About Saint Christopher [Maronite] · San Jose, California
Saint Christopher is a Maronite Catholic mission chapel that meets monthly at St. Christopher Catholic Church, 2278 Booksin Avenue, San Jose, California. It is served by the Maronite clergy of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church in Millbrae — the only Maronite Catholic parish serving the San Francisco Bay Area. The Maronite community gathers for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the Syriac Antiochene tradition every fourth Saturday of the month at 6:00 PM, with prayers and hymns drawn from Arabic, English, and Aramaic. As an Eastern Catholic mission in full communion with Rome, the chapel belongs to the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles and exists to bring Maronite spirituality, liturgy, and heritage to Maronite faithful living in the South Bay.
- Established
- 1977
- Patron
- Saint Christopher
- Rector
- Rev. Rami Razzouk (Administrator of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church, Millbrae, who serves this San Jose mission)
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles (Maronite Catholic)
Why belong here
Saint Christopher Maronite Chapel exists so that Maronite Catholics — and anyone drawn to the Syriac Antiochene tradition — in the South Bay do not have to make the long drive to Millbrae to worship in their own rite. It offers the Maronite Divine Liturgy in Arabic, English, and Aramaic, celebrated according to the spiritual heritage of the Lebanese Maronite Church, with the full liturgical cycle of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles. The chapel also connects South Bay families to the wider parish life of Our Lady of Lebanon — its faith formation, youth ministry (Maronite Youth Organization), and community events — so members can keep their Maronite identity alive in a region far from Lebanon.
Mass times at Saint Christopher [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Half an hour before the Divine Liturgy (at Our Lady of Lebanon, Millbrae) and by appointment
- Also by appointment for the San Jose mission
About the Maronite Mission in San Jose
Saint Christopher Maronite Chapel is a satellite mission of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church in Millbrae, established so that Maronite faithful living in San Jose and the South Bay can worship in their own Syriac Antiochene rite without driving north to Millbrae. The chapel meets monthly inside St. Christopher Roman Catholic Church (Diocese of San Jose) and is served by the Maronite clergy of Our Lady of Lebanon. As an Eastern Catholic mission, it belongs to the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles and is fully in communion with the Bishop of Rome.
- Meets the 4th Saturday of every month at 6:00 PM
- Hosted at St. Christopher Catholic Church, 2278 Booksin Ave., San Jose
- Served by Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church, Millbrae
History of the Maronite Faith in the Bay Area
The Maronite presence in the San Francisco Bay Area began in 1977 with the arrival of Fr. Paul Mouawad, who gathered the faithful for Sunday worship at Serra High School. In 1981, the community purchased the historic 1914 St. Dunstan's church building in Millbrae, and Archbishop Francis Zayek dedicated it as Our Lady of Lebanon Church — the first permanent Maronite parish home in the region. The South Bay mission at St. Christopher was established later as the Bay Area Maronite community grew beyond the Peninsula.
- 1977 — Fr. Paul Mouawad arrives; Bay Area Maronite mission begins at Serra High School
- 1981 — Community purchases the St. Dunstan's church building in Millbrae
- Archbishop Francis Zayek dedicates the building as Our Lady of Lebanon Church
- Later years — monthly Maronite mission established at St. Christopher, San Jose, for the South Bay
Our Clergy
The San Jose Maronite chapel is served by the clergy of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church, Millbrae. The current administrator of the parent parish, and therefore the priest who celebrates the monthly South Bay mission, is Rev. Rami Razzouk. Fr. Rami was assigned by Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles in December 2019, arriving from St. Elias Maronite Church in Birmingham, Alabama, where he had served as Associate Pastor.
- Rev. Rami Razzouk — Administrator, December 2019–present
Liturgy & Services
The Maronite Divine Liturgy (Qurbana) is celebrated according to the Syriac Antiochene tradition of the Maronite Church, with prayers, scripture readings, and hymns drawn from Arabic, English, and Aramaic — the languages of the Maronite liturgical heritage. The San Jose mission gathers on the fourth Saturday of each month at 6:00 PM, while the parent parish in Millbrae celebrates the Sunday Divine Liturgy weekly at 11:00 AM.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy — 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Lebanon, Millbrae (Arabic/English/Aramaic)
- Monthly Divine Liturgy in San Jose — 4th Saturday at 6:00 PM at St. Christopher
- Holy Day Liturgy — 7:30 PM at Our Lady of Lebanon, Millbrae
- Saint Sharbel Mass — 22nd of every month, 6:30 PM, at Our Lady of Lebanon, Millbrae
Maronite Youth Organization (MYO)
The Maronite Youth Organization (MYO) is the youth ministry of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, serving the young people of the Bay Area Maronite community. The MYO meets regularly at the parish and provides formation, fellowship, and spiritual growth rooted in the Maronite tradition. South Bay youth attending the San Jose mission are encouraged to participate in MYO events at Our Lady of Lebanon, Millbrae.
- Faith formation for teens
- Fellowship and community service
- Liturgical participation during the Divine Liturgy
Live Online & Communications
For parishioners unable to attend in person, Our Lady of Lebanon streams services online so that Maronite faithful across the Bay Area and beyond can remain connected to the liturgical life of the community. The parish website also publishes bulletins, announcements, and a message from Fr. Rami.
- Live-streamed services via the parish website
- Parish bulletin and announcements
- Fr. Rami's message posted on the parish homepage
Visiting & Contact
The San Jose Maronite mission meets inside St. Christopher Catholic Church, 2278 Booksin Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125. The host parish office can be reached at (408) 269-2226. For Maronite-specific matters, contact Our Lady of Lebanon at 600 El Camino Real, Millbrae, CA 94030. The Maronite community welcomes all who wish to experience the Syriac Antiochene liturgy of the Maronite Catholic Church.
- San Jose location: 2278 Booksin Ave., San Jose, CA 95125
- Parent parish (Maronite): 600 El Camino Real, Millbrae, CA 94030
- Host parish phone (Roman Catholic): 408-269-2226
- Parish website: olol-sf.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Paul Mouawad1977–1982
Founding priest of the Bay Area Maronite mission; began gathering faithful at Serra High School
- Msgr. Elie Antoun1982–1983
- Rev. Nehmatallah El-Hayek1983–1986
- Msgr. Maximos Merdalli1986–1990
- Rev. Peter Karam1990–1991
First term
- Rev. Stephen Meriwether1991–1994
- Rev. Peter Karam1994–1997
Second term
- Rev. Toufic Nasr1997–2006
- Rev. Jibran Bou-Merhi2006–2007
- Rev. John Nahal2007–2016
- Rev. Gary George, C.Ss.R.January 2017–March 2019
Redemptorist
- Rev. Fady El Chidiac, S.J.March 2019–December 2019
Jesuit
- Rev. Rami RazzoukDecember 2019–present
Assigned by Bishop A. Elias Zaidan as Administrator; previously Associate Pastor of St. Elias Maronite Church, Birmingham, Alabama