Father Naji Kiwan

Dear Brother Priests, Deacons, Subdeacons, Religious and Lay Faithful, It is my sad duty to announce the passing of Father Naji Kiwan on Friday, August 15, 2025, after a short illness. Born in Freidis, Lebanon on December 12, 1972, he was the son of Jalil and Chalabieh (Haddad) Kiwan. Fr. Naji is predeceased by his mother Chalabieh, and survived by his father, Jalil, his brother Michel, and sisters Nisrine and Karine. Fr. Naji was ordained into the priesthood by the Most Reverend Youssef Bechara, Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Antelias, on June 27, 1998. Fr. Naji served from 1998 to 2003 at Saint George Church in Dekwaneh, Lebanon, and then from 2003-2005 at Mar Abda and Mar Mikhael Bikfaiya. Fr. Naji Kiwan's first assignment in our Eparchy was in 2005 as the Vice-Recor of Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary in Washington DC, where he remained until 2007. For a short period of time Fr. Naji served as Assistant Pastor at Saint Anthony of the Desert Church in Fall River, Massachusetts. Fr. Naji served as Administrator of Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Waterbury, Connecticut from 2007 to 2008, until he was assigned Pastor, where he remained until 2011. In 2011 Fr. Naji was assigned Administrator at Saint John Paul II Mission in Sleepy Hollow, NY, and he served as Pastor at Saint Anthony Church in Danbury, CT from 2014 until 2024. As Fr. Naji's final assignment he spent a short time serving as Parochial Vicar in Saint Anthony Church in Glen Allen, VA. Visitation for Father Kiwan will be on Tuesday August 19, 2025, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm with the Ginnaz for Priests at 6:00 pm at The National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon located at 2759 N Lipkey Rd, North Jackson, OH 44451. Priests are asked to vest in jibbie and white stole. The Antonine Sisters will offer a Meal of Mercy for him at their Center immediately after the Ginnaz. On Thursday August 21, 2025, there will be a visitation from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm with the Ginnaz for Priests at 7:00 pm at Saint Anthony Maronite Church located at 17 Granville Ave, Danbury, CT 06810. Friday August 22, 2025, there will be a visitation from 9:00 am to 10:15 am, followed by Divine Liturgy at 10:30 am, with a Mercy Meal just after. Fr. Naji will then be taken to Lebanon to be buried. Please remember Father Kiwan in the Divine Liturgy. On behalf of the Eparchy of Saint Maron, Clergy, Religious and Lay Faithful, I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family and to all who loved him. May God grant eternal rest to his faithful servant and priest. Sincerely yours in Christ, + Gregory John Mansour Family and friends may visit www.rossisantuccifh.com to view this obituary and send condolences to Father Kiwan's family. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Father Naji Kiwan, please visit our floral store.