Robert Joseph Shaheen
Encyclopedia
Robert Joseph Shaheen is an American
clergyman of the Maronite Catholic Church
. He is the second and current Eparch of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon
.
Shaheen was born to Albert and Aileen Shaheen in Danbury
, Connecticut
; his grandfather came to the United States
from Lebanon
in 1898. He attended St. Peter Grammar School and Danbury High School
before entering the Latin Rite St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield
in 1955. In 1958, he transferred to the Eastern rite St. Basil Seminary in Methuen
, Massachusetts
, while attending classes at St. Anselm College
in Goffstown
, New Hampshire
.
After being ordained
a subdeacon
(October 2, 1962) and deacon
(June 7, 1963), Shaheen was ordained a priest
by Bishop Francis Mansour Zayek
on May 2, 1964, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
. Shortly after his ordination, he became pastor
of St. Raymond's Church in St. Louis
, Missouri
, which had then been without a resident priest for over 20 years. Under his leadership, St. Raymond's went from just a few faithful parishioners using a four-family apartment to a cathedral
with hundreds of active families.
From 1965 to 1970, he organized and celebrated Maronite liturgies on regular basis. He also developed newsletters, bulletins, and fliers; conducted a census to identify Maronites in the greater metropolitan area; and introduced spiritual and cultural programs, including Maronite religious education
classes. He hosted National Aposolate of Maronites Convention in 1970. Kicking-off a fund drive for new church in 1971, he later dedicated a new church in November 1975 and a new rectory in February 1977. He was ordained an archpriest
in September 1978, and dedicated a new parish center "The Cedars" in November 1979.
On March 31, 1986, Shaheen was ordained a Chorbishop
by Archbishop Zayek. He purchased additional property and buildings for future development as a Maronite retirement center and cultural center in 1991, and again hosted the National Apostolate of Maronites Convention in 1995.
On December 5, 2000, Shaheen was appointed Eparch of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon
by Pope John Paul II
. He was consecrated a bishop on February 15, 2001 by Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.
He is the first Maronite priest or bishop from the United States.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
clergyman of the Maronite Catholic Church
Maronite Church
The Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome . It traces its heritage back to the community founded by Maron, a 4th-century Syriac monk venerated as a saint. The first Maronite Patriarch, John Maron, was elected in the late 7th...
. He is the second and current Eparch of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon
Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles
- History of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon :Immigration of Maronite faithful from the Middle East to the United States began during the latter part of the nineteenth century...
.
Shaheen was born to Albert and Aileen Shaheen in Danbury
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
; his grandfather came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in 1898. He attended St. Peter Grammar School and Danbury High School
Danbury High School
Danbury High School is a public high school in Danbury, Connecticut. Despite Danbury's population of 81,000, there is only one public high school, along with several small private schools, and one vocational high school. Danbury High School is supplemented by a magnet program called the Alternative...
before entering the Latin Rite St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield
Bloomfield, Connecticut
Bloomfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 20,626 at the 2009 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and 0.2 square miles is water.Bloomfield is bordered by Windsor to the...
in 1955. In 1958, he transferred to the Eastern rite St. Basil Seminary in Methuen
Methuen, Massachusetts
Methuen is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 43,789 at the 2000 census.-History:Methuen was first settled in 1642 and was officially incorporated in 1726; it is named for the British diplomat Sir Paul Methuen. Methuen was originally part of Haverhill,...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, while attending classes at St. Anselm College
Saint Anselm College
Saint Anselm College is a nationally ranked, private, Benedictine, Catholic liberal arts college in Goffstown, New Hampshire. Founded in 1889 by Abbot Hilary Pfrängle, O.S.B. of Saint Mary's Abbey in Newark, New Jersey, at the request of Bishop Denis M. Bradley of Manchester, New Hampshire, the...
in Goffstown
Goffstown, New Hampshire
Goffstown is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 17,651 at the 2010 census. The compact center of town, where 3,196 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Goffstown census-designated place and is located at the...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
.
After being ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
a subdeacon
Subdeacon
-Subdeacons in the Orthodox Church:A subdeacon or hypodeacon is the highest of the minor orders of clergy in the Orthodox Church. This order is higher than the reader and lower than the deacon.-Canonical Discipline:...
(October 2, 1962) and deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
(June 7, 1963), Shaheen was ordained a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
by Bishop Francis Mansour Zayek
Francis Mansour Zayek
Francis Mansour Zayek was an American Maronite Catholic prelate. Zayek was the founding bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, a diocese based in Brooklyn, New York covering the Maronite Church in the United States.Zayek was one of the last surviving bishops who had attended all four...
on May 2, 1964, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a prominent Latin Rite Catholic basilica located in Washington, D.C., honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of the United States...
. Shortly after his ordination, he became pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Raymond's Church in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, which had then been without a resident priest for over 20 years. Under his leadership, St. Raymond's went from just a few faithful parishioners using a four-family apartment to a cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
with hundreds of active families.
From 1965 to 1970, he organized and celebrated Maronite liturgies on regular basis. He also developed newsletters, bulletins, and fliers; conducted a census to identify Maronites in the greater metropolitan area; and introduced spiritual and cultural programs, including Maronite religious education
Religious education
In secular usage, religious education is the teaching of a particular religion and its varied aspects —its beliefs, doctrines, rituals, customs, rites, and personal roles...
classes. He hosted National Aposolate of Maronites Convention in 1970. Kicking-off a fund drive for new church in 1971, he later dedicated a new church in November 1975 and a new rectory in February 1977. He was ordained an archpriest
Archpriest
An archpriest is a priest with supervisory duties over a number of parishes. The term is most often used in Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic Churches, although it may be used in the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church instead of dean or vicar forane.In the 16th and 17th centuries, during...
in September 1978, and dedicated a new parish center "The Cedars" in November 1979.
On March 31, 1986, Shaheen was ordained a Chorbishop
Chorbishop
A chorbishop is a rank of Christian clergy below bishop. The name chorepiscope or chorepiscopus is taken from the Greek and means rural bishop.-History:Chorepiscopi are first mentioned by Eusebius in the second century...
by Archbishop Zayek. He purchased additional property and buildings for future development as a Maronite retirement center and cultural center in 1991, and again hosted the National Apostolate of Maronites Convention in 1995.
On December 5, 2000, Shaheen was appointed Eparch of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon
Our Lady of Lebanon
Our Lady of Lebanon , also known as Notre Dame du Liban, is a marian shrine and a pilgrimage site, honoring the patron saint of the Mediterranean country of Lebanon. The Lebanese Christians as well as the Druze and Muslims have a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. He was consecrated a bishop on February 15, 2001 by Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.
He is the first Maronite priest or bishop from the United States.