 From April 27 to May 9, 2026, Raymond Nader, President of the Family of Saint Sharbel, visited Poland as part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the spiritual bonds between the Family of Saint Sharbel in Lebanon and its growing presence in Poland. The visit included parish encounters, spiritual talks, media interviews, Church meetings, and public conversations centered on the message of Saint Sharbel and the mission of the Family of Saint Sharbel. During the visit, Mr. Nader met with those responsible for the Family of Saint Sharbel in Poland. These meetings allowed for an exchange of spiritual experience and a sharing of updates about the mission of the Family of Saint Sharbel in Lebanon, Poland, and other parts of the world.
One of the most spiritually focused parts of the trip was a four-day retreat at the Oblate Youth Center NINIWA in Kokotek. The retreat was held under the title “Qadisha Valley,” a name deeply connected to Lebanon’s monastic heritage. During the retreat, Mr. Nader offered talks on ascetic life, the spirituality of the Cross, Saint Sharbel, and the way his spirituality has touched the lives of believers in many places.
In Warsaw, Mr. Nader visited the Field Cathedral of the Polish Army. The gathering began with a Divine Liturgy presided over by Bishop Wiesław Lechowicz, followed by Mr. Nader’s testimony before many faithful. This moment placed the visit in a broader ecclesial context, bringing the spirituality of Saint Sharbel into a setting marked by national memory, service, and public witness. The trip also reached beyond strictly parish settings. Mr. Nader participated in a meeting at the Polish Parliament concerning the persecution of Christians. There, he spoke to the parliamentary committee about the commitment of the Family of Saint Sharbel to evangelization, peace, and the spreading of Saint Sharbel’s spirituality throughout the world. He also visited the Presidential Palace in Poland, where he met Professor Piotr Czauderna, adviser to the President of the Republic of Poland, and Fr. Jarosław Wąsowicz, chaplain of the Presidential Palace, in preparation for a future celebration in honor of Saint Sharbel. 
Raymond Nader’s 2026 visit to Poland stands as one expression of the Family of Saint Sharbel's broader mission: to help the faithful encounter, through Saint Sharbel, a path of prayer, repentance, peace, and holiness.
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 On Sunday, May 17, 2026, the Family of Saint Sharbel USA sponsored a luncheon at Our Lady of Lebanon, DC, in celebration of the birthday of Saint Sharbel. The day began with the Divine Liturgy at 11:00 AM, gathering the faithful in prayer and thanksgiving.
This gathering was a meaningful expression of the mission of the Family of Saint Sharbel: to help make Saint Sharbel better known, to deepen devotion to him, and to bring people together around his life of prayer, humility, silence, and holiness. Around the tables, the celebration became more than a meal. It was an opportunity to strengthen community, share faith, and keep alive the memory of a saint whose life continues to speak to many people today. Moments like these remind us that devotion to Saint Sharbel is lived not only in prayer but also in communion, service, and shared love within the Church.   The Family of Saint Sharbel commemorated the birthday of Saint Sharbel on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Shrine of Saint Sharbel at the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  The celebration began with a time of Adoration and the opportunity for Confession. At 12:00 PM, Fr. Cesar Ramirez celebrated the Holy Mass in St. Mary’s Chapel. Following the Mass, Fr. Cesar led a procession with the relic of Saint Sharbel, as the faithful joined in prayer and sang Maronite hymns. The procession concluded at the shrine, where attendees received the final blessing with the relic as well as an individual blessing with the holy oil of Saint Sharbel. The celebration concluded with the recitation of the Holy Rosary. Desserts and holy cards of Saint Sharbel were then distributed to those present. Devotion to Saint Sharbel has been steadily growing at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Astoria, New York, where parishioners continue to gather in increasing numbers to honor Saint Sharbel and seek his intercession. 
Since then, St. Joseph Parish has established a monthly Saint Sharbel Mass on the third Monday of every month. The celebration is followed by veneration of the Blessed Sacrament, anointing with the holy oil of Saint Sharbel, and veneration of the saint’s first-class relic. The parish’s devotion was further strengthened on July 24, 2023, when St. Joseph Church consecrated a new statue of Saint Sharbel among its shrines.
