The National Apostolate of Maronites (NAM) has been in existence since 1964, and has sponsored a national convention each year since then. NAM is the official organization of the laity, serving the Maronite Church in the United States. It is governed by a volunteer board of directors, has official membership from all over the country, and maintains a national office in Yonkers, NY. It sponsors various programs of service to the Maronite Church, such as religious education, youth ministry, scholarship, vocations, retreats, and annual and regional conventions.

The Maronite Church is a worldwide Eastern Catholic Church founded by a Syrian monk named Maron. He was born in the late 4th Century - became a priest and then a hermit outside of the city of Antioch. He developed a following of monks who established a monastery in his name, and the people who were attracted to them became known as "Maronites." Eventually they fled into the mountains of Lebanon to escape the persecutions, and the actual Maronite Church was established in Lebanon, which today is the spiritual home and "mother country" of the Maronite Church.

The Maronite Church has flourished all over the world (South America, Australia, Europe, South Africa, Canada, Mexico, etc.), but especially in the United States since the mid-60's when Archbishop Francis Zayek was sent to shepherd the American Church, which also coincided with the establishment and development of NAM (1964). After almost thirty years, a second eparchy (diocese), Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles was established for the western USA in 1994 and was headed by Bishop John G. Chedid until 2001. Bishop Robert J. Shaheen was ordained on February 15, 2001 and succeeds Bishop Chedid in heading this Eparchy. The eastern Eparchy, Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn, was headed by Stephen Hector Doueihi, who was installed as successor to Archbishop Zayek, in February of 1997 and was succeeded by the current head of the Eparchy of St. Maron - Bishop Gregory John Mansour who was ordained on March 2, 2004.

The NAM Conventions have been an annual opportunity for the Maronite Church of the USA to gather together for spiritual renewal, education, and socializing. These conventions are sponsored by the apostolate and always hosted by one of our Maronite parishes. This 47th annual convention is hosted by the Maronite parish of St. Elias in Birmingham, Alabama. The host pastor Chorbishop Richard Saad and the convention committee chairs Mark and Kimberly Boackle.

This gathering will be a mixture of clergy and laity; young and old; Lebanese and American-born; and people of several other ethnic backgrounds who have become a part of the Maronite Church. The conventions have become family gatherings as well as vacation opportunities for many. The schedule is a full mix of prayer services, workshops and seminars, business meetings for both clergy and laity, and, of course, many evenings of fun and dancing to both American and Lebanese music. The NAM conventioneers enjoy socializing and "partying", and enjoy the opportunity to visit with friends and relatives over good food and drink. We are looking forward to a magnificent gathering at the beautiful Sheraton Hotel and Convention Center.