The Beginnings
History of Our Lady of
Lebanon Parish
Our Lady of Lebanon Parish is and always has been the story of people known by their attachment to their religious, traditions and cultural heritage. OLOL came to birth through the efforts of a dedicated group of Maronites Catholics who had the vision to see the needs that future growth would thrust on their community, and the dedication to provide for those needs.The history of Our Lady of Lebanon Parish is always connected to the history of the community it serves. OLOL parish contains a rich and vibrant history. This history is full of dedicated people all serving the Lord through one another, which continues today. OLOL’s begins, and continues, with the Missionary of the “Congregation of the Order Antonine Maronite” (OAM). But who are the OAM, and what inspired them to come to Canada?
The Antonine Maronite Order, whose patron is Saint Anthony the great, was founded in 1700 by Msgr. Gabriel of Blawza. The Antonines are Monks and Apostles; they lived and are still living as Monks and as Apostles in their Monasteries, totally dedicating themselves to God and humanity.
The Congregation of the OAM brought their mission here to Canada with the large population of Lebanese who emigrated. The Congregation of the OAM continues to serve in parishes in its motherland, Lebanon, as well as many monasteries which they inhabit as well.
The pastoral services that were being provided in Windsor, Ontario by the Antonine Fathers such as (Sylwanos Aboujaoude, John El Helou and John Dahdah) from 1930 until 1977, opened the door for the Congregation of the Order Antonine Maronite (0.A.M.) to answer the needs of the immigrants by the request of His Excellency G. E. Carter, who was the Bishop of London at that time.
In 1975, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ontario encouraged the Antonine Maronite Order to send a missionary to the province of Ontario for the purpose of serving its Maronite community. The Antonine Order accepted the call and proceeded to establish its first Ontario Maronite mission in the city of Windsor in 1976. This mission was quickly extended to the neighboring cities of Leamington and London.
The Maronite community in Toronto was also eager to have its own local parish; a quest was accorded to them by Cardinal Emmett CARTER. Consequently, at the request of Antonine Superior General Michael BOU FADEL, Father Cesar ASHKAR and Father Jean SADER of the Monastery of Saint Charbel in Windsor began their weekly trips to Toronto to celebrate mass at Saint Michael’s Cathedral (1978).
In early 1979, Father Charbel CHIDIAC joined the service and continued the weekly visits already in progress between Toronto and Windsor, to celebrate mass at Saint Vincent De Paul (Roncesvalles) Church. The Maronite parishioners of Toronto soon felt the need to have their own Church. Their wish was granted by the Superior General Michael BOU FADEL.
June 11, 1983 marks the special Dedication day and the birth date of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Parish in Toronto (GTA) . It was during the mandate of the Superior General Elias ATALLAH and with the assistance of both, the Antonine Maronite order and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, that the previously named “Epiphany Anglican Church” at 1515 Queen Street West was purchased. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto and Bishop Elias CHAHINE of the Maronite Eparchy in Canada provided their unconditional support throughout. The parishioners who were represented by Uncle Joe HOMSY, Mr. Tom LEON and Mr. Eddy BOULOS to name a few worked very hard and sacrificed a lot in order to bring this project to reality and establish what we have today. The Church and the monastery witnessed the continued hard work and commitment of all Superior Generals, priests, committees, companies and families in order to build the base of a proud Lebanese parish and community, crowned by many achievements carried from one generation to the next, always believing in a better future. This indeed changed the lives of the Toronto Lebanese community in general and the Maronites in particular.
Since 1983, the Maronite Eparchy of Canada had four Bishops: the late Mgr. Elias CHAHINE ( 1983-1990), Mgr. George ABI SABER (1990-1996), Mgr. Joseph KHOURY (1997-2012) and our current bishop Mgr. Paul – Marwan TABET the Bishop of the Maronite Eparchy in Canada, always ready and eager to serve all parishes and their priests throughout the country.
Parish Pastors
Fr. Charbel CHIDIAC
Since (1978-1993)Fr. George BOU FADEL
Since (1993-1996)Fr. Nohra SEIF
Since (1996-2001)Fr. Michel ROUHANA
Since (2001-2005)Fr. Emanuel NAKHLE
Since (2005-2011)Fr. Maroun ABOU JAOUDE
Since (2011-2013)Fr. Youssef CHEDID
Since (2013-2016)Fr. Milad ABOU DIWAN
Since (2016-2017)Fr. Walid EL KHOURY
Since (2017-2024)Fr. Abbot M. Abou Jaoude
Since (2024-Present)Associate Pastors
Fr. Antoine BADR
Since (1983)Fr. Youssef KEIKATI
Since (1986)Fr. Emanuel NAKHLE
Since (1987-1997)Fr. Nohra SEIF
Since (1984-1985 & 1995)Fr. Philemon SELWAN
(1998-1999)Fr. Joseph AKOURI
Since (2002)Deacon Youssef BASSIL
Since (2003)Fr. Walid EL KHOURY
Since (2004)Fr. Johnny EL HASBANY
Since (2004-2007)Fr. Daniel FARES
Since (2007-2011)Fr. Youssef CHEDID
Since (2011-2016)Fr. Elie ABOU ASSAF
Since (2014-2018)Fr. Habib TANNOURY
Since (2011-2016)Fr. Christopher Maalouf
Since (2014-2018)All this would not have been possible if it had not been for the combined work of the Maronite and Lebanese Catholic families in Toronto who formed numerous committees, councils and confraternities which had and still have a great deal of influence on organizing and strengthening the spiritual and community activities. Furthermore we acknowledge the efforts and hard work of all volunteers including the Altar boys, parents and their children, the Choir, the Immaculate Conception confraternity, the First Communion committees, the youth group: guardians of the heritage, Our Lady of Lebanon Scouts Group, the Sunday school teachers and volunteers, the previous Saturday morning school teachers, and the employees and volunteers in the church’s office: The accountants, the data keepers, the website team and many others. It is impossible to mention all the volunteers and those who assisted in establishing and strengthening this wonderful parish, be it through charity work, sacrifices or donations. However, be assured that their names are printed in the church’s records and in the Heavens. We ask our Lord almighty to bless them, bless their efforts, sacrifices and donations and grant them their wishes.
His Beatitude Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros SFEIR blessed us with his presence at our Parish on March 25th, 2001, during his visit to Canada. This was indeed a special occasion. We are once again blessed with the presence amongst us of his Beatitude Mar Beshara Boutros RAI on May 11, 2011. We could not be more pleased.
Our parish includes approximately thousand families originating from all parts of Lebanon. These families have spread like a drop of oil that spilled in Toronto and its vicinity covering a surface almost equal to that of Lebanon itself. With the change in the Maronite demography in Toronto and the increase in distance required to reach the Parish, spiritual services were then extended to Kitchener-Waterloo and Pickering.
On September 2010 Bishop Joseph Khoury created a new Parish in Mississauga and appointed Fr. Charbel Bousamra as Pastor.
Despite the distances, the eagerness to develop multiple spiritual activities has never subsided; in fact, it has become stronger than ever and continues to grow further. This is an indication of a brighter future for the next generations to be honored with. It is a future that “WE” the present generation, are responsible to develop, maintain and prepare for our children of the future.
