Msgr. Joseph Lahoud

Visitation will be held at Our Lady of the Cedars of Lebanon Church

(61 Rockwood Street, Jamaica Plain, MA):
• Wednesday, July 23 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. (Clergy Ginnaz at 7:30 p.m.)
• Thursday, July 24 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
• A Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m., with burial at Mount Benedict Cemetery, West Roxbury.

Please in lieu of flowers all donations in Msgr. Lahoud’s memory can be made to the church he dedicated his time and love to, Our Lady of the Cedars of Lebanon Church 61 Rockwood Street Jamaica Plain

Born in Kartaba, Lebanon, on March 27, 1934, Chorbishop Lahoud was the eldest of five children of Farid and Olga (Souhaid) Lahoud, well-known hotel proprietors. He felt a divine calling at a young age, entering St. Maron’s Seminary in 1948 at just 14. He later earned his theology degree from St. Joseph’s University in Beirut and was ordained on April 12, 1959.

Shortly thereafter, he moved to the United States, beginning his ministry at St. Maron’s Church in Torrington, Connecticut in 1961. In 1970, he was appointed pastor of Our Lady of the Cedars of Lebanon in Jamaica Plain by Archbishop Francis M. Zayek.

At the time, the parish was on the verge of bankruptcy. The property had only a rectory and community center built on land donated by Richard Cardinal Cushing. Many would have seen it as a lost cause.  But not Chorbishop Lahoud.

With quiet determination and steadfast faith, he led the parish out of financial crisis. Within three years, the existing debt was paid off, and he began building the church anew. In 1974, construction began on the new church, and by 1975, the first Mass was celebrated in the monastic-inspired sanctuary that stands today.

From there, his accomplishments multiplied:
• Installed beautiful stained-glass windows (1977)
• Built additional classrooms and storage (1980)
• Paid off mortgage (1990)
• Added new office space and rectory living quarters (1991)
• Planted 100 cedar trees on the property (1993)
• Initiated the construction of a new facility in 2000, later named the Chorbishop Joseph F. Lahoud Pastoral Center (opened 2005), to house classrooms, a shrine to Saint Rafka, and a space for parish events

In recognition of his exemplary service:
• He was elevated to Monsignor in 1982
• Ordained Chorbishop in 1986
• Honored in 2009 with a celebration of 50 years in the priesthood
• Officially retired in 2010, though he continued to serve well into his later years

• On April 21, 2012, he was awarded the National Order of the Cedar, the highest state order of Lebanon.  It is awarded by the President, for great services rendered to Lebanon, for acts of courage and devotion of great moral value, and for years in public service.

Even in retirement, he returned to parishes for Holy Week liturgies, mentored clergy, and participated in milestone church celebrations across New England. Parishioners and clergy alike recall his signature blend of deep faith, tireless work ethic, and warm hospitality.

Chorbishop Lahoud was not only a pastor, but a true father to his parish family. His rectory was a home for visitors, his church a sanctuary for the weary, and his presence a source of strength for the Lebanese immigrant community in Boston and beyond. His kindness, humility, and ability to unite people will remain his most enduring legacy.

He is survived by his loving siblings Nawal Abdul-Massih, Fattan Lahoud, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and devoted parishioners. He was predeceased by his siblings, Emile Lahoud and Youmna Lahoud Wehbe. His life was a living sermon of devotion, humility, and action. May he rest in eternal peace and rise in glory.

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