About Saint Anthony of the Desert Maronite Church · Fall River, Massachusetts
Saint Anthony of the Desert Maronite Catholic Church is a Maronite-rite Catholic parish in Fall River, Massachusetts, belonging to the Eparchy (Diocese) of Saint Maron of Brooklyn and physically situated within the territorial boundaries of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River. Founded in 1911 by Lebanese immigrants who had begun settling in the city around 1900, the parish has grown from a nucleus of about 40 families to a community of several hundred households, currently shepherded by Chorbishop James A. Root. The community worships in the Maronite liturgical tradition rooted in the ancient Church of Antioch and the spirituality of the Desert Fathers, while remaining in full communion with the pope and the wider Catholic Church.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- Saint Anthony the Great (Anthony of the Desert / Anthony of Egypt, the father of monasticism)
- Rector
- Chorbishop James A. Root
- Diocese
- Maronite Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn (geographically located within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River)
Why belong here
Saint Anthony of the Desert offers an authentic Maronite Catholic home in southeastern Massachusetts — a place where English-speaking and Arabic-speaking faithful pray in the ancient Antiochene Syriac tradition while remaining in full communion with Rome. The parish combines daily Mass, perpetual adoration in the St. Sharbel Chapel, a vibrant women's society (Blessed Mother's Guild), a men's society under St. Joseph's patronage, an active Maronite Youth Organization (MYO/MYA), and a parish school of faith (Maronite Christian Formation) under Sr. Marla Marie Lucas. It is also home to a 350-family Lebanese-American community whose roots in Fall River go back more than a century, sustained by a working parish finance and scholarship committee and a long roster of devotional and social ministries.
Mass times at Saint Anthony of the Desert Maronite Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- Available before and after Liturgies upon request
- Available by appointment on all days
Adoration times
- Monday 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM (Adoration Chapel of St. Sharbel)
- Tuesday 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday 9:30 AM – 12:00 Midnight (Adoration until midnight)
About the Parish
Saint Anthony of the Desert Maronite Catholic Church is a Maronite-rite parish of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, located in Fall River, Massachusetts. The parish describes itself as 'a welcoming community of Faith' that 'express[es] our Catholic Faith in the light of the spirituality of the ancient Church of Antioch and that of the Desert Fathers,' and that adheres 'to the true teachings of the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ in both word and action.' The community worships in the Antiochene Syriac Maronite tradition while remaining in full communion with the pope.
- Maronite Catholic parish in the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn
- Geographically within the Roman Diocese of Fall River
- Spirituality rooted in the ancient Church of Antioch and the Desert Fathers
- Patron: Saint Anthony the Great (Anthony of the Desert)
History of Saint Anthony of the Desert
The parish was organized in 1911 from a nucleus of about 40 families of Lebanese immigrants who had begun arriving in Fall River around 1900. The community's first place of worship was a small wooden dwelling at 286 Jenks Street, purchased by Rev. Gabriel Corlemaz of Boston, who spent three months ministering to the families. After administration by Reverend Ignatius Saye and Father Caesar Phares, Chorbishop Joseph Eid arrived on June 23, 1929 and led the parish for over four decades.
- 286 Jenks Street — original wooden dwelling purchased for worship
- 359 Quequechan Street — stucco church completed May 1930, dedicated October 12, 1930 under Chorbishop Joseph Eid
- 300 North Eastern Avenue — current church dedicated October 22, 1978 under Monsignor Norman Ferris, after arson destroyed the Quequechan Street church on July 2, 1971
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Chorbishop James A. Root with the assistance of a Priest in Residence, three deacons, and a dedicated lay and religious staff.
- Pastor: Chorbishop James A. Root — [email protected]
- Priest in Residence: Rev. Claude Franklin
- Deacons: Dr. Andre Nasser (Ex-officio), Donald Massoud, Brian Dunn
- Music Director: Evan Massoud — [email protected]
- Parish Secretary: Nancy Sypek — [email protected]
- Parish Records: Diane Soares — [email protected]
- Parish Bookkeeper: Sue Tessier — [email protected]
Parish Ministries and Societies
Saint Anthony's maintains an active roster of parish societies and ministries that sustain community life, faith formation, and outreach across generations.
