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Historical
Summary Of St. Peter's Maronite Catholic Church In Windsor
By Deacon Ray Mady
Edited by Leroy K. Eid. B.A.M.A.
The Maronites 1920 - 2003. In the 1920's driven by their faith and
ambition the first Maronite immigrants of Lebanon built
St. Peter's Church at the location of Parent and Niagara Streets.
The construction of this church was completed on February 7th 1924,
on the feast of St. Maron. Growth and changes continued to occur
in the following decades. The first Pastor was Monsignor Peter Farah.
He arrived in Windsor from Hasroun Lebanon, in September 1923, and
was granted permission by Bishop M.F. Fallon of the Windsor and
London Diocese to administer his ministry among the Lebanese people
of Windsor and surrounding areas.
On February
25th 1925, a commemorative plaque was placed in the church to recognize
specifically the generosity of Mr. Louis Peters and his wife.
In October 1927,
Msgr. Farah took a leave of absence and was temporarily replaced
by Father Paul Carom until December 15th 1927, and by Father Emanuel
Hanna from the Diocese of Damascus (February 1929 to September 1929).
In 1929, Hungarian
Catholics and their pastor, Father John Mahy used St. Peter's Church
as they waited for their own to be built. During this time, His
Beatitude the Maronite Patriarch Elias Hoyawek recalled Msgr. Peter
Farah to Lebanon where plans to build an orphanage and hospital.
In November
1930, Father J. Helou of the Maronite Order accepted the ministry
in Windsor until June 10th 1932. Father Helou served both the ministries
in Windsor, while at the same time serving St. Maron's Parish in
Detroit. Msgr. Peter Farah, returned in 1932 and remained at St.
Peter's until 1936, when he was appointed Pastor of St. Maron's
in Minneapolis Minnesota U.S.A.
In April 1936 Father Sylvanus Abou Jowdy O.A.M. (Antonin Order)
was appointed pastor, transferred from St. Maron in Minneapolis
to Windsor. He served his community until his death on May 12th
1953. From June 1953 until December 1953 Msgr. J.J. White served
as administrative priest.
In 1954 Joseph
Fares Rizk from Atlanta U.S.A. was appointed pastor. For sixteen
years he served the Maronite communities of Windsor and Essex County
until his accidental death in May 5, 1970.
1970 - 1978
In 1970 Father
John Dahdah O.A.M. (Antonin Order) was named administrator and later
Pastor. He served from 1970 - 1978. His knowledge, talent, philosophy,
and ambitious personality made a difference in the evangelization
of the Maronite Rite and its community in Windsor. He was instrumental
in the invitation and the establishing of the Antonin Order in Windsor,
from the homeland in Lebanon. This eventually led to the founding
of the Antonin Order's Monastry at Highway # 3 and Outer Drive in
Oldcastle, for the education and training of monks and priests.
The civil war
in Lebanon (which technically started in April 1975) altered the
aims and objectives of the Antonin Order during its building formation
on this location money was no longer available from Lebanon to carry
out the long term objectives, that was invested in the land and house.
.1978 - 1983
In September
1978 Father John Sader O.A.M. was assigned to St. peter's as Pastor
and Father Cesar Ashkar A.O.M. as co-pastor. Both of these priests
were initially assigned from Lebanon to establish the Antonin Order
at the Oldcastle location. Their service to the Maronite community
had a stabilizing effect during the difficult assignments of priests
to St. peter's.
On November
30 1982, Father Cesar Ashkar was transferred back to Lebanon. Father
Charbel Chidiac O.A.M. succeeded Father Cesar Ashkar, for a short
term as assistant to Father John Sader, he then moved to Toronto,
Ontario to establish Our Lady of Lebanon Church.
1986 - Later on in this historical story, there arose a "Schism" among the parishioners of St. Peter's and the bishop, of the newly founded Maronite Diocese of Canada in Montreal. The problem was never resolved by the ad interior administration.
The result was that the Maronites of St. Peter's experienced an exodus of most of its founding and established families -
and in particular the "chartered" member families - which eventually led to the building of St. Charbel's Church at the Monastery location.
1983 - 1990
January 1st
1983, Father George Abi Fadel O.A.M. replaced Father Chidiac as
co-pastor to Father John Sader.
Father George Abi Fadel became Pastor on the retirement of Father
John Sader to Lebanon.
In 1984 Father George was transferred to Leamington, Ontario upon
the establishment of St. Anthony's Maronite Church.
During the following years there was an instability of appointments
with the following priests serving at St. Peter's Church.
1984 - 1986 Father Antoine Badr
1986 - 1987 Father Nohra Seif O.A.M.
