About Saint Joseph [Maronite] · Phoenix, Arizona
Saint Joseph Maronite Catholic Church is an Eastern-rite Catholic parish in Phoenix, Arizona, serving the faithful in the Syriac Maronite tradition in full communion with the Pope. Founded in 1997 by a small group of Maronite Catholics, it is the only Maronite Catholic church in the Southwestern United States and is home to the largest shrine dedicated to St. Sharbel in North America. The parish is known for its bilingual English/Spanish community and its historic Lebanese roots, and it hosts the longest-running American Lebanese Festival in the Phoenix Valley.
- Established
- 1997
- Patron
- Saint Joseph (parish); Saint Sharbel (shrine, patron of the healing ministry)
- Rector
- Father Wissam Akiki
- Diocese
- Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles (geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix)
Why belong here
Saint Joseph Maronite Catholic Church is the only Maronite parish in the Southwestern United States and offers something rare: a faithful Maronite Divine Liturgy celebrated in English, Arabic, and Aramaic, alongside a fully Hispanic community served with Spanish-language Masses. The parish hosts the monthly Healing Mass of St. Sharbel — celebrated in four languages on the 18th of every month at 7:00 PM — and welcomes pilgrims year-round to the largest St. Sharbel shrine in North America, which is open 24/7. It is also home to a long-running religious education program, an active youth ministry (MYO), a parish choir, and the longest-running American Lebanese Festival in the Phoenix Valley.
Mass times at Saint Joseph [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:30 PM – 5:55 PM (before the Saturday Vigil Mass)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration — the Shrine of St. Sharbel is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament
About St. Joseph Maronite Catholic Church
St. Joseph Maronite Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic parish in Phoenix belonging to the Syriac Maronite tradition and in full communion with the Pope through the Maronite Patriarch in Lebanon. It was established in 1997 by a small group of Maronite faithful and is the only Maronite Catholic church in the Southwestern United States. The parish's mission is to promote the Maronite faith and Lebanese culture while warmly welcoming the Hispanic community and traditions that now form a large and devoted part of its congregation.
History
Before 1997, Maronite Catholics in Phoenix worshipped at various Roman Catholic parishes around the city. In that year, a small founding group established St. Joseph as their own parish, and the community has steadily grown ever since. In 2016 Bishop Elias Zaidan toured the relic of St. Sharbel through U.S. Maronite parishes, and that year St. Joseph was also designated a pilgrimage destination by the Eparchy. The reported miraculous healing of Dafne Gutiérrez — a Hispanic woman who had been completely blind — after being blessed with St. Sharbel's relic transformed the parish community, drawing hundreds of new Hispanic members and the addition of Spanish Masses and ministries. The Shrine of St. Sharbel was then built and dedicated by Bishop Zaidan on March 26, 2017, with Bishop Thomas Olmsted of the Roman Diocese of Phoenix also in attendance.
- Founded 1997
- Pilgrimage church designation 2016
- Shrine of St. Sharbel dedicated March 26, 2017
Clergy & Staff
The pastor is Father Wissam Akiki, originally from Lebanon and ordained in 2014. He is the first married man to be ordained for the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles; he and his wife Manal have two daughters. The parish falls under Bishop Elias Zaidan, Eparch of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, who was ordained a bishop on September 28, 2013, by Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi. Catechism coordinators include Manal Akiki (general/MYO) and Elizabeth Zamorano-Gauna (Spanish catechism).
- Pastor: Father Wissam Akiki
- Bishop: Elias Zaidan (Eparch of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles)
- Catechism / MYO: Manal Akiki
- Spanish Catechism: Elizabeth Zamorano-Gauna
Healing Mass of St. Sharbel
On the 18th of every month at 7:00 PM, the parish celebrates its signature Healing Mass of St. Sharbel with healing prayers and blessing with the Holy Oil. Celebrated in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Aramaic, it is the only such monthly healing Mass in the United States. Father Akiki celebrates it every month without fail and livestreams it on the parish's Facebook page for those unable to attend in person. The Mass is the spiritual heart of the shrine's identity and draws pilgrims from across the region.
- Monthly on the 18th at 7:00 PM
- Celebrated in English, Spanish, Arabic & Aramaic
- Livestreamed on Facebook
Shrine of St. Sharbel
The Shrine of St. Sharbel is the largest shrine to St. Sharbel in North America and was dedicated on March 26, 2017, by His Excellency Bishop Elias Zaidan. Open 365 days a year, 24/7, the shrine welcomes pilgrims, visitors, and quiet visitors to pray, meditate, reflect, and reconnect spiritually. It stands as both a pilgrimage destination and a source of pride for the City of Phoenix, and much of its construction — including concrete, tile, and exterior work — was donated by members of the parish's Hispanic community.
- Largest St. Sharbel shrine in North America
- Dedicated March 26, 2017
- Open 24/7, 365 days a year
Religious Education & Youth Ministry
St. Joseph offers one of the strongest religious education programs in the diocese, with both English and Spanish catechism tracks. Registration each year opens in August for the upcoming catechetical year. Children receiving the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist must be registered parishioners in good standing. The Maronite Youth Organization (MYO) provides formation, fellowship, and service opportunities for the parish's young people.
- Catechism classes (English & Spanish)
- Maronite Youth Organization (MYO)
- Sacramental preparation for Holy Eucharist
Parish Choir & Music
The parish choir supports the Maronite Divine Liturgy each week and is featured at major feast-day celebrations, including the annual Shrine dedication liturgy. The choir's ministry preserves the Syriac Maronite chant tradition while also serving the bilingual English-Spanish character of the parish.
American Lebanese Festival
Each year on the first weekend of November, the parish hosts the American Lebanese Festival — a celebration of Lebanese heritage, food, music, and the traditional Dabke dance. As of 2018, it was in its 16th year and attracted more than 3,000 attendees from across the Phoenix Valley, making it the longest-running Lebanese cultural celebration in the area.
- Held first weekend of November
- Longest-running Lebanese festival in the Phoenix Valley
- Traditional Dabke dancing
Visiting & Pilgrimage
Pilgrims planning a trip to Phoenix to visit St. Joseph, pray at the Shrine of St. Sharbel, or attend a Healing Mass are invited to contact the rectory in advance. The church itself is open one hour before and one hour after each Mass, while the shrine remains open around the clock. Rectory office hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
- Church open 1 hour before and after each Mass
- Shrine open 24/7
- Rectory office hours: Mon–Fri, 10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Wissam AkikiCurrent pastor (since at least 2014/2015)
Originally from Lebanon; the first married man ordained for the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles. Ordained to the priesthood in 2014. Married to Manal, with two daughters.