Preserving Heritage
Empowering the Maronite Community
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Our History
At the end of the XIX century, the Lebanese mountain was submitted to the Ottoman oppression and tyranny. To escape from a difficult life in a natural
hostile environment, many Maronites moved to Beirut in order to assure to their families a decent life.
With the aim of helping the most needy persons to face the difficulties of their new existence, distinguished persons from Beirut community founded in 1876 the Maronite Charity Association. In 1897, on the initiative of Mgr. Youssef EL-DEBS, Maronite archbishopric of Beirut, a group of benefactors among them Mr. Antoine EL-JALKH, Najib HOBEIKA and Antoine SHEHAIBAR undertook to restructure this Association giving it the name of Association of Brothers of the Poors. In 1933, the Association of Brothers of the Poors was endowed with new statutes and changed the name. From now on, it will be known under the name of Central Council of Maronite Societies.
The statutes of 1933 were foreseen in every parish of the Archdiocese of Beirut a society of parish charity which will group together into the Central Council of the Maronite Societies. With the expansion of the city, the number of parishes has increased from eight to fourteen and the number of the parish charity societies increased consequently. In proportion as new parishes were created, new charity societies were formed and were integrated the Council. Till today, the Council is formed from the following parish charity societies: Saint George, Saint Maron, Saint Elie, Saint Michel, Saint Joseph, Our-Lady of Deliverance, Saint John the Baptist, Our-Lady of Rosary, The Sacred Heart, Saint Anthony, Our-Lady of Donation, Saint Sharbel, Saint Peter & Paul and Saint Anthony the Great.
His Grace, Archbishop of Beirut and founder of the CCM, Youssef El Debs
Antoine Bey Chehaibar
Nejib Habib Hobeika
Antoine Ibrahim El Jalkh
National Commitment
The Maronite vision, aspiring for a better tomorrow and preserving national unity and the principle of coexistence, remains the council’s constant concern in order to achieve a new leap forward on all levels—levels for which the Maronite community has paid dearly with its lives, livelihoods, and through massive emigration across the world.
The council’s philosophy is founded on the belief that there are no rich and poor, but rather one shared wealth: the bond that unites the sons and daughters of the Maronite community with the other Lebanese communities in one crucible. This bond consecrates the principle that the wealthy support those in need, and that the poor are aided to secure a life of dignity and honor in a country that respects human rights and sanctifies the principle of existence based on shared life and a common destiny.
In its upward steps, the council draws inspiration from the apostolic recommendations launched by the late Pope John Paul II in his apostolic exhortation, when he defined Lebanon’s role as a “message.”