As part of its special series covering St. Sharbel Feast celebrations across the Lebanese diaspora, DiasporaEcho continues its journey following its first stop in France, this time highlighting the preparations of St. Sharbel Maronite Church in Clinton Township, Michigan, which has unveiled its program for the Feast of Lebanon's beloved saint.
The celebrations will take place from July 17 to July 24, 2026, featuring the reception of first-class relics of St. Sharbel as well as the dedication of a new shrine in his honor.
This year's celebration holds particular significance as it coincides with the inauguration of the new St. Sharbel Shrine on the church grounds, marking a historic milestone for the parish and reflecting its growing spiritual presence and the increasing number of faithful who travel from across the United States to seek the intercession of the Lebanese saint.
The festivities begin on Friday, July 17, with the reception of the relics. Throughout the week, the church will remain open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for private prayer and veneration of the relics. The spiritual program also includes Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.
The same schedule continues on July 17 and 18, leading up to the principal celebration on Sunday, July 19, the Feast of St. Sharbel.
On that day, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan will celebrate two solemn Divine Liturgies at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. At 12:45 p.m., the parish will officially dedicate the new St. Sharbel Shrine, followed by a parish brunch bringing together parishioners and members of the Lebanese community before the afternoon continues with prayer and the veneration of the relics.
The spiritual celebrations will continue through July 24, with daily Divine Liturgies, Eucharistic Adoration, and Confessions. On Wednesday, July 22, the parish will also hold a special Healing Mass of St. Sharbel, celebrated by Fr. Sameem Balius.
The newly dedicated shrine is expected to become an important pilgrimage destination for Lebanese-Americans and other faithful from across Michigan and neighboring states, particularly with the presence of the saint's first-class relics, further strengthening the parish's mission of promoting Maronite spirituality and preserving Lebanon's rich spiritual heritage in the diaspora.
Michigan's celebrations are part of a broader series of events organized by Lebanese diaspora parishes around the world to honor the Feast of St. Sharbel, reaffirming the saint's enduring spiritual legacy and his unique role in keeping Lebanese communities abroad connected to their faith, heritage, and homeland.

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