1987 - 1989 Father Antoine Karam
1989 - 1990 Father David Milkie (March 1989 - April 1990)
1990 - 2008
On May 1, 1990,
Father Joseph Salame was appointed pastor at our parish. Father
Joseph was born in Beirut, Lebanon on April 2, 1958. He attended
the University of the Holy spirit and graduated with a degree in
Theology. He was ordained on September 16, 1984 by His Excellency,
Michael Doumitt. Father Joseph came to Windsor after a very successful
assignment as pastor of Our Lady Of Lebanon Church in Quebec City.
On December
04, 1994, Father Joseph Salame was elevated to the rank of Periodut
(Monsignor) for his untiring service, his many accomplishments and
his love for our parish.
On October 18,
1992, Raymond Mady, a second generation parishioner, was ordained
Deacon by Bishop George Abi Saber.
Acquisition
of St. Clare of Assisi Church
On July 24th 200 the Maronite Catholic community of Windsor purchased
this rare and beautiful Art-Deco-Style Church and celebrated the
first mass according to the Maronite liturgy on December 17th 2000.
Heritage
Designation
On December 15th 2000 the Council of the Corporation of the City
of Windsor designated the property, including lands and buildings
a property of architectural and historical value under the Ontario
Heritage Act.
Consecration
of New Church
On March 23rd 2001 the Patriarch of Antioch and the Whole East and
the Maronite Catholic Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir brought great
honour to the community by consecrating the "new" Church
during his historical visit to the Maronite community of Windsor,
Canada.
The Founding
Of The Eparchy - Maronite Diocese Of Canada
Prior to the establishment of the Canadian Maronite Diocese in September
1982 and the appointment of its First Bishop His Excellency Elias
Shaheen, St. Peter's had been under the jurisdiction of the London
Diocese shepherded by five Latin Bishops; Bishop M.F. Fallon, Bishop
J.T. Kidd, Bishop J.C. Cody, Bishop G.E. Carter, Bishop J.M. Sherlock
and the present Bishop Donald Fabbro the community grew and matured
in holiness.
After six years as the first bishop of our Diocese, Elias Shaheen
was succeded by Bishop George Abi Saber, in January 1995, Bishop
Youssif Khoury bishop of the Maronites in Europe was appointed administrator
for the Maronite Diocese in Canada. In February 21, 1996, he was
appointed Bishop and enthroned as Eparch in Notre Dame Montreal
February 9, 1997.
2008 - till present
On March 2, 2008,
Father Charles Saad was appointed pastor at our parish. Father
Charles was born in Tourza, Lebanon on October 13 1967. He was ordained priest on September 26, 1992
1971-1975 Attended Primary Education at the brothers of St. John the Baptist in Tripoli.
1975-1985 Received Elementary and Secondary Education with the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of ‘DAHR-EL-AYN’, near Tripoli.
1985- Received Diploma in Elementary Mathematics
1985-1991 Enrolled as a Seminarian in the Maronite Patriarchal Seminary of Ghazir;
- Studied theology at the University of the Holy Spirit of Kaslik (U.S.E.K)
1991- Received a Bachelor in Theology from U.S.E.K
1991-1992 Assisted Rev. Salim Sfeir of St. Georges in Sarba.
1992- Received Holy Sacrament of Ordination by His Excellency Msgr. Francis Baisarri, Nov. 26.
1992-1995 Served in 3 parishes in North Lebanon (Tourza, Knat and Knaywir)
Taught catechism at all levels at St. Therese College in North Lebanon.
1995-1998 Continued studies in Canon Law at the Catholic Institute of Paris (I.C.P)
- Clergy Student at St. Medard, Paris V.
- Received Bachelor of Canon Law for I.C.P
- D.E.A in Canon Law from I.C.P, Paris XI.
1999 Clergy Student at Our Lady of Lebanon in Paris
1999-2000 Clergy student of St. Germaine of Paris.
2000-2001 Vicar of Our Lady of Lebanon in Paris.
2001-2003 Official Notary of the Maronite Patriarch of Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon.
2002-2004 Vicar of Our Lady of Lebanon in Paris.
2004 Doctorate of Canon Law from I.C.P and Civil Law of Paris XI, Jan. 28.
2004-2005 Vicar of Our Lady of Lebanon in Marseille.
2004-2005 Lawyer for first instance of Marseille.
2005- Publication of the book “The Marriage of Islam and Christianity” Jan.9 by publisher Harmattan of Paris (777 pages) (www.alapalage.com)
2005-2006 Vicar at St. Jean de la Valette du Var, near Toulon.
- Lawyer in Marseille, (1st Instance), Air-en-Provence (Second Instance). (Official that gathered 12 dioceses of South of France).
2006-2008 Vicar of St. Maron’s cathedral in Montreal, responsible for the administration of the pastoral council of the Parish.
- Fr. Charles Saad was appointed: Pastor at our parish (Saint Peter’s) and also at Saint Elias Parish (London, Ontario).
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