About Saint Sharbel [Maronite] · Raleigh, North Carolina
Saint Sharbel Maronite Catholic Mission in Raleigh, NC is an Eastern Catholic parish of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn that serves the Maronite faithful of the greater Triangle area of North Carolina. The community celebrates the Maronite Divine Liturgy in English, Arabic, and Aramaic, preserves Eastern liturgical traditions, and operates out of a permanent home on Mount Vernon Church Road. Today it runs a choir, religious education programs for Maronite youth, a Ladies Guild, and an active pastoral life with annual haflis and a feast-day celebration.
- Established
- 1996 (community); 2000 (formal mission established)
- Patron
- Saint Sharbel (Sharfet) Makhlouf, the Lebanese Maronite monk and hermit canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1977
- Rector
- Rev. Robert Youssef Farah
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn (Maronite Catholic); worship site lies within the geographic territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh
Why belong here
Saint Sharbel offers Triangle-area Catholics a chance to worship in the ancient Maronite rite — the only Eastern Catholic tradition rooted in Syriac Christianity and the language Jesus spoke — with the Divine Liturgy celebrated in English, Arabic, and Aramaic. It is a family-friendly mission where adults can sing in a parish choir (Arabic/Syriac reading ability not required), children can serve as altar servers from age 8 or join the forming Junior Choir (ages 8–16), and teens take part in the Maronite Youth Organization (MYO). The parish gathers around beloved annual traditions such as Lenten mammoul-baking, the Mother's Day Hafli, the summer picnic, the July Feast Day, the October Golf Tournament, and a Christmas Hafli — making it as much a cultural home for Maronite Christians as a spiritual one.
Mass times at Saint Sharbel [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Benediction of St. Sharbel — every 22nd of the month at 6:30 PM–7:30 PM (after liturgy on days when liturgy is scheduled, or as a special service at 6:30 PM otherwise)
About Saint Sharbel Maronite Catholic Mission
Saint Sharbel Maronite Catholic Mission exists to consecrate the richness of the Eastern Maronite Catholic Rite traditions among the diverse Christian population of the Triangle area of North Carolina. Its three-pronged mission is to engage the surrounding community, educate and practice the spiritual journey endorsed by the teachings of Jesus Christ, and establish and preserve the Maronite heritage that guides its members through life. As a member parish of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, NY, it is in full communion with the Holy Father in Rome while preserving its distinct Eastern liturgical tradition.
- Vision: Preserve and endorse the teaching of Jesus Christ as a parish of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn
- Mission: Consecration of the Eastern Maronite Catholic Rite through engagement, education, and heritage preservation
Parish History
The Maronite Community of Raleigh was formed in May 1996 by a group of Maronite families determined to bring the Eastern liturgy to the Triangle. Worship began at St. Joseph Catholic Church on June 23, 1996, moved to Sacred Heart Cathedral three months later, and was formally canonized as St. Sharbel Mission on January 16, 2000 under founding pastor Fr. Joseph Thomas, BSO. Over the following two decades the community built a building fund, hosted the 2003 NAM Southern Regional Convention, sold land in Morrisville, and ultimately purchased the former North Park Church in north Raleigh in September 2018 — establishing its first permanent home.
- 1996 – Community forms; first Divine Liturgy celebrated June 23, 1996 at St. Joseph Catholic Church
- 2000 – Bishop Doueihi establishes St. Sharbel Mission; Fr. Joseph Thomas, BSO named founding pastor
- 2001 – 30th anniversary of Fr. Joseph Thomas's ordination celebrated December 8
- 2002 – First Mother's Day Hafli (May 11) and purchase of three acres in Morrisville (May 31)
- 2003 – Hosted NAM Southern Regional Convention
- 2017 – Fr. Raymond Khallouf appointed pastor January 1
- 2018 – Former North Park Church purchased September 13; Fr. Robert Youssef Farah appointed November 2018
Liturgies & Worship Schedule
The parish celebrates the Maronite Divine Liturgy on Sundays at 11:00 AM (in English, Arabic, and Aramaic), Saturdays at 5:00 PM (in English and Aramaic), and Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings at 6:30 PM. Feast Day liturgies are scheduled at 6:30 PM as needed. The Maronite Church teaches that 'the liturgy is the living treasure of the Church' — the source of her spirituality and the goal of all ecclesial activity.
