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The Most Reverend Robert Joseph Shaheen, a longtime Maronite Catholic Priest of St. Louis, MO, is ordained Bishop Thursday, Feb. 15th., 2001 at the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica in an historical ceremony presided over by the Maronite Church's leader, Cardinal Nasrallah Peter Sfeir of Lebanon.
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Tears rolled from Shaheen's eyes.
Under a larger-than-life size mosaic portrait of St. Peter and 10 of Jesus' other apostles, a Middle Eastern Patriarch ordained a priest as a Maronite Catholic Bishop Thursday afternoon, thereby making history at the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica.
Cardinal Nasrallah Peter Sfeir of Bkerki, Lebanon, who is Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, laid his right-hand upon Reverend Robert Joseph Shaheen, 63, enthroning him as the first American-born Bishop within the Maronite Catholic Church. The event was the first Maronite episcopal ordination celebrated outside the Middle East.
The Maronite Catholic Church, with 3.5 million members, is one of 21 churches that make up the 1 billion-member Catholic Church, led by Pope John Paul, II.
Reverend Shaheen, who for 34 years had been the Pastor of St. Rayond's Maronite Catholic Church at St. Louis, stood near the altar and 1,500 witnesses and made a profession of faith in God, the Mystery of the Eucharist and the Scriptures.
"I profess that the Lord Jesus Christ designated Peter as his successor and the head of his Church and that Peter placed his (diocese) in Antioch, first, then, moved it to Rome where he was martyred for the love of Christ," Reverend Shaheen said.
Two other Bishops held the Book of the Gospels over Shaheen's head as the Patriarch ministered the sign of the cross before the candidate's head.
In the most ancient of Rites, the Patriarch placed his left hand on the "Mysteries" -- the consecrated bread and wine which Catholics believe actually is Jesus' body and blood.
With his right hand upon Shaheen's head, the Patriarch prayed for the Holy Spirit to descend upon and bless Eparch Shaheen.
With that Spiritual gesture, Father Shaheen, 63, was elevated to Bishop, the highest rank within the Catholic Church.
Tears rolled from Shaheen's eyes. One of the Bishops who held the Gospels above Father Shaheen's head was Bishop Francis Zayek, who ordained Shaheen as a priest in 1964. Reverend Shaheen's enthronement signals that Maronite leaders in Lebanon realize that American Maronites have come of age, Most Reverend Zayek said.
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