About Saint Maron- Independence Chapel [Maronite] · Independence, Ohio
Saint Maron Church is a Maronite Catholic parish in the greater Cleveland area, founded in 1915 by Lebanese and Syrian Maronite immigrant families. It operates from two locations: the historic downtown church at 1245 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, and the Independence Chapel at 7800 Brookside Road, Independence, Ohio, on a 22-acre property known as Maronite Village. The parish belongs to the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon and celebrates the Divine Liturgy in English, Arabic, and the ancient Syriac tradition of the Antiochene rite, serving close to 1,000 families across the region.
- Established
- 1915
- Patron
- Saint Maron
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Patrick Kassab
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon (Maronite)
Why belong here
Saint Maron offers a rare combination: a century-old Maronite Catholic heritage rooted in the Syriac tradition of Antioch, with the convenience of two worship sites — the historic downtown Carnegie Avenue church and the Independence Chapel on Maronite Village. Families find a full life of faith here, with Sunday and weekday Divine Liturgies in English and Arabic, sacraments preparation for children and adults, the Maronite Christian Formation program, a Maronite Youth Organization, Maronite Mothers Club, Young Adults, Young Professionals, a Special Ambassadors ministry for families with special needs, and a Rosary Prayer Group that gathers every 22nd of the month to honor St. Charbel. Choirs serve both sites, and an annual Middle Eastern Food Festival keeps Lebanese heritage alive for the next generation.
Mass times at Saint Maron- Independence Chapel [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Confession (Reconciliation) is available prior to all liturgies — simply ask the priest to hear your confession.
- Holy Week Reconciliation services are scheduled (e.g., Monday/Tuesday of Holy Week at 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.)
Adoration times
- Holy Thursday: Eucharistic Adoration following the 7:00 p.m. Divine Liturgy and Washing of the Feet (Downtown)
- Great Friday: Adoration of the Crucified at 5:00 p.m. (Chapel) and 7:15 p.m. (Downtown)
Parish History
Saint Maron Parish was founded in 1915 by Lebanese and Syrian Maronite immigrant families in Cleveland's Haymarket District who formed the St. John Maron Society in 1914. The first church was a remodeled 1870s two-story brick apartment at 2214 East 21st Street, blessed by Bishop John P. Farrelly on April 2, 1916, with Fr. Peter Chalala of Baalbek as the first pastor. In 1939 the parish acquired the Romanesque-style former St. Anthony of Padue Church at 1245 Carnegie Avenue and dedicated it on April 7, 1940. The parish grew steadily through the 20th century under pastors including Fr. Joseph Komaid (25 years), Chorbishop Joseph Feghali, and Chorbishop Bernard Khachan, who led major additions in 1997 and 1999. In 2007 the parish purchased 22 acres in Independence (the former Rhea-Mar estate and Marycrest convent), launching Maronite Village with its chapel, offices, and annual Middle Eastern Food Festival. The parish celebrated its Centennial in 2015 and is now in a 2024–2025 era of renewal under Fr. Patrick Kassab.
- 1915 – Parish founded; Fr. Peter Chalala of Baalbek first pastor
- 1916 – Bishop John P. Farrelly consecrates first church
- 1939 – Acquires St. Anthony Church at 1245 Carnegie Avenue
- 1940 – Dedicatory Mass at Carnegie Avenue church
- 1994 – Joins the newly formed Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon
- 2007 – Purchases 22 acres in Independence (Maronite Village)
- 2015 – Centennial celebration
- 2024 – Fr. Patrick Kassab appointed Pastor; rebranding and groundbreaking for new venue
- 2025 – Downtown renovations; Fr. Michael Shami appointed Assistant Pastor; Deacon Mario Ghosn ordained
Who Are the Maronites
The Maronites take their name from Saint Maron, a 4th-century Syrian Christian priest who became a hermit monk on the slopes of Mount Cyrrhus near Antioch. His disciples settled in the cedar-forested highlands of Mount Lebanon, and in 686 A.D. the monk John Maron was elected the first Patriarch, establishing the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch. The Maronite Church has been in communion with Rome since the 12th century while retaining autonomous governance under its Patriarch in Lebanon, and it is the only Catholic Church known by the name of its founder. Its ancient liturgy — the Syriac Liturgy of Antioch ascribed to St. James the Less — is celebrated in Syriac, a dialect of Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus.
