About Saints Peter and Paul [Maronite] · Tampa, Florida
Saints Peter and Paul is a Maronite Catholic Mission located at 6201 Sheldon Road in Tampa, Florida. It is one of the parishes of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, the U.S. Maronite Catholic diocese, and sits geographically within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg. The mission was established in January 2000 to serve the Maronite faithful of the Tampa Bay area and was granted mission status under the patronage of Saints Peter and Paul in January 2005 by Bishop Gregory J. Mansour. It celebrated its first liturgy in its own building in May 2007 and was consecrated in March 2008. Today the community gathers for the Divine Liturgy in English and Arabic every weekend and runs an active calendar of youth groups, faith formation (CCD), the Sodality, and outreach through Santa Maria Mission.
- Established
- 2000
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul
- Rector
- Rev. Fadi Rouhana (Administrator, since June 1, 2018)
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn (Maronite); geographically within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg
Why belong here
Saints Peter and Paul is the Maronite Catholic home for the Tampa Bay area's Lebanese and Middle Eastern faithful — and anyone drawn to the ancient Antiochene liturgical tradition — offering weekend Divine Liturgy in both English and Arabic so that multiple generations can worship together. The mission is small enough to feel like family, but active: it runs CCD faith formation for children, the MYA and MYO youth groups, and the Sodality, and partners with Santa Maria Mission to feed and support the poor and homeless. Joining the parish means plugging into a community that takes seriously both its Middle Eastern heritage and its call to serve the wider Tampa community through festivals, gatherings, and outreach.
Mass times at Saints Peter and Paul [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Thursday 6:00 pm (First Thursday of the Month)
Welcome & Identity
Saints Peter and Paul Maronite Catholic Church introduces itself as an Eastern Catholic community of the Maronite Rite, in full communion with the Pope and rooted in the early Christians of Antioch (Syria), where Acts 11:26 records that the followers of Jesus were first called Christians. The 'Maronite' name derives from Saint Maron, a priest and hermit who died around the year 410 A.D. The parish welcomes longtime Maronite faithful, first-time visitors, and anyone curious about the Maronite tradition who finds their way to 6201 Sheldon Road.
- Eastern Catholic, Maronite Rite, in communion with Rome
- Tradition traced to the Christians of Antioch
- Named after Saint Maron (d. 410 A.D.)
- Address: 6201 Sheldon Rd., Tampa, FL 33615
Our History
The mission's history page on the parish website walks through the community's full arc, from the years before 2000 when Lebanese-American Catholics began collecting names in Tampa, to the formal establishment of the Maronite Community of Tampa by Bishop Stephen H. Doueihi in January 2000, to the move from St. Mary's in Tampa to Our Lady of the Rosary in Land O' Lakes at Bishop Robert N. Lynch's invitation, and finally to the purchase, first Mass, and consecration of the Sheldon Road church between 2006 and 2008.
- Before 2000: Local Lebanese-American Catholics gather names and submit them to the Eparchy of St. Maron in Brooklyn.
- January 2000: Bishop Stephen H. Doueihi formally establishes the Maronite Community of Tampa; Father George Zina (pastor of St. Jude Maronite, Orlando) becomes visiting priest.
- Community later moves to Our Lady of the Rosary Parish Center in Land O' Lakes at Bishop Robert N. Lynch's invitation.
- Bishop Doueihi assigns Father Paul Damien as administrator; weekly Liturgy continues at St. Mary's in Tampa.
- January 16, 2005: Bishop Gregory J. Mansour grants Mission status under the patronage of Saints Peter and Paul.
- April 9, 2006: Offer made to purchase the 3,600 sq. ft. Sheldon Road building for $575,000.
- Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006: Chorbishop Michael G. Thomas announces Bishop Mansour's approval of the purchase at the midnight Liturgy of the Resurrection.
- July 23, 2006: Father Paul Damien reassigned to St. Sharbel's Mission, Raleigh, NC; Father Jorge Perales (Archdiocese of Miami, on loan to the Eparchy) named administrator.
- May 2007: First event at Sheldon Road — a baptism, followed by the first Mass with First Communion for 9 children.
- November–December 2007: Formal inauguration of the Sheldon Road church planned with Bishop Mansour.
- March 30, 2008: Bishop Mansour consecrates the completed Saints Peter and Paul Maronite Catholic Church.
- June 1, 2018: Father Fadi Rouhana assigned as administrator.
Catholic & Maronite Identity
The parish frames its self-understanding with the Catechism's teaching that the one Catholic Church has twenty-two different Rites in which the Mass and other sacraments are celebrated. The Western Catholic Church principally uses the Roman Rite; the Eastern Catholic Church celebrates liturgies in the Byzantine, Armenian, Melkite, and Maronite Rites, among others. Saints Peter and Paul belongs to the Maronite Rite, whose Antiochene origins, the parish notes, go back to when Saint Peter founded the Church at Antioch.
- One Catholic Church, one faith, one Pope, seven sacraments
- Twenty-two Rites — Eastern and Western
- Maronite Rite belongs to the Eastern Catholic tradition
- Origin: Church of Antioch, founded by St. Peter
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The mission is currently served by one priest, Rev. Fadi Rouhana, who serves as Administrator and has held that role since June 1, 2018. He is also listed as Pastor by the parish's own Services page, which notes he has been the dedicated pastor of Saints Peter and Paul since 2018. He is available to meet with parishioners for any spiritual needs or religious services one hour before the Divine Liturgy on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Rev. Fadi Rouhana — Administrator (June 1, 2018 – present)
- Previously Pastoral Administrator of Our Lady of Purgatory, New Bedford, Massachusetts
- Available for meetings one hour before Liturgy on Saturdays and Sundays
Sacraments & Pastoral Services
The parish website lists the key sacramental and pastoral services available, emphasizing that the church walks with parishioners 'through life's most meaningful moments.'
- Baptisms — welcoming new members into the Church family
- First Communion — preparing and guiding children
- Marriage — celebrating weddings and uniting couples in the sacrament of love
- Anointing of the Sick / Last Rites — comfort, prayer, and peace at the end of life
- Holy Communion brought to the sick — keeping homebound parishioners connected to the parish
Parish Ministries & Groups
The mission runs faith formation for children and an active youth and women's life, alongside outreach to those in need. The parish's 'Mission & Love' page highlights its partnership with Santa Maria Mission to feed and support Tampa's poor and homeless, and its cultural mission of sharing Maronite and Lebanese traditions through festivals and gatherings.
- CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) — religious education for children
- MYA — Maronite Youth Association
- MYO — Maronite Youth Organization
- Sodality
- Outreach & service to the poor and homeless with Santa Maria Mission
- Festivals, gatherings, and parish activities sharing Maronite/Lebanese heritage
Visit Us & Contact
Visitors and parishioners are invited to come to 6201 Sheldon Rd., Tampa, FL 33615, call the parish office, or join the mailing list to receive parish news and updates. The parish also collects WhatsApp numbers for weekly updates and accepts donations via PayPal or Zelle to [email protected].
- Address: 6201 Sheldon Rd., Tampa, FL 33615
- Phone: (813) 886-7413
- Email: [email protected]
- Mailing list available via the website
- Donate via PayPal or Zelle to [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father George Zinafrom January 2000
Visiting priest from St. Jude Maronite Catholic Church in Orlando; celebrated Liturgy every other Saturday for the new Maronite Community of Tampa.
- Father Paul Damienthrough July 23, 2006
Assigned by Bishop Doueihi as administrator; previously parochial vicar at St. Anthony's Church in Glen Allen, Virginia. Reassigned by Bishop Mansour to St. Sharbel's Mission in Raleigh, NC.
- Father Jorge Peralesfrom July 23, 2006
Priest of the Archdiocese of Miami on loan to the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn; appointed administrator of Sts. Peter and Paul by Bishop Mansour.
- Rev. Fadi RouhanaJune 1, 2018 – present
Assigned as Administrator; previously Pastoral Administrator of Our Lady of Purgatory, New Bedford, Massachusetts.