About Saint Maron [Maronite] · Minneapolis, Minnesota
St. Maron Maronite Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic (Maronite) parish in northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded in 1903 by Lebanese Maronite immigrants from the Batroun district of Lebanon. As one of only two Maronite parishes in the Twin Cities (along with the Church of the Holy Family in Mendota Heights/St. Paul), it has served as the religious, cultural, and social center of the local Lebanese-American community for more than a century. The parish belongs to the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, one of two U.S. Maronite eparchies, and is also geographically within the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Today the parish describes itself as 'a mosaic of different cultures,' welcoming Maronites, Melkites, and other Middle Eastern Christians who worship together in the Antiochene Syriac Maronite tradition.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- Saint Maron
- Rector
- Chorbishop Sharbel Maroun
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles (Maronite Catholic); also geographically within the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Maron offers a rare Eastern Catholic liturgical experience in the Twin Cities, celebrating the Maronite Rite (an Antiochene Syriac tradition) in English, Aramaic, and Arabic — a heritage parishioners describe as '6,000 to 7,000 years old' of Christian Middle Eastern culture. The parish welcomes Maronites, Melkites, Turkish Orthodox, Iranian, Holy Land, Syrian, and Jordanian Christians, and beyond weekly liturgy it sustains a vibrant community life through its Maronite Youth Organization (ages 13–17), Maronite Young Adults (18–35) with its dabke dance troupe, a Religious Education program (K–8), a Decoration Commission, a Rental Commission, and the annual Lebanese Festival (since 1990). For anyone seeking to belong to a close-knit, faith-rooted community that gathers for prayer, food, music, and service, St. Maron is a natural home.
Mass times at Saint Maron [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:15 PM to 4:45 PM, or by appointment
Our History
The history of St. Maron of Minneapolis traces its origin to the late 1800s, when many Lebanese Maronites immigrated to the United States and settled in northeast Minneapolis, drawn from the Batroun district of Lebanon. As early as 1895, about thirty Syrian (Lebanese) families were residing in Northeast and worshipped at Roman Catholic churches; they longed for a parish where they could practice their Maronite Catholic rite. On February 9, 1903 — the Feast of St. Maron — Fr. Antoun Sleiman celebrated the first Maronite Liturgy in Minneapolis in a converted house at 321 Main Street NE. From those humble beginnings grew a parish that would shape the religious and cultural life of Minneapolis's Lebanese-American community for over a century.
- 1903: First Maronite Liturgy in Minneapolis by Fr. Antoun Sleiman at 321 Main St. NE (Feb. 9, Feast of St. Maron)
- 1919: Small church purchased on 625 Main Street under Fr. Emmanuel El-Khoury
- 1939: Old Everett Public School purchased at 6th & University under Chorbishop Peter F. Assemani
- 1948: New church built and consecrated by Bishop James Byrne on July 11, 1948
- 1981: Shrine of St. Sharbel Makhlouf completed under Fr. Michael Hitti
- Mid-1980s: Sanctuary, rectory, and office renovations under Fr. Michael Thomas
- Early 1990s: Further renovation and Maronite stained glass windows by Fr. Joseph Akiki under Fr. Sharbel Maroun
- 1990: First Annual Lebanese Festival launched
- 1994–1997: Six houses purchased on Second Street for parish expansion
Meet Our Pastor — Chorbishop Sharbel Maroun
Chorbishop Sharbel Maroun — known affectionately as 'Abouna' (Arabic for 'Father') — has served as pastor of St. Maron since 1989. He was born in Lebanon on January 6, 1962, emigrated to the United States in 1983 after experiencing eight years of the Lebanese civil war, and was ordained a priest on January 6, 1989 — his 27th birthday. He was elevated to Monsignor in 2007 and ordained a Chorbishop on January 6, 2015 by Maronite Bishop Elias Zaidan of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, in a ceremony at St. Maron that doubled as his 53rd birthday celebration. He prefers to spell his name with a lowercase 's' out of devotion to Saint Sharbel Makhluf, the patron of his name.
- Pastor of St. Maron since 1989
- Born in Lebanon, January 6, 1962; emigrated to U.S. 1983
- Ordained priest January 6, 1989
- Elevated to Monsignor 2007
- Ordained Chorbishop January 6, 2015 by Bishop Elias Zaidan
- President of the Board of Tele Lumiere International (Noursat) Christian TV network
- Protopresbyter for the Mid-America Region
- Member of the Presbyteral Council and Board of Pastors
- Director of New Evangelization for the Eparchy
- Administrator of the Mission of Saint Sharbel of Milwaukee
Sacraments
St. Maron prepares and celebrates the full range of Maronite Catholic sacraments. The parish asks families to contact Chorbishop Sharbel as soon as a baby is born to arrange Baptism, and to contact the priest at least six months in advance of any wedding to begin marriage preparation. The priest visits the sick at home, in the hospital, or in nursing homes upon request.
