About Our Lady of the Cedars [Melkite] · Manchester, New Hampshire
Our Lady of the Cedars is a Melkite Greek Catholic parish in Manchester, New Hampshire, part of the Eparchy of Newton (our Mother Church of Antioch) but geographically located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester. The community was founded by Middle Eastern immigrants who came to work in Manchester's mills around the turn of the 20th century, and today welcomes faithful of many backgrounds who share in the Byzantine liturgical and spiritual tradition. The parish currently celebrates the Divine Liturgy on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings at 140 Mitchell Street, and is known across New Hampshire for its annual Mahrajan Middle Eastern food festival. It is pastored by Very Rev. Archpriest Thomas P. Steinmetz, a former Manchester police detective who was ordained a Melkite priest in Lebanon in 2002 and elevated to Archpriest in 2019.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Cedars (of Lebanon) — the Mother of God venerated under the title of the cedars of Lebanon
- Rector
- Very Rev. Archpriest Thomas P. Steinmetz
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Newton (Melkite Greek Catholic), within the geographic territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Cedars offers a warm, multigenerational home for anyone who wants to experience the ancient Byzantine Christian tradition alive in New Hampshire. The parish gathers for the Divine Liturgy each Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with Sunday Orthros at 9:45 AM and a rich liturgical life rooted in the Antiochene heritage of the Melkite Catholic Church. Beyond worship, the community comes together through its celebrated Mahrajan Middle Eastern food festival (now in its fifth decade), faith formation, and active parish ministries — and visitors of every background are warmly welcomed.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Cedars [Melkite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before or after any service
- By appointment
Parish History
The community traces its roots to Middle Eastern immigrants who began arriving in Manchester around the turn of the 20th century to work in the city's mills. On November 15, 1930, thirty-five families petitioned Bishop Guertin of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester for a parish of their own and were given the use of the Holy Rosary Chapel. On February 13, 1955, Bishop Brady formally organized the community as the mission parish of Our Lady of the Cedars; Patriarch Maximos IV of Antioch came to Manchester and blessed the mission on August 31, 1955. The basement church at 161 South Beech Street was built in 1956 and served as both church and part-time rectory for six years; the upper church was completed in 1963 and the mission was raised to full parish status.
- 1930 — 35 families petition Bishop Guertin; services begin at Holy Rosary Chapel
- Feb. 13, 1955 — Bishop Brady organizes the mission parish
- Aug. 31, 1955 — Patriarch Maximos IV of Antioch visits and blesses the mission
- 1956 — Basement church erected at 161 South Beech Street
- 1963 — Upper church completed; mission raised to full parish
- Oct. 19, 2005 — Archbishop Cyril Bustros signs purchase of former St. Theresa's
- Dec. 24, 2005 — First Divine Liturgy in the new church on Mitchell Street
- Sep. 25, 2022 — Final mortgage payment of $43,144.82 to the Diocese of Manchester
The Melkite Greek Catholic Church
The Catholic Church is a family of churches in communion with one another and united by a common faith. The largest member is the Roman Catholic Church; the Melkite Greek Catholic Church is one of the sister churches that follow the liturgical and spiritual traditions of the Byzantine East. The Melkites are Catholics of the Middle East, and the Melkite Church is part of the Apostolic Church of Antioch — first founded by St. Peter himself. Antioch, near the modern Turkish-Syrian border, was the first Gentile city to receive the Gospel, and the Acts of the Apostles records that 'it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians' (Acts 11:26). At the time of the parish's founding, the church was led by the Patriarch of Antioch, Maximos IV; today the worldwide church is led by the Patriarch of Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem.
- One of the Eastern Catholic churches in full communion with Rome
- Liturgical and spiritual tradition of the Byzantine East
- Spiritual heir of the Apostolic Church of Antioch
- Parish falls under the Melkite Eparchy of Newton (covering the United States)
Our Clergy
The parish is served by Very Rev. Archpriest Thomas P. Steinmetz, a Manchester native and retired Manchester police detective who has been part of the Our Lady of the Cedars community since 1975. After transferring his enrollment from the Latin Church, he and his wife Kathy formally became Melkites in 1985. He attended St. Gregory's Melkite Seminary's diaconate program and was ordained to the diaconate on January 23, 1994 by Bishop Nicholas Samra at Our Lady of the Cedars. He was ordained a priest in Rabweh, Lebanon on July 6, 2002 by Archbishop Salim Ghazal, became administrator on September 1, 2002, and was later named pastor.
- Graduated Manchester Central High School (1974) and St. Anselm College (1978)
- Career Manchester Police officer, retired 2002 as Detective Lieutenant after 24 years
- Ordained deacon Jan. 23, 1994 by Bishop Nicholas Samra
- Ordained priest July 6, 2002 in Rabweh, Lebanon by Archbishop Salim Ghazal
- Elevated to Archpriest by Bishop Nicholas Samra on June 30, 2019
- Named Proto-Presbyter of the New England region, January 2021
- Granted bi-ritual faculties from the Holy Father, 2023
- Eparchial service: College of Consultors, Presbyteral Council, Safe Environment Review Board, Priest Personnel Board
- Chaplain: Manchester Police Department, Manchester V.A. Medical Center, Knights of Columbus Council #5260, Catholic War Veterans
The Sacraments (Holy Mysteries)
The parish celebrates the seven Holy Mysteries of the Byzantine tradition. The Divine Liturgy — the principal celebration of faith and the means of union with Christ through Holy Communion — stands at the center of parish life. Other liturgical services include the Service of Supplication (Paraklisis), the Blessing of Bread (Artoklasia), the Akathist Hymn in honor of the Theotokos (chanted in four parts during the first four Fridays of Great Lent), and the Great Blessing of Water at Theophany. The parish also celebrates Funeral services and Memorial Services for the departed, which are offered on the 40th day after death, on the yearly anniversary, and on the two 'Saturdays of the Dead.'
- Holy Baptism
- Holy Chrismation (Confirmation)
- Holy Communion
- Holy Confession
- Holy Crowning (Matrimony)
- Holy Orders (Ordination)
- Holy Unction (Anointing of the Sick)
The Church Year & Feasts
The Melkite liturgical calendar begins on September 1 and ends on August 31, with at least one saint or sacred event commemorated every day. Twelve major feast days are observed annually, including the Nativity of the Theotokos (Sept. 8), the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14), the Entrance of the Theotokos (Nov. 21), the Nativity of the Lord (Dec. 25), Theophany (Jan. 6), the Encounter of the Lord in the Temple (Feb. 2), the Annunciation (March 25), the Transfiguration (Aug. 6), and the Dormition of the Theotokos (Aug. 15). The crowning feast of the year is Pascha, the Resurrection of the Lord. Four fasting seasons accompany the year: the Great (Lenten) Fast, the Fast of the Apostles, the Fast of the Dormition, and the Fast of the Nativity, with Wednesday and Friday abstinence recommended most weeks.
- Twelve Great Feasts of the Byzantine year
- Pascha (Easter) — the Feast of Feasts
- Four fasting seasons: Great Fast, Apostles' Fast, Dormition Fast, Nativity Fast
- Wednesday/Friday abstinence most weeks of the year
Parish Ministries & Faith Formation
Our Lady of the Cedars is known for an active lay community with deep involvement in parish life. Fr. Tom himself served on the Parish Council (1983–1993), taught religious education, and helped lead the parish young adult group before his ordination. The parish continues religious education programs, hosts a young adult community, and has historically been active in the National Association of Melkite Youth (the Ambassadors). The community also supports ecumenical and civic chaplaincies through Fr. Tom's role as chaplain for the Manchester Police Department, the Manchester V.A. Medical Center, the Knights of Columbus Council #5260, and the Catholic War Veterans.
- Parish Council
- Religious Education / Faith Formation
- Young Adult Group
- National Association of Melkite Youth (Ambassadors)
- Knights of Columbus Council #5260
- Chaplaincies: Manchester Police Dept., Manchester V.A. Medical Center, Catholic War Veterans
Mahrajan — Annual Middle Eastern Food Festival
Mahrajan — advertised as 'Arabic for a wicked good time' — is the parish's signature community event and one of New Hampshire's most beloved summer traditions. Now in its 50th edition as of 2025, the festival features lamb kabobs, kibbee, falafel, stuffed grape leaves, tabbouleh, shawarma, and traditional Lebanese pastries, along with Arabic music, kids' games, a full bar, and hookah rentals. Roughly 80 parishioner volunteers pitch in each year to run the kitchen, grill kebabs, make pastries, and supervise the pony rides. The festival is both a major parish fundraiser and a way for the community to share its food, faith, and Middle Eastern heritage with the wider Manchester region.
- Annual festival held in August at the parish
- Traditional Middle Eastern menu: lamb kabobs, kibbee, falafel, shawarma, tabbouleh, Lebanese pastries
- Live Arabic music, kids' games, full bar, hookah rentals
- About 80 volunteers serve each year
- 50th edition celebrated in 2025
Visit & Contact
Our Lady of the Cedars welcomes visitors to its worship and community life. The parish offices and rectory are located at 140 Mitchell Street in Manchester, NH 03103. The parish can be reached by phone, fax, or email, and additional information — including current bulletins and announcements — is published on the parish website.
- Address: 140 Mitchell Street, Manchester, NH 03103
- Phone: (603) 623-8944
- Fax: (603) 645-6017
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.olocnh.org/