Fr. Boutros “Maher” El Hachem was born on 16 December 1980, the son of Rameh and Aida El Hachem, in Ain El Hawr, Mount of Lebanon. Father is one of three children (Samer and Samar). He was educated at Sagesse High School and the Lebanese University, graduating in 1998. He received his baccalaureate degree in theology and philosophy from Antoniene University, Baabda, in 2005. He then was awarded his Master’s degree in Pastoral Management in 2011 from Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Fr. Boutros was called to be a priest in 1999, entering St. Anthony of Padua Seminary in Northern Lebanon. In 2004 he was ordained Subdeacon by Archbishop John Fouad el Hajj, Bishop of Tripoli. After this Fr. Boutros took two years formation in parishes, studied physical education and began to teach various sports in schools and gyms. In the beginning of 2008, he was ordained Deacon by Archbishop Elias Nassar, Bishop of Saida. His pastoral year was spent at Saint Maron Jezzine Church in South Lebanon. 28 June 2008 he was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Elias Nassar, Bishop of Saida at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Deliverance, Beiteddine, Lebanon. From 2008 to 2013 Fr. Boutros served at two parishes (St. Joseph Derdourit and Our Lady of Moukhtara) in Mount Lebanon.
In 2013 he moved to a new parish, St. Anthony the Great in Fouara in Mount Lebanon and in 2016, Fr. Boutros was selected by Patriarch al-Rahi and his own Bishop Elias Nassar to help in the foundation of the Maronite Church in Columbia, Ecuador and Peru as a Vicar to the Exarkhos Fadi Abou Chebel. At the end of 2017, he returned to Lebanon with his new Bishop Maroun al-Ammar, Bishop of Saida. Father served two parishes near Saida — St. Joseph Joun and Our Lady of Deliverance, Zaarouriye. He also taught in various Catholic schools in Beruit and was a spiritual advisor to students from 2008 to 2019. Father assisted many congregations — the Antonine Sisters, the Saints Hearts, the congregation of St. Terese Infant Jesus, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts as well as various youth groups throughout Lebanon.
Fr. Boutros was named Administrator of St. Louis Gonzaga Church in Utica, New York in October of 2019.
Favorite quote:
“Believe in the cause that you are fighting for even if you remain alone.”