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‘Prayerful place’ describes National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon
By LINDA M. LINONIS
NORTH JACKSON
People of all faiths come to pray at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon.
“The shrine is a holy, prayerful place,” said Monsignor Anthony Spinosa, shrine rector. “People come here to find peace.”
The shrine is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a yearlong observance that began Aug. 15.
In 1964 on that date, ground was broken.
The celebration will continue until Aug. 15, 2015, on the golden anniversary of the dedication.
Aug. 15 has significance because it is the observance of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven.
The shrine is unique because it is not a parish, but the faithful flock to it.
“People are here praying all hours of the day and night,” Monsignor Spinosa said.
He noted when he looks at the shrine tower, he can see people up there praying.
“People come to pray when they are suffering, have difficulties or to give thanks,” he said. “People are in and out daily for different reasons.”
The shrine was founded by St. Maron Maronite Church in Youngstown, St. John the Baptist Maronite Church in New Castle, Pa., and Our Lady of the Cedars Maronite Catholic Church in Akron.
The Maronite rite is practiced and follows the Syriac tradition.
“It is from the Antioch monastic liturgy,” Monsignor Spinosa said, adding that this tradition is prominent in the Middle East.
The shrine is a smaller version of the original Our Lady of Lebanon Shrine that overlooks the bay of Jonieh by the city of Harissa, Lebanon.
“We get about 50 buses on pilgrimages every year,” Monsignor Spinosa said.
Originally, the shrine’s tower chapel was the only site for worship. It seats about 21, which works perfectly for the daily Mass there at 5:30 p.m. (except on Thursdays).
Christ, the Prince of Peace Chapel, (the church) has Sunday Masses at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Often after Masses at churches on Sundays, people stop at the shrine.
Behind the altar in the sanctuary is an icon of Christ, painted on canvas in the Syriac tradition. Flanking the altar are images of St. Peter on the left and St. Paul on the right.
On either side of the altar are shrines to St. Therese and St. Jude.
The church vestibule features an antique altar with small statue of Our Lady of Lebanon.
Throughout the year, various devotions are practiced. These include a St. Therese novena, which is conducted near her Feast Day of Oct. 1.
“That novena has been done for some 35 years,” Monsignor Spinosa said.
There also is St. Joseph novena near his Feast Day of March 19, a Christmas novena nine days before Christmas, a triidium novena for St. Jude’s Feast Day on Oct. 28 and Divine Mercy novena that starts on Good Friday and leads up to Divine Mercy Sunday, the weekend after Easter.
There also are conferences, speakers and other events at the shrine throughout the year.
The rector, who has been at the shrine for 11 years, said the shrine does not function like a parish in that it doesn’t have baptisms, weddings or funerals or provide religious education.
Located on 65 acres at 2759 N. Lipkey Road, the shrine is in a rural area, which contributes to the sereneness of the setting.
The shrine also showcases the beauty of God’s creation with St. Joseph Prayer Garden, which provides an outdoor site for Mass, meditation and prayer.
There also are outdoor Stations of the Cross and Martyrs Meditation.
“Many come here for the quiet time,” Monsignor Spinosa said.
The rector said the founding parishes continue to be involved in the shrine and provide financial support, along with donations, and revenue from rental of Cedars Hall, the gift shop and fundraisers.
A Perpetual Endowment Fund also has been established.
A brochure on the fund notes that the fund will “ensure the financial stability” and “allow for capital expenditures for maintenance, repair and expansion.”
The shrine also has a parking lot project underway; donors are asked to contribute $100 per square yard. The cost of repairing and repaving the lot is $150,000; 1,500 donors are needed to attain the goal.