About Saint Sharbel [Maronite] · Clinton Township, Michigan
St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic parish of the Maronite (Antiochian) Rite serving the Lebanese and Maronite Christian community of Clinton Township, Michigan, located within the territorial boundaries of the Roman Metropolitan Archdiocese of Detroit. The parish is celebrated throughout the Maronite world for hosting a monthly Healing Mass of Saint Sharbel on the 22nd of every month — a devotion that commemorates the 1993 miraculous healing of Nohad El Shami in Lebanon. Led by Pastor Chorbishop Alfred Badawi and Associate Pastor Fr. Christopher Nahra, the parish offers weekend Divine Liturgy in English and Arabic.
- Established
- 1987
- Patron
- Saint Sharbel Makhlouf
- Rector
- Chorbishop Alfred Badawi
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon (Maronite Catholic Diocese, headquartered in Los Angeles); physically located within the territory of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Why belong here
St. Sharbel welcomes all people into a vibrant Maronite Catholic community that preserves Lebanese spiritual heritage while embracing newcomers to the faith. The parish offers weekend Divine Liturgy in English and Arabic, a thorough Religious Education program preparing children for the Maronite sacraments of Chrismation and First Holy Communion, and a calendar of devotional life highlighted by the monthly Healing Mass of Saint Sharbel — a devotion known around the Maronite world. Active groups for every age — St. Sharbel Ladies Altar Society, Maronite Youth Organization (MYO), Maronite Young Adults (MYA), the Knights of Columbus Msgr. Michael G. Abdoo Council #8231 (the first Maronite K of C council, founded 1982), and the Men's Club — make it easy to find a home and a mission here.
Mass times at Saint Sharbel [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM (prior to Mass)
- Sunday 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM (prior to Mass)
- 22nd of each month during the Healing Mass of Saint Sharbel
- By appointment via the Church Office
Adoration times
- Healing Mass & Benediction on the 22nd day of every month, 6:30 PM (Nov–Mar) / 7:00 PM (Apr–Oct)
About St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church
St. Sharbel is an Eastern Catholic parish of the Maronite (Antiochian) Rite that belongs to the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon and sits geographically within the territory of the Roman Metropolitan Archdiocese of Detroit. The parish welcomes all who wish to encounter Jesus Christ through the Maronite sacramental and devotional tradition, with Divine Liturgy celebrated in English and Arabic each weekend.
- Eastern Catholic parish of the Maronite Rite
- Part of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon
- Located within the territory of the Archdiocese of Detroit
History of the Parish
The St. Sharbel community grew out of the older St. Maron Maronite Church in Detroit. As the Lebanese-Maronite faithful in metropolitan Detroit grew in number, a second parish complex was acquired in Warren in April 1987, and St. Sharbel formally came into being on that site. Through the late 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s the community built a church and banquet hall, served a Livonia mission, and was pastored by a succession of priests and chorbishops. With families moving north into the suburbs, the parish prayerfully relocated to a more central home at 43888 Hayes Road in Clinton Township — a move the parish itself calls 'a milestone in the history of Michigan Maronites.'
- St. Sharbel complex acquired April 1987 in Warren; served together with St. Maron as a two-church parish
- New St. Sharbel Church and Banquet Hall built in 1993 at 31601 Schoenherr Rd., north of 13 Mile Rd., Warren
- Served St. Rafka Mission in Livonia 2003–2014 before it became an independent parish
- Relocated from Warren to Clinton Township after years of planning and prayerful discernment
Our Clergy and Staff
Pastoral leadership of St. Sharbel is provided by a chorbishop (an Eastern Catholic rank) and an associate priest, supported by a deacon, a parish administrative assistant, and the directors of the Religious Education Program. The 2025 parish bulletin identifies the following by name.
