NAM's history is directly related to the immigration of Lebanese Maronites to the United States in the late 1800's in their efforts to attain religious, political and economic freedom. Records show that Antun al-Bish'alani of Salima was the first Lebanese Maronite to arrive in the New World; he landed in Boston in 1854. The wave of immigration increased from the 1880's through 1914, with major numbers of Maronites (almost one-fourth of the population) emigrating from Lebanon between 1900 and 1914. These early immigrants tended to live in close proximity to family and to other Lebanese from the same villages but, after adapting to the social and economic conditions and with increased affluence, they began to settle in a more widely disbursed manner. At present, there are Maronites found in every part of the United States. They became truly American, while proudly retaining their cultural and religious heritages even though they initially attended nearby Latin Catholic schools and churches. For most, the Latin Catholic Church was a temporary "convenience" since they ultimately wanted to have their own Maronite Church and priest, since they missed the fullness of the Syriac-Maronite spirituality. Priests from their home villages were summoned and a sporadic development of Maronite Churches began, with the oldest recorded established parish being St. Joseph Maronite Church in New York City in 1891. Our Lady of the Cedars of Lebanon in Boston Massachusetts, and St. Maron in Philadelphia, both had missions in 1891, but did not have established parishes until 1899. This emigration to North America was duplicated throughout the world with Lebanese Maronites settling in South America, (Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela), Mexico, Canada, Australia, Europe and South Africa.

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These early immigrants found strength and support in each other, almost always living in tight-knit communities and often with multiple families in one house. Their love of their Maronite Faith and their desire to preserve it for their children inspired them to thrive spiritually and financially and allowed them to establish their own Maronite Churches - a true testament to and anticipation of the strong Maronite presence and spirit that we enjoy today. From 1891 through the 1960s over forty Maronite communities were established, mostly in the Northeast and the Midwest where they were under the jurisdiction of the local Latin Bishops. Often, before a church could be built, these communities developed local clubs or organizations with titles like "The Lebanese and Syrian Club," "The Cedars of Lebanon," etc. With the development of more of these clubs, which eventually led to the establishment of an increased number of Maronite Churches throughout the USA, by the late 1950's and early 1960's it became apparent that there was a need to establish a way to organize and unite these Maronites for greater communication and development. In addition, with an increased number of Maronite Churches and priests, the idea of procuring a bishop for the USA began to gain momentum.

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One of the first developments which signaled the initial organizing and unifying of the Maronites in the USA was the establishment in 1961 of a Maronite Seminary in Washington, DC. With the foresight of several clergy throughout the USA and a small group of lay people, particularly in the Washington area, this important institution became the catalyst for further development and progress which eventually led to more organizing and unifying of the Maronites.

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Former president, and the sole surviving original founder of NAM, Theodore Tahan, provides some valuable information about these early days. He recalls that Richard Shadyac and he came to Washington, DC as soldiers in the early 1960s. Ed Soma also came to Washington and they soon bonded like brothers. They were members of Latin parishes, however when the Maronite Seminary opened, they began to visit it and became acquainted with the rector, Msgr. Elias El Hayek, and several of the young seminarians. They eventually "fell in love" with the entire community and as he notes, "...for the first time in our lives we became truly committed Maronites....From that point on we did everything we could to assure the success of the seminary and the seminarians." Eventually a parish community developed around these seminarians and others in the Washington community. As a Federal Administrative Law Judge, Ted traveled extensively throughout the USA and soon found Maronite Churches in his travels and attended Sunday Maronite liturgies in many different cities. Dick Shadyac and Ed Soma also did a lot of traveling and the three of them would return to Washington and compare notes. They had interacted with Maronites in these cities and realized that there was some interest among the local parishioners to know more about their sister parishes and to connect with them. Richard, Ted and Ed asked themselves an inspiring question: "What would our Maronite Community be like if the 'Anthony Abrahams' of Miami met the 'Woody Woodrows' and the 'Betty Dawoods' of Detroit; and the fathers and mothers in Portland, Oregon met the fathers and mothers in Boston?" This led them to pondering the concept of a national Maronite Diocese, with a Maronite Bishop and an organization to bring it all together. They approached Msgr. El Hayek and asked him if this would benefit or hurt the current structure. His response was that it would greatly benefit the Maronite Church in America. It was then that they questioned, "If not us, then who? - And if not now, then when?"

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They proceeded to organize an association and to establish by-laws because they didn't want to approach people without a structure in place. They enlisted the expertise of their Melkite friend, Baddira "Bud" Rashid, the number three person in the Justice Department, who provided invaluable assistance with these original by-laws.

They established this on their own and eventually others like Dr. Joseph Soma (Ed's brother) from Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Dr. Bill Dreibe joined the cause and then Fr. Semaan Farris was enlisted to assist as a representative of the clergy. Ted points out that this was solely an initiative of the laity - and mostly by these few men - with some guidance and advice from Msgr. El Hayek and Fr. Farris. As he says, "It was just that simple." And he asks all of us to ponder this question, "Would you have known each other if it had not been for this organization?"