- Sunday – 11:00 AM (English, Arabic, Aramaic), followed by a social hour
- Saturday – 5:00 PM (English and Aramaic)
- Wednesday / Thursday / Friday – 6:30 PM (English, Arabic, Aramaic)
- Feast Days – 6:30 PM as scheduled
Benediction of St. Sharbel
Every 22nd of the month the parish holds a Benediction of St. Sharbel from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. If a regular liturgy is already scheduled that day, the Benediction follows the liturgy; if not, a special service is added at 6:30 PM. The devotional echoes the monthly rhythm of Maronite prayer around their patron saint.
- Benediction of St. Sharbel — every 22nd, 6:30–7:30 PM
- After liturgy on days when liturgy is scheduled; special service at 6:30 PM otherwise
Parish Ministries
Saint Sharbel is built on lay involvement. The parish supports liturgical, educational, and outreach ministries spanning all ages, with a Pastoral Life Council that advises the pastor and coordinates seven standing committees. Reading Arabic or Syriac is not required to participate in most ministries.
- Choir (adult) — sings most major liturgies Sept–June; rehearses 2nd Sunday of the month after liturgy
- Junior Choir (in formation) — ages 8–16
- Maronite Youth Organization (MYO) — 7th grade through high school; meets 4th Sunday
- Lectors — trained in English and Arabic
- Altar Servers — boys age 8 and older
- Ladies Guild
- Pastoral Life Council
- Liturgy, Faith Formation, Daughters and Sons of St. Sharbel, Events, Financial, and Building and Grounds Committees
Annual Events & Cultural Life
The parish's social and cultural calendar is woven into the liturgical year, blending Maronite traditions with North Carolina community life. Long-running annual events include the Mother's Day Hafli (since 2002), Lenten mammoul cookie baking, the St. Sharbel Feast Day in July, an outdoor summer picnic, an October Golf Tournament, and a Christmas Hafli.
- Lenten mammoul-baking
- Mother's Day Hafli (since May 11, 2002)
- Spring Hafli
- Outdoor summer picnic
- St. Sharbel Feast Day (July)
- Annual Golf Tournament (October)
- Christmas Hafli
Contact & Visit
Saint Sharbel welcomes visitors to its worship home in north Raleigh. The Sunday Divine Liturgy at 11:00 AM is followed by a social hour, and a contact form is available on the parish website for inquiries. The parish mailing address, phone, and location are listed below.
- Address: 600 Mount Vernon Church Road, Raleigh, NC 27614
- Phone: 919-917-7597
- Sunday worship followed by social hour
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Larry Jensen1996 (approx.) – 1998
Sent from St. Michael the Archangel Maronite Church in Fayetteville, NC to celebrate a monthly Divine Liturgy for the newly formed Maronite Community of Raleigh.
- Fr. Jack Morrison1998 – approx. 1999/2000
Took over from Fr. Larry as administrator of the Maronite Community of Raleigh on or around October 18, 1998.
- Fr. Joseph Thomas, BSOJanuary 16, 2000 – after 2002
Founding pastor appointed by Bishop Doueihi when St. Sharbel Mission was formally established; celebrated the 30th anniversary of his own priestly ordination in December 2001.
- Fr. KhalilBefore 2017 – January 2017
Reassigned by Bishop Gregory to the Maronite Mission of Charlotte to support its growth.
- Fr. Raymond KhalloufJanuary 1, 2017 – November 2018
Brought construction expertise; led the parish to sell Morrisville land and purchase the former North Park Church in north Raleigh, sold to St. Sharbel on September 13, 2018.
- Fr. Robert Youssef FarahNovember 2018 – present
First married priest in the Eparchy of St. Maron; welcomed with his wife Jocelyne as the parish settled into its new Mount Vernon Church Road home.