CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte is home to a small Maronite Catholic community – St. Stephen Maronite Catholic Mission – that offers weekly liturgies in English and Aramaic at St. Matthew Church in south Charlotte.
St. Stephen’s parishioners, some 40 families, are meeting at St. Matthew’s main church ever since last October, when because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions they were unable to use their regular meeting place at St. Matthew’s Waxhaw location.
Father Rodolph Wakim has served as the mission’s pastor since last October, after moving down from Pittsburgh, where he served for 13 years as pastor of Our Lady of Victory Maronite Catholic Church.
He has a devotion to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and says he is grateful to Bishop Peter Jugis for providing him with a home featuring a small chapel in a converted garage. He offers daily Mass from the chapel, sharing the liturgy on Facebook for his flock.
“On Thursday, after daily Mass, I have Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel, which is a blessing,” Father Wakim says.
He travels from his home near St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte to St. Matthew’s main church on Saturday evenings to offer Mass at 7 p.m. All Catholics of any rite are welcome to attend the Mass, which is said in English and Aramaic.
The Charlotte mission is part of the Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn, N.Y., which encompasses 16 states including North Carolina.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter.
Pictured: Hundreds of people turned out to venerate a relic of St. Sharbel, a 19th century Lebanese monk, at St. Stephen Maronite Mission in 2016. Along with St. Maron, St. Sharbel is one of the most celebrated saints in the Maronite Church. (File | Catholic News Herald)
Learn more
At www.ststephenclt.org: Learn more about St. Stephen Maronite Catholic Mission of Charlotte
At www.facebook.com/StStephenNc: Follow the mission on Facebook to watch daily Mass and keep up with parish news
Questions? Contact Father Wakim at 704-412-1016 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Who are the Maronite Catholics?
The Maronite Catholic Church, one of 23 rites in the universal Church, was founded by disciples of St. Maron, an ascetic hermit who lived between the fourth and the fifth centuries A.D. near Antioch.
It was in Antioch that the followers of Jesus were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26). St. Peter fled to Antioch when a persecution broke out in Jerusalem, and according to tradition, St. Peter founded the Church at Antioch and became its first bishop.
St. Maron was a contemporary and friend of St. John Chrysostom, a Father and Doctor of the Church. Leaving Antioch to live as a hermit, he attracted many followers because of his holiness. After he died in 410 A.D., his disciples built a monastery in his memory, and his feast day is celebrated on Feb. 9.
Maronites soon came under threat from the rise of Islam and the power of the Byzantine Empire throughout the region now known as Lebanon and Syria. Amid the political, social and religious chaos, the Maronites elected their first patriarch, St. John Maron, in 687 A.D., setting themselves up as a distinct rite within the Church that recognized the authority of the pope.
When Muslim invaders stormed through, they fled to safety in the mountains of Lebanon. There they remained – at first living and worshiping in caves and grottos and later in small churches and monasteries – cut off from the rest of the Christian world for about 400 years.
During the Crusades, Christians from the West reconnected with the Maronites. Rome, previously unaware that the Maronites still existed, reached out to help them, and in turn the Maronites provided aid to the crusaders.
After the Ottoman Empire rose from the remnants of the Byzantine Empire in the mid-1400s, its Muslim rulers set up an alliance with the Maronites to govern together in Lebanon – forming the basis of the modern Lebanese republic, in which Christians and Muslims share the top positions in government.
Maronite Catholics profess the same apostolic faith and celebrate the same sacraments as Roman Catholics, but retain a distinct liturgy, hierarchy and code of canon law.
In the Maronite Church, the celebration of the Eucharist is also called Qurbono (Syriac), Quddas (Arabic) and Divine Liturgy.
The liturgical language is Syriac, a dialect of Aramaic – the language of Jesus. Aramaic is still used in the Divine Liturgy, notably during the Consecration.
Many of the prayers are also derived from the Liturgy of St. James and the writings of ancient Eastern Fathers, especially St. Ephrem, a Doctor of the Church.
The Maronite Catholic Church is led worldwide by Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi. The See is in Bkerke, Lebanon.
The Maronite population is estimated at more than 3.5 million, including more than 1 million in Lebanon and more than 79,000 in the United States.
— Sources: Wikipedia, www.stmaron.org, www.bkerki.org
The Eucharistic Prayer in Aramaic
Listen to the Consecration chanted in ancient Aramaic during a Maronite Catholic Mass:
The history of the papacy has been written in many volumes. It has been stated that no figure compares with the pope in prestige and influence. There have been 267 popes since the time of St. Peter allowing for continuous apostolic succession starting with Jesus saying, “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church…” (Matt 16:16-18).