It is important to note that, while Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary was not the first seminary to be established outside of Lebanon at the time, it currently holds the distinction of being the only such seminary in the diaspora. There was a Maronite seminary in Rome - The Maronite College of Rome - which dates back to the late 16th Century. Its presence in Rome demonstrates the Maronites' long-standing allegiance to the Roman Catholic (Latin) Church. (This institution was closed and reopened over the centuries; it was recently reopened and serves as a residence for Maronite priests studying in Rome.) Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary in Washington, DC was dedicated by Patriarch Paul Peter Cardinal Meouchi on August 26, 1962.

These were exciting and interesting times throughout America and especially in the Catholic Church. Vatican II (1962-1965) presented a spirit of renewal and reform for the Church, which gave impetus to many changes and controversies. This atmosphere of change and renewal certainly had its effect on the Maronite Church in the USA. (i.e. the authentic Maronite Church that has evolved uniquely in the USA, welcoming several ethnic and non-Catholic converts to its deep spirituality and rich traditions.)

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The seminary in Washington, DC became the focal point for the Maronites of that area, since a Maronite Church was not yet established. The first seminarian to complete his studies there was Robert Shaheen who was to be ordained to Holy Priesthood in 1964. The community wanted the ordination to take place in Washington, by a Maronite Bishop; because Bishop Francis Zayek of Brazil was available, funds were raised to cover his transportation and lodging expenses. This was probably the first concerted effort of financial support by this early group of laity, which eventually developed into the National Association of Maronites. Their first challenge was met by providing the resources to bring Bishop Zayek from Brazil and on May 2, 1964, Rev. Robert Shaheen, the first American-born Maronite priest, was ordained at the first national gathering of Maronites in the United States, which became the inaugural NAM Convention in Washington, DC.

The profound significance of these events; bringing Bishop Zayek from Brazil and providing the necessary funding, ordaining the first American-born Maronite priest, organizing such a national gathering - was not evident at the time, not even to those who were the passionate facilitators, but as we view these events in a historical perspective, we are inspired and impressed. It was an awesome beginning, created by the recognition of an immediate need, a vision for the future, and the determination, dedication and actions of a small group of clergy and laity; and so the concept and foundation of NAM was established. It's interesting to note the pure coincidence of Bishop Zayek's presence at this first NAM gathering; it was not known at that point that he would be assigned as the first Maronite Exarch for the United States just two years later.

Following these successful events of 1963-1964 and the official establishment of this association, proper organizing and communicating needed to be addressed. The primary goal was to unify the Maronites in the United States, and without a bishop this presented some challenges. One solution was to establish regular gatherings of Maronites from the various churches and communities - clergy and laity coming together to meet and work together in the hopes of procuring a Maronite bishop for the USA. NAM became the vehicle and the hope to gather, unify and speak for the Maronites in America and to take a proactive role in appealing to Bkerke and Rome for a Maronite Bishop.

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Recognizing the importance of unifying the Maronites of America, and seeing the effectiveness of an annual national gathering to achieve this goal, NAM furthered the concept of an annual convention to be hosted by an existing Maronite Community. The first convention in Washington in 1964 set the precedence for these annual gatherings. This initial gathering of the Maronites of America had Bishop Zayek as a special guest with Danny Thomas as the guest speaker. The presence of Danny Thomas at this first NAM gathering is of special significance, which no one could foresee at the time. However as we look back on subsequent developments, it was somewhat providential that so many key NAM figures would later become major participants and leaders of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital (ALSAC), founded by Danny Thomas. There was a natural interaction between the early ALSAC participants and the organizers of NAM. NAM's first president, Richard Shadyac later became the CEO of ALSAC from 1992 - 2005, and Dr. Edward Soma became an active member of their Board of Directors, as did Baddia "Bud" Rashid, who served as CEO of ALSAC from 1976 - 1992. In addition, over the years, several key Maronites became involved in ALSAC/St. Jude's, being inspired by the above early leaders of NAM. Some of them volunteered for St. Jude's and some became employees, but all recognized the significance of the important connection of service and commitment between these organizations.

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The significance of this first convention cannot be over emphasized. It was the first time a formal, concerted effort to organize and unify the Maronites of the USA had effectively been produced and it heralded a series of subsequent annual gatherings, culminating in our celebration this year of our 50th Annual Convention. More importantly, these gatherings provided NAM with the vehicle that helped the organization grow, develop, communicate and evangelize its mission and message, which has become the epitomy of NAM's service to the Church and the cooperation between clergy and laity in that service. There is no similar example of such cooperation and service anywhere in the global Maronite World.

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With the establishment of this association of Maronites in the USA, its most imminent mission was to procure a Maronite bishop to shepherd and oversee the growing number of clergy and laity in the various Maronite parishes in the USA. While NAM may have been an initial catalyst for this accomplishment, there was a movement at that time in Rome to appoint several Eastern bishops for the United States and the Maronite Church was included in that movement.

