MINNEAPOLIS (OSV News) – Chorbishop Sharbel Maroun – pastor of St. Maron in Minneapolis, a Maronite Catholic church – has been named as archbishop-elect of the Maronite Archeparchy of Damascus in Syria, according to a Vatican announcement Aug. 28.
"I was thrilled to learn that Pope Leo XIV has given his assent to the election of Chorbishop Sharbel Maroun as Archbishop of Damascus of the Maronites in Syria by the Synod of Bishops of the Patriarchal Church of Antioch of the Maronites," Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis wrote in a statement published Aug. 28.
Archbishop-elect Maroun will succeed Archbishop Samir Nassar, who is retiring after leading the Damascus Archeparchy since 2006.
Born in Lebanon, Archbishop-elect Maroun and his family relocated to the United States in 1983, according to the Vatican announcement. He pursued specialized studies in information technology, entering the Washington-based seminary of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles in 1984. While there, he studied philosophy and theology.
Archbishop-elect Maroun’s priestly ordination (in 1989), his designation as a monsignor (in 2007), and his ordination as chorbishop (in 2015) have all coincided with his Jan. 6 birthday, according to St. Maron’s website. He has served the St. Maron community since 1989 and has continued to hold various roles in the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles.
"Chorbishop Maroun has served as pastor of St. Maron Maronite parish in Minneapolis for more than 35 years and is beloved by not only his parishioners but also by the priests and faithful of our Archdiocese," Archbishop Hebda wrote.
"I have long admired his pastoral heart and have been inspired by his generous and collaborative leadership in Northeast Minneapolis," the archbishop said. "His presence will be deeply missed. I pledge to him my heartfelt prayers as he prepares to assume leadership of the Church of Damascus, a venerable community rich in Christian history."
Since 2017, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Archeparchy of Damascus – which operates like an archdiocese – have maintained a partnership.
When the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops requested U.S. dioceses come to the aid of suffering and persecuted Christians in war-torn parts of the Middle East, Archbishop Hebda conferred with Deacon Mickey Friesen, director of the Center for Mission, which serves the archdiocese’s missionary outreach.
Deacon Friesen had some knowledge of the Maronite Archeparchy of Damascus through then-Chorbishop Maroun and suggested a partnership between the archdiocese and the archeparchy. The Damascus Partnership was formalized on Jan. 25, 2017 – the feast of the conversion of St. Paul the Apostle on the road to Damascus and patron of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
"It is wonderfully providential that our Archdiocese has already been in a partnership with the Archeparchy of Damascus since 2017," Archbishop Hebda wrote in his Aug. 28 statement. "It is my hope that the relationship will only grow stronger in the days ahead."
He said he has "valued the friendship and example" of Archbishop Nassar, who he said "has been a beacon of hope to the faithful of his flock as he guided them through the challenges of civil war. I wish Archbishop Nassar all the best and promise him my prayers for a well-deserved retirement."
