 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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A Future Shrine to Saint Sharbel at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin7/28/2025  On July 18th, 2025, at the invitation of His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, Mr. Raymond Nader, President of the Family of Saint Sharbel, visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to explore the possibility of establishing a Shrine to Saint Sharbel on its grounds.
Following the tour, the delegation met to discuss details of the initiative. During the meeting, Mr. Nader presented two special gifts to Cardinal Burke: a hand-painted icon of Saint Sharbel and a first-class relic of the saint preserved in a cedar-shaped reliquary. The atmosphere was marked by warmth and shared vision with hope that the Shrine to Saint Sharbel may be consecrated and opened by July 2026.
Founded by then-Bishop Burke, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe serves as a place of pilgrimage and prayer, especially for those who suffer in body and soul. Dedicated to evangelization through Our Lady, it stands as a spiritual haven for the faithful—soon to be further enriched, God willing, by the witness of Saint Sharbel.
On July 21st, 2025, Mr. Raymond Nader, President of the Family of Saint Sharbel, delivered a moving talk at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Alexandria, Virginia. The event began with a reception, continued with Mr. Nader's account of his testimony, and concluded with a Q&A session with attendees.
In his talk, Mr. Nader shared the story of his encounter with Saint Sharbel, which transformed his life and mission. He reflected on key moments of suffering and grace, highlighting Saint Sharbel’s life of sacrifice, love, and union with Christ in the Eucharist. Mr. Nader emphasized that each of us is called to sainthood and eternal life with God. He concluded with a heartfelt message: through the Holy Bible, the Eucharist, and Our Blessed Lady, we can walk toward our true home in the Kingdom of God. The event left many deeply moved and renewed in faith.  On July 13th, 2025, Mr. Raymond Nader, President of the Family of Saint Sharbel, delivered an inspiring talk at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in Potomac Falls, VA. The event began with a warm reception followed by Mr. Nader’s testimony and Q&A session.
Mr. Nader also recounted his own profound spiritual encounter with Saint Sharbel, marked by mystical experiences and a call to spread the Gospel. His message centered on three pillars for Christian living: Holy Scripture, the Eucharist, and the Blessed Virgin Mary—a path, he said, that surely leads home. Watch the video for the full talk. 00:00 Opening Prayer 00:35 Mr. Nader's Talk 56:04 Q&A Session Raymond Nader Speaks of Saint Sharbel at Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Washington, D.C., July 20257/26/2025  On July 20th, 2025, the Family of Saint Sharbel USA joined the Lebanese community at Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Washington, D.C. for Holy Mass on the occasion of Saint Sharbel's Feast Day. The Mass was celebrated by Monsignor Peter Azar, and was followed by a special talk given by Mr. Raymond Nader, President of the Family of Saint Sharbel. Mr. Nader’s talk, delivered mostly in Arabic, offered a moving reflection on the life of Saint Sharbel. Using the language of investment and economy as a metaphor, he encouraged the faithful to consider their lives as capital entrusted by God. Saint Sharbel, he explained, made a radical spiritual “investment” by offering his life entirely to God—materially poor, but spiritually rich. Drawing from personal experience and years of spiritual companionship with Saint Sharbel, Mr. Nader reminded all that true holiness is possible, and that each person is called to become a saint. The event ended in an atmosphere of peace, inspiration, and renewed spiritual commitment.  On July 9–10, the Family of Saint Sharbel’s President, Mr. Raymond Nader, visited Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church in Easton, PA, where he shared his personal testimony and spoke about the life and spirituality of Saint Sharbel.
All who attended were inspired by Mr. Nader's powerful testimony and the deep spirituality of Saint Sharbel, leaving with renewed faith, a sense of peace, and a call to deeper prayer. Watch the video for a summary of Mr. Nader's Talks. On Saturday, July 12th, 2025, the Family of Saint Sharbel USA gathered with pilgrims at the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Emmitsburg, Maryland, to celebrate the Feast of Saint Sharbel.
The day’s events began at 10:45 AM with a time of Eucharistic Adoration in St. Mary’s Chapel in preparation for the Holy Mass that would follow at noon, celebrated by Fr. Mariano. Among those in attendance were members of the local Lebanese-American community, visitors to the shrine, and Mr. Raymond Nader, President of the Family of Saint Sharbel. Following the Holy Mass, a solemn procession took place with a first-class relic of Saint Sharbel. The faithful were then invited to venerate the relic and receive individual blessings with Saint Sharbel’s holy oil, administered by Fr. Mariano. The celebration concluded with the distribution of prayer cards and traditional Lebanese sweets. 
The Family of Saint Sharbel USA was honored to be among the participating organizations this year. Mr. Raymond Nader, President of the Family of Saint Sharbel, was also present at the convention during his stay in the U.S. FSS hosted a lively booth, managed by a group of volunteers, which offered informational materials, devotional items such as novena booklets, prayer cards, and religious art from Lebanon, as well as books about Saint Sharbel’s life and spirituality. The booth served as a welcoming space to share the mission and work of FSS through personal encounters and engaging conversations with convention attendees. The National Apostolate of Maronites (NAM) is the official lay apostolate of the Maronite Church of the USA. Each year, it brings together Maronite clergy and laity from across the country for Divine Liturgies, the Liturgy of the Hours, conferences, youth and adult programs, and joyful community celebrations. In attendance this year were both Maronite bishops in the U.S.: Bishop Gregory Mansour of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn and Bishop Abdallah Elias Zaidan of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles.  The event was a powerful reminder of the growing faith and unity among Maronites in the United States.
 As part of his tour of the Family of Saint Sharbel branches in Europe, the President of the Family of Saint Sharbel, Mr. Raymond Nader, visited the Czech Republic accompanied by a delegation of Family officials on May 5th and 6th, 2025. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen the spiritual ties between the Family of Saint Sharbel in Lebanon and its newly established branch in the Czech Republic. The delegation participated in Divine Liturgies and spiritual gatherings held in the Dobratice area. During these gatherings, Mr. Nader also shared his personal spiritual testimony, recounting the impact of Saint Sharbel on his own life and his widespread influence throughout the world. In addition, a Lebanese cedar tree was planted in the garden of one of the churches.  As part of his tour of the Family of Saint Sharbel branches in Europe, the President of the Family of Saint Sharbel, Mr. Raymond Nader, visited Croatia accompanied by a delegation of Family officials from May 10th to May 15th, 2025. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen the spiritual ties between the Family of Saint Sharbel in Lebanon and its newly established branch in Croatia. The delegation met with several leaders of the Family of Saint Sharbel in Croatia. During these meetings, spiritual experiences were exchanged between both parties. The delegation also provided updates on the spiritual activities and mission carried out by the Family of Saint Sharbel in Lebanon and around the world.
The delegation participated in Divine Liturgies and spiritual gatherings held in the churches and parishes listed below. During these gatherings, Mr. Raymond Nader also shared his personal spiritual testimony, recounting the impact of Saint Sharbel on his own life and his widespread influence throughout the world. Spiritual Visit Stops:
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Publishing DepartmentThe Family of Saint Sharbel has established a new Publishing Department. More
ProjectsLearn about our ongoing projects to help introduce Saint Sharbel and the Maronite spirituality to the English speaking communities. Check out our YouTube Channels
Saint Sharbel's Miracles & Healings .
Family of Saint Sharbel, USA.
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