Bishop Robert J. Shaheen

Shaheen, Bishop Robert J. 80, Bishop Emeritus of the Eparchy\1 of Our Lady of Lebanon, St. Louis, Missouri, died on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. Bishop Shaheen was born in Danbury, CT, to Albert and Aileen (Abdo) Shaheen. He attended St. Peter School and graduated from Danbury High School with the Class of 1955. He entered St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, CT in 1955 and in 1958 transferred to St. Basil Seminary in Methuen, Massachusetts, while attending classes at St. Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire. Upon the founding of the Maronite Seminary at Washington, D.C., he became a seminarian at the Maronite Seminary. Bishop Shaheen was ordained a subdeacon on October 2, 1962 and deacon on June 7, 1963. He was ordained to the priesthood by the late Bishop Francis M. Zayek, Bishop of the Maronites of Brazil, on May 2, 1964, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception , Washington, D.C. on the occasion of the first Maronite Convention in the United States. Shortly after his ordination, Bishop Shaheen was named (19641965) an Associate of St. Anthony Church of Danbury; Administrator (1965-1966) St. Anthony Church, Springfield, Massachusetts where he purchased a six acre plot for a new Church. He returned to St. Anthony, Danbury, (1966-1967) as Administrator and subsequently as Administrator, St. Raymond Church (1967-1967) in St. Louis, MO and Pastor (1967-2000). St. Raymond's had been without a resident priest for over twenty years. Under his leadership, St. Raymond's went from just a few faithful parishioners using a four-family apartment to a cathedral with hundreds of active families. There Fr. Shaheen organized and celebrated Maronite liturgies on a regular basis. He also developed newsletters, bulletins, and fliers and conducted a census to identify Maronites in the greater St. Louis area. Introducing spiritual and cultural programs, religious education classes, he hosted a National Apostolate of Maronites (NAM) Convention in 1970. Kicking off a fund drive for a new church in 1971, Fr. Shaheen and his faithful dedicated a new church in November 1975, a new rectory in February 1977, and dedicated a new parish center, The Cedars, in November 1979. On March 31, 1986, Fr. Shaheen was ordained a Chorbishop by Archbishop Zayek. Fr. Shaheen purchased additional property and buildings for future development as a Maronite retirement center and cultural center in 1991, and again hosted the National Apostolate of Maronites Convention in 1995. On December 5, 2000 Bishop Shaheen was appointed second Bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon by Pope John Paul II. He was ordained and enthroned as second Bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon in St Louis, MO at the Basilica of St. Louis by His Eminence, Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir. Bishop Shaheen was the first Maronite priest or bishop born in the United States. Pope Francis accepted his age-related resignation on July 10, 2013. Bishop Shaheen is survived by two brothers, William Shaheen and his wife Donna and John Shaheen and his wife Nancy; three nephews, David and his wife Theresa, Albert and Michael, a niece, Mary Elizabeth Kapp and her husband James, two grandnieces Aliya and Arya and many cousins and friends. In addition to his parents, Bishop Shaheen was predeceased by a brother, Richard Shaheen. Services: Visitation will be held at St. Raymond's Maronite Cathedral, 931 Lebanon Dr, 63104, on Wednesday August 16, 12 Noon until time of Funeral Mass at 7 pm. Interment, Monday August 21, in Danbury, CT. Masses or contributions to St. Raymond's Cathedral or Daughters of St. Paul greatly appreciated. A Service of KUTIS CITY CHAPEL, 2906 Gravois Ave., 63118.