On March 9, 1966, Bishop Francis M. Zayek was appointed as the first Maronite Apostolic Exarch for the new Exarchate established in the United States. He was installed as Exarch in Detroit, Michigan on June 11, 1966, and five years later on November 29, 1971 was appointed the first bishop of the Diocese of St. Maron, with his installation following on June 4, 1972. This installation was overseen by Rev. Semaan Farris and Atty. Richard Shadyac (NAM's first president) and heralded a further collaboration between clergy and laity which became the basis of NAM's development and success. Bishop Zayek presided over his first NAM Convention (its third annual) in Scranton, Pennsylvania in July of 1966. At this time, there were 44 parishes in the eparchy, which had grown from 37 parishes back in 1924.

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The appointment of Bishop Zayek as the first shepherd for the Maronites of the USA was undoubtedly a major turning point in the history of the Maronite Church in America and of NAM. While it was a welcomed and long anticipated appointment, it brought with it some serious issues and adjustments. Up to this point in time, the Maronite communities in the USA were basically self-governing entities, and were under the shepherding of their local Latin bishops, but that was mostly a clerical formality - the Maronite pastors were not beholden directly to their respective Latin bishops and basically operated their communities as they wished. We are gratefully indebted to these local Latin bishops, who provided a great service to this burgeoning Maronite Church of America; without their oversight and guidance, however limited, our early parishes would not have flourished as they did. While our early Maronite pastors were shepherded by their local Latin bishops, they were ultimately responsible to our Maronite Patriarch, but his direct and active shepherding in the USA was somewhat limited. With the appointment of an Exarch to whom they were directly responsible and answerable, this presented a major adjustment for our clergy and laity alike. As we can imagine, this was not a period of easy transition, and the immense challenge and burden on Bishop Zayek must have been daunting. His dedicated service in these early years (and the subsequent three decades) cannot be underestimated and deserves our fullest admiration and appreciation.

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This period of the mid 1960's was infused with the spirit of the Vatican II Council (1962-1965), which promoted a greater involvement of the laity and a more effective cooperation between clergy and laity as noted above. This new concept added increased angst within the Church and it was just beginning to affect the Maronites in the USA. Couple this with the establishment of our new exarchate and our new exarch and it is understandable that the early years of NAM were fraught with some major growing pains and conflicts. In retrospect we can see that the establishment of NAM prior to the appointment of an exarch may have been the source of some of the initial issues. Consider this: the Maronite clergy of the United States were in charge of their own entities; Vatican II was promoting more involvement of the laity; NAM assumed a leadership role on a national level; a new exarch was appointed and then encountered numerous pastors who were leading their own communities without hierarchal oversight, and he also inherited a national organization of laity who were trying to oversee and organize the Maronites. It's no doubt that Bishop Zayek and some leading clergy became wary of this group of laity, despite their desire to serve the Church, because they viewed them initially as a threat to their hierarchy and leadership. Likewise many of the pastors may have had mixed feelings about having a bishop to oversee them. It was a perilous time of adjustment, understanding, cooperation, communication and acceptance of change.

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Consequently, the first convention where Bishop Zayek presided - in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1966 - proved to be challenging for all involved. The clergy were concerned that the laity was "taking over" and Bishop Zayek, being new to this community and the concept of NAM, was influenced by some of the clergy and came close to disbanding NAM at that point. However, after some deliberation and consultation, clearer heads prevailed and the concept of cooperation and interaction took precedence at this crucial point in time. This was not the final resolution of the issue, because there were subsequent similar issues and concerns on part of the clergy regarding the leadership of the laity in years to come.

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Of significant importance at this time was another movement by some to keep NAM as a separate, secular organization, without any clergy or Church involvement. After some prolonged debates and highly vocal arguments over some time, future president, Ken Nasif, introduced a motion at the General Assembly of the convention in Cleveland, Ohio in 1969 to change the name to the National APOSTOLATE of Maronites, thus ensuring its existence as an organization under the auspices of the Maronite Church, with direct service and allegiance to that Church and its bishop, and without any secular or political agendas. The motion carried with strong support and from that point on, the apostolate began moving forward as an arm of the bishop and under the mantle of the Maronite Church. NAM now focused more on promoting Maronite Spirituality and our rich Syriac heritage, and increased religious education while providing an annual "family reunion" with social gatherings at its annual conventions. The fact that NAM withstood all of these various "growing pains" and conflicts (and many future ones as well) is a testament to its strength, validity and purpose within the Maronite Church in the USA.

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During these early years the original organizers had the foresight to create a meaningful logo for NAM. During the presidency of Lee Kanaan (1967-1968) several logos were presented to the board for consideration. The logo that was selected was created by Robert Ward, a commercial graphic artist in the Boston area, who was the uncle of Ken Nasif (board member and future NAM President), who asked him to design the logo in anticipation of attending a board meeting in Detroit, Michigan. This logo, with its impressive cross and flame, has remained the image of NAM since that time.

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It was during this same time, with the many challenges confronting these formative years, the leaders had the vision to focus on the spiritual aspects of the apostolate and to recognize the importance of instilling that into our youth as future leaders of the Church. Board member Ken Nasif (with President Lee Kanaan and the NAM Board) discussed with Bishop Zayek the concept of establishing a Maronite Youth Organization (MYO). Bishop Zayek emphatically embraced this idea, which heralded the beginning of this important youth movement that has grown in numbers and importance over the past four decades. Within a year, three regional youth workshops were established, with the collaboration of NAM members and Rev. Ken Michael and Msgr. George Webby - yet another NAM collaboration between clergy and laity.

