Bechara Peter Rai, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, will make a historic pastoral visit to Southeast Michigan, May 13-16. During that time he will go to several churches and mosques throughout the region.

Patriarch Rai

Patriarch Rai was enthroned the 77th Maronite Patriarch on March 25, 2011. According to Chorbishop Alfred Badawi, pastor of St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church, Patriarch Rai is here to connect with his people, worshipers of all faiths from Lebanon and the Middle East. He is known internationally as a vocal advocate for peaceful coexistence grounded in the tenets of unity, love and goodwill.

Revered as “the Patriarch for Lebanon” and recognized as one of the world’s most influential Maronite bishops, Patriarch Rai has publicly called upon the leaders of Lebanon and the Middle East to treat their people with respect, justice and dignity, and has encouraged dialogue as a principal means of conflict resolution.

“The arrival of Patriarch Rai to the Detroit community is a remarkable event,” explained Chorbishop Badawi. “For many individuals, such an important figure may never be within such close reach…The Patriarch indirectly has helped our community to realize a common vision that impacts society as a whole.”

Louis Ghafari, who’s helped organize and plan the events for Rai’s visit says it’s an opportunity for communities of different faiths to come together in unity. 

Lebanese Consul General to Detroit Houssam Diab noted the symbolic significance of  Patriarch Rai’s visit to Dearborn, the city with the greatest concentration of Arab American and Middle Eastern residents in the country, and Muslim places of worship within that community.

“The Arab and Lebanese communities have rallied around this historic visit by Patriarch Rai, the head of the Maronite Catholic Church worldwide, and are waiting for His Beatitude to bless them with his words of hope and spiritual inspiration,” Diab said. “They share great respect and admiration for his Beatitude, who is being inclusive of the entire Lebanese and Arab community regardless of religious affiliation.”

It is estimated that more than 100,000 Maronites currently reside in Michigan, and are served by churches including St. Maron in Detroit, St. Sharbel in Warren, St. Rafka in Livonia and Our Lady of Lebanon in Flint. In addition, by the request of St. Francis Church, the Maronite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lebanon has served Ann Arbor since 1986. Prominent members include Maronite-Lebanese physicians, attorneys and judges, elected officials, professional athletes, diplomats, civic and business leaders.

One such prominent leader, Ambassador Yousif B. Ghafari, chairman of Ghafari Associates, LLC in Dearborn, will host a luncheon in the Patriarch’s honor to celebrate His Beatitude’s visit and the centuries-old history of the Maronite Catholic Church in Michigan.

“The visit of His Beatitude is particularly significant as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of St. Maron, the first Maronite church founded in Detroit in 1911,” Ghafari said. “In addition to promoting peace and goodwill, the Patriarch’s visit raises awareness about the Maronite Catholic Church and the valuable contributions of its followers.”

The Patriarch is in his early 70s, and well known for his stance on building bridges of unity between people of different faiths throughout the Arab World. He was once noted as saying that for sake of communion and love he would work to establish a sincere and complete dialogue with Muslims.