About Saint George [Maronite] · San Antonio, Texas
Saint George Maronite Catholic Church is a Syriac Maronite parish in San Antonio, Texas — the first Maronite Catholic parish in Texas and the entire Southwestern United States, founded in 1925 by Lebanese immigrants whose spiritual care had previously been administered by the Claretian Fathers of San Fernando Cathedral and the Oblate Fathers of St. Mary's Parish. The parish belongs to the Maronite Diocese of Our Lady of Lebanon (Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles), while physically located within the territory of the Roman Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio, and serves San Antonio's growing Maronite Lebanese community from its 15.4-acre campus at 6070 Babcock Road in the city's northwest side. The parish celebrates the Divine Liturgy in English (with one monthly Arabic Liturgy on the last Sunday of the month), runs a busy community life including the well-known annual Lebanese Food Festival, and is pastored by the Congregation of Maronite Lebanese Missionaries (MLM).
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- Saint George (Maronite tradition)
- Rector
- Rev. Charles Khachan, MLM (Administrator / Pastor)
- Diocese
- Maronite Diocese of Our Lady of Lebanon (Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles) — geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio
Why belong here
St. George is the oldest Maronite parish in Texas and the Southwest — a 100-year-old community rooted in Lebanese Catholic heritage yet open to anyone seeking the beauty of the Syriac Maronite liturgy. Weekend Divine Liturgies in English (with a monthly Arabic liturgy on the last Sunday of the month) are complemented by weekday Masses, First Friday Adoration, and a Sunday rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet, with confessions and pastoral counsel always available. The parish runs a full calendar of ministries — faith formation for all ages, a youth ministry, a folk-dance troupe, the St. George Veterans Committee, the Ladies Altar Society and the Ameleb Heritage Foundation scholarship — plus signature cultural events like the celebrated Lebanese Food Festival each October.
Mass times at Saint George [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment — call the parish office at (210) 690-9569
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month, 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Holy Day Adoration (e.g., Feast of the Ascension, Thursday May 29, 2025 — Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
Parish History
Founded in 1925 when eleven men of faith petitioned Bishop Drossaerts to allow Father George Aziz to serve San Antonio's Maronite faithful — making St. George the first Maronite parish in Texas and the Southwest. The community worshiped in a frame house on North Pecos until 1932, then built a permanent church, and finally relocated in 1974 to its present 15.4-acre Babcock Road campus, where the current church (designed by Larry Raba, built by Mitchell Battros) was dedicated by Archbishop Frances Zayek on October 19, 1980. A major expansion followed: the 1987 hall/office addition and the 2005 Maronite Community Center. The 100th anniversary of the parish — Founders Day on June 24, 2025 — was marked with special prayer services, cemetery visits, and commemorative liturgies.
- 1925 — Founding at 426 North Pecos Street (corner of Martin)
- 1932 — First purpose-built Maronite church dedicated on North Pecos (September 25)
- 1974 — Purchase of 15.4 acres on Babcock Road; arrival of Fr. Bernard Khachan
- 1976 — Church Hall dedicated by Bishop Francis M. Zayek
- 1980 — Current church dedicated October 19 by Archbishop Frances Zayek
- 1987 — Hall expansion by Van Delden / Karam Construction
- 1994 — Five-acre Hollyhock/Babcock tract acquired
- 2000–2005 — Maronite Community Center built and dedicated
- 2025 — 100th Anniversary (Founders Day, June 24)
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
Saint George has been served by the Congregation of Maronite Lebanese Missionaries (MLM) since 1989, when Father Abdallah Zaidan became the first religious-order priest assigned to take full charge of a U.S. Maronite parish. The current team includes the pastor/administrator, two associate priests, a parochial vicar, a permanent deacon, and a subdeacon, supported by parish staff and lay directors of music, youth ministry, and gym programs.
- Rev. Charles Khachan, MLM — Pastor / Administrator
- Father Pierre El Khoury
- Father Joseph Harb
- Father Jihad Keyrouz, MLM — Associate
- Deacon Thomas Billimek
- Subdeacon Ray Dustin
- Lisa Delgado — Youth Minister
- Fernando Fernandez — Choir Director
- Fernando Fernandez — Gym Director
- Deborah Fernandez — parish staff
Faith Formation & Youth
St. George runs a Faith Formation Program for parish children, supported by a dedicated Youth Minister (Lisa Delgado). Religious instruction takes place in the classrooms of the Maronite Community Center. Youth activities include the annual talent show, dance history day, Baccalaureate Liturgy for graduating high-school and college students, and ongoing formation in the Syriac Maronite tradition.
- Faith Formation Program
- Youth Ministry (Lisa Delgado)
- Talent Show auditions and performance
- Baccalaureate Liturgy for the Class of 2025
- Maronite Folk Dancers (Saint George Lebanese Folk Dancers)
Parish Organizations & Cultural Life
The cultural and organizational life of St. George is rooted in Lebanese Catholic heritage. The flagship event is the annual Lebanese Food Festival each October, drawing thousands for authentic homemade Lebanese cuisine, folkloric dance, music, imported Lebanese wines, and vendors selling jewelry, traditional clothing, and art. The Ladies Altar Society supports altar care and Holy Thursday candles. The St. George Maronite Ameleb Heritage Foundation awards scholarships and grants to parishioners enrolled in accredited higher-education programs.
- Lebanese Food Festival (started 2007; covered annually by News 4 San Antonio)
- Ladies Altar Society (candle sales, altar preparations)
- St. George Maronite Ameleb Heritage Foundation Scholarship & Award Program
- Veterans Committee — Memorial Day Liturgy
- Saint George Lebanese Folk Dancers (Dabke) and dance-history events
- Choir (under Fernando Fernandez) for the Maronite Divine Liturgy
- Gym / Community basketball program (Fernando Fernandez, Gym Director)
Sacraments & Devotions
As a Maronite (Eastern Catholic) parish in full communion with Rome, St. George celebrates the seven sacraments in the Syriac Maronite tradition, including Baptism, Chrismation (typically administered together with Baptism), First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders. Pastoral counsel and confession are arranged through the parish office. Annual devotions include the Feast of Saint Sharbel in July, the Memorial Day Veterans Liturgy, the Holy Cross Cemetery Prayer Service, and the Ash Monday liturgies that open the Maronite Season of Great Lent.
- Baptism & Chrismation (Maronite rite)
- First Communion
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funeral liturgies and cemetery prayer services
- Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet (Sundays 10:40 AM)
- First Friday Adoration (4:00 PM – 8:00 PM)
- Feast of Saint Sharbel (July 19–20)
Buildings, Campus & Facilities
The 15.4-acre Babcock Road campus centers on the 1980-dedicated Maronite church, with an adjacent (1976) Church Hall, a 1987 expansion adding classrooms and meeting rooms, and the 2005 Maronite Community Center. The five-acre Hollyhock/Babcock tract acquired in 1994 expanded the footprint for parking, outdoor festival space, and additional development. Free parking is available throughout the campus, including during the Lebanese Food Festival.
- 1980 Maronite Church (designed by Larry Raba, built by Mitchell Battros)
- 1976 Church Hall (dedicated by Bishop Francis M. Zayek)
- 1987 Hall Expansion (Van Delden / Karam Construction)
- 2005 Maronite Community Center (basketball court, cafeteria, classrooms)
- 1994 Five-acre tract at Hollyhock & Babcock
- On-campus free parking
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father George Aziz1925–1931
Founding pastor; celebrated the first Maronite liturgy in San Antonio at San Fernando Cathedral on June 24, 1925.
- Father Elias Nagem1931–
Began construction of the North Pecos church; dedicated Sept. 25, 1932.
- Father John Tradappointed Sept. 23, 1947
Appointed from Barhalyon, Becharrie District of North Lebanon; later reassigned to Australia in 1966.
- Father Nehmatallah El-Hayek1966–1967
Succeeded Monsignor Trad briefly.
- Father Wlademer Akekee1967–
Faced the Urban Renewal condemnation crisis; led parish meeting of January 6, 1968.
- Rev. Bernard Khachan1974–1977, and again from 1985
First pastor at the Babcock Road property; oversaw the 1976 hall dedication; returned for a second tenure in 1985.
- Father James Khoury1977–1985
Oversaw design and construction of the present church (designed by Larry Raba, built by Mitchell Battros, 1979); dedicated October 19, 1980 by Archbishop Frances Zayek.
- Monsignor Hector Y. Doueihithrough 1989
Transferred late 1989.
- Father Abdallah Zaidan, MLM1989–1994
First MLM priest assigned to take full charge of a U.S. parish (a diocesan experiment); acquired the additional five-acre Hollyhock/Babcock tract in 1994.
- Father Marwan Tabet, MLM1994–1996
Succeeded Father Zaidan after his reassignment to the Los Angeles cathedral.
- Father John Al-Nahal, MLM1996–2006
Led the design and construction of the Maronite Community Center (groundbreaking 2000; dedicated 2005).
- Father Ghassan Mattar, MLM2006–2013
Started the Lebanese Food Festival in 2007; hosted Patriarch Bechara Peter El-Rai in 2011; hosted the 49th NAM convention in 2012; reassigned to Lebanon in 2013 after election as MLM counselor.
- Father Charles Khachan, MLM2013–present
Current pastor / administrator (joinedmychurch.com lists him as Administrator).