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In 1969 at the convention in Cleveland, Ohio Bishop Zayek asked NAM to undertake a census of Maronites in the United States. NAM readily accepted this challenge and in 1970 a very active member of St. Maron's Parish in Cleveland, Ohio and a dedicated NAM member, Florence John, was appointed to chair this project. Florence diligently recorded all the names of the parish lists provided by the pastors and completed the first official census of Maronites in the USA in 1971. This was a major accomplishment and a significant service provided by Florence for NAM and the Maronite Church in the USA.

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The 1970s saw NAM's further solidification of goals and purposes, as it was guided by a volunteer board of directors who embraced the spirit and dedication displayed by the early founders. It was during this decade that NAM was challenged to grow in yet another way, with the war that broke out in Lebanon. As Dr. Elias Saadi recounts, shortly after he became president, that NAM and the Maronites of the United States "...were besieged by the Maronites and Christians of Lebanon for help." As the only official Maronite organization of its kind, NAM took on the leadership of helping the Maronites of Lebanon. Bishop Zayek and NAM collaborated in this effort and NAM held fundraisers throughout the country, including the memorable "mjaddra dinners" which began in Youngstown, Ohio by Msgr. Dominic Ashkar. Ultimately over $400,000.00 was dispensed to Lebanon under Bishop Zayek's authorization, and NAM also sponsored drives and collections of clothing and medical supplies as part of this effort.

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As the 1970s brought more growth and advancements for NAM, the board established an office at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in North Jackson, Ohio (dedicated in August, 1965), and hired Ms. Terry Thomas as its first secretary. Terry was a member of St. Maron Church in Youngstown and operated the NAM Office on a part-time basis for approximately three years from 1973 - 1976. A printing machine was purchased and a NAM Newsletter was established under the printing expertise of Msgr. Michael Kail - rector of the Shrine, with editing by past president, James Elasmar. Eventually Rev. Joe Amar took over as editor and a new newsletter was produced in color - "The Maronite Way" in the late 1970s on the occasion of the canonization of St. Sharbel Makhlouf.

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During this decade of growth the concept of regional conventions developed and provided informational and social events for the parishes and faithful of the area. They continued to grow and in turn helped the growth and development of the national conventions.

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Another milestone of the 1970s was the decision to accept the martyred Massabki Brothers as the patrons of the laity and as NAM's official patrons. With the approval of Bishop Zayek, the Massabki Awards - Silver for the parish level and Gold for the national level - were established in 1973 at the NAM Board meeting in Williamsville, New York during the presidency of Dr. Elias Saadi, who initiated this project and worked with a committee of clergy and laity on the project's details. Bishop Zayek appointed Msgr. Norman Ferris (Fall River, Massachusetts) to oversee this project in conjunction with NAM. (See an informative article by Dr. Elias Saadi on the establishment of the Massabki Award along with the complete list of Massabki Award winners in this journal.)

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As the second decade of NAM unfolded, the annual conventions became more popular and took on the nature of a "family reunion" as they gathered laity and clergy from all over the USA for spiritual renewal, education and socializing. As the apostolate grew, the conventions became a larger part of its agenda and focus, and certainly the convention profits became an important contributor to its operating budget. These annual gatherings began to offer more educational opportunities in Maronite history, spirituality and liturgy - especially in the latter part of the decade, as liturgical reform began to take place, creating increased interest in the richness of the liturgy. The then Rev. Hector Doueihi, (later Bishop Stephen Doueihi) along with several younger Maronite priests, led the forefront of this reform, which energized the clergy and laity and created a spirit of general renewal throughout the Maronite Church in the USA. NAM responded to this renewal through its conventions and related programs and presentations, which expanded its scope of service to the Church.

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As the NAM Conventions grew and became the major assembly for the Maronite Church, and as parishes, missions and clergy numbers increased, the eparchial leadership decided to schedule the annual clergy conference of the Eparchy in conjunction with the convention, thus allowing the clergy and laity to come together with their bishop and hierarchy for the various aspects of the convention. This greatly enhanced the interaction between our clergy and laity and further endorsed our joint mission as the Maronites of America continued to grow and flourish. In addition, with the apostolate's growing popularity more key people became involved, which led to the refinement of its board of directors, the revision of bylaws and regularly scheduled board meetings. The conventions were scheduled annually each summer (see the list of a half century of conventions published in this journal), and board meetings continued three or four times a year, including one during the annual convention.

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After the establishment of our eparchy in Detroit, a little more than a decade later, in 1977, the See of the Eparchy of St. Maron was moved to Brooklyn, New York; at that time the number of Maronite Churches had grown to about 50 with a few new mission communities being developed.

With the growth of the Maronite Church in America, proper Maronite religious education became an important necessity. In the late 1970s, Msgr. Dominic Ashkar and colleagues prepared the beginnings of a Maronite catechism entitled "The Faith of the Mountain." Its first printing occurred in 1984, and NAM proudly offered some financial support for this inaugural catechism for the Maronite world. Subsequent revisions and printings continue to provide the important catechesis necessary for the increasing laity (youth and adults) of the Maronite Church in the USA, and NAM has responded with assistance as needed.

