Saint Peter's Maronite Parish Windsor

Msgr. Élie Zouein,Pastor
Rev. Msgr. Elie Zouein, Capt.CD
Saint Peter’s Parish Pastor
166 Tecumseh Road West
Windsor, Ontario Canada N8X 1E9
Office # (519) 973-7240,
Residence # (519) 973-7240
Cell # (226)348-4949
Fax # (519) 252-5238

St. Peter’s Maronite Church in Windsor

St. Peter’s Church, the oldest Maronite Catholic Church in Canada, recently celebrated its 75th anniversary.
Feb. 1924, the faith and generosity or the newly arrived Lebanese immigrants built St. Peter’s Maronite Church.
Msgr. Peter Farah, who arrived in Windsor from Hasroun, Lebanon, became the first pastor and spiritual director. He was granted permission by Bishop M.F. Fallon to exercise his ministry among the Lebanese people in Windsor and the London Diocese.

Over the coming years, the church was run by a succession of pastors and administrators including
Msgr. Peter Farah, Fr. Paul Carom, Fr. Elias Asmar, Fr Emmanuel Hanna, Fr. J. Helou (Order Antonine Maronite, OAM), Fr.Sylbanus Abou Jaoudy (OAM), Fr. G.L. Blonde, Msgr.J.J.White, Fr. Joseph Fares Risk, Fr. John Dahdah, (OAM),
Fr. John Sader (OAM) & his assistant Fr. Caesar Ashkar (OAM), Fr. Charbel Chidiac (OAM), Fr. George Abi Fadel (OAM),
Fr.Antoine Badr, Fr. Nohra Seif (OAM), Fr. Antoine Karam
& Fr. David Milkie, among others.

Prior to the establishment of the Canadian Maronite Diocese in September 1982, and the appointment of its first Bishop His Excellency Elias Shaheen, St. Peter’s church was under the jurisdiction of the London Diocese shepherded by five Latin bishops; Bishop M.F. Fallon, Bishop J.T. Kidd, Bishop J.C. Cody, Bishop G.E. Carter and the present Bishop J.M. Sherlock.

On May 1, 1990 Fr. Joseph Salame was appointed pastor at St. Peter’s Parish . Fr. Joseph was born in Beirut, Lebanon on April 2nd 1958. He attended the University of the Holy Spirit and graduated with a degree in Theology. His Excellency, Michael Doumith, ordained him priest, on September 16, 1984.
Fr. Joseph Came to Windsor after a very successful assignment as pastor of our Lady of Lebanon Church in Quebec City.

On December 04, 1994 Father Joseph Salame was elevated to the rank of Monsignor for his untiring service, his many accomplishments, and his love for his parish.

Msgr. Salame also serves the parish of St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church in London.

On October 18, 1992, Bishop George Abi Saber ordained Raymond Mady, a second-generation parishioner, Deacon.

Recently, under the capable direction of Msgr. Salame, St. Peter’s Church has acquired two additional properties, and has undergone major achievements in producing parking facilities to accommodate more than fifty automobiles.

July 24th, 2000 St. Peter’s Maronite Parish community of Windsor purchased St. Clare’s Church from the Diocese of London.
Included in the purchase, was the attached rectory surrounded by a parking area and the bishop’s residence.

The first mass in St. Peter’s new home was celebrated by Msgr. Joseph Salame on Dec. 17th 2000 with over one thousand of the faithful in attendance.

On Mar. 23rd 2001 Cardinal Nasrallah Peter Sfeir, the first Maronite Patriarch to visit Canada, will officially bless the new church, its parishioners and the whole community.