Episode 044 – The Maronite Tradition and the Next Generation with Fr. Chris Nahra

The Church Podcast

• 52 min

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In this rich and wide-ranging episode, Christopher Wesley sits down with Father Chris Nahra, Associate Pastor at St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church in Clinton Township, Michigan. As a priest formed in the ancient Syriac tradition—and as a national leader in Maronite youth ministry—Fr. Chris brings a passionate and deeply pastoral perspective to the challenges and hopes of the young Church. Together, Christopher and Fr. Chris explore the beauty of the Maronite Catholic tradition, from its roots in the monastic witness of St. Maron to its poetic, symbolic, and contemplative liturgy. They discuss why young people today are increasingly drawn to ancient forms of worship, how a culture of belonging transforms a parish, and what Eastern and Western Catholics can learn from one another as the Church seeks renewal. Fr. Chris also shares his own vocational story—beginning with a life-changing encounter at a Maronite youth conference—and opens up about the joys, challenges, and surprises of ministering to a generation facing unprecedented loneliness and spiritual hunger. For more on the episode visit us at thechurchpodcast.org