"We have come a long way from the house on Oak
Street"
Celebrating 100 Years
In 1902 the
first Melkite owned Church in the United States of America was founded. A large
house on Oak Street in Lawrence, Massachusetts became the refuge and sacred
location of worship for many Melkite immigrants seeking solace from "Ottoman
oppressive rule" in Syria and Lebanon. It was in 1905 that the remodeling was
completed and a formal dedication took place on the property.
Highlights in the
History of St. Joseph Parish
1896 the arrival of Fr. Joseph Simon B.S.O., the first Melkite
priest to labor in New England. 1901 the canonical erection of St. Joseph
Parish; purchase of property at 298 Oak St. for use as a church. 1951 the
cornerstone of the new Church laid by Archbishop Richard Cardinal Cushing of
Boston, and the dedication of the new Church in the presence of the Rt. Rev.
Archimandrite Nicholas Borkhoch, Superior General of the Basilian Salvatorian
Order. In 1954 the dedication of St. Basil Seminary in Methuen in the
territorial limits of St. Joseph Parish. 1955 the Golden Jubliee of
dedication of the first St. Joseph's Church , with his Beatitude Maximos IV,
Partriarch of Antioch and all The East, of Alexandria and Jerusalem, presiding
and officiating at a Pontifical Divine Liturgy with His Eminence the Archbishop
of Boston. 1969 the completion of the new Rectory, and dedication of the
Plains Community Center. 1976 Partriach Maximos V(Hakim) visited St. Joseph
Church. 1977 The Parish celebrates its Diamond Jubilee, and hosts the 18th
Annual National Melkite Convention. 1981 the completion of the Iconostasis
and Holy Icons, the foundation of Lazarus House. 2001 the first visit of the
new Patriarch, His Beatitude Gregory III (Laham) on May 29th. 2002 the second
visit of the Partriarch opening the ceremony for the Parishe's 100th
Anniversar
