About Saint Maron [Maronite] · Youngstown, Ohio
Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic parish serving the Maronite Lebanese-American community of Youngstown, Ohio, and the surrounding Mahoning Valley. The parish belongs to the Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon (headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri), currently under Bishop Adballah Elias Zaidan, and is led today by Father Tony Massad, who was assigned as pastor on January 1, 2020. The parish worships in the Maronite liturgical tradition (an Eastern rite in full communion with Rome, celebrated in English with Syriac and Arabic elements) and is home to a long-standing campus known as Bet Maroun at 1555 South Meridian Road — the current home of the parish since 1974. The parish family is active liturgically, educationally, and socially, anchored by its Maronite Children Formation classes, Maronite Youth Organization, Maronite Young Adults, the Knights of St. Maron, and the National Apostolate of Maronites.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- Saint Maron (Maron the Monk, the 5th-century Syriac ascetic and father of the Maronite Church)
- Rector
- Father Tony Massad
- Diocese
- Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon (St. Louis, Missouri) — Bishop Adballah Elias Zaidan
Why belong here
Saint Maron offers a deeply rooted Maronite Catholic home in the Mahoning Valley where Eastern-rite worship, Lebanese heritage, and American parish life come together. The parish celebrates the full weekly Divine Liturgy schedule, offers year-round faith formation for every age — from Maronite Children Formation on Sundays, to the Maronite Youth Organization for teens, the Maronite Young Adults for ages 18–35, and the Cedar's Companions outreach to seniors — and gathers the community socially around the annual Lebanese Fun Fest, Lenten Fish Fry, and Cedar Lake picnic. With an active Parish Council, Knights of St. Maron, and National Apostolate of Maronites chapter, newcomers are welcomed into a family that has sustained three generations of Maronite faithful in Youngstown since 1911.
Mass times at Saint Maron [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Wednesday evenings — Holy Hour immediately following the 7:00 pm Divine Liturgy
About Saint Maron Church
Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church is an Eastern-rite Catholic parish serving the Lebanese-American Maronite faithful of Youngstown, Ohio, and the wider Mahoning Valley. The parish sits under the Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon in St. Louis, Missouri, currently led by Bishop Adballah Elias Zaidan, and is pastored by Father Tony Massad. The church welcomes all who wish to worship in the Maronite tradition — an Eastern Catholic rite in full communion with Rome whose liturgy uses English alongside Syriac and Arabic.
- Under Bishop Adballah Elias Zaidan of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon
- Pastor: Father Tony Massad (assigned January 1, 2020)
- Clergy: Rev. Deacon William George, Subdeacon Dr. James Essad, Subdeacon Joseph Simon
- Parish Office: Mrs. Rhona Moussa-Farah
Our History
Maronite immigration to Youngstown began in 1883, and the first resident Maronite priest, Rev. Peter Asmar, arrived in 1902. The parish moved through several homes before Right Reverend Monsignor N. S. Beggiani purchased the former Trinity English Lutheran Church at 815 Wilson Avenue in 1912 and established Saint Maron Church. By 1922 the Maronites of Youngstown numbered over 700. Father Peter A. Eid's 32-year pastorate (1939–1970) saw the parish move to the Shehy School and then, in 1972, break ground at South Meridian Road for Bet Maroun. The new church was dedicated on the Feast of St. Maron, February 9, 1974. In 2024 the parish marked 50 years at 1555 S. Meridian Road and 113 years of parish history.
- 1883: First Maronite immigrants arrive in Youngstown
- 1902: St. Anthony Church founded as the city's first Maronite parish
- 1911–1912: Monsignor N. S. Beggiani founds Saint Maron Church on Wilson Avenue
- 1939–1970: 32-year pastorate of Father Peter A. Eid
- 1972: Groundbreaking for Bet Maroun; cornerstone blessed by Bishop Zayek
- Feb 9, 1974: Bet Maroun dedicated on the Feast of St. Maron
- Feb 10, 2024: 50th anniversary of 1555 S. Meridian Road celebrated
Parish Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Father Tony Massad, who was ordained to the priesthood on June 26, 2010 in Flint, Michigan, after four years at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary in Washington, DC. He previously served as associate pastor at St. Maron in Cleveland (2010) and as pastor of St. Rafka in Livonia, Michigan (2013) before his assignment to Youngstown on January 1, 2020. He is assisted by Rev. Deacon William George, Subdeacon Dr. James Essad, and Subdeacon Joseph Simon. The parish office is run by Mrs. Rhona Moussa-Farah.