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NAM's influence and reputation began to be noticed and recognized, particularly by the World Maronite Union (WMU). NAM was represented by then president, Peter Webby, at its Congress held in Mexico City in the fall of 1979. The following year, in 1980, NAM's annual convention was moved from the summer to October and was held in conjunction with the WMU in New York City. It presented a challenging interaction for the apostolate in the international Maronite world and opened several new issues and concerns as NAM stretched its "international wings." Future international involvements included two International Maronite Congresses in Los Angeles; the first in 1994 and the second in 2002. Both had NAM representatives in attendance and three key IMC organizers were Drs. Elias Saadi and Elias Ayoub, and Ed Salem. NAM continued to be recognized in international Maronite circles.

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As the Maronite Church grew in new and exciting ways, it was apparent that additional financial support would be necessary, particularly with the increase in priestly vocations at the seminary. Consequently, a second lay apostolate was created. The Order of Saint Sharbel was founded (just three years after St. Sharbel's canonization in 1977) to provide spiritual and financial support for the seminary and seminarians.

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While a second apostolate was born, our older apostolate began to experience what might be termed "burn out." At the outset of the 1980s the active participation and regular attendance by board members was dwindling, consequently the meetings were not very productive and most board members were not following up on their various tasks between meetings. The leadership of the apostolate was "spinning its wheels" and becoming stagnant and apathetic. In 1981 James Elasmar was serving as president, having served in that capacity several years before, he had been called upon to serve once again because others were not willing to accept the position. Frustrated and concerned, he came to the convention in San Antonio, Texas in 1981 desperately seeking someone to take on the presidency. He approached Edward Shiner, a relatively new board member since 1979, but Shiner was not prepared to accept that position. The chairperson of the convention was Solomon Karam, a dedicated Maronite parishioner of the convention host parish of St. George. Karam had worked tirelessly in the months prior to the convention, traveling throughout the USA to promote the convention, hoping to improve the expected low attendance. No doubt, the raging war in Lebanon had taken its toll on the developing spirit of the American Maronites and NAM, which created somewhat of a "slump" in the apostolate.

After having met Karam at the convention, and being impressed with his enthusiasm and dedication, Shiner suggested to Elasmar that Karam could be a possible candidate for president, since he had been nominated to run for the board of directors. At the General Assembly in 1981, Solomon Karam was elected president and this proved to be another major turning point in NAM's development. He followed the example of previous presidents and brought a new enthusiasm and inspiration to the board, recruited new and younger members, improved the organization of the meetings, traveled extensively visiting our parishes and enlisting the support of our pastors, focused on better communication with the laity and clergy, and, in general, rejuvenated the spirit of the apostolate.

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Soon, due to Karam's vision and persistence, (he had a special "talent" for convincing people) the board agreed to establish a national office for NAM, despite serious concerns about financial resources to fund it. It was a major leap of faith by the board, with even Bishop Zayek expressing his concerns, but he offered NAM complimentary office space in the Maronite Chancery in Brooklyn. At the 1983 convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, Edward Shiner accepted the board's proposal to serve as full-time Secretary General of NAM (later changed to Executive Director) and to establish the national office in Brooklyn, NY. NAM's National Office officially opened in October of 1983 in the Maronite Chancery. It was a risky venture since the total assets of NAM were a filing cabinet and a mimeograph machine (from the former office at the Shrine) and approximately $14,000 in profits from the St. Paul convention. It was a time of rejuvenation, major transition and uncertainty - but clearly another milestone in NAM's history.

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Because it was obvious that NAM's growth had to come from the grassroots level, namely the parishes, the importance of parish delegates became more significant. In order to properly oversee and nurture these delegates, regional vice-presidents were established and their positions and participation on the board of directors increased. And the regional conventions, established early on in NAM's development, now became even more crucial and continue to bring NAM and its programs to many who may not be able to attend the national conventions.

With these new developments came increased growth and participation, particularly in the national conventions. The Secretary General also served as the Convention Coordinator, interacting more directly on the planning and execution of the event with the local convention committee. As the conventions grew and became more organized and complex, it was apparent that the national office should become the center of record keeping of registrations and financial records in order to maintain an ongoing, consistent history for future planning. Following the 1986 convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania a revision of convention guidelines was undertaken and in 1987 it was presented to Bishop Zayek for his approval and officially went into effect at the 1988 convention in Richmond, VA. All registrations and finances would be computerized and maintained in the NAM Office, which allowed NAM to have a clearer view of the various aspects of the convention and, more importantly, allowed it to maintain accurate and detailed records of registrations, ad book data, finances, and various demographics from year to year which improved the planning and organizing of future conventions. This system continues to be in effect to the present day.

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In 1994, the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles was established for the Midwest and Western United States and was headed by Bishop John G. Chedid. The creation of this new eparchy created new challenges for the apostolate; its agenda now had to be acclimated to the service of two eparchies headed by two different bishops. This was a major change, not only for NAM's leadership, but also for the clergy and laity of the USA, and presented some key issues, the least of which was the possible establishment of separate apostolates to serve each eparchy. It was apparent that this concept was not popular, especially with NAM's leadership, as well as with a cross-section of laity and clergy, including the bishop of the new eparchy, Bishop John Chedid, and so it never materialized. With two bishops overseeing the Maronites of the USA, it was decided that each should have its representative on the NAM Board, so for the first time in its history, NAM had two spiritual directors serving as NAM liaisons to their respective bishops. While the creation of a second eparchy reflected the growth of the Maronite Church in the USA, there was some resistance to this growth and its implied separation based on the fears of division and its effect on the unity that NAM had been striving for and achieving for three decades. The clergy also had some concerns, since they too were being divided into separate eparchies.

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During the 1990s NAM's convention attendance soared, with some conventions approaching 800-900 registrants. The mechanics of the convention and the communication and promotion of its programs took on new and better techniques. The computerization of registration and program book sales at the NAM Office, allowed for improved communications from year to year, and resulted in better responses to pre-registrations in advance of the convention. Consequently the convention planning greatly improved and its appeal continued to grow, further increasing attendance and general approval from Maronites in the USA and beyond. The annual convention now became an even more significant percentage of NAM's annual budget.

In the 1990s NAM once again acknowledged its roots in the mother country of our Maronite Church and embarked on a new program that foreshadowed the current environmental movement of the 21st Century. A memorial cedar tree program was established under the guidance of Rosanne Solomon (future president of NAM and the Order of St. Sharbel), who connected NAM with the International Committee for the Safeguarding of the Cedar Tree, which developed a reforestation program for Lebanon's cedars with sponsorship provided by the Yves Rocher Foundation. In 1993 Rosanne attended the ceremony of tree planting in Lebanon and in 1994 NAM erected a memorial cedar tree wall in the Arz al Rab area near Bcharre. Engraved "leaves" were placed on this tree representing memorial remembrances by NAM members and others.

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Over the decades, our Maronite youth took on an increased focus and attention as everyone recognized their significance for the future of the Church. Since its beginnings back in the late 1960s, with the initial regional youth gatherings, the MYO then began to reach out nationally and, under the guidance of Msgr. Dominic Ashkar and Fr. Ron Beshara, the first official national gathering of the MYO was held in an old barn at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in North Jackson, Ohio in 1969. This grew into an annual MYO five-day summer workshop that continues to this day. Eventually, the MYO membership was more clearly defined for ages 13 to 18 and it became an adjunct part of NAM's agenda with an MYO liaison added to the board of directors. In addition NAM began to offer support, in various ways, to these summer youth workshops.

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In conjunction with NAM's support of the MYO movement, in 1995 NAM instituted the "Faith of the Mountain Award," similar to the Silver Massabki Award, but specifically for an outstanding MYO member in each parish. As a further way of supporting our youth, in 1988 NAM instituted an MYO Scholarship given annually to two recipients each year. The NAM MYO scholarship fund was begun by several key NAM supporters, spearheaded by the late John A. Solomon and the late Albert G. Albert (NAM's historian for several years.) This scholarship eventually was named The John A. Solomon Memorial Scholarship, following his untimely death in 2001. In 1993, the late Louis Paul Kassouf established an endowment for the Naomi and Paul Kassouf Scholarship and the first awards were given in 2000. In 2005, the Thomas and Jennie Ayoub Scholarship was added, providing five NAM scholarships annually. Most recently, in 2010, twenty two scholarships for one semester in Lebanon were offered by Notre Dame University of the Mariamite Order, and the University of the Holy Spirit at Kaslik, of the Maronite Lebanese Order. Another indication of NAM's continued connection to our mother country and its international influence.

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NAM once again was launched on to the international Maronite stage in 1996 when the Holy Father convened the Papal Synod for Lebanon. Archbishop Zayek appointed NAM President, John Solomon, to represent the apostolate and the Maronite laity of the United States at this historic convocation; another sign of NAM's growing stature beyond the American borders.

In mid-1990 a new challenge was presented for NAM. Since the establishment of the NAM Office in 1983, it had been housed in the Maronite Chancery in Brooklyn. In 1994 the Eparchy of St. Maron decided to move its chancery to another facility on Staten Island (a New York City borough further to the west of Brooklyn.) NAM was faced with the task of finding its own office space and, more significantly, of funding a monthly rental fee - a completely new concept in NAM's history, since it had been operating rent-free at the chancery for eleven years. After a prolonged search, a basement studio apartment near the chancery was found, and the NAM Office moved to this new space and began paying monthly rent. This was a momentous move for NAM further establishing its growth and independence as it embarked on its fourth decade.

As the 1990s unfolded, the first Maronite Bishop of the USA reached retirement age. After 30 years as the head of the Eparchy of St. Maron, and having accomplished monumental growth, organizationally, administratively and liturgically, Bishop Francis Zayek submitted his retirement, which was subsequently accepted by the Holy Father, who appointed Chorbishop Hector Doueihi as his successor. Bishop Stephen Hector Doueihi was ordained to the episcopacy in Lebanon on January 11, 1997, and was installed as the second bishop for the Eparchy of St. Maron in Brooklyn, New York on February 5, 1997.

