EPARCHY OF SAINT MARON OF BROOKLYN
THE CHANCERY
109 Remsen Street
Brooklyn, New York 11201-4212
Tel: (718)-237-9913 Fax: (718) 243-0444
chancery@stmaron.org www.stmaron.org
22 Apr 2025
Prot. No. 268/2/25
Cir. 25-51
Reverend and Dear Monsignors and Fathers, Deacons and Subdeacons, Brothers and Sisters;
Bishop Gregory has asked me to send you the following statement which was issued by the Media Office of the Patriarchal See at Bkerke:
At the beginning of the celebration of the Holy Mass for the blessed Feast of the Resurrection at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 20, 2025, in the Church of the Resurrection at the Patriarchal See in Bkerke, in the presence of His Excellency the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, and his spouse, along with the faithful, His Beatitude the Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi suffered a hip fracture after tripping on his vestment while ascending to the altar.
At the conclusion of the Mass, His Beatitude was transferred to Hôtel-Dieu de France Hospital, where he underwent a successful surgical operation. Patriarch Al-Rahi expresses his gratitude to the hospital administration and the medical team for their care, and to the faithful and loved ones who prayed for him, visited, and called to check on him. He asks God to grant them all — and Lebanon — peace, comfort, relief from suffering, and an abundance of His blessed graces.
Bishop Gregory asks that we pray that our beloved Patriarch may soon return to his extraordinary service to the Maronite Church in the fullness of health.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Chorbishop Michae G. Thomas, JCD,
Vicar General