About Our Lady of the Rosary [Maronite] · Carmichael, California
Our Lady of the Rosary is a Maronite Catholic mission serving the Sacramento, California region. It belongs to the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, the Maronite (Antiochene Syriac) Catholic jurisdiction for the western and central United States. The community worships in the West Syriac Maronite tradition — celebrating the Divine Liturgy in English, Arabic, and Syriac — and is currently pastored by Fr. Mhanna Joseph Kallas. In October 2024 the mission relocated from its longtime home on Fair Oaks Boulevard in Carmichael to share the church of St. Elizabeth of Portugal in downtown Sacramento, with the move coinciding with the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, also known as Our Lady of the Rosary. The parish is the spiritual home of Lebanese-American Maronite faithful in the Sacramento Valley and runs youth (MYO), young adult (MYA), and cultural ministries that connect parishioners to their Antiochene heritage.
- Established
- 2009
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Rosary (also venerated under the title Our Lady of Fatima)
- Rector
- Fr. Mhanna Joseph Kallas
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles (Maronite Catholic) — under Latin Diocese of Sacramento pastorally
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Rosary is a small but deeply devoted Maronite Catholic community where Lebanese-American heritage, faith, and family come together. Parishioners gather weekly for the Maronite Divine Liturgy (in English, Arabic, and Syriac), stay connected through MYO (youth, ages 12–18), MYA (young adults, 18–35), and cultural events such as the American Lebanese and Middle Eastern Festival, and are shepherded by Fr. Mhanna Joseph Kallas in a mission that has called Carmichael and now downtown Sacramento home. Visitors are warmly welcomed into a parish whose story — from private rosary gatherings in 2003 to a permanent church and now a new chapter at St. Elizabeth of Portugal — is rooted in devotion to Mary under the title Our Lady of the Rosary.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Rosary [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish History
Our Lady of the Rosary traces its roots to Lebanese Maronite immigrants in Sacramento who, from 2003/2004, gathered monthly in May to pray the rosary in private homes. The community's formal life began with a 2006 encounter in Las Vegas between Father Nabil Mouannes and George Choufani, Ziad Awil, and Jack Assaly — what Fr. Mouannes calls a 'providential' meeting. In March 2009 the first Mass was celebrated in George Choufani's home; in October 2009 bimonthly Divine Liturgies began at St. George Melkite Church; and on November 27, 2009, after a Thanksgiving prayer and meal at John Aboubechara's home, the first parish council was elected and the Maronite Catholic Community of Sacramento was officially established. By September 2010 Masses had grown to monthly, and on December 23, 2010 a Christmas Liturgy was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. On February 23, 2011 the mission closed escrow on its first permanent home at 6811 Fair Oaks Boulevard in Carmichael, and two days later the first official Mass was celebrated there. Bishop Jaime Soto of the Latin Diocese of Sacramento visited in July 2011, and Fr. Nabil Mouannes was formally installed as first permanent pastor on June 1, 2012. The mission operated from Carmichael for over a decade before relocating in October 2024 to share St. Elizabeth of Portugal Church at 1817 12th Street in downtown Sacramento.
- First Mass: March 2009 (home of George Choufani)
- Official founding: November 27, 2009
- Church closed escrow: February 23, 2011
- First Mass in new church: February 25, 2011
- Relocation to St. Elizabeth of Portugal: October 2024
Sacraments
As a Maronite Catholic mission, Our Lady of the Rosary celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church within the Antiochene Syriac Maronite tradition, including the regular celebration of the Divine Liturgy. Sacramental preparation and scheduling are coordinated through the pastor and parish leadership, with the mission operating under the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles.
- Maronite Divine Liturgy (weekly)
- Sacramental preparation coordinated through Fr. Mhanna Joseph Kallas and the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon
Youth & Young Adults (MYO / MYA)
Our Lady of the Rosary participates in the Maronite Youth Organization (MYO), a national apostolate founded by the National Apostolate of Maronites (NAM) in the 1960s for youth ages 12–18, and the Maronite Young Adults (MYA) for ages 18–35. The parish's MYO/MYA chapters run regular community events — including Falafel Lunches, Spring BBQs, and fellowship meals after Sunday Liturgy — and connect Sacramento-area Maronite youth and young adults to eparchial retreats and conferences.
- MYO (Maronite Youth Organization) — ages 12–18; participates in liturgies, regional retreats, and cultural events
- MYA (Maronite Young Adults) — ages 18–35; service, social, and spiritual activities
- Spring BBQ (MYO/MYA)
- Falafel Lunch and other community meals after Sunday Liturgy
Cultural Life & Festival
Cultural expression is central to the parish's identity as a Lebanese-American Maronite community. Fr. Nabil Mouannes founded an annual American Lebanese and Middle Eastern Festival at the Carmichael property that drew thousands from across the region and was anchored by a 16-foot-tall statue of Jesus. The parish continues to celebrate its Antiochene Syriac heritage through food, music, and fellowship events throughout the year.
- Annual American Lebanese and Middle Eastern Festival (founded by Fr. Mouannes)
- 16-foot Jesus statue — festival landmark on the former Carmichael property
- May rosary gatherings (originating 2003/2004 in private homes)
Devotions & Special Events
Our Lady of the Rosary's life is marked by devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary — under both the title Our Lady of the Rosary and Our Lady of Fatima — and to the saints of the Maronite tradition. In December 2015 the parish hosted the relics of St. Sharbel, with hundreds of faithful visiting day and night for blessings, and in May 2015 Fr. Ghattas Khoury organized a concert with Lebanese singer Joumana Mdawar at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento that drew all Eastern Catholic communities.
- Relics of St. Sharbel visit (December 2015)
- Concert with Joumana Mdawar at Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament (May 2015)
- Feast of Our Lady of Fatima / Our Lady of the Rosary celebrated as a major parish feast (October 2024 Mass at new home)
Contact & Location
As of October 2024, Our Lady of the Rosary Maronite Catholic Mission shares worship space with St. Elizabeth of Portugal Parish in downtown Sacramento. The parish can be reached by phone or email, and is listed in the National Apostolate of Maronites (NAM) directory for the Southwest Region.
- Address: 1817 12th Street, Sacramento, CA 95811 (at St. Elizabeth of Portugal Church)
- Former address: 6811 Fair Oaks Blvd., Carmichael, CA 95608
- Phone: (916) 426-6280
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: olorsac.com
- Council contacts: Monique Chemaly, Carolyn Aboubechara
- Eparchy region: Southwest (NAM directory)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Nabil Mouannes2011–2013
First permanent pastor; led the founding community, closed escrow on the Carmichael church Feb 23 2011, formally assigned June 1 2012; left October 2013 for ministry in France.
- Fr. Fady El Chidiac, SJ2013–2014
Jesuit priest who regularly celebrated Divine Liturgy with the mission after Fr. Mouannes' departure; announced Fr. Mouannes' appointment on Palm Sunday 2012.
- Fr. William Lesser2014
Assigned by Bishop Elias Zaidan as temporary pastor after Fr. Mouannes' departure.
- Fr. Raymond Guy Sarkis2014 (Summer)
Student priest studying in Rome who stayed with the Sacramento community for the summer of 2014.
- Fr. Ghattas Khoury2014–2024
Second permanent pastor; his first year coincided with his 25th anniversary of priesthood (celebrated May 2015 with a Joumana Mdawar concert at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament); hosted the relics of St. Sharbel in December 2015.
- Fr. Mhanna Joseph Kallas2024–present
Assigned June 2024 with bi-ritual faculties; oversaw the mission's relocation to St. Elizabeth of Portugal Church in downtown Sacramento in October 2024.