The parish worshipped in the seminary chapel until 1976, when Bishop Zayek dedicated the current combined church and hall; the altar was later consecrated by Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir.
- 1961 — Seminary opens on September 24 at 7164 Alaska Ave. NW; Rev. Elias El-Hayek first rector, Fr. Seely Beggiani prefect of studies, first class of five seminarians
- 1962 — Cardinal Amleto Cicognani visits the seminary (December 3); Patriarch Paul Cardinal Meouchi formally dedicates it on August 26 at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen preaching
- 1964 — Archbishop Francis Zayek ordains Robert Shaheen (later Bishop), the seminary's first alumnus
- 1966 — Parish canonically established under the Maronite Apostolic Exarchate; Msgr. Elias El-Hayek named administrator
- 1976 — Bishop Zayek dedicates the new church and hall building still in use today
- 1986 — Seminary celebrates 25th anniversary
- 2001 — New seminary wing (library, computer area, seminar rooms, faculty housing) dedicated by Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir, funded by Mr. Anthony Abraham of Miami
- 2005 — Patriarch Sfeir consecrates the altar in the new church
- 2018 — Msgr. George M. Sebaali becomes pastor on September 1
Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary
Sharing the campus at 7164 Alaska Avenue NW, Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary is the educational and spiritual home for Maronite seminarians in the United States, sponsored jointly by the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn (Bishop Gregory Mansour) and the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles (Bishop A. Elias Zaidan). Founded in 1961 with five seminarians, it has ordained 68 men to the priesthood over its history, two of whom — Robert Shaheen and Gregory Mansour — became Maronite bishops. The seminary's alumni and rectors have produced texts on Maronite liturgy, catechetics, theology, spirituality, and history, and it hosts events such as the annual Maronite Enrichment Days and Syriac Maronite Conferences.
- Current Rector: Msgr. Peter Fahed Azar (Chorbishop)
- Affiliated orders: Order of Saint Sharbel (lay/clergy support organization founded 1980)
- Annual events: Maronite Enrichment Days; Syriac Maronite Conference
- Distinguished visitors have included Patriarchs Khoraiche (1981) and Sfeir (1988, 2001, 2005, 2008), Maronite bishops, prefects of the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Churches, and every Apostolic Delegate and Papal Pro-Nuncio to the United States
Pastor and Clergy
The parish has had four pastors since its founding and is currently led by Msgr. George M. Sebaali, who became pastor on September 1, 2018, after Chorbishop Dominic F. Ashkar retired due to canonical age. Deacon Michel Touma assists in liturgical life. The pastor can be reached directly by phone at (202) 291-5153, by cell at (804) 240-9820, or at [email protected].
- Msgr. George M. Sebaali — Pastor (since September 2018); previously served in Richmond, VA
- Deacon Michel Touma
- Msgr. Elias El-Hayek — first pastor and seminary rector (1961–1967)
- Msgr. Seely Beggiani — pastor and seminary rector (1967–1979); later Chorbishop
- Msgr. Hector Y. Doueihi — pastor (1979–1987); later Bishop of the Eparchy of St. Maron; Diocesan Director of Liturgy
- Chorbishop Dominic F. Ashkar — pastor (1987–2018); concurrently Diocesan Director of Religious Education
Liturgical Schedule and Sacraments
The parish celebrates the Maronite Divine Liturgy in English, Aramaic, and Arabic, with the principal Sunday liturgy at 11:00 AM. The Sunday Rosary is prayed in the church at 10:15 AM, and Reconciliation (Confession) is offered every Sunday from 10:15 to 10:45 AM before the Divine Liturgy or by appointment. Holy Days of Obligation and special weekday services (Ash Monday, Lenten Fridays, monthly St. Sharbel) are typically held at 7:30 PM.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy — 11:00 AM (English / Aramaic / Arabic)
- Sunday Rosary — 10:15 AM
- Reconciliation — Sundays 10:15–10:45 AM or by appointment
- Holy Days of Obligation — 7:30 PM
- Baptism — contact priest as soon as the baby is born
- Marriage — contact priest at least six months prior to wedding
- Anointing / Communion for the sick — call Msgr. Sebaali at (202) 291-5153
Parish Organizations and Ministries
Our Lady of Lebanon runs an active set of parish organizations for adults and youth, with parishioners invited to volunteer and contact the pastor to get involved. The Maronite Youth Organization brings young people together for service, fellowship, and Maronite faith formation, while the Couples Ministry hosts regular meetings (including Zoom gatherings). The adult Choir and the Altar Servers support the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, and the Parish Council and Finance Council guide the parish's life and stewardship.
