The Family of St. Sharbel, Ie

About

The Family of Saint Sharbel Ireland is a Catholic lay movement dedicated to deepening devotion to Saint Sharbel Makhlouf, a Maronite hermit and priest renowned for his miracles, holiness, and profound union with God. Rooted in the ancient spiritual traditions of Lebanon and planted in Irish soil, our mission is to ignite hearts across Ireland and the UK with the light of Saint Sharbel’s witness.

We are a growing spiritual family—lay people, religious, and clergy—who seek to follow Christ more closely through the example of Saint Sharbel. His life of silence, prayer, and total surrender to God inspires us to live with greater simplicity, faith, and trust.

Our Mission

Our mission is simple: To make Saint Sharbel known and loved, and to help others encounter Christ through his intercession.

Through a life of prayer and service, we:

Bring the relics of Saint Sharbel to parishes across Ireland and the UK, offering the faithful an opportunity to venerate the relics and receive healing graces.

Host public healing Masses, novenas, and prayer nights centered on the spirituality of Saint Sharbel.

Pray daily for the sick, the Church, and the world, trusting in Saint Sharbel’s powerful intercession.

Gather monthly for prayer, formation, and community, drawing strength from Scripture, the Eucharist, and the example of the saints.

We seek not only to honor a great saint—but to walk the same path of holiness he walked: one of silence, sacrifice, and deep intimacy with the Lord.​

The Family of Saint Sharbel is dedicated to the mission of evangelization by following Jesus Christ and helping those who are in need; whether financially, morally or spiritually.

History

The Family of Saint Sharbel came into being after its founder, Raymond Nader, underwent a mystical experience at the hermitage of Saints Peter and Paul in Annaya during the night of 9-10 November 1994. This experience left Raymond with a miraculous mark on his arm and in his heart that changed his life and the lives of others. 

After this experience, some people gathered to pray with Raymond Nader in several places, including Annaya, the number began to increase until it became a group, The Family of Saint Sharbel, on August 11, 1995. 

So far (2022), Raymond’s encounters with Saint Sharbel have been repeated 100 times. All of them occurred at Annaya in Lebanon except for two times at the church of Most Holy Trinity Monastery in the US. During these encounters, the mark gets renewed once or twice a year.  Raymond has so far received 45 messages, sixteen of them are currently published.