Today, devotion to Saint Sharbel continues to flourish at St. Joseph Parish, with participation growing month after month as more faithful are drawn to prayer, healing, and the powerful intercession of Saint Sharbel. A short clip from the Saint Sharbel Mass celebrated at St. Joseph Parish on April 20, 2026.
 On March 25, 2026, the Manila Cathedral welcomed the Pilgrim Relic of Saint Sharbel Makhlouf in a celebration held on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. The Relic visit was made possible through the efforts of The Family of Saint Sharbel in the Philippines, together with Fr. Hans Magdurulang, who brought the relic to the Mother Church for this special occasion. Msgr. Rolly dela Cruz, Fr. Viel, and the cathedral community warmly welcomed the first-class bone relic of Saint Sharbel. From the beginning of the day, devotees flocked to the Manila Cathedral to pray, reflect, and venerate the relic of Saint Sharbel, whose witness of holiness continues to inspire the faithful across the world. Manila Archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula presided over the celebration of the Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, welcoming and venerating the Pilgrim Relic of Saint Sharbel. In his homily, Cardinal Advincula reflected on the deep spiritual connection between the Solemnity of the Annunciation and the life of Saint Sharbel. He presented Mary’s fiat, her complete yes to God, as the perfect model of trust, surrender, and openness to divine grace. He then pointed to Saint Sharbel as one who lived that same total offering through silence, prayer, fasting, solitude, and hidden holiness. The Cardinal reminded the faithful that both Mary and Saint Sharbel reveal a path not marked by control or certainty but by faithfulness, trust, and complete belonging to God. He also emphasized that the presence of Saint Sharbel’s relics is not simply a remembrance of a holy monk but a living invitation for all believers to offer their own lives more fully to the Lord. Read the complete homily HERE. Following the Holy Mass, the blessing with the oil of Saint Sharbel was also held, allowing the faithful to participate more deeply in this moment of prayer and devotion.
For more news from The Family of Saint Sharbel – Philippines visit their Facebook page.
You can also check our Tagalog website.  Ten years ago, in the Philippines, a small group of faithful began gathering in prayer under the name of the Family of Saint Sharbel, carrying in their hearts a quiet desire to make the saint better known in a country where devotion to him was still in its early stages.
Under the spiritual care of Fr. Hans, devotion has continued to grow in a visible and deep manner. On the 22nd of each month, he now celebrates a Mass for the Sick followed by Blessing with the Holy Oil of Saint Sharbel at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Malate, Manila. These monthly gatherings have become a source of comfort and hope for many. Parishioners come in the hundreds, bringing before the Lord their prayers, sufferings, loved ones, and intentions, and seeking His grace through the intercession of Saint Sharbel. A particularly meaningful moment in this story took place in February 2026, when Fr. Hans and his brother visited Lebanon. During their stay, they were welcomed by the Family of Saint Sharbel in Lebanon, who accompanied them in a spirit of fraternity and shared mission. Their visit included several important spiritual sites, most especially the sanctuary of Saint Sharbel in Annaya, where they were able to pray and deepen their connection to his witness and legacy; Bekaakafra, the hometown of Saint Sharbel; the Holy Valley of Qannoubine; the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke; Harissa; the home of Nohad El Shami; Tombs of Lebanon’s Saints and Blesseds; and other places. At the end of the visit, the Family of Saint Sharbel in Lebanon offered Fr. Hans literature, bottles of blessed oil, and two first-class relics of Saint Sharbel, which he later referred to one of them as the “Pilgrim Relic.” This visit became a providential bridge between Lebanon and the Philippines. Soon after returning, Fr. Hans brought this grace-filled experience to the faithful in Manila. On Sunday, March 1, at 10:00 a.m., thousands of devotees and parishioners gathered at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish–Malate for the Welcome Mass of the Pilgrim Relic of Saint Sharbel, celebrated by Fr. Hans Magdurulang. The celebration was followed by the veneration of the relic and the distribution of the blessed oil of Saint Sharbel, creating a deeply prayerful moment for all those present. The mission continues to expand. During the month of March, the Pilgrim Relic is scheduled to visit parishes across Manila, bringing the presence and witness of Saint Sharbel to even more faithful. What began years ago with a small prayer group is now bearing abundant fruit, as devotion to Saint Sharbel continues to spread across the Philippines.