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Because Bishop Doueihi had been a major proponent of NAM and the "American Maronite experience," since he came to the USA in the 1970s, (see his document, "A Maronite Book for America," published in this journal) his appointment was an encouraging and uplifting signal that the interaction and cooperation which NAM had experienced with Bishop Zayek would be continued seamlessly; the retirement of NAM's first bishop would have little consequence on its growth and development and, in some ways, energized it in new ways.

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Bishop Doueihi reemphasized his strong support and commitment to NAM when, shortly after he became head of the Eparchy of St. Maron, he offered to host the NAM Office in the eparchy's chancery on Staten Island. After some review and discussion, for various logistical reasons, the NAM Board chose to keep the office in Brooklyn and maintain it independently. Eventually, Bishop Doueihi made the wise and momentous decision to relocate the chancery to the complex of The Cathedral of Our Lady of Lebanon in Brooklyn Heights. After extensive construction and renovation, the new Chancery opened in 2000. It was named in honor of Archbishop Francis Zayek and was dedicated on March 11, 2001 by our Patriarch, Nasrallah Peter Sfeir.

Shortly afterwards, Bishop Doueihi once again offered NAM office space in this new chancery, but once again the NAM Board decided to maintain its independent office.

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The beginning of the new Millennium and the decade of the 2000s presented several key developments for the Maronite Church in the USA and for NAM. At the urging of Bishop Doueihi and with the enthusiastic support of the parish of Our Lady of Lebanon in Washington, DC, the 2000 convention was held in the city where NAM had its beginnings almost four decades earlier. Chorbishop Dominic Ashkar, host pastor, thoroughly embraced the significance of this occasion and selected Dr. Edward Soma, one of the original founders of NAM and the Washington parish, to serve as chairperson. NAM's first president, Dick Shadyac, also served as a key figure on the committee. NAM had returned "home" as the Maronite Church in the USA embarked on the new Millennium. Appropriately, one of the main presentations at the 2000 convention was titled "Back to the Future, How Far We have Come in a Generation" by Father Anthony Salim.

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In 2001 the Holy Father accepted the retirement of Bishop John Chedid and appointed Chorbishop Robert Shaheen as the new bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon. Bishop Shaheen was ordained to the Episcopacy on February 15, 2001 and became the first American-born Maronite Bishop in the Maronite World. The significance of this event was not lost on the Maronite Church of the USA; it was a momentous occasion that further inspired the Maronites of America with pride and hope. Bishop Shaheen's appointment had a special poignancy for NAM, since its beginnings were so aligned with his priestly ordination, as the first American-born Maronite priest, almost four decades earlier at NAM's first convention in 1964.

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At the outset of this new millennium, NAM once again became an important part of the international Maronite world when Patriarch Sfeir announced the Patriarchal Synod for Lebanon to be convened in 2003. Bishop Doueihi asked NAM to assist in the printing of all the important documents that reflected the present, past and future of the Maronite Church in the USA, as presented at this historic synod. NAM accepted this challenge and provided the funding for the printing and distribution of these documents. In addition, Bishop Doueihi appointed key NAM leaders, Rosanne Solomon and Anthony Budway as representatives of the Eparchy of St. Maron, and Bishop Shaheen appointed Subdeacon Louis Peters and Nina Bouhasin as representatives of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon. They all attended sessions of this synod in 2003 and again in 2004 along with our bishops and several key clergy from both eparchies. This collaboration of clergy and laity marked another historic moment for the Maronites of the USA, as they made a revolutionary impact on this Papal gathering of Maronites.

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NAM's leaders were always aware of the importance of vocations to the priesthood and religious, and often promoted this important need in cooperation with our clergy. At the start of this new millennium, they took a more proactive role in increasing the awareness of the need for vocations, and instituted the NAM Vocation Awareness Contest for religious education students throughout both eparchies. The program continues to flourish today with more students participating annually, submitting drawings and essays based on themes presented by the contest committee. Winners are selected in several grade categories and NAM provides multiple prizes annually. Today this program has been dedicated to the memory of the Bishop John Chedid.

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In 2003 The Holy Father accepted the retirement of Bishop Doueihi and on January 10, 2004, Chorbishop Gregory Mansour, Vicar General of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, was named the new bishop for the Eparchy of St. Maron. On the Feast of St. John Maron, March 2, 2004, Bishop Gregory John Mansour was ordained to the episcopacy in Lebanon by Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Sfeir and was enthroned in Brooklyn at Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral on April 28, 2004. Now the two eparchies of the Maronite Church of the United States were headed by American-born Maronite Bishops; a significant development and a moment of pride for everyone, but especially for NAM and its founders and leaders, who strived so diligently to establish the organization in order to procure a bishop for America. Another milestone had been achieved for NAM and the Maronite Church in the USA.