- Liturgical language: Syriac (Aramaic dialect)
- In communion with Rome since the 12th century
- Rite: West Syriac / Antiochene (Maronite)
- Founded in faith by Saint Maron (~400 A.D.)
- Patriarchate of Antioch established 686 A.D. with John Maron
Our Clergy & Personnel
The parish is currently served by Pastor Fr. Patrick Kassab, a Maronite priest, scholar, and educator born and raised in Lebanon whose ministry bridges intellectual rigor with deep pastoral compassion. Fr. Michael Shami, ordained in 2020 for the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon and a summa cum laude graduate of the Pontifical Oriental Institute, was appointed Assistant Pastor in 2025. Subdeacon Mario Ghosn was ordained a Deacon in 2025, joining Subdeacon Lattouf Lattouf and Candidate Charbel. The team is supported by an Administrative Assistant and Maintenance staff.
- Fr. Patrick Kassab — Pastor (appointed 2024)
- Fr. Michael Shami — Assistant Pastor (appointed 2025)
- Fr. Alejandro Landin — Assistant Pastor (appointed 2024, listed in 2025 bulletin)
- Deacon Mario Ghosn — ordained 2025
- Subdeacon Lattouf Lattouf
- Candidate Charbel
- Administrative Assistant and Maintenance staff
Devotions & Holy Week
Beyond the regular Divine Liturgy, the parish gathers for the Rosary Prayer Group, which meets regularly and honors St. Charbel with a special Liturgy on the 22nd of each month. Holy Week is rich with Maronite traditions, including the Benediction of the Cross, the Rite of the Lamp, the Washing of the Feet, Adoration of the Crucified, the Liturgy of Reconciliation, the Resurrection Vigil, and the Coming to the Harbor service on Hosanna Sunday evening. Via Crucis and Benediction of the Cross are observed on Friday evenings in Lent, often followed by a parish potluck.
- Rosary Prayer Group — meets regularly; St. Charbel Liturgy on the 22nd of each month
- Hosanna Sunday — Coming to the Harbor (6:00 p.m. Chapel)
- Monday/Tuesday of Holy Week — Benediction of the Cross
- Wednesday of Holy Week — Rite of the Lamp (Downtown)
- Holy Thursday — Washing of the Feet and Eucharistic Adoration
- Great Friday — Adoration of the Crucified at both sites
- Holy Saturday — Liturgy of the Reconciliation; Resurrection Vigil
Holy Mysteries (Sacraments)
In the Maronite Catholic tradition, the seven Holy Mysteries are sacred encounters with Christ that mark key moments in the spiritual journey. Saint Maron Parish invites families to contact the parish office at (216) 520-5081 to begin preparation for any of the sacraments.
- Baptism and Chrismation — call office at least two months in advance
- First Communion — typically in 2nd grade; one year of preparation in MCFP
- Crowning (Matrimony) — meet Fr. Patrick at least 8 months ahead; Pre-Cana required
- Communion and Anointing of the Sick — for the homebound or hospitalized
- Memorial Liturgy (Funeral) — 40-day Liturgy takes precedence over scheduled memorials
Faith Formation & Youth
The Maronite Christian Formation Program (MCFP) meets after the 11:00 a.m. Sunday liturgy downtown, welcoming children from Pre-K through 8th grade. Older youth belong to the Maronite Youth Organization (MYO) for ages 12–18, meeting twice a month for retreats, service projects, and spiritual formation. The Maronite Mothers Club (MMC) supports families with young children, and an Arabic School teaches Arabic and Syriac. The Maronite Young Adults (MYA, ages 18–35) and Maronite Young Professionals (MYP, 25–45) extend faith and fellowship beyond high school, while the Maronite Special Ambassadors (MSA) ministry provides a supportive spiritual community for individuals with special needs and their families.
- MCFP — Pre-K through 8th grade, Sundays after 11:00 a.m. liturgy; Director Suzan Semaan
- MYO — ages 12–18; Coordinator Peter Harb
- MMC — Maronite Mothers Club; Coordinator Rita Kanaan
- Arabic School — Arabic and Syriac classes
- MYA — ages 18–35; meets twice a month
- MYP — ages 25–45; Coordinator Lisa Farah
- MYC — Maronite Young Children (seasonal events)
- MSA — Maronite Special Ambassadors for individuals with special needs
Music & Liturgy
Sacred music is central to the Maronite worship experience. Saint Maron maintains two choirs: the 5:00 p.m. choir serving the Independence Chapel on Saturdays and the 11:00 a.m. choir serving the Downtown church on Sundays. Coordinators Celine Najm (Independence) and Jihad Kawkabani (Downtown) lead a dedicated team including keyboardist Kalil Boulos and violinist Henry Nahra, PhD.
- 5:00 p.m. Saturday choir — Independence Chapel
- 11:00 a.m. Sunday choir — Downtown
- Keyboard: Kalil Boulos
- Violin: Henry Nahra, PhD
- Coordinators: Celine Najm (Independence), Jihad Kawkabani (Downtown)
Locations: Downtown & Maronite Village
Saint Maron worships at two sites. The Downtown Church at 1245 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, is a twin-spired red-brick Romanesque-style edifice built in 1904 for the Italian St. Anthony parish and acquired by Saint Maron in 1939; it serves as the spiritual and cultural heart of the parish and is flanked by the iconic two-story parking garage topped by statues of eight saints. The Independence Chapel at 7800 Brookside Road sits on Maronite Village, a 22-acre campus — formerly the Rhea-Mar estate of Marcus A. Hanna II and later the Sisters of the Good Shepherd's Marycrest convent — that houses the chapel, parish offices, the pastor's residence (fully remodeled in 2024), and the annual Middle Eastern Food Festival. A 2024 groundbreaking launched construction of a new enclosed venue on the Independence property.
- Downtown Church — 1245 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115
- Independence Chapel (Mailing Address) — 7800 Brookside Road, Independence, OH 44131
- Maronite Village — 22 acres in Independence
- Parking garage topped by statues of eight saints (built 1998)
- All mail must be sent to Independence; downtown does not receive mail
- 2024 — Pastor's house remodeled; groundbreaking for new enclosed venue
- 2025 — Downtown classrooms and rectory fully remodeled
Contact & Getting Involved
The parish office is reached at (216) 520-5081 or [email protected]. Visitors and parishioners are warmly invited to attend Liturgy at either location, register their children in the Maronite Christian Formation program, join one of the parish organizations (MYO, MMC, MYA, MYP, MYC, MSA, Rosary Prayer Group), or volunteer with outreach. Follow the parish on Instagram (@saintmaroncleveland) and Facebook (Saint Maron Church in Cleveland) for updates on events, feast days, and the annual Middle Eastern Food Festival.
- Phone: (216) 520-5081
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: saintmaroncleveland.org (saintmaron-clev.org)
- Instagram: @saintmaroncleveland
- Facebook: Saint Maron Church in Cleveland
- Emergency line for Anointing of the Sick: (314) 437-2882
- House Blessings: call the office
- Annual Middle Eastern Food Festival at Maronite Village
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Peter Chalala1915–1921
First pastor, arrived from Baalbek, Lebanon
- Msgr. Louis Zouain1921–1924
Replaced Fr. Chalala
- Fr. Anthony Yezbek1924–1925
Pastor for one year
- Msgr. Namthallah Beggiani1925–1927
Served until his death
- Fr. Joseph Komaid, MLM1927–1952
Missionary from Sahel Alma, Lebanon; longest-tenured pastor (25 years); acquired the Carnegie Avenue church from St. Anthony in 1939; died in 1952
- Fr. Joseph Feghali1953–1976
Given title Very Reverend Monsignor in 1957; elevated to Chorbishop in 1971; farewell dinner in 1976 before becoming Rector of St. Maron Cathedral, Detroit
- Msgr. Elias El-Hayek1975
Became pastor
- Fr. Elias Abi Sarkis1978
Became pastor
- Chorbishop Dominic Ashkar1986
Became pastor; Silver Anniversary of Ordination celebrated 1987
- Chorbishop Bernard Khachan1987–2005
Given title Monsignor in 1988, elevated to Chorbishop in 1995; retired in 2005 after 18 years; led major additions in 1997 and 1999
- Fr. Peter Karam2005–2019
Elected Curial Bishop in 2019
- Fr. Elias Yazbeck2019
Appointed Administrator
- Fr. Patrick Kassab2024–present
Appointed Pastor in 2024