Exclusive interview – DiasporaEcho

From Montreal to Toronto, and from Ottawa to Windsor, devotion to Saint Charbel is expanding across Canada and becoming a growing spiritual phenomenon that brings together Lebanese and non-Lebanese believers alike, including people who are not formally affiliated with the Church.

Bishop Maroun Tabet, Shepherd of the Maronite Eparchy in Canada, told DiasporaEcho that Saint Charbel has become one of the most powerful symbols of Lebanon abroad, describing him as an “extraordinary ambassador of Lebanon, the Maronite Church, and its spirituality.”

He said: "Saint Charbel is today Lebanon’s ambassador to the world, and an exceptional ambassador at that. He is also an ambassador of the Maronite Church and of its spirituality, which is rooted in attachment to the land and in the spirituality of pilgrimage."

He passed through the world lightly, yet left a profound mark

Bishop Tabet linked the life of Saint Charbel to the essence of Maronite spirituality, which sees the human person as a pilgrim passing through this world without becoming overly attached to it.

He explained: "Maronite spirituality teaches us that we come into this world with nothing and that we live in it as pilgrims. A pilgrim travels with the lightest possible load. When we travel, we do not take all our belongings with us; we carry only a small suitcase. In the same way, the Maronite passes through this world lightly, yet leaves behind a mark and a lasting impact."

He continued: "This is what Saint Charbel did. He lived hidden from the world and in great humility. Even when his holiness began to become known, there were very few photographs of him. Yet he left an impact that spread across the world."

According to Bishop Tabet, Saint Charbel’s spirituality teaches believers two essential values: trust in God and love for the land.

He said: “Every person who trusts in God and loves the land in which they live can succeed in life. Money is not everything. What truly matters is how we live and the joy we carry within us and share with others.”

The tradition of the 22nd spreads across the churches

Bishop Tabet noted that the eparchy has established a monthly tradition of commemorating Saint Charbel on the 22nd of every month, drawing hundreds of believers to Masses, prayers and pilgrimages.

He said: “In our churches and pastoral centers, the 22nd of every month has become a firmly established tradition. We see hundreds of faithful attending these gatherings and Masses, asking for Saint Charbel’s intercession.”

At Saint Anthony Monastery in Montreal, which belongs to the Lebanese Maronite Order, a shrine dedicated to the Maronite saints has been established. On the 22nd of every month, the monastery church receives large crowds that can reach into the thousands.

Bishop Tabet also spoke of a group of believers in Montreal who walk every month from Saint Maron Cathedral to Saint Anthony Monastery, regardless of the harsh Canadian weather.

He said: “They walk in summer and winter, whether the temperature is 30 degrees above zero or 35 degrees below zero. Their attachment to Saint Charbel and the strength of their faith drive them to continue the pilgrimage under all conditions.”

A shrine open around the clock in Toronto

At Saint Charbel Church in Toronto, Canada’s largest city, a shrine dedicated to the saint remains open to believers 24 hours a day.

Bishop Tabet said: “The shrine is open 24 hours a day, and at times we find people there at four or five in the morning, sleeping in front of it or praying nearby. This shows the depth of the trust that believers place in Saint Charbel’s intercession.”

There is also a Saint Charbel Church in the capital, Ottawa, while Windsor is home to a Saint Charbel monastery located near the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon. Work is underway there to develop a shrine similar to those already present in Montreal.

Bishop Tabet also revealed that a miracle attributed to the intercession of Saint Charbel has been officially recorded in Montreal, further strengthening devotion to the saint and increasing the number of testimonies connected to graces and healings attributed to him.

Saint Charbel is also known among Canadians

Bishop Tabet stressed that devotion to Saint Charbel is no longer limited to the Lebanese community. His name and spirituality are becoming increasingly known among Canadians from a variety of backgrounds.

He said: “Saint Charbel is strongly present in our churches and in the lives of our children. Many people within Canadian society, both believers and non-believers, know Saint Charbel and ask about him. This presence also becomes a source of love for Lebanon, its land and its saints.”

He added that the image of the silent and humble hermit, together with his life of prayer and simplicity, speaks deeply to modern men and women who live amid noise, anxiety and a constant search for meaning.

The celebration goes beyond the annual feast

Speaking about celebrations for the Feast of Saint Charbel, Bishop Tabet explained that devotion to the saint is not limited to one annual occasion. It has become a permanent part of parish life through the monthly Masses on the 22nd, the shrines, the pilgrimages and the prayers.

He noted that the churches of the eparchy prepare for the feast through Masses, prayers and spiritual activities, while also receiving believers who come to seek blessing and ask for the saint’s intercession.

This spiritual presence is closely connected to the eparchy’s broader effort to involve younger generations in church life. Its parishes organize scouting programs, Arabic-language classes, Lebanese dabke groups, First Communion preparation, altar service and annual youth conferences.

Bishop Tabet believes that these activities form a practical extension of Saint Charbel’s message because they bring together faith, belonging and roots.

Activities that preserve faith and identity

In Montreal, the scouting movement includes around 2,100 scouts, while approximately 200 people participate in the dabke group at Saint Maron Cathedral. The cathedral’s Arabic-language school welcomes around 300 children.

In Ottawa, hundreds of children take part in youth groups, while the eparchy also holds an annual youth conference that brings together hundreds of young men and women from different Canadian cities.

Bishop Tabet said: “When we provide children and young people with a church, spiritual and cultural environment, we help them live their faith and remain connected to Lebanon, without preventing them from succeeding and integrating into Canadian society.”

He stressed that the Church does not want younger generations to isolate themselves, but rather to integrate into Canadian society while preserving their identity and values.

He said: “We do not want our children to dissolve into society and lose their identity. We want them to integrate, but also to be the distinctive flavor that adds something meaningful to the society in which they live.”

A message to Lebanese Canadians

Bishop Maroun Tabet concluded his interview with DiasporaEcho by addressing Lebanese people in Canada and urging them to preserve Lebanon in their hearts, together with the faith and family values they carried with them.

He said: “Do not forget Lebanon or the rock from which you were carved. Your success in Canadian society is also rooted in the faith that gave you your values, and in the importance of family and solidarity in your lives.”

He added: “Saint Charbel reminds us that a person can live with humility and trust in God, love the land on which they live, and leave a lasting mark without noise. This is the message he carries from Lebanon to Canada and to the world.”

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