- Blessed Mother's Guild — women's society; President Terry Galib
- St. Joseph Men's Society — Officers Gary Michael and Rick Chouinard
- MYO / MYA (Maronite Youth Organization) — Advisor Julie Lattouf
- Maronite Christian Formation (MCF) — Director Sr. Marla Marie Lucas, MSCL
- Parish Scholarship Committee — Chairperson Karl Hetzler
- Parish Finance Committee — Chairperson David Faris
- Music Ministry — Director Evan Massoud
- Holy Family Traveling Icon visitation program
- Order of Saint Sharbel (Perpetual Members)
Devotions and Parish Devotional Life
The parish maintains a strong devotional life centered on the Eucharist and the Maronite saints, particularly Saint Sharbel. The Adoration Chapel of Saint Sharbel is open three days a week, and the parish publishes an annual Lenten schedule and a Maronite Voice newsletter.
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel of Saint Sharbel
- Holy Family Traveling Icon (sign up via the rectory)
- Consecration to Saint Joseph (parish sign-up available)
- Annual Lenten Observances schedule
- Maronite Voice parish newsletter
Faith Formation for Children and Youth
Maronite Christian Formation (MCF), under Director Sr. Marla Marie Lucas of the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light (MSCL), provides catechesis for the parish's young people in the Maronite tradition. The MYO/MYA (Maronite Youth Organization) brings teens together for service, prayer, and regional retreats — including the April 2018 'Maronite Identity and Spirituality' regional retreat hosted at Fall River that drew more than 40 teens and several clergy from across the New England region.
- MCF Director: Sr. Marla Marie Lucas, MSCL
- MYO/MYA Advisor: Julie Lattouf
- Hosts regional MYO retreats drawing teens from MA, RI, and CT
Contact and Visiting Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the rectory by phone, email, or in person. The office is open Tuesday through Friday; the parish also publishes a weekly bulletin and a 'Parish Obituaries' page online.
- Address: 300 North Eastern Avenue, Fall River, MA 02723
- Rectory Main: (508) 672-7653
- Rectory Additional: (774) 294-4539
- Fax: (508) 678-1474
- Office Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed Mondays)
- General Email: [email protected]
- Pastor Email: [email protected]
- Bulletin: https://saotd-fr.org/bulletin/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Gabriel Corlemazcirca early 1910s
Boston-based priest who purchased the first worship site at 286 Jenks Street and spent three months ministering in Fall River.
- Reverend Ignatius Sayeuntil c. 1920
Early administrator of the mission/parish.
- Father Caesar Phares1920s
Served before Father Eid's arrival.
- Monsignor Elian Hayek1929 (brief)
Spent a short time with Father Phares in 1929 before leaving for Youngstown, Ohio.
- Chorbishop Joseph Eid1929–1970
Arrived June 23, 1929; built and dedicated the Quequechan Street church in 1930; died of a heart attack in October 1970 on pilgrimage to Lebanon. Author of the biography of Blessed Sharbel that helped advance his canonization.
- Chorbishop (Rev.) Norman Ferris1970–after 1978 dedication (decades)
Latin-rite priest from St. Mary's Taunton assigned in August 1970; led rebuilding after the 1971 arson; named pastor at the October 22, 1978 dedication of the North Eastern Avenue church and granted the privilege of celebrating in both Latin and Maronite rites.
- Chorbishop Joseph Kaddoserved after Ferris
Succeeded Chorbishop Ferris as pastor; hosted the MYO Regional Retreat in April 2018.
- Chorbishop James A. Rootpresent (as of 2025)
Current pastor; appointed Vicar General of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn effective June 1, 2025.