- Pastor: Father Tony Massad (ordained 2010)
- Rev. Deacon William George
- Subdeacon Dr. James Essad
- Subdeacon Joseph Simon
- Parish Office: Mrs. Rhona Moussa-Farah
Father Tony Massad
In the fall of 2006, Father Tony entered Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary in Washington, DC — a decision he describes as the moment his priestly vocation took shape. After four years of formation, he was ordained on June 26, 2010. His first assignment was as associate pastor at St. Maron's in Cleveland, followed in March 2013 by his first pastorate at St. Rafka Maronite Catholic Church in Livonia, Michigan. On January 1, 2020 he was assigned as pastor of St. Maron in Youngstown, where he has led the parish through the pandemic years and the parish's 50th-anniversary celebration in 2024.
Divine Liturgy & Worship Schedule
Saint Maron celebrates the Maronite Divine Liturgy throughout the week, with additional Holy Hour time on Wednesday evenings. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and is closed on Saturday and Sunday.
- Monday: No Liturgy (Except Holy Days)
- Tuesday: 8:30 am
- Wednesday: 7:00 pm, followed by Holy Hour
- Thursday: 8:30 am
- Friday: 12:00 pm (noon)
- Saturday: 4:30 pm
- Sunday: 8:30 am and 11:00 am
- Parish office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Parish Organizations & Ministries
The parish hosts a wide range of lay organizations, from cradle-to-college faith formation to a men's service fraternity, a young-adult discipleship group, a senior companionship ministry, and the National Apostolate of Maronites (NAM) chapter. The Cedar's Companions ministry is a newer outreach pairing volunteers with seniors for friendly visits.
- Maronite Children Formation (MCF) — Sunday religious education for all ages through high school
- Maronite Youth Organization (MYO) — ages 12–18, led by Youth Minister Rosa Calabria
- Maronite Young Adults (MYA) — ages 18–35, focused on service, social, and spiritual life
- Knights of St. Maron — men's service group, twice-yearly traditional Lebanese dinner meetings
- St. Maron Parish Council — advises the pastor on spiritual, educational, social, and financial life of the parish
- National Apostolate of Maronites (NAM) — official Maronite lay apostolate
- Cedar's Companions — senior visitation and companionship ministry
- St. Maron Education Foundation (est. 1983; first scholarships awarded 1987)
Sacraments
The parish invites those interested in Baptism to contact the parish office to learn more and to sign up. Other sacramental information (Marriage, Confirmation, First Communion, Anointing of the Sick) is handled through the same parish office line.
- Baptism — contact the parish office at (330) 792-2371
Bet Maroun Campus, Maronite Center & Rentals
The Bet Maroun campus at 1555 S. Meridian Road includes the church, the Maronite Center (an indoor hall seating up to 750 guests), the Antioch Hall (connected to the church and accommodating up to 170), and a large Recreation Area with a Bocce Court, expansive parking, and the ability to host 50 to 300 guests. The Maronite Center officially opened near the Feast of St. Maron on February 25, 1973. The facilities are available to host private events; for rental information the parish lists (330) 792-7671.
- Maronite Center — up to 750 guests (opened 1973)
- Antioch Hall — up to 170 guests, connected to the church
- Recreation Area with Bocce Court — 50 to 300 guests, large parking
- St. Ephrem Educational Center — houses MCF classrooms, finished basement, and Middle East library
Events & Activities
Saint Maron keeps a full social calendar alongside its liturgical life. The annual St. Maron Lebanese Fun Fest features live entertainment, family activities, a $3,000 raffle, authentic Lebanese cuisine (dine-in, takeout, or drive-thru), and a full premium bar, with free admission and parking. The parish also hosts a Lenten Fish Fry, a Wine Taste, and a Back to Cedar Lake Parish Picnic. The annual Fun Fest was restarted in the summer of 2021 after the pandemic hiatus.
- St. Maron Lebanese Fun Fest (annual, summer; 2026 dates include July 11–12)
- Lenten Fish Fry dinners
- Wine Taste
- Back to Cedar Lake Parish Picnic
- Cedar's Companions 2026 senior-ministry sign-up
Architecture, Art & Sacred Symbols of Bet Maroun
The current church, designed by K. Anthony Hayek and Associates and built by B & B Construction, is rich with Maronite sacred art and Syriac inscriptions. The cornerstone, blessed by Bishop Francis M. Zayek on October 29, 1972, bears a replica of a 9th-century symbol from the Maronite Monastery of Qala'at Sima'an in North Syria.
- Front inscription: 'Based on a rock, like the Church of the Lord' (Syriac)
- Tabernacle: 'Father of Truth, behold your Son, a sacrifice, pleasing to you. Accept this offering of Him who died for me, and I will be purified.'
- Baptistry: 'Gmoorto mhasyonito' — 'Who is born of the spirit, is spirit.'
- Apse painting: Syriac beginning of the Gospel of John, 'Medem deyeleeb men rooho, roohaw'
- Holy Spirit represented by a dove in the apse painting
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors are warmly invited to attend a Divine Liturgy, stop by the parish office during the week, or join one of the many parish events throughout the year. The parish office is staffed Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday the office is closed, but the church is open for the weekend Divine Liturgies.
- Address: 1555 S. Meridian Road, Youngstown, Ohio 44511
- Phone (Parish Office): (330) 792-2371
- Phone (Facility Rentals): (330) 792-7671
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/stmaronyoungstown
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 am – 4:00 pm; Sat & Sun closed
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Peter Asmar1902
First Maronite priest in Youngstown at St. Anthony Church (Jan–Nov 1902).
- Reverend George Emanuel1902–1905
Succeeded Fr. Asmar; parish moved to corner of Wood and Hazel Streets in 1905.
- Reverend Paul Eisa1906
Assumed pastoral duties in January 1906.
- Reverend Paul Aser1908
Resumed pastoral duties in 1908 after a period without a resident pastor in late 1907.
- Right Reverend Monsignor N. S. Beggiani1911–
Came from Beit Chebab, Lebanon; in 1912 purchased the Trinity English Lutheran Church building at 815 Wilson Avenue and founded Saint Maron Church.
- Reverend Anthony Yazbeck Khairallah1925
- Reverend Paul Rezk (Maad)1925–1926
- Reverend Peter V. Hyland1927–1928
- Reverend Emmanuel El-Khoury Hanna1928–1929
- Monsignor Elias El-Hayek1929–1939
Ten-year pastor; directed remodeling, excavated parish-hall cellar, added sacristy, bought rectory house, cleared parish debt during the Depression.
- Father Peter A. Eid1939–1970
32-year pastor; oversaw Wilson-to-Shehy transition, the 1947 remodeled church dedication, planning of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in North Jackson, and the purchase of the South Meridian Road site. Retired 1970; died 1982.
- Reverend Wadih Peter Tayah1970–
Built Bet Maroun, the Maronite Center, and the St. Ephrem Educational Center; moved into the new rectory June 7, 1973; first liturgy Christmas 1973; church dedicated February 9, 1974.
- Chorbishop Michael Kail2010–2019
Led the parish with Deacons William George, Albert Dohar, and Subdeacon Dr. James Essad; expanded the annual Lebanese Food Fest, Wine Taste, Lenten Fish Fry, and Cedar Lake Picnic. Retired December 2019.
- Father Tony Massad2020–present
Ordained 2010 (Flint, MI); associate pastor at St. Maron Cleveland 2010; pastor of St. Rafka, Livonia, MI 2013; assigned to St. Maron Youngstown January 1, 2020.