Who is the pope? The pope is the Bishop of Rome, the head of the College of Bishops, the Vicar of Christ, and the pastor of the universal church on earth. By virtue of his office, he possesses supreme, full and immediate ordinary power in the Church, which he is always able to exercise freely (Canon Law 331). He is the supreme judge of the entire Catholic world either personally or through judges he may delegate. The pope can be judged by no one. He teaches infallibly when he proclaims a definitive act of faith and morals.
There is neither appeal nor recourse against a decree of the pope; however, he cannot act arbitrarily, but he can be confined with certain limits should the usefulness of the Church or the faithful require it (“Lumen Gentium,” 27). His declarations are infallible when he proposes a doctrine as an obligatory object of faith, defines the doctrine, and states his intention.
The pope governs the Church with the Roman Curia composed of a secretariat, congregations, commissions and councils. This form of government is the oldest functioning bureaucracy in the world. The pope can intervene in the affairs of a particular church or diocese in a personal or collegial manner. The authority to dispense from celibacy is reserved to the pope alone. Currently the appointment of bishops rests exclusively with the pope.
If the pope is temporarily or permanently incapacitated – such as by political obstruction, physical or mental illness – no innovations in governance may occur within the universal church. The pope may freely submit and duly manifest his resignation. There is no requirement that his resignation must be accepted.
Historically, popes have been very different personalities. Some were learned, some visionary, some incompetent, some wicked, some canonized, and some were martyrs. Whatever opinion one may hold regarding the teachings and position of the present or past popes, one cannot expect perfection of a pope who agrees with each of the more than 1.2 billion Catholics in the world. Irrespective of one’s opinion, nothing takes away from the role of the pope.
A short summary of a few of the highlights of the papacy over the centuries is of interest, and assists in our understanding of when certain teachings and events evolved. Examples include the Papal Schism of 1378, during which there were three popes: one in Rome; one in Avignon, France; and one in Pisa, Italy. During this time there was an increasing study of Roman law, which led to the doctrine of corporations and its principle, “What touches all ought to be approved by all.”
In the 1400s the pope initiated the Renaissance movement in Rome. The Vatican Library was established, and famous painters, sculptors and architects were commissioned. There was a call for moral, spiritual and institutional reform, and the authority of the papacy was challenged. Martin Luther called for a debate on indulgences in 1516. The reform that arose was the Protestant Revolution. Luther was condemned when he denied papal authority, and he was excommunicated. Henry VIII denied the authority of Rome and made himself the head of the Church of England in 1534. In response the Church was revitalized through a “Counter-Reformation,” which included Pope Paul III’s calling of the Council of Trent (1545-1563). The Council of Trent affirmed the validity of scripture and tradition; the Church’s rights to interpret the Bible, and the doctrine of transubstantiation.
The 17th and 18th centuries were difficult for the papacy. Power politics left the pope with less influence, and the Enlightenment posed fundamental intellectual challenges. The French Revolution and the Napoleonic aftermath seized the property of the Church in France and reduced it to poverty. Secularization followed, which included the suppression of religious institutes and radical reorganization of Church structures. The secular state is an enduring feature of modern times.
In 1869-1870, Pope Pius IX (the same pope who defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854) called the First Vatican Council. Its most well-known decision was its definition of papal infallibility.
In the late 19th century, the pope’s temporal authority as head of the Papal States – the Church’s territories throughout Italy from early in Church history – waned as Italy was unified. In 1929 Italy and the Holy See signed the Lateran Treaty, establishing the sovereignty of Vatican City and placing the pope’s position on a new footing.
As the 20th century progressed, popes learned to accommodate democracy. Pope Leo XIII applied traditional Catholic social teaching to industrialization, urban poverty and the growing labor movement across the world. Modernism was also condemned. Interestingly, the greatest reformer of this age was Pope Pius X, who promoted frequent reception of Holy Communion, moved the age of first Holy Communion down to 7 years of age, restored traditional church music, and codified Canon Law.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Pope Pius XI negotiated 18 concordants with states all over Europe. This was the Vatican’s way of dealing with secular states in an attempt to regulate episcopal appointments, education, marriage laws, etc. He denounced Nazism and anti-Semitism. In 1939 the next pope, Pope Pius XII, endured a difficult papacy given the rise of communism as well as Hitler and Nazi Germany’s persecution of the Jews. His allocutions and addresses fill volumes.
After Pope John XXIII was elected, he summoned the Second Vatican Council in 1962. He called for a spirit of love and consideration in dealing with separated brethren. He updated social teaching, condemned greed, and called on wealthy nations to help poor nations. He stressed the right to freely profess religious faith, welcomed worker’s rights, condemned Marxist ideology, advocated for an end to colonialism, and stated that nuclear arms were irrational. Vatican II issued 16 documents including the revision of Canon Law. It is a common belief that the Church did a poor job of post-conciliar catechesis, teaching people what had been changed, and not changed, by the Council.