For more news from The Family of Saint Sharbel – Philippines visit their Facebook page. You can also check our Tagalog website.  Members of the Family of Saint Sharbel USA participated in a Lenten retreat with the Maronite Monks of Adoration at Most Holy Trinity Monastery in Massachusetts, from Thursday, March 12 to Sunday, March 15, 2026. Throughout the retreat, participants were invited into a deeper reflection on the spiritual meaning of Lent. The talks offered by Fr. Robert and Fr. Maron explored the traditional pillars of the season—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, the suffering of Jesus during Holy Week, and scenes and lessons from the Resurrection. In addition to the spiritual talks, retreatants received the Sacrament of Reconciliation and spent time in private prayer and meditation. They also took part in the monks’ daily liturgical life, including Safro (Morning Prayer), the Divine Liturgy, Midday Prayer, Ramsho (Evening Prayer), and Sotooro (Night Prayer). The retreat concluded with a Q&A session led by Abbot Patrick. On Sunday, the group joined the monks for the Divine Liturgy, received their final blessings, and then returned home.  From December 4-7, members of the Family of Saint Sharbel, USA, gathered once again at Most Holy Trinity Monastery in Massachusetts, home of the Maronite Monks of Adoration, for their annual Christmas retreat.
Guided reflections led participants through the stories of Zechariah, Saint Joseph, the shepherds, and the Holy Family—figures whose faith, humility, and watchfulness illuminate the path toward Christmas. The monks’ reverent celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours, including Midday Prayer, Ramsho, and Sootoro, created a rhythm of praise and contemplation that shaped the retreat’s atmosphere. An engaging Q&A session with Abbot Patrick on Saturday provided an opportunity for deeper insight and meaningful dialogue.
Sunday’s Divine Liturgy with the monks marked the conclusion of the retreat, after which the participants received their blessings and returned home. On Saturday, September 27, 2025, the Family of Saint Sharbel, USA, gathered to mark the eighth anniversary of the dedication of Saint Sharbel’s Shrine at the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The commemoration began in St. Mary’s Glass Chapel with Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, continuing with the celebration of the Holy Mass, presided over by Father Theodore Trinko (Institute of the Incarnate Word, IVE- http://ive.org/en/). The liturgy was enriched with traditional Maronite hymns, chanted in English, Syriac, and Arabic by the members of the Maronite Parish in DC.
Following the Holy Mass, Fr. Trinko led a procession with the relic of Saint Sharbel, encased in a cedar-shaped reliquary, as the faithful joined in song, chanting Maronite hymns. The celebration concluded at the Shrine with the blessing with the oil of Saint Sharbel and the veneration of his relic.  From July 11th to 13th, 2025, Ireland hosted its first-ever Saint Sharbel Catholic Conference in Meigh, Co. Armagh—a landmark event that brought together the faithful for three days of deep spiritual renewal. This historic gathering invited attendees to experience the beauty of Maronite spirituality, rooted in the Syriac Christian tradition and the holy witness of Saint Sharbel Makhlouf.
Raymond Nader's address was a highlight of the conference's second day, Founder of the Family of Saint Sharbel, who joined the conference via Zoom. His powerful talk reflected over 30 years of devotion to Saint Sharbel and offered spiritual insight into the Saint’s message. The full talk is available below. The conference was organized by the Family of Saint Sharbel Ireland (FSS IE), a Catholic lay movement committed to deepening devotion to Saint Sharbel across Ireland and the UK.
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ProjectsLearn about our ongoing projects to help introduce Saint Sharbel and the Maronite spirituality to the English speaking communities. Check out our YouTube Channels
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