​On Saturday, May 10th, the Family of Saint Sharbel USA celebrated St. Sharbel’s birthday at the National Shrine Grotto in Emmitsburg, MD! Participants gathered for adoration, confession, and a Divine Liturgy, in St. Mary's Chapel, celebrated in honor of both St. Sharbel and Pope Leo XIV, who was elected to the papacy on St. Sharbel's birthday (May 8th). 

​During his homily, Fr. Trinko highlighted the presence of Catholics from both Eastern and Western rites at the liturgy, and he emphasized that our unity comes from being under one Pope.  When presenting prayer intentions, he prayed for unity of all Christians under Pope Leo XIV. 

​Following the liturgy, which included St. Sharbel hymns, Fr. Trinko led a procession with Saint Sharbel’s Relic while the faithful followed singing Maronite hymns.

​A group from the Family of Saint Sharbel, USA, attended a Christmas retreat from December 12 to 15, 2024, at Most Holy Trinity Monastery in Petersham, Massachusetts, home to the Maronite Monks of Adoration. The retreat offered participants a chance to deepen their faith through prayer, meditation, and enlightening talks.

The retreat schedule included silent group adoration, confessions, spiritual direction and opportunities for private prayer and meditation. Attendees participated in the liturgy of the hours for the Morning, Midday, Evening and Night.

​On Sunday, the retreatants joined the monks for the Divine Liturgy, received their blessings for the journey, and then returned home.

On October 26th, 2024, the Family of Saint Sharbel was blessed with the opportunity to deliver a first-class relic of St. Sharbel to Fr. Sean Donovan, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Tulsa, OK.

​During the liturgy, Fr. Sean gave a homily in which he remarked that, "we don't just pick Saints for devotions; oftentimes, Saints pick us," noting that this relic's presence signifies a divinely initiated relationship between St. Sharbel and Tulsa residents. You can read Fr. Donovan's homily HERE.

​After Mass, those present processed with the relic to the sound of Maronite hymns, stopping for veneration and a blessing with the holy oil of St. Sharbel. We are hopeful that the presence of this relic will enrich the lives of the faithful who encounter it and that devotion to Our Lord through St. Sharbel will be strengthened! 

​​After the Holy Mass, the priest led a procession with the relic of Saint Sharbel (placed in a cedar-shape reliquary) while the faithful followed singing the traditional Maronite hymns. At the Shrine, the celebration concluded with the blessing with the oil of Saint Sharbel and the veneration of his relic.

​A significant portion of Mr. Nader’s talk was dedicated to Saint Sharbel, whose miracles and guidance he sees as crucial in leading people back to the Church. He described Saint Sharbel as a symbol of hope and a catalyst for change. Mr. Nader concluded by inviting the audience to join prayer groups and the Family of Saint Sharbel, urging individuals to reconnect with their faith and take an active role in transforming their communities.

​On July 13, 2024, the Family of Saint Sharbel in the US celebrated the Feast of Saint Sharbel at the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

​The event began with Eucharistic Adoration at 10:45 AM, followed by the Holy Mass at 12 PM, celebrated by Fr. Cesar (IVE) and Fr. Theodore Trinko (IVE), Chaplains at the Shrine, in St. Mary's Chapel. The celebration was attended by members of the local Lebanese community, other pilgrims of the National Shrine, and Mr. Raymond Nader, Founder and President of the Family of Saint Sharbel.

​After the Holy Mass, the priests led a procession with Saint Sharbel’s Relic ending with the blessing with & veneration of Saint Sharbel’s Relic. Fr. Cesar blessed the people individually with the holy oil of Saint Sharbel.

​After the ceremonies, sweets and prayer cards were offered to the pilgrims.

​At the end, Mr. Raymond Nader gave a talk about Saint Sharbel, the Family of Saint Sharbel in the world, and the “return of the evil spirits”.

​In this talk, Raymond Nader emphasizes the critical role of faith in the current world and highlights Saint Sharbel's miraculous works worldwide.  Mr. Nader also explores the concept of spiritual warfare, identifying three primary demons at battle against the Kingdom of God (Baal, Ashtar, and Molech) and points out contemporary signs of their influence.  He warns that as society distances itself from God, it leaves a spiritual void that makes humanity more susceptible to demonic influences.

According to Mr. Nader, Saint Sharbel’s miracles are divine messages urging humanity to return to God; Sharbel's work is a beacon of hope, reminding us of the power of God’s presence and the importance of living a life aligned with divine purpose.  Mr. Nader concludes with a call to action.

​From April 29 to May 12, 2024, the president of the Family of Saint Sharbel, Mr. Raymond Nader, visited Poland.  Mr. Nader was accompanied by Father Antoine Beshaalani and a group of Family administrators.

​The visit included a spiritual retreat from May 2nd to 5th at the Niniveh-Kokotiek Center, attended by approximately 150 people. The topics were presented by Mr. Raymond Nader, focusing on Maronite spirituality and the spirituality of Saint Sharbel.

​The visit also featured a tour of various Polish regions, during which Mr. Nader shared his life testimony and his experience with Saint Sharbel. The tour included participating in Masses, Eucharistic adoration, recitation of the Rosary, and blessings with Saint Sharbel’s oil. In addition to a thanksgiving Mass with First Communion children at Saint Carolina Parish in Tychy, and Mr. Nader's life testimony before a group of students from the Saint John Paul II Institute of Theological Studies and the Bible in Gliwice.

Outside of the spiritual retreat and tour, Mr. Nader also met with the core group of the Family of Saint Sharbel in Poland, a group from Slovakia, and another from the Czech Republic. Various personal and spiritual experiences were exchanged. Lastly, on the media front, Mr. Nader had three radio interviews with “Radio Jana Gora,” “Radio EM,” and “Radio Katowice”; and another interview with a Catholic magazine in the Czestochowa area.

​After the Holy Mass, Fr. Ted led a procession with Saint Sharbel’s Relic while the faithful followed singing Maronite hymns. At the shrine, they gathered for the final blessing with the relic and individual blessing with the Holy oil of Saint Sharbel.