About Our Mission
Updated 6 June 2009
Saint Rafka Maronite Mission is a Catholic Mission of the Antiochene Syriac
Maronite Church. Geographically, the Mission is under jurisdiction of the Eparchy of
Saint Maron of Brooklyn, New York. Saint Rafka’s Mission was established for the
Maronite Catholics living within the state of South Carolina by Bishop Stephen Hector
Douehi, now eparch emeritus, in 2000. At the moment, our community has 56 families,
roughly 125 people. The eparch (bishop) of our eparchy is:
Most Rev. Gregory John Mansour
109 Remsen Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718.237.9913
chancerystmaron@verizon.net.
The pastor of Saint Rafka Maronite Mission is:
Dom Bartholomew Leon, O.S.B.
111 Hampton Avenue
Greenville, SC 29601
864.607.3400
bartleon@aol.com
Abouna Bart is a Benedictine monk of Corpus Christi Abbey and professed monastic
vows on March 21, 1981. He was ordained priest on June 8, 1985, and appointed
Administrator of Saint Rafka on January 6, 2006.
Saint Rafka Maronite Mission is a Catholic mission of the Antiochene Syriac Maronite
Church. Geographically, the Mission is under jurisdiction of the Eparchy of Saint Maron
of Brooklyn, New York. Saint Rafka’s Mission was established for the Maronite Catholics
living within the state of South Carolina by Bishop Stephen Hector Douehi, now eparch
emeritus, in 2003. At the moment, our community has around 50 active families, roughly
125 people.
The Mission community presently celebrates the Divine Liturgy (Mass) at the Gallivan
Hall of Saint Mary's Church in Greenville at 11:00 AM each Sunday. Please join us for
the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and the coffee social that follows.
THE LITTLE FLOWER OF LEBANON
Our mission community is placed under the patronage of Saint Rafka, the Little Flower of
Lebanon. In English, Rafka would be translated Rebecca, meaning patience. The saint was
an only daughter and child born on 29 June 1832 and given the name Boutrosiya. When
Boutrosiya was six her mother died and she latter had a difficult relationship with her
stepmother. At 21, she became a nun in one group but left and joined another group of
nuns beginning her religious life twice. It is with the sisters of the Order of Saint Antony
of the Maronites that Boutrosiya was given the name Rafka.
Sister Rafka’s religious life was marked by suffering and holiness, something she
requested from the Lord. For thirty years she was blind and crippled serving her
community of nuns in prayer and work (spinning wool and knitting). Sister Rafka
understood her life as being “In communion with Christ's passion.” Sister Rafka’s
reputation of holiness was well-known. Rather than complain of her sufferings, Sister
Rafka prayed unceasingly, as Saint Paul exhorts to do, saying: “In communion with Your
suffering, Jesus,” “With the wound on Your shoulder, Jesus,” “With Your crown of
thorns, Jesus,” “With the sufferings caused by the lance… by the thorns… by the nails of
the Cross, my Lord Jesus.”
Her dear friend and religious superior, Mother Ursula Doumit, requested that Sister
Rafka to dictate her autobiography. Knowing that death was imminent Sister Rafka
requested from the Lord the favor of sight for one hour so she could see the face of
Mother Ursula, and the Lord obliged.
Four days after Sister Rafka’s death miraculous healings began to be granted to those who
asked for her intercession before the Lord. Sister Rafka was beatified on 17 November
1985 and canonized on 10 June 2001 by Pope John Paul II. Her feast day is 23 March.
Saint Rafka is the patron saint for sick people and for those who suffer the loss of parents
at an early age.
At the canonization of Saint Rafka Pope John Paul II said: “May Saint Rafka watch after
those who know suffering, in particular those people of the Middle East confronted with
the destructive and sterile spiral of violence....By her intercession, we ask the Lord to
open hearts in the patient search for new paths for peace, hastening the days of
reconciliation and harmony.” We pray that our parish community will be able assist the
suffering of our city and confront the suffering in the Middle East, and be channels of
peace today.
THE MARONITES
We are a Maronite mission in communion with the See of Rome led by Pope Benedict XVI
and under the pastoral care of His Beatitude, Mar Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir.
The Maronite Church claims its foundation to made by Saint Maron, a 4th century monk
who went to the mountains of Lebanon to live a life dedicated wholly to God. Those who
call themselves Maronites do so because they claim to be disciples of Saint Maron who
follow the spiritual patrimony he left. The followers of Saint Maron are clear in teaching
that Jesus Christ is both God and man, having two natures, one divine and one human.
They have been and continue to be loyal defenders of the true teachings of the Catholic
Church. By the 7th century the Maronites could not maintain regular contact with the
patriarchate of Constantinople because of the rise of Islam, and consequently they elected
their own Patriarch to teach, to sanctify and to govern the Church in communion with
the Pope. In 687, Saint John Maron was elected the first Patriarch. Maronites are
Christians in full communion with the Catholic Church of Rome. As a Church it has an
historical, doctrinal, and liturgical context. When we speak of the Maronites we call
them a Church, not a rite, as it is not merely composed of a unique ritual but a full
discipline of prayer and worship, a liturgical calendar, and governance structure.
Today, the Maronite Church is led by His Beatitude, Cardinal Nasrallah Peter Sfeir. He
was born in Rayfoun, Kesrouan, on the 15 May 1920. The young Nasrallah Sfeir did his
primary studies at Mar Abda School in Harharaya and then secondary studies at St. Maron
Seminary in Ghazir. Called to serve the Lord and the Church, Sfeir enrolled in Beruit’s
Saint Joseph’s University (under the guidance of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits) to study
philosophy and Theology. He was ordained a priest on 7 May 1950. Father Sfeir served
as a parish priest of the Rayfoun parish between 1951 and 1955. In 1956, he was called
to serve as secretary to the Maronite Patriarch in Bkerke.
Greater service to the Church was expected of Father Sfeir as he was nominated and
confirmed as the titular bishop of Tarse and Patriachal Vicar by His Holiness, Pope John
XXIII (now Blessed John XXIII). When His Beatitude, Antoine Khreich died, the Maronite
Patriarchal Synod (a meeting of the world’s Maronite bishops) met to select a new
Patriarch; the Synod elected Bishop Sfeir as their 76th Patriarch on 19 April 1986. Thus,
he became the successor of the Apostle Peter in Antioch and of all the East. As patriarch
he is the spiritual father of a Church dating from the time of the apostles of Jesus Christ!
His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, confirmed Sfeir’s election entrusting to him the Maronite
Church (7 May 1986) and later created him a cardinal of the Holy Church on 26
November 1994. Cardinal Sfeir is the third Maronite Patriarch to receive the title and
privilege of being a cardinal, an honor which allows him to elect a new pope and to act
as a special advisor to the pope.
Saint Rafka Maronite Mission is a Catholic Mission of the Antiochene Syriac
Maronite Church. Geographically, the Mission is under jurisdiction of the Eparchy of
Saint Maron of Brooklyn, New York. Saint Rafka’s Mission was established for the
Maronite Catholics living within the state of South Carolina by Bishop Stephen Hector
Douehi, now eparch emeritus, in 2000. At the moment, our community has 56 families,
roughly 125 people. The eparch (bishop) of our eparchy is:
Most Rev. Gregory John Mansour
109 Remsen Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718.237.9913
chancerystmaron@verizon.net.
The pastor of Saint Rafka Maronite Mission is:
Dom Bartholomew Leon, O.S.B.
111 Hampton Avenue
Greenville, SC 29601
864.607.3400
bartleon@aol.com
Abouna Bart is a Benedictine monk of Corpus Christi Abbey and professed monastic
vows on March 21, 1981. He was ordained priest on June 8, 1985, and appointed
Administrator of Saint Rafka on January 6, 2006.
Saint Rafka Maronite Mission is a Catholic mission of the Antiochene Syriac Maronite
Church. Geographically, the Mission is under jurisdiction of the Eparchy of Saint Maron
of Brooklyn, New York. Saint Rafka’s Mission was established for the Maronite Catholics
living within the state of South Carolina by Bishop Stephen Hector Douehi, now eparch
emeritus, in 2003. At the moment, our community has around 50 active families, roughly
125 people.
The Mission community presently celebrates the Divine Liturgy (Mass) at the Gallivan
Hall of Saint Mary's Church in Greenville at 11:00 AM each Sunday. Please join us for
the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and the coffee social that follows.
THE LITTLE FLOWER OF LEBANON
Our mission community is placed under the patronage of Saint Rafka, the Little Flower of
Lebanon. In English, Rafka would be translated Rebecca, meaning patience. The saint was
an only daughter and child born on 29 June 1832 and given the name Boutrosiya. When
Boutrosiya was six her mother died and she latter had a difficult relationship with her
stepmother. At 21, she became a nun in one group but left and joined another group of
nuns beginning her religious life twice. It is with the sisters of the Order of Saint Antony
of the Maronites that Boutrosiya was given the name Rafka.
