Chaldeans And Assyrians In The United States

St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral

* CLERGY * HISTORY * SCHEDULE OF MASSES AND ACTIVITIES * BIBLE STUDIES and YOUTH GROUPS * RELIGION SCHOOL (C.C.D.) * CHURCH GROUPS * CHOIR

1627 Jamacha Way , El Cajon , CA 92019-4124
Phone (619) 579-7913 - Fax (619) 588-8281

CLERGY

Fr. Michael J. Bazzi, Pastor - Fr. Michael J. Bazzi, born in Telkeppe , Iraq in 1938 and ordained a priest in 1964. From 1964 to 1972, he served in Telkeppe as an assistant pastor and youth director. In 1969 he published a book in Arabic titled Telkeppe: Present and Past . In 1972, he received a scholarship for further study in Rome . He studied for two years in the Lateran University and received a master's degree in pastoral theology and two diplomas, one in mass media and the other in group dynamics.

Arriving in the United States on June 20, 1974, he taught Scripture for five years in Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Greenbay diocese). He published two books in English, The Pentateuch (1976) and Matthew's Good News (1978). From Wisconsin he moved to Michigan, where in 1979 he established Mar Addai Chaldean Catholic Church in Oak Park. Then, in 1981, he established St. Joseph parish in Troy, Michigan. In 1983 he moved to Los Angeles, where he served as pastor of St. Paul parish in Montrose. On Sept. 1, 1985, he moved to San Diego and became assistant pastor at St. Peter parish. He became its pastor after the death of Fr. Kattoula in 1987.

He has taught the Aramaic language at Cuyamaca College since 1989. During this time he published several introductory textbooks on modern and classical Aramaic. He also published a guidebook, Chaldeans: Present and Past, and an edition of the Divine Liturgy with parallel Aramaic, Arabic, and English columns. He also has established youth and adult Bible study groups and directed Saturday catechism classes for more than 600 students a year.

* * *

Msgr. Polis P. Khammi - Msgr. Polis was born in Batnaya, near Mosul, Iraq in 1934. He entered Simon Peter Seminary of the Chaldean Patriarchate of Babylon in Mosul it 1950 and was ordained a priest in 1961. He was appointed to teach the Chaldean language in Seminary for one year. Afterward, he served in parishes of the Diocese of Alqosh near Mosul. He was ordained a Corbishop for the diocese of Alqosh on February 11, 1999.

He arrived in the United States of America on December 12, 2006 and is now working and fulfilling his priestly duties at St. Peter's Chaldean Catholic Cathedral.  
 

 HISTORY

• Dec. 6, 1973: Fr. Peter Kattoula was assigned as the first pastor of the newly established St. Peter Chaldean Catholic parish.
• Sept. 10, 1983: A new church building was dedicated. The church (8369 sq. ft.) has a capacity for more than 600 people.
• Oct. 1979: Fr. Ibrahim Ibrahim was assigned as assistant pastor. He served for six months.
• Nov. 30, 1984: Fr. Jacob Yasso was assigned as assistant pastor for three months.
• Sept. 1, 1985: Fr. Michael J. Bazzi became co-pastor. Then, after the death of Fr. Kattoula on March 20, 1987, Fr. Bazzi was installed as pastor of St. Peter parish.
• Nov. 29, 1989: Grand opening of the new church hall.
• Dec. 14, 1993 through Sept. 17, 1994: Fr. Kamal W. Bidawid was assigned as assistant pastor.
• May 21, 2002: St. Peter parish became the seat of the new diocese. Since then it has been called St. Peter Cathedral.
• Nov. 28, 2002: Fr. Felix Al-Shabi was assigned parochial vicar at St. Peter Cathedral.
• Jan 17, 2003: Grand opening of St. Peter Cathedral rectory.

SCHEDULE OF MASSES AND ACTIVITIES

Saturdays: Chaldean Vespers 4:30 p.m. & Arabic Mass 5:00 p.m.

Sundays: 9:30 a.m., English Mass; 11:00 a.m., Morning Prayer in Aramaic; 11:30 a.m., Chaldean Mass

Weekday Masses: Monday 4:00 p.m.; Tuesday- Friday 4:30 p.m. (All weekday Masses in Chaldean and Arabic)

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Fridays, 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

Baptism, Confirmation, Confession and Marriage: By appointment
 

BIBLE STUDIES and YOUTH GROUPS

High School Bible Study: Mondays 7:00-9:00 p.m.

College Bible Study: Tuesdays 7:00-9:00 p.m.

D.F.A.M (Deficient Feeble and Miserable Servants): Tuesday nights after College Bible Study from 9:00- 10:30pm

Modern Aramaic-Chaldean-Sourath: Tues., 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Arabic Bible Study for Adults: Thursdays 7:00- 9:00 p.m.

Junior High Youth Group: Wednesdays 6:00-7:30 p.m in the Hall

RELIGION SCHOOL (C.C.D.)

Preschool, Grades K- 8: Saturdays 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon (English)

CHURCH GROUPS

Parish Council: First Tues. of the month, 7:00 p.m.

Sacred Heart Ladies of Charity & Mass: Mon., 4:00 p.m.

Sacred Heart Sodality: First Fri. of the month, 9:30 a.m.

Legion of Mary: Wednesdays 5:00- 7:00 p.m.

CHOIR

English: Fri., 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Chaldean & Arabic: Fri., 6:30- 8:30 p.m.