- Pastor — Chorbishop Alfred Badawi
- Associate Pastor — Fr. Christopher Nahra
- Deacon — Michael Magyar
- Administrative Assistant — Dianne Bartolomeo
- Religious Education Directors — Mrs. Noha Agini and Mrs. Staci Saker
The Healing Mass of Saint Sharbel
On the 22nd of each month the parish gathers for the Healing Mass of Saint Sharbel, commemorating the January 22, 1993 miraculous healing of Nohad El Shami, the Lebanese woman who, after suffering stroke-related hemiplegia, dreamed of two Maronite monks — one of them St. Sharbel — performing surgery on her neck, and woke healed with visible surgical marks. Following the vision, Nohad visited St. Sharbel's monastery in Annaya every 22nd of the month, and that monthly pilgrimage is now continued by St. Sharbel Church in Clinton Township. During the Healing Mass the community prays for Saint Sharbel's intercession, and every person present receives a special blessing with Saint Sharbel oil. Nohad El Shami, the messenger of the miracle, died on May 14, 2025; the parish published a tribute to her life and witness.
- Held on the 22nd of every month, 6:30 PM (Nov–Mar) / 7:00 PM (Apr–Oct)
- Blessing with Saint Sharbel oil
- Special intentions prayed for world peace and the Sanctity of Life
- Commemorates the 1993 healing of Nohad El Shami
Religious Education Program (REP)
St. Sharbel runs a parish-based Religious Education Program that prepares children to encounter Christ in the sacramental life of the Church. The 2026-27 school year registration is currently available, with forms mailed to the REP email or brought to the REP office, and payment accepted in person or via the parish's online 'Donate Here' button (with the child's name included in the 'Gift Note' field). To prepare for the Mystery of 1st Holy Communion a child must be in at least 2nd grade with one prior year of religious education.
- Directors: Mrs. Noha Agini (c: 586-531-6030) and Mrs. Staci Saker (c: 248-494-1470)
- Email: [email protected]
- First Holy Communion requirement: at least 2nd grade with one prior year of religious education
Parish Groups and Organizations
Parish life at St. Sharbel is supported by organizations spanning every age and interest: an altar society, a men's club, youth, young adults, and the Knights of Columbus. Contact information for each group is published on the parish Groups page and in recent bulletins.
- St. Sharbel Ladies Altar Society — contact Char Fortuna, President, [email protected], (586) 260-2036
- Maronite Youth Organization (MYO), ages 12–18 — contact Rita Yammine, [email protected]
- Maronite Young Adults (MYA), ages 18–35 — contact [email protected]
- Msgr. Michael G. Abdoo Council #8231, Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight Edward O'Brien ([email protected], 313-378-0253); Deputy Grand Knight Tom Hatty ([email protected], 586-747-8351); founded 1982 at St. Maron, the first Maronite K of C council; serves St. Sharbel, St. Maron and St. Rafka parishes
- Men's Club — (586) 202-8976
Sacraments
St. Sharbel offers the seven sacraments of the Eastern Catholic Church, with the parish office handling all initial scheduling requests. Marriage requires a minimum of six months of preparation in keeping with the Code of Canons for the Oriental Churches (CCEO).
- Baptism & Chrismation — registered and active members; contact the Church at least three weeks in advance
- Marriage — minimum six months of preparation including premarriage sessions (CCEO)
- Anointing of the Sick — for those beginning to be in danger from sickness or old age; may be repeated; may be received before surgery
- Pastoral Care — home visits, Communion to the homebound, and hospital/rehab/nursing-home visits arranged through the Parish Office
Visit, Contact, and Connect
Parishioners and visitors are warmly invited to stop in or reach the parish office by phone or email. The parish's address, phone number, and general email are published on its website and bulletins.
- Address: 43888 Hayes Road, Clinton Township, MI 48038
- Church Office Phone: (586) 630-0002
- General Email: [email protected]
- Religious Education Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stsharbelmichigan.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Chorbishop Joseph Feghali
During his pastorate, the St. Sharbel complex was acquired in April 1987 in Warren; became known as St. Maron/St. Sharbel.
- Monsignor Kenneth Michael1990–(early 2000s)
Appointed co-pastor October 1, 1990 by Archbishop Zayek; later became first Pastor of St. Sharbel Church in Warren; retired from administrative duties after about ten years.
- Chorbishop Michael Kael2001
Appointed by Bishop Robert J. Shaheen.
- Rev. Backos Chidiac
Short term.
- Rev. Gary George
Short term.
- Msgr. Joubran Boumheriuntil December 2011
Replaced Chorbishop Kael and the interim pastors.
- Chorbishop Alfred BadawiDecember 2011–present
Appointed by Bishop Shaheen; oversaw relocation of the parish from Warren to Clinton Township.