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The conventions were witnessing an increasing number of young adults attending the conventions, this group required more programs to target their age group, which led to the first town hall meeting with the Bishops at the convention in Brooklyn in 2003. A new committee was formed on the board for the Maronite Young Adults which was led by Mike J. Naber, and included future board members Tommy Tedros and Mike Macary. The committee put together the first MYA schedule of events at the 2004 convention in Orlando as well as supporting local young adults organizations at the parish level. The Bishops asked Msgr. David George, and Rev. Andre Mhanna, to be the Spiritual Directors for this committee and write the formation of a national organization for the young adults. After many meetings that later included Rev. Elie Mikhael, a new national By Laws were written and a new organization named the Maronite Young Adults (MYA) was established in 2006. The MYA became an independent organization within both Eparchies to care for the many chapters across the country.

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In the fall of 2003 Edward Shiner, Executive Director of NAM, requested that the board find a replacement for him by the fall of 2005. Shiner felt that it was time for him to move on and explore a different career. More importantly, he believed that new leadership in the NAM Office would benefit the apostolate in various ways at that point in time. A search committee was established and several applicants were reviewed and interviewed over the next two years. In late 2005, Mike Naber was chosen to become the new Executive Director of NAM. He worked with Shiner for two months and officially took over the office in March of 2006, and shortly afterwards the NAM Office was moved for a second time; this time from Brooklyn to Yonkers, New York where it remains today.

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In 2006, NAM's 43rd annual convention in Chicago was honored by the presence of our Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir. Having our Maronite Patriarch attend NAM's annual gathering, is further acknowledgment of the apostolate's increased worldwide reputation and recognition. Over the decades, many noted individuals - clergy and laity from all over - have recognized NAM's effective presence in the International Maronite World; clearly a major accomplishment and one that its founders and so many subsequent leaders can boast of proudly.

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Over these past five decades NAM has grown, developed and matured in its service to the Maronite Church and consequently nurtured a productive and meaningful working relationship with our bishops and priests, overcoming the apprehensions and obstacles that faced the organization in its beginnings. In the most recent decades, because of the apostolate's growth and expansion of its programs, it became more complicated to govern and manage, so the Board of Directors evolved into a more professional "hands on" working board. To better organize the increased work, various working committees were established back in the 1980s and 1990s, which became more important as the apostolate delved into new and more projects of service and the conventions became larger and more encompassing.

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As NAM forge's more partnerships with other institutions, today's national conventions are including more Maronite organizations that conduct their annual meetings and gatherings at the NAM conventions. Early on NAM conducted its national business meetings, later the Order of St. Sharbel, and today TeleLumiere (Noursat, Christian TV channel from Lebanon), NDU (Notre Dame University - Louaize), and USEK (the University of the Holy Spirit - Kaslik)

In the very early years of the organization, its goals were basic and simple; gather support of Maronites, get better organized and strive to have a Maronite bishop for the USA. As it progressed and evolved and as its outreach and national interaction increased in the 1980s, its purpose and goals became more clearly defined as an effective public relations tool. The following description of NAM has served as an important way to present NAM's purpose to the faithful:

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"Two words best describe NAM's purpose: Unite and Preserve. NAM serves as a uniting "umbrella" for the Maronites spread all over the country from Waterville, Maine to San Diego, California and from Miami, Florida to Portland, Oregon. It is especially significant as a uniting organization in view of two separate eparchies. NAM is a link or a 'bridge' uniting all Maronites across the USA and helps to preserve the beautiful and rich traditions of the Syriac Antiochene Maronite Church handed on to us by St. Maron and his disciples. Through its many programs of service to the Maronite Church, the apostolate helps nurture interest in the spiritual, cultural and ethnic roots so important to all Maronite faithful. One of NAM's most important events is its national and regional conventions, where the Maronite faithful are gathered along with their Bishops and clergy for spiritual renewal, educational growth and socializing in a family reunion environment." In most recent years, it has been heartening to see a new wave of young, astute and professional Maronites stepping up to serve on the Board of Directors and sharing their talents and expertise to move the apostolate squarely into the 21st Century. Communications through social media, an informative and interactive website, a professionally produced newsletter, "Beit Maroon," and an effective use of email has catapulted NAM into a new and promising era of growth. Conventions are better promoted through these various tools and are managed with increased technology for more efficient online registrations and ad book sales. Consequently, more of our faithful are being informed of NAM's programs, membership is growing and convention attendance is breaking records. All of this provides increased operating funds to allow NAM to improve its service to the Maronite Church. As we look forward to the next era of NAM, it is encouraging to note that its maturity and experience, combined with an advanced communications program, will continue to expand its outreach and awareness among an increased number of Maronite faithful. Of special significance and importance is the positive phenomenon that has been occurring; namely the increased attraction of non-Lebanese, non-Maronite laity and clergy to the rich spirituality of the Maronite Church. These converts and their active participation on local and national levels makes it clear that being a Maronite is no longer synonymous with being Lebanese. Rosanne Solomon, a past president of NAM, noted that the Maronite Church has its roots in Lebanon, but being Lebanese is not the most important thing about being a Maronite: "My father was Irish and English", she said, "and he was a very good Maronite. He had not one ounce of Lebanese blood." "Good Maronites are faithful," she said, and "we open our arms and take in anyone who wants to be a part of us." This is a most important fact for NAM (clergy and laity) to acknowledge and enthusiastically embrace as we move forward into the second half century of the apostolate.