by lebaneseexaminer.com — Named after a saint known for his miracles around the world, St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church announced its opening of a 29,000-square-foot church in Clinton Township, Michigan. The church is home to one of the largest Maronite communities in the United States. It was formerly located in Warren, but moved to Clinton Township as part of a major expansion and construction project. “We are delighted to welcome our parishioners to their new home,” said Chorbishop Alfred Badawi, pastor of St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church. “This beautiful new church helps accommodate our growing parish, which is a testament to the vibrancy of the Maronite Catholic faith in Michigan.” The church features architectural influences from among the world’s most historic churches in Lebanon, where St. Sharbel was born and lived as a solitary hermit. St. Sharbel was beatified Dec. 5, 1965, and canonized Oct. 9, 1977. “It is humbling to build an honor for St. Sharbel, who has performed dozens of miracles right here in metro Detroit, and who inspires devotion among Christians of all denominations, “Chorbishop Badawi added. “This move to Clinton Township secures the foundation of our future and safeguards the mission of the Maronite community, allowing us to preserve the treasures of our traditional values and culture for decades to come.” For more than three decades, St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church has served a diverse population of parishioners in southeastern Michigan, including a large population who immigrated to Detroit from Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries.