The Struggle of Chaldeans in the U.S. after Escaping War
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Iraqi Catholics fleeing physical danger in their homeland often find themselves unprepared for the moral threats awaiting their families in the United States, said the head of Chaldean Catholics in the Western U.S.
Pope Tells U.S. Bishops to Build Church Unity
By Francis X. Rocca
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI urged American Catholics to strive for greater unity, especially among ethnic groups and between bishops and religious orders, in order to carry out the church's mission in an increasingly hostile society.
The pope made his remarks May 18 in a speech to U.S. bishops from the Chaldean, Ruthenian, Maronite, Ukrainian, Armenian, Melkite, Syriac and Romanian Catholic churches, who were making their periodic "ad limina" visits to the Vatican.
Fr. Awraha Visits St. Mary's Parish
On May 6th, 2012, St. Mary parish was blessed to have Fr. Awraha Mansoor visit the parish. He currently serves as the Pastor of St. Thomas Parish in Turlock. Fr. Awraha met with parishioners and celebrated the Holy Mystery on Sunday. It was a pleasure having him visit St. Mary's and we thank him for taking the time to do that.
St. Peter Chaldean Choir Retreat
Theme: “I Will Pour Out My Spirit On All Flesh” (Acts 2:17)
What a beautiful retreat it was with the St. Peter’s Chaldean Choir at St. George Chaldean Monastery in Riverside, CA, on May 11-12, 2012. Father Noel Gorgis led the retreat with great humility and clarity, his first talk was titled “How can we live our lives among the community”. This talk made us gather and share reflections to become closer and stronger in the presence of God.
Final Vow Ceremony
The Workers of the Vineyard
On May 10, 2012, two of the original members of the Workers of the Vineyard made their Final Vows after five years of service to the Diocese. The community, founded by His Excellency, Mar Sarhad Yawsip Jammo, began with three members and have now grown to six. The mission of the Workers of the Vineyard is to teach through schools and the media.
The two sisters who made their final vows were Sister Miskenta and Sister Tarbytha. During the ceremony, Sister Anahyd made her temporary profession and Eman Rofaeel made her postulancy promise. The ceremony itself was charged with joy and excitement. The final profession of the two sisters is the first in the history of the order and was an emotional and happy occasion for all who were present. It is a rare opportunity to witness women dedicate themselves completely to the service of the Lord and become his Brides.
The Men's Retreat
"Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
-Matthew 11:11
The Men's Retreat took place the weekend of April 13-15, 2012. In the Chaldean Liturgy, it is the weekend of New Sunday. A group of 28 men came together on Friday evening and spent the weekend at St. George Monastery. The retreat was lead by Fr. Andrew Younan who also had the seminarians of the Seminary of Mar Abba the Great to assist him throughout the weekend.
The 10th Anniversary and Beyond
While celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the establishment of our Diocese, July 19-22, 2012, it is paramount not only to commemorate the building up of our Diocese, as it has developed in its basic features during the past years, but also to look forward in total obedience to the Lord, which is to be done in the historic current context of the life of the Church, as wanted by him. These are the main achievements of our diocese in the past decade: