About Saint Sharbel Catholic Mission [Maronite] · Stockton, California
St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Mission is the Eastern Catholic Maronite community serving the Central Valley from Stockton, California. Belonging to the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles (Most Rev. A. Elias Zaidan), the mission gathers Maronite faithful — originally fed by Lebanese and other Eastern Christian immigrants and their descendants — around the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the Antiochene Syriac Maronite tradition. Its campus at 4981 E. Eight Mile Road includes a hermitage, hall, and parish facilities prepared over more than a decade of growth, and its stated mission is to serve the Central Valley 'as a sanctuary for all, welcoming individuals of every age and background to experience spiritual and social connection.'
- Patron
- Saint Sharbel (Charbel) Makhluf, O.L.M. — the Lebanese Maronite monk-priest canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1977; patron saint of Lebanon
- Rector
- Father Fady El Chidiac
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles (Maronite Catholic), an Eastern Catholic sui iuris diocese of the Maronite Church. Bishop: Most Rev. Abdallah Elias Zaidan, MLM. The eparchy was erected by Pope John Paul II on February 19, 1994, and serves Maronite faithful from California to Ohio, across 34 states west of the Ohio–Pennsylvania border.
Why belong here
St. Sharbel offers Stockton's Central Valley Maronite faithful — and anyone drawn to the Antiochene Syriac tradition — a regular, accessible home for the Divine Liturgy, the sacraments, and Maronite devotional life. The mission is structured around age-appropriate formation: a Children's Ministry (ages 3–12) on Saturdays during Mass and Sundays after Mass; the Maronite Youth Organization (MYO) for ages 12–18, meeting on the 2nd and 4th Sundays; a vibrant Young Adult Ministry (MYA) for ages 18–30; and a Seniors Ministry with regular gatherings. A working hermitage, hall, and parish facilities on the Eight Mile Road campus are also preserved as a 'peaceful haven where every seeker can find depth, community, and rest.'
Mass times at Saint Sharbel Catholic Mission [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment with Fr. Fady El Chidiac — call (209) 310-2491 to schedule
- After the Saturday evening St. Sharbel Feast liturgy (7:30 PM, in conjunction with Healing & Adoration)
Adoration times
- Saturday evening of the St. Sharbel Feast at 7:30 PM (with Healing & Confessions)
- Quiet prayer open to the hermitage and grounds as a 'sanctuary for all' per the parish's stated mission
History of St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Mission
The history of St. Sharbel Mission is the story of a small Lebanese-Maronite diaspora community that grew into a permanent presence in Stockton. It begins with Fr. Paul Mouawad's outreach from San Francisco, continues through six more priests — Msgr. Feghali, Fr. Toufic Nasr, Fr. Gebran Bou Merhi, Fr. John Nahhal, Fr. Nabil Mouannes (who arrived in July 2012 and built the hermitage, hall, and facilities), Fr. Ghattas Khoury (appointed 2014, retired March 2025) — and into the present pastorate of Fr. Fady El Chidiac. The narrative is one of gradual rooting: a parish account opened, a pastoral council formed, monthly liturgies celebrated, land acquired, permits secured, a hermitage and hall built, and devotional life deepened until the Liturgy was celebrated three times per month.
- Vision planted by Fr. Paul Mouawad (founding pastor of Our Lady of Lebanon, San Francisco)
- Monsignor Feghali visited and discerned growth potential
- Fr. Toufic Nasr opened the first parish account and began monthly liturgies
- Fr. John Nahhal oversaw the acquisition of land
- Fr. Nabil Mouannes (July 2012) secured permits and built hermitage, hall, and facilities
- Fr. Ghattas Khoury (2014–2025) guided the parish for more than a decade and helped found the Sacramento Maronite mission
- Fr. Fady El Chidiac serves as current parish priest
Sacraments / Holy Mysteries
As a Maronite Catholic mission, St. Sharbel celebrates the seven sacraments (Holy Mysteries) within the discipline of the Code of Canons for the Oriental Churches (CCEO). Baptisms and weddings are scheduled through direct contact with Fr. Fady El Chidiac, with the customary Eastern Catholic preparation lead times; the Anointing and Visitation of the Sick and home Communion visits are arranged by request.
- Baptism — email one month in advance
- Matrimony — email six months in advance (one year if canonical issues)
- Anointing / Visitation of the Sick — call the priest
- Communion Calls / Home Visits — call (209) 310-2491
- Confession & Spiritual Direction — appointment with Fr. Fady El Chidiac
Faith Formation & Age-Group Ministries
St. Sharbel organizes its faith life around four age-appropriate ministries, ensuring that Maronite children, teens, young adults, and seniors each have a formation community of their own and a way to participate in the parish's liturgy and life.
- Children's Ministry (ages 3–12) — Saturdays during Mass; Sundays 45 min after Mass; fosters friendship with Jesus and peers; teaches the Bible and the Catholic faith
- Maronite Youth Organization / MYO (ages 12–18) — meets the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month for 40 minutes after Mass; members serve the Divine Liturgy on those Sundays
- Young Adult Ministry / MYA (ages 18–30) — focuses on meaningful friendships, faith deepening, community service, and leadership; contact Rhea Geagea (209) 292-4167; WhatsApp group available
- Seniors Ministry — regular meetings for prayer, fellowship, and games (see bulletin for schedule)
Who Are the Maronites?
The parish publishes a primer on its own Eastern Catholic identity and where St. Sharbel fits into the worldwide Maronite Church. The Maronite Church has ancient roots going back to the Apostles through the Patriarchate of Antioch, where 'we were first called Christians' (Acts 11:26). Stockton's mission belongs to the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, an Eastern-Catholic Maronite diocese that is administratively based in St. Louis, Missouri, and serves Maronite Catholics from California to Ohio — across 34 states west of the Ohio–Pennsylvania border.
- Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles — formed officially March 1, 1994
- Ordinary: Most Rev. Abdallah Elias Zaidan, MLM
- Current Maronite Patriarch resides in Lebanon
- Saint Sharbel Makhluf — Lebanese Maronite hermit-priest, canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1977, patron of Lebanon
Parish Priest — Fr. Fady El Chidiac
Father Fady El Chidiac is the current parish priest of St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Mission. According to the parish contact page, he is available for calls, individual and group counselling, spiritual conversations, and confessions. For confidential matters, parishioners may reach him at his personal email address.
- Phone: (209) 310-2491
- Personal email: [email protected]
- Schedules appointments for confession, spiritual direction, and home visits
- Available for Anointing / Visitation of the Sick on call
Contact, Location & Visiting
St. Sharbel is located on Eight Mile Road in Stockton, with a clear church address and a separate mailing P.O. Box. The main parish number rings at the rectory and is used for Mass intention requests, home visits, sick calls, and scheduling appointments with Fr. Fady. A second parish email address — [email protected] — handles general correspondence.
- Church address: 4981 E. Eight Mile Road, Stockton, CA 95212
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 7407, Stockton, CA 95267
- Phone: (209) 310-2491
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Confessional / pastoral appointments via Father Fady
Campus — Hermitage, Hall & Grounds
During Fr. Nabil Mouannes's tenure starting in July 2012 the mission moved from gathering-as-able in a borrowed space to taking ownership of its own physical campus. Necessary permits were secured, and the land was developed into a working parish property including a hermitage, a hall, and supporting facilities. The parish's mission statement describes the site as preserved to be 'a sanctuary for all, welcoming individuals of every age and background to experience spiritual and social connection,' and a 'peaceful haven where every seeker can find depth, community, and rest.'
- Hermitage — quiet space for prayer and reflection
- Parish hall for gatherings, formation, and fellowship
- Grounds preserved as a peaceful haven for seekers
- Continuous development under successive pastors since 2012
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Paul Mouawad
Planted the seeds of the mission; recognized spiritual hunger of Stockton Maronites; founding pastor of Our Lady of Lebanon, San Francisco.
- Monsignor Feghali
Discerned with pastoral foresight the potential for growth among Stockton families.
- Father Toufic Nasr
Opened the first parish account, established the pastoral council, and began celebrating monthly Divine Liturgies; worked with devoted friends from the Bay Area.
- Father Gebran Bou Merhi
Brief tenure; continued to support the mission's development.
- Father John Nahhal
Oversaw the significant milestone of acquiring land for the mission.
- Father Nabil Mouannesarrived July 2012
Secured necessary permits; prepared the hermitage, hall, and facilities; established committees and councils; increased liturgy from monthly to three times per month.
- Father Ghattas Khouryappointed 2014; retired March 2025
Guided the faithful for over a decade with wisdom, humility, and a fatherly spirit; also helped establish and support the Maronite mission in Sacramento.
- Father Fady El Chidiaccurrent
Current parish priest; available for calls, individual and group counselling, spiritual conversations, and confessions.