Sister Rafka’s religious life was marked by suffering and holiness, something she
requested from the Lord. For thirty years she was blind and crippled serving her
community of nuns in prayer and work (spinning wool and knitting). Sister Rafka
understood her life as being “In communion with Christ's passion.” Sister Rafka’s
reputation of holiness was well-known. Rather than complain of her sufferings, Sister
Rafka prayed unceasingly, as Saint Paul exhorts to do, saying: “In communion with Your
suffering, Jesus,” “With the wound on Your shoulder, Jesus,” “With Your crown of
thorns, Jesus,” “With the sufferings caused by the lance… by the thorns… by the nails of
the Cross, my Lord Jesus.”
Her dear friend and religious superior, Mother Ursula Doumit, requested that Sister
Rafka to dictate her autobiography. Knowing that death was imminent Sister Rafka
requested from the Lord the favor of sight for one hour so she could see the face of
Mother Ursula, and the Lord obliged.
Four days after Sister Rafka’s death miraculous healings began to be granted to those who
asked for her intercession before the Lord. Sister Rafka was beatified on 17 November
1985 and canonized on 10 June 2001 by Pope John Paul II. Her feast day is 23 March.
Saint Rafka is the patron saint for sick people and for those who suffer the loss of parents
at an early age.
At the canonization of Saint Rafka Pope John Paul II said: “May Saint Rafka watch after
those who know suffering, in particular those people of the Middle East confronted with
the destructive and sterile spiral of violence....By her intercession, we ask the Lord to
open hearts in the patient search for new paths for peace, hastening the days of
reconciliation and harmony.” We pray that our parish community will be able assist the
suffering of our city and confront the suffering in the Middle East, and be channels of
peace today.
THE MARONITES
We are a Maronite mission in communion with the See of Rome led by Pope Benedict XVI
and under the pastoral care of His Beatitude, Mar Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir.
The Maronite Church claims its foundation to made by Saint Maron, a 4th century monk
who went to the mountains of Lebanon to live a life dedicated wholly to God. Those who
call themselves Maronites do so because they claim to be disciples of Saint Maron who
follow the spiritual patrimony he left. The followers of Saint Maron are clear in teaching
that Jesus Christ is both God and man, having two natures, one divine and one human.
They have been and continue to be loyal defenders of the true teachings of the Catholic
Church. By the 7th century the Maronites could not maintain regular contact with the
patriarchate of Constantinople because of the rise of Islam, and consequently they elected
their own Patriarch to teach, to sanctify and to govern the Church in communion with
the Pope. In 687, Saint John Maron was elected the first Patriarch. Maronites are
Christians in full communion with the Catholic Church of Rome. As a Church it has an
historical, doctrinal, and liturgical context. When we speak of the Maronites we call
them a Church, not a rite, as it is not merely composed of a unique ritual but a full
discipline of prayer and worship, a liturgical calendar, and governance structure.
Today, the Maronite Church is led by His Beatitude, Cardinal Nasrallah Peter Sfeir. He
was born in Rayfoun, Kesrouan, on the 15 May 1920. The young Nasrallah Sfeir did his
primary studies at Mar Abda School in Harharaya and then secondary studies at St. Maron
Seminary in Ghazir. Called to serve the Lord and the Church, Sfeir enrolled in Beruit’s
Saint Joseph’s University (under the guidance of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits) to study
philosophy and Theology. He was ordained a priest on 7 May 1950. Father Sfeir served
as a parish priest of the Rayfoun parish between 1951 and 1955. In 1956, he was called
to serve as secretary to the Maronite Patriarch in Bkerke.
Greater service to the Church was expected of Father Sfeir as he was nominated and
confirmed as the titular bishop of Tarse and Patriachal Vicar by His Holiness, Pope John
XXIII (now Blessed John XXIII). When His Beatitude, Antoine Khreich died, the Maronite
Patriarchal Synod (a meeting of the world’s Maronite bishops) met to select a new
Patriarch; the Synod elected Bishop Sfeir as their 76th Patriarch on 19 April 1986. Thus,
he became the successor of the Apostle Peter in Antioch and of all the East. As patriarch
he is the spiritual father of a Church dating from the time of the apostles of Jesus Christ!
His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, confirmed Sfeir’s election entrusting to him the Maronite
Church (7 May 1986) and later created him a cardinal of the Holy Church on 26
November 1994. Cardinal Sfeir is the third Maronite Patriarch to receive the title and
privilege of being a cardinal, an honor which allows him to elect a new pope and to act
as a special advisor to the pope.
About Us