- Baptism — contact the priest as soon as the baby is born
- First Holy Communion — through the Religious Education Commission (K–8)
- Marriage — contact the priest at least 6 months prior to the wedding
- Anointing of the Sick — call the rectory (612-379-2758) for home, hospital, or nursing-home visits
- Confession — Saturdays 3:15–4:45 PM or by appointment
Parish Clubs & Organizations
St. Maron encourages every member of the parish family to participate in the clubs and organizations that match their gifts. The parish nurtures youth and young adult life through the Maronite Youth Organization and Maronite Young Adults (MYA), supports faith formation through its Religious Education Commission, and maintains the physical worship space through a Decoration Commission, while a Rental Commission stewards the parish's rental properties. The St. Rafka Club gathers men and women for fellowship, worship, service opportunities, and fun activities.
- Maronite Youth Organization (MYO) — ages 13–17, monthly meetings, Sunday coffee service, overnight retreats, annual conference
- Maronite Young Adults (MYA) — ages 18–35, monthly prayer & social, dabke dance troupe, retreats; contact Anthony Nasser
- Religious Education Commission — K–8 Maronite Christian Formation (Sept.–Apr., 11 AM–noon)
- Decoration Commission — altar decoration for Sundays and feast days
- Rental Commission — manages the parish's rental properties
- St. Rafka Club — men's and women's fellowship, worship, and service
Annual Lebanese Festival
Since 1990, St. Maron has hosted its Annual Lebanese Festival each September on the church grounds in northeast Minneapolis — a beloved Twin Cities tradition. Launched in 1989–1990 during the Lebanese civil war as a way to combat negative stereotypes and showcase the rich culture of Lebanon, the festival fills the parish parking lot with a Lebanese souk: live music, traditional dabke dancing by the youth group, a silent auction, a cultural store, kids' games, church tours, and 'famous' Lebanese food. Admission and street parking are free. Chorbishop Maroun has called the festival an opportunity 'to bring that rich culture, and to share it.'
- Held annually in September (typical dates second or third weekend)
- Free admission and free street parking
- Famous Lebanese festival food
- Live Lebanese music both days
- Traditional dabke dances by the Church Youth Group (2:00 and 4:00 PM daily)
- Silent auction
- Cultural store with religious and traditional food items
- Games for kids and adults
- Church tours
- Ten percent of proceeds support parish youth programs and outreach
Honorary Consulate of Lebanon
The Honorary Consulate of Lebanon in Minneapolis is hosted at St. Maron and is ready to assist Lebanese citizens, Americans of Lebanese origin, and Palestinians holding Lebanese travel documents with various consular services. Services are provided by appointment only.
- Honorary Consul: Mr. Fouad Mehawej (text 612-669-7435)
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: LebanonHonConsulateMN.org
- Services by appointment only
Contact, Location & Visiting
St. Maron is located in northeast Minneapolis, at the corner of 6th Street and University Avenue NE — a long-standing landmark of the Twin Cities' Lebanese-American community. The parish office, the rectory, and Cedars Hall (available for rental) are all on site. The parish encourages newcomers to register via the online Registration Form and offers online giving through PayPal at donate.stmaron.com.
- Address: 600 University Ave. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
- Office phone: 612-379-2758
- Fax: 612-379-7647
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Business Manager: [email protected]
- Webmaster: [email protected]
- Cedars Hall available for rental (inquire via office)
- Online giving: donate.stmaron.com (via PayPal)
- Parish registration form available on the website
Eparchy & Wider Church Connections
St. Maron belongs to the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, one of two Maronite Catholic eparchies in the United States and one of the largest, covering 34 states. There are only five chorbishops in the eparchy. The parish is part of the Mid-America Region and is one of two Maronite parishes in the Twin Cities, the other being the Church of the Holy Family on Robie Street in St. Paul (now associated with Holy Family, Mendota Heights). Chorbishop Maroun serves the wider eparchy as Protopresbyter for the Mid-America Region, member of the Presbyteral Council and Board of Pastors, and Director of New Evangelization.
- Eparchy: Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles (Maronite Catholic)
- One of 5 chorbishops in the eparchy; 1 of 2 U.S. Maronite eparchies covering 34 states
- Region: Mid-America
- Twin Cities' other Maronite parish: Church of the Holy Family (St. Paul / Mendota Heights)
- Geographically within the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
- Maronite Church: one of 22 rites within the Catholic Church, in communion with Rome
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Antoun Sleiman1903
Celebrated the first Maronite Liturgy in Minneapolis on Feb. 9, 1903 at 321 Main St. NE
- Fr. Emmanuel El-Khouryby 1919
Purchased the small church at 625 Main Street
- Chorbishop Peter F. Assemaniby 1939
Purchased the old Everett Public School at 6th and University; oversaw the building of the new church (1948)
- Fr. Michael Hitticompleted 1981
Shrine of St. Sharbel Makhlouf completed during his pastorate
- Fr. Michael Thomasmid-1980s
Renovation of sanctuary, rectory, and new office area
- Chorbishop Sharbel Maroun1989–present
Current pastor; ordained 1989, elevated to Monsignor 2007, ordained Chorbishop Jan. 6, 2015 by Bishop Elias Zaidan; led early-1990s renovations and stained glass additions