 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
At the end of the nineteenth
century, Lebanese emigration moved to North America,
and the first arrivals to Canada were settled in the
Port Cities of Saint John, New Brunswick and Halifax,
Nova Scotia. From there they expanded to the other regions
of Canada, where they have continued to enrich the cultural
fabric of their adopted country.
The 1880 Lebanese Maronite settlers were called Turks,
Syrians, Assyrians and arabs. They did not have a chance
to deny these false attributions, or to claim their
Lebanese origin, until some members of the small Maronite
community volunteered in the Royal Canadian Legion.
|
 |
|
| The Lebanese Maronite settlers
were active and respected members of the Roman Catholic
Churches wherever they settled. They have also proven
to be invaluable additions to their respective Canadian
communities, both in private and public life. In 1907,
the community in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia invited a
Maronite priest Rev. Louis Soaib, to visit their small
community, and with the agreement of the Roman Catholic
Bishop of Antigonish, he founded the Church of St. Joseph.
Two years later in 1909, Rev. Louis Soaib, on the invitation
of the Bishop and the larger Community of Sydney and
North Sydney NS., traded the tiny Church of St. Joseph
with St. Patrick's Church on the Esplanade in Sydney
N. S.. He served this community till 195 1, and later
died in 1955. In the sixties, the Maronite Church of
St. Patrick became a heritage museum, in witness of
the great religious and social work this priest had
done. |
|
|
|
In 1979, Rev. Kheirallah Aoukar,
a Lebanese Canadian priest and scholar serving in Germany,
was instructed by the Vatican to establish a Parish
of the Maronite Church in the County of Halifax, Nova
Scotia.
Since that time, despite many bureaucratic obstacles
and political difficulties within the Community, and
in addition to ministering the daily growing congregation
and conducting services in temporary facilities, he
has established the parish of Our Lady of Lebanon in
Halifax-Dartmouth, NS.
He has also periodically visited the Communities of
Sydney, NS, St. John and Fredericton, NB. and Charlottetown,
Prince Edward Island. He founded St. Charbel Church
on Argyle Street, Fredericton, in 1984 (now an independent
parish). |
 |
|
| The Maronite Community of
Metropolitan Halifax, in collaboration with Rev. K.
Aoukar, arranged for the construction of a Church accommodating
500 worshippers on Dutch Village Road, Halifax, and
a large Parish Hall ( 1981-1982). On July 8, 1982, the
Parish Hall was inaugurated by the Roman Catholic Archbishop
James M. Hayes, to whom the Maronites were entrusted
and whose support was graciously given. On November
4, 1984, the Church was consecrated by His Grace Archbishop
Elias F. Shaheen. In 1988, the Bell Tower was built.
In 1996-97, the Church needed to be expanded to fit
the growing Community. His Grace Bishop Georges Abi
Saber gave the permission to purchase the adjacent house
and a parcel of land for additional parking. The official
opening under the auspices of His Grace Bishop Joseph
Khoury, was celebrated on November 1. 1997. |
|
|
|
The entirely self-sustaining
and debt-free Parish Church has become the spiritual
and social home for the Maronites and for other Christians
from the Middle East. It offers a strong and respectful
identity to a minority group in a foreign land. In addition
to a religious school and church services with bulletins
in both English and Arabic, the Church provides a number
of social programs for the Christian Lebanese Community
in Metropolitan Halifax.
The establishment of a Religious/Cultural Library in
the Conference Room is projected for the near future,
as well as a kindergarten and further expansion to build
a sportsplex with a residence for nuns, and eventually,
an elementary school. |
 |
|
| The Antiochian Maronite Catholic
Church is recognized by the Roman Catholic Episcopal
Corporation of Halifax, Charlottetown, PEI, St. John
NB and Antigonish NS.. It is also a federally recognized
Charity, and was granted status by Provincial Government
of NS through a Private Members Bill in 1996. |
|
|
|
| The Maronites in Nova Scotia
have always looked to the mountains of Lebanon for a
place of Refuge, and to the Mediterranean Sea for an
open horizon to follow in the footsteps of their Phoenician
ancestors to a new world where they will find freedom,
tranquility, peace of mind and the ability to continue
their evolution and expand their knowledge. Therefore,
they participate in their rich Antiochian heritage of
ecumenism, Christian life and doctrine, and learn from
the west in order to support their homeland in its search
for autonomy, independence and the courage to continue
to witness to their Christian and human values. |
Msgr. Kheirallah Aoukar
Pastor Emeritus
Founder of Our Lady of Lebanon Parish |
|
|
|
|