- Parish Council
- Finance Council
- Adult Choir
- Altar Servers (Acolytes)
- Maronite Youth Organization (MYO)
- Couples Ministry (hosts Zoom meetings)
- Ushers
- Historical: National Apostolate of Maronites (NAM) — parish played a leading role in its formation and first convention
Faith Formation — Maronite Catholic Formation (MCF)
Religious education for children is offered through Maronite Catholic Formation (MCF), with classes on Sundays at 10:00 AM (late September through May) or by appointment. The program runs the parish school year, ending each year in early May with thanks to the volunteer catechists.
- Sunday religious education at 10:00 AM (late September through May) or by appointment
- Volunteer catechists thanked annually at the end of the program
Special Devotions and Annual Events
The parish keeps the rhythms of the Maronite liturgical year with regular devotions to St. Sharbel and the seasons of Great Lent. The annual St. Maron Feast Day lunch is a beloved parish tradition, and the annual parish picnic gathers the community outside the church walls.
- St. Sharbel — monthly Divine Liturgy in his honor (typically a Monday evening at 7:30 PM, e.g., May 22 and June 22, 2026)
- Massabki Brothers — annual Divine Liturgy (e.g., Friday, July 10, 2026 at 7:30 PM)
- Great Lent — Divine Liturgy and Benediction with the Holy Cross every Friday at 7:30 PM, followed by a simple meatless meal
- Ash Monday — Divine Liturgy at 7:30 PM with ashes given at the Liturgy
- St. Maron Feast Day — annual parish lunch following the Divine Liturgy (reservations in the social hall)
- Annual Parish Picnic — Barcroft Park Picnic Shelter, 4500 S Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington, VA 22206
- 40-Day anniversary Masses and family-requested Masses offered regularly
Diocese and Wider Maronite Church
Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church is in the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn under Bishop Gregory John Mansour. The Eparchy comprises 45 parishes and missions across the eastern United States. The parish and seminary together form a hub of Maronite life in the capital, maintaining close ties to the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch and to Maronite faithful throughout the world.
- Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn (Maronite Catholic, in full communion with Rome)
- Bishop Gregory John Mansour
- 45 parishes and missions in the Eastern United States
- Sister Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles under Bishop A. Elias Zaidan
Contact, Location, and Support
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or through the online donation portal on the parish website. The mailing address listed in the weekly bulletin is 7237 15th Place NW, Washington, DC 20012, with the physical address at 7142 Alaska Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20012 — shared with the seminary at 7164 Alaska Avenue NW.
- Parish phone: (202) 291-5153
- Pastor's cell: (804) 240-9820
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor's personal email: [email protected]
- Website: www.ololdc.org
- Online donation portal: visit www.ololdc.org and click 'donate' (Vanco payment processor)
- Donations by mail: Our Lady of Lebanon Church, 7237 15th Place NW, Washington, DC 20012
- Second collection in early May for the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in North Jackson, Ohio
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Elias El-Hayek1961–1967
First rector of Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary; also served as pastor/administrator of the parish from its founding.
- Msgr. Seely Beggiani1967–1979
Held the posts of seminary rector and parish pastor simultaneously; later became Chorbishop.
- Msgr. Hector Y. Doueihi1979–1987
Now Bishop of the Eparchy of St. Maron; concurrently Diocesan Director of Liturgy.
- Chorbishop Dominic F. Ashkar1987–2018
Concurrently Diocesan Director of Religious Education; retired due to canonical age on September 1, 2018.
- Msgr. George M. Sebaali2018–present
Previously served in Richmond, VA.