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Our Lady Of Lebanon History
Church sponsored clubs soon began to form and various fund-raisers were held. The first formal Ladies' Guild meeting took place on March 17, 1974, and their first "Card Party" which took place that May, proved to be a great success. On November 7, 1974, the first parish Hafli, "An Evening in Lebanon", was held and realized a profit of $3,339.69. A men's club was then formed called "The Saint Maron's Men's Society". That club held a "One Hundred Club Raffle" on April 19, 1975, and made a net profit of $6,000.00.
Father Joseph Kaddo was transferred at the end of May, 1975 and Father Kenneth Michael was appointed as Temporary Administrator pending the arrival of a more permanent priest. He served a brief tenure of three months.
On August 31, 1975, Father Wadih Peter Tayah was appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Lebanon Mission. He wasted no time getting started and within four months, on December 29, 1975, the current property at 2055 Coral Way in Miami, was purchased for $386,256.76. This former "Food Fair Supermarket" would serve as an all-purpose building providing ample space for a church, offices and a social hall, as well as retail rental space. Father Tayah celebrated the first Mass there, in the midst of empty grocery shelves and freezers, on December 30, 1975.
Renovations on the old supermarket began on March 29, 1976, under the supervision of Architect Maria Rosa Sellek and the Engineering firm of Planas and Franyieh. The completed project, Our Lady of Lebanon Church and Maronite Center, was dedicated on the weekend of November 27-28, 1976. At that time the church was elevated from the status of a Mission to that of a Parish by Archbishop Zayek.
Father Tayah continued to live in the apartment provided by Mr. and Mrs. Abraham. That changed on July 31, 1980, with the acquisition of the current rectory at 420 Como Avenue in Coral Gables. The house of approximately 3,000 square feet, was purchased for $162,000.00.