Wilkes-Barre, PA – Hardine, Lebanon Connection

The Maronite community of Wilkes-Barre traces its beginnings to the year 1886 with the arrival of the first two Maronite immigrants from Hardine, George Bechir Raad (George Reed) and Mansour Dagher (Mansour Decker).

Their destination of Wilkes-Barre was chosen for them by the Fayour Brothers, who were merchants and bankers in New York City.  They themselves had migrated from Hadeth El-Jebbe shortly after the American Civil War and established a mercantile business in the lower Manhattan Financial District.

Decker and Reed, wishing to migrate to the United States, were given a note of introduction to the Fayour Family from their cousin Kathur, wife of Skander Nassiff Dagher (Decker) of Hardine. Upon arrival in New York, they took up residence with the Fayour Family, and after approximately two months, it was decided that they should settle in Wilkes-Barre, which was in the throes of an economic boom due to the demand for Anthracite coal.

George Reed and Mansour Decker were welcomed to Wilkes-Barre by Sayed Saba from Fiah, Lebanon, a member of the Greek Orthodox Antioch community, and believed to be one of the earliest Lebanese immigrants to the area.  Sayed helped George and Mansour establish their residence in Wilkes-Barre.

Being typically Lebanese with an industrious and pragmatic nature, they immediately began peddling dry goods door-to-door to the nearby mining communities.  Within a short period they prospered and began sending for relatives and other families from Lebanon.

With the arrival of more relatives and friends from Lebanon, a small community of Maronites began to develop.  In 1892, the first Maronite couple to be married in Wilkes-Barre was George and Catherine Decker. In 1896, Margaret Decker, the daughter of Mansour and Catherine Decker, became the first Maronite child to be born and baptized in Wilkes-Barre.

The community, having no Maronite church looked to the Latin Rite churches for their spiritual nourishment.  The main churches were Saint Mary's Church of the Immaculate Conception (Irish), Saint Joseph's Monastery (Franciscans) and Saint Boniface Church (German).  It was during the period of the 1890s through the early 1900s that various transient Maronite priests would visit the community.  They offered religious services in the Maronite tradition, and to a certain extent, satisfied the spiritual thirst and hunger for the homeland traditions.

In these early years, economic conditions forced the immigrants to live ten to fifteen persons in a rented home before they became established.  In an amazingly short time, many of the immigrants became well-to-do, middle class families.  Their rapid rise on the economic scale is recorded in the Annual Record Almanac published by the local Chamber of Commerce.  From peddlers and hucksters they became dry goods and shoe merchants, and in their obituary notices in years to come they were described as "prominent local merchants."

In 1911, as a result of their financial success, they were in a position to establish a Maronite Church; however problems quickly arose concerning the location of the church.  Because of these problems, the Maronite community divided and established two locations in Wilkes-Barre: one at the corner of Park Avenue and Dana Street; and the other a very short distance away on Loomis Street.  The Park Avenue property was purchased on December 15, 1911.  The Loomis Street property was purchased on February 28, 1912.

The founding members of Saint George Maronite Church on Loomis Street were five men: Joseph Ferris, Joseph George, Samuel Joseph, Anthony Shiner and Joseph Thomas.  These men and their followers drew up a petition and presented it to the Most Reverend Michael J. Hoban, Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton, who granted them permission to build a church on Loomis Street.  A fund-raising campaign was undertaken, and in a short time $2500 was collected.  A parcel of ground was purchased from Anthony Shiner for the sum of $800, and a contract was awarded to Isaac Saba, a building contractor, who was a native of Kfarhatna, Lebanon.

Saint George Maronite Church was completed, and the first Divine Liturgy was celebrated Easter Sunday March 23, 1913 by the first pastor, Reverend Abdallah Torobay.

Father Torobay served the community until 1915, when he was followed by the following clergy:

· 1915-1916 Reverend Louis Decker

· 1916-1922 Reverend Paul Rizk, He established a grammar school conducted by the Sisters of Mercy.  It was also during his pastorate, in 1921, that the same home of Anthony Shiner, next to the church, was purchased to be used as the rectory.  Until this time, the pastors had lived with Anthony Shiner and his family. 

· 1922-1923 Reverend George Sebhelani

· 1923-1926 Reverend Joseph Awad

· 1926-1932 Reverend Joseph Solomon (Ferqh) It was during Father Solomon's pastorate that the Novena to Saint Theresa of the Infant Jesus was established and continues to this day. The statue of Saint Theresa was purchased from the Carmelite convent in Lisieux, France in early 1927 through the efforts of Monsignor Stephan Doueihi.  He also obtained the relic of Saint Theresa from the convent.  During this period a community/parish band was begun under the leadership of Anthony Matzer. This band earned the Maronite Community a favorable reputation as a result of their many performances throughout the community and on the radio. 

· 1932-1934 Reverend John Koury in a temporary capacity while Saint Anthony Maronite Church was being built.  He then served as their pastor.

· 1934-1978 Reverend David El-Mouallem, STD (later to be named Chor-Bishop) became pastor and served in the capacity for 44 years until his death. He was born in Hardine on October 10, 1887.  Named Boutros by his parents, Job Joseph and Shaheenie Sliman Hassey.  He had been chosen by the Sacred Oriental Congregation in Rome to come to the United States and serve as pastor at Saint George Maronite Church in Wilkes-Barre.  He arrived on October 18, 1934 and celebrated his first Sunday Divine Liturgy with the community of Saint George October 21^st. The Novena to Saint Theresa was developed to its highest by Father David, who was revered by thousands who came from near and far to attend the widely acclaimed novena. The parish experienced further growth through the development of active societies such as Kassab-Joseph Veteran Post, the Christian Mothers Altary and Rosary Society, the Saint Theresa Society, and the Holy Name Society. During the pastorate of Monsignor El-Mouallem, a new cornerstone was laid, officially dedicating the church, which had not been done prior to this.  The community grew and developed during this time, and in 1956 the church was enlarged and renovated.  In 1976, additional interior and exterior renovations were completed.