Chaldeans And Assyrians In The United States

Mar Auraha Chaldean Catholic Church

* CLERGY * HISTORY

6816 E. Cactus Rd. , Scottsdale , AZ 85254
Phone (480) 596-6798, Fax (480) 596-9067

CLERGY

Fr. Poulos Ghozairan - Fr. Ghozairan was born in 1947 in the village of Karabesh in Akra, Iraq . He entered the monastery 1959. In 1968 he made his final vows and was ordained a priest in 1975. He was assigned as assistant to the abbot for the novitiate. In 1977 he became the head of the novitiate for a monastery in Baghdad . In 1981 he was assigned in Baghdad to serve in Mar Mari parish. In 1987 he was assigned to Mosul . From 1988 through 1994 he served in Basra. From 1994 to 2000 he was the head of the St. Joseph monastery in Rome.

In September 2000 he arrived in America and served as a pastor at St. Paul Assyrian-Chaldean Church. In 2001 he moved to Mar Auraha in Arizona.

Fr. Jibrael Shamami – Fr. Jibrael was born in Tina, Dihouk in 1950. Discerning at a young age, Fr. Jibrael realized he had a call to the Priesthood and entered St. John Seminary in Mosul, Iraq. After completing his studies, he was ordained a priest on June 5, 1973 and has been serving the Church in her needs since then. Fr. Jibrael served in parishes in Amadya and Baghdad before coming to the United States on November 12, 2007. He now serves Mar Auraha parish in Scottsdale, Arizona.

HISTORY

• 1993: Mission of Mar Awraha established. Fr. Michael J. Bazzi, who traveled between it and San Diego , served as priest.
• 1994: Fr. Kamal Bidawid serves mission.
• 1994: Church building purchased; there were 100 Chaldean families at the time.
• 1995: Fr. Noel Gorgis assigned.
• June 2, 1995: Mar Awraha Mission elevated to the status of parish.
• November 11, 2001: Fr. Paulos Ghozairan appointed pastor.
• From July 25, 2002 – Present Accomplishments:
  • The purchase of a house adjacent to the Church is to be added within the property.
  • The paying off of a $600,000 loan.
  • The remodeling of the Church; adding 33 new pews and seating 400 parishinors.
  • The renovation of the former residence of the pastor into a center for religious studies.
  • There is currently a plan under way to build a hall for 300 people.

• November 2007: Fr. Jibrael Shamami is assigned to Mar Auraha Parish