Raymond Nader Addresses Utica Parish on Saint Sharbel’s Message, 2026

UTICA, New York — St. Louis Gonzaga Church welcomed parishioners and visitors on Thursday, July 16, 2026, for an evening dedicated to Saint Sharbel. The gathering included Mass, a special blessing with the saint’s relic, and an address by Raymond Nader, President of the Family of Saint Sharbel.
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The church’s pews were filled for the occasion. Near the sanctuary, a large portrait of Saint Sharbel overlooked the gathering as Mr. Nader spoke about the Lebanese saint and the meaning of his witness for Christians today.

Mr. Nader presented Saint Sharbel as a man whose entire life was formed by prayer. He spoke about his early devotion, his decision to enter monastic life, and the demanding years he spent in solitude at the hermitage in Annaya. The account emphasized the saint’s silence, discipline, and unwavering attention to God rather than simply recounting the familiar events of his biography.

Raymond then connected Saint Sharbel’s example with his own search for answers. He also shared the spiritual experience he had at Saint Sharbel’s hermitage in 1994, which led him to leave his professional work and dedicate his life to Christian media and evangelization. 

Mr. Nader described Saint Sharbel’s message as a reminder that earthly life is not humanity’s final destination. He encouraged those present to renew their relationship with Christ through Scripture, the Eucharist, prayer, and devotion to the Virgin Mary.

His address placed a clear question before the Utica congregation: where is each person’s life directed? Saint Sharbel’s response, as presented by Mr. Nader, was a call to return to faith, live the sacraments, and remain focused on one's journey toward God.
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Click HERE to read Raymond Nader’s full address.