Chaldeans And Assyrians In The United States

St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral

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

Clergy

Fr. Michael J. Bazzi - 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 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.  

Fr. Felix Al-Shabi - Born in Karamless, near Mosul , Iraq in 1975. In 1992 he entered Simon Peter Seminary of the Chaldean Patriarchate of Babylon in Baghdad and was ordained a priest on June 29, 1998 .

He worked in the Chaldean Diocese of Mosul between 1998 and 1999 as a pastor of St. Joseph parish. In the summer of 1999 he received a scholarship from his diocese to study in Rome . He joined the Pontifical Oriental Institute of Rome ( Pontificio Istituto Orientale ) for just over two years and gained a master's degree in the canon law of the Eastern Churches.

Arriving in United States of America on Thanksgiving Day 2002, he was named a parochial vicar of St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral in San Diego California.

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 parochical vicar at St. Peter Cathedral.
• Jan 17, 2003: Grand opening of St. Peter Cathedral rectory.

Schedule Of Masses & Activities

Sat. Chaldean Vespers 4:30 p.m. & Mass 5:00 p.m. (Arabic)
First Sun. Mass: 9:30 a.m. (English)
Second Sun. Mass: 11:15 a.m. (Chaldean)
Mon: Chaldean Mass: 4:00, Tues-Fri. Chaldean Mass: 4:30 p.m.
Baptism, Confirmation, Confession and Marriage: By appointment

BIBLE STUDY

Bible Study Grades 9-12 & College students - Monday: from 7:00 p.m. To 9:00 p.m. (English)

Bible Study Young & Adults - Thu: 7:00 p.m. To 9:00 p.m. (Arabic)

RELIGION CLASSES (C.C.D.)

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

CHOIR

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

Chaldean & Arabic: Fri., 5:00-6:30 p.m.

ARAMAIC-CHALDEAN LANGUAGE STUDY

Modern Aramaic-Chaldean-Sourath: Tues., 5:30-6:30 p.m.
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.
Blessed Sacrament Vigil: Fridays, 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.