ST. LOUIS — Volunteers have been in the kitchen for over a century at St. Raymond’s Maronite Cathedral in downtown St. Louis.
The Riverfront Times published an article in 1980 that said "St. Raymond's stands as a monument to hard work and good lunches," and 44 years later, people still gather at the church each Wednesday over kibbee and meat pies.
An authentic Lebanese lunch on Wednesday at St. Raymond’s is a St. Louis tradition. In honor of the 57th annual Lebanese Festival, that kicks off on Friday, I caught up with the elders to find out how it all started.
Theresa Miller’s family arrived in St. Louis from Lebanon in 1911.
"They all came here and they all talked about what they wanted to do here, start their church, cook," Miller says.
When you ask Ralph Wahby how he got involved with the church, "Yeah, I got born Lebanese. My mother and father were both Lebanese. They were born here in St Louis. And my grandparents were immigrants, so I was born into it," Wahby says.
And Ameal Nassif, well, "I'm 98 years old. I'm the oldest one here so far," he says.
The original families that arrived in St. Louis converted a four-family flat at 931 Lasalle Street into their church in 1912. In 1976 that flat transformed into what you see today at 931 Lebanon Drive.
This is a story of perseverance, but it is not a story without struggle.
When the original priest, Father Joseph Karam, passed away in 1944 the church went without a permanent priest for 23 years.
No one thought the church would survive, but it did, because of the prayers and perseverance of 15 women in the church's Ladies Society.
"They kept it going the only way they knew how they cooked and sold the food. Oh my goodness, look at what we have now. I'm sure those old ladies never dreamt of anything like this," Miller says.
The late Bishop Shaheen, Father at the time, came to St. Raymond’s in 1966. He became the church's permanent priest, answering the prayers of the congregation.
"Bishop always gave the women the credit," says Roxie Rask.
Rask began working for St. Raymond's and the bishop in 1967.
"They started the lunches on Wednesday and Friday, and I used to pick up all the ladies and bring them down," Rask says.
And oh boy did it take off. Politicians, union members, employees of neighboring Raulston Purina, and the community came in numbers. In fact, the lunches were so popular they had to take it from Wednesday and Friday just to Wednesdays.
"It's like part of St Louis. You can be in another state or you'll say, 'Oh, I'm from St Louis', and I've had people say, 'Well, do you know where St Raymond's is?' I say, 'Yeah, I go there,'" Wahby says.
And when you ask people what keeps them coming back, it’s that good old Lebanese hospitality.
"There's a love here that goes way back. Each generation comes and they're younger and younger and younger," says Ann Ulett.
The hope for the future is passing it on to that next generation, and no doubt, the love for the parish, hard work, and good lunches will continue.
"This is St. Raymond's, and no one can take that away," Rask says.
St. Raymond's Maronite Cathedral is located at 931 Lebanon Dr, St. Louis, MO. 63104.
St. Raymond's invites you to celebrate this history and Lebanese culture this weekend at the 57th annual Lebanese Festival. It kicks off tomorrow, September 13 at 6:00 pm, and runs from noon-10:00 pm on Saturday, and Sunday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. For additional information, click here.
For more information on Wednesday lunches at St. Raymond's, click here.
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