Pope Paul VI brought the Second Vatican Council to its conclusion in 1965. He opened communication with the Anglicans and the Orthodox. He stressed papal authority and reined in ideas of collegiality. He stopped all discussion of priestly celibacy. He required priests and bishops to retire at age 75. He addressed the United Nations and pleaded for an end to war. In 1968 he wrote “Humanae vitae,” an encyclical on regulating human birth in response to the growing use of contraception and abortion.
In 1978 the Church was in turmoil. The Vatican Bank was a scandal. Priests and nuns left in large numbers. There were battles over the legacy of Vatican II and the rise of “liberation theology” in Latin America. Pope John Paul II was elected, the first non-Italian pope in 400 years. He was a towering figure on the world stage, traveling more than any pope in history and issuing more than a dozen major encyclicals. He played a key role in the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe. During his 27-year pontificate he opposed socialism and communism, encouraged evangelization especially among youth, reached out to non-Christians, published a new Catechism, affirmed priestly celibacy, stated that the Church had no authority to ordain women, and personally communicated with political and religious leaders and peoples worldwide. He is contested by some, respected by all, and loved by many.
When Pope Benedict XVI, a scholar, was elected in 2005, he had been serving as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. His extraordinary homily at Pope John Paul II’s funeral gave him worldwide recognition. This was the time of the scandal of clerical sexual abuse, an issue that affected him deeply. He wrote three encyclicals addressing charity, hope and love, and his other publications were prolific. During his papacy he attempted to improve relations with Muslims, addressed the United Nations, and was the first pope to use social media (Twitter) in seven languages. The impact of his papacy is still to be evaluated. He resigned in 2013, the first to do so without outside pressure since Celestine V in 1294, and he continues to reside in the Vatican.
The election of Pope Francis, the first pope from the Americas and a Jesuit, set a new environment. He is characterized by his humility and support of the world’s poor and marginalized people. In the Church and the world, he accepts ancient challenges and presents new perspectives. He has made his goals child protection, financial transparency, the care of creation, and the reorganization and reform of the Vatican government, specifically the Curia. While he is involved in political diplomacy, he is a model of advocacy for all in need. He addressed the United Nations and the U.S. Congress during his 2015 visit to the United States. His impact on the history of the papacy and the Church, while in process, appears to be highly significant.
One wonders what St. Peter would think of the papacy today?
Mercy Sister Jeanne-Margaret McNally is an authority on canon law and frequent lecturer at universities and dioceses. A graduate of The Catholic University of America with multiple degrees including a doctorate in psychology and a licentiate of canon law (JCL), she is a psychologist for the Tribunal of the Diocese of Charlotte and a judge in the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Miami.
More online
See a list of every pope in the Church’s history with links to their biographies: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm
CNN series ‘Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History’ debuts Sunday, March 11
NEW YORK — “Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History,” a new CNN original series, will debut at 10 p.m. ET Sunday, March 11, featuring international actor Liam Neeson as the narrator.
“Ever since a man, claiming to be the Son of God, was nailed to a wooden cross over 2,000 years ago, the Catholic religion has had a huge and profound influence and impact on our society,” Neeson said. “As an amateur scholar myself, I was delighted to learn more about this by narrating a series that sheds a detailed light on how the popes, past and present, and the Catholic Church came to be a prevailing force through fair means and foul, and along the way inspired some of the world’s greatest works of art.”
“Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History,” from Glass Entertainment Group and Rearrange TV, is a six-part CNN Original Series that goes inside the Vatican to reveal the true power held by popes throughout the ages.
The series explores how 12 apostles became 1.2 billion Catholics today, linking recent news events surrounding the Vatican with their unexpected origins.
The premiere episode, “The Rise of the Pope,” examines the origins of the papacy and how Catholicism, against all odds, spread throughout Europe.
Jon Hirsch, Nancy Glass, Randy Counsman, Amy Entelis and Lizzie Fox serve as executive producers.
The series also features insights and commentary from notable Catholics such as Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington, D.C., Bishop Paul Tighe, the Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture, and Eamon Duffy, Cambridge University Professor and prolific author on the history of the papacy. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry also is featured prominently in the series, along with veteran Vatican journalist John Thavis.
The series will stream live for subscribers starting on March 11 via CNNgo (at CNN.com/go and via CNNgo apps for Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, Samsung Smart TV and Android TV), and on the CNN mobile apps for iOS and Android. Moreover, the series will be available the day after the broadcast premiere on demand via cable/satellite systems, CNNgo platform and CNN mobile apps.
“Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History” will regularly air Sunday nights at 10 p.m. ET. Learn more: https://www.cnn.com/shows/pope