About Saint Sharbel [Maronite] · Peoria, Illinois
Saint Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church is a small Eastern Catholic parish of the Maronite Antiochian Rite in Peoria, Illinois, serving a community rooted in Lebanese heritage, particularly descendants of the mountain village of Aytou. Founded in 1973 by Lebanese-American families (including the father of former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood), the parish is part of the Maronite Diocese of Our Lady of Lebanon. It celebrates the Divine Liturgy weekly in English — and in Arabic on the first Sunday of each month — and devotions in the St. Rafqa Chapel, alongside Maronite traditions including an all-night First Friday Agape Vigil, weekly Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Stations of the Cross, and the Rosary.
- Established
- 1973
- Patron
- St. Sharbel Makhlouf (Youssef Antoun Makhlouf), Maronite monk-hermit and priest of Lebanon (1828–1898), canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 9, 1977
- Rector
- Fr. Bechara Awada
- Diocese
- Maronite Diocese of Our Lady of Lebanon (sui iuris Eastern Catholic diocese); the parish is geographically located within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria
Why belong here
Saint Sharbel offers Peoria-area Maronite Catholics and anyone curious about the Antiochian tradition a true Eastern Catholic home, with weekly Divine Liturgy in English and a special Arabic liturgy on the first Sunday of each month. The parish is small and tightly knit — about 200 families, many of Lebanese descent — and sustains a strong devotional life: weekday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, and an all-night First Friday Agape Vigil in the St. Rafqa Chapel. The annual Lebanese Food Festival, ongoing hall renovation project, and parish-owned senior condominiums also make it a community anchor on the west side of Peoria.
Mass times at Saint Sharbel [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon
- By appointment on other days
Adoration times
- Tuesday–Friday at 3:00 p.m. — Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
- A Night for Agape (all-night vigil) every First Friday, beginning with Divine Liturgy at 6:00 p.m. Friday and ending with Divine Liturgy at 2:00 a.m. Saturday in the St. Rafqa Chapel
Our Maronite Parish: Mission and Identity
Saint Sharbel is an Eastern Catholic parish of the Maronite Antiochian Rite, in full communion with Rome. Its mission statement commits the community to propagating, witnessing, and defending the Maronite way of worship, sustained by faith in the Holy Trinity, guided by the example of St. Maron, and enriched by the humility and obedience of St. Sharbel Makhlouf. The parish is committed to spiritual development through prayer, education, worship, and service, and to honoring Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eastern Catholic tradition.
Parish History
The parish was founded in 1973 to serve Peoria's Lebanese-American Maronite community. It traced its roots to Lebanese immigration that began with Tanous LaHood in 1886 and grew into a thriving Peoria community of South Side tavern-owners, grocers, and small business owners. Early Masses were held on Peoria's West Bluff. The current church on West Scenic Drive was completed in 1993.
- 1973 — Founding of Saint Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church
- Pre-1993 — Maronite community worshipped on Peoria's West Bluff
- 1993 — Current church building on West Scenic Drive completed
- 1980 — Arrival of Fr. Faouzi Elia
Who Was St. Sharbel?
St. Sharbel Makhlouf was born May 8, 1828, in the mountain village of Bekaa Kafra in northern Lebanon, raised in a devout Maronite family. Ordained a priest in 1853, he lived as a hermit-monk renowned for holiness, healings, and miracles. He died December 24, 1898, at age 70, and was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 9, 1977. Today he is venerated across Catholic and Orthodox Christianity as an icon of Eastern Catholic spirituality and a symbol of the Maronite tradition's resilience.
The Maronite Church
The Maronite Church traces its origins to 4th-century Christian communities of the Levant (modern Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine). It takes its name from St. Maron, a Syriac Christian monk of the 4th–5th centuries. After spreading into the mountains of Lebanon, the community kept a distinct Eastern Christian identity while remaining loyal to Rome and was formally recognized as part of the Catholic communion by the Vatican in 1182.
Clergy
The parish is currently served by Fr. Bechara Awada, who handles all initial inquiries for Baptism (two weeks' notice) and Holy Matrimony (three months' notice). Fr. Faouzi Elia, who arrived in 1980, has been the long-serving pastor associated with the parish's growth and with community leaders such as Ray LaHood.
- Fr. Bechara Awada — Pastor
- Rev. Faouzi Elia — long-serving priest (since 1980)
Devotions (Tuesday–Friday)
A daily block of Maronite and traditional Catholic devotions takes place Tuesday through Friday afternoons, combining Eucharistic devotion with the great penitential and Marian prayers beloved of the Eastern Catholic tradition.
- 3:00 p.m. — Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Divine Mercy Chaplet
- 3:15 p.m. — Stations of the Cross
- 4:30 p.m. — Rosary
A Night for Agape (First Friday Vigil)
Following the request of Our Lady of Fatima for all-night vigils of reparation for sins against the Sorrowful Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the parish holds a full all-night vigil every First Friday. It begins with Divine Liturgy at 6:00 p.m. Friday in the St. Rafqa Chapel and continues overnight, concluding with a 2:00 a.m. Saturday Liturgy.
Baptism and Holy Matrimony
Parishioners requesting Baptism should contact Fr. Bechara Awada at least two weeks before the desired date. Couples preparing for Holy Matrimony should contact him at least three months in advance, as is customary for Eastern Catholic marriage preparation.
Lebanese Food Festival
An annual Lebanese Food Festival is a centerpiece of parish life — a celebration of the Lebanese-American heritage of the community. It features Lebanese meals and has historically served as both a fundraiser and a heritage event.
Hall Renovations and Building Project
The parish campus includes a multi-phase building project. Phase I comprises the St. Rafqa Chapel, the home of weekday liturgy and of the First Friday Agape Vigil. A Hall Renovations project is shown on the parish site, indicating ongoing capital work on the parish hall.
- St. Rafqa Chapel (Phase I) — location of daily liturgy and First Friday vigil
- Hall Renovations project — ongoing parish hall capital work
- Adjacent senior condominiums owned by the parish
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (309) 886-5460 or by email at [email protected]. The church and parish hall sit together at 2920 W. Scenic Drive, Peoria, IL 61615.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Faouzi Elia1980–present (as of 2010 reporting)
Arrived at the parish in 1980 and has been a steady leader; he hosted Ray LaHood's first trip to Lebanon.