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Home , Catholic Home Missions, Chaldean Catholic Church

Refugees Find a Home for Faith There are currently ten parishes and six missions in , , Nevada, and Texas, but the covers the 19 westernmost states of the country. Home Missions (CHM) funds many of its programs. St. Peter the Apostle is the second Chaldean Catholic or diocese in the after the Diocese of St. Thomas in . The Chaldean Catholic is one of several Eastern Catholic Churches that enjoy the same dignity, rights, and obligations as the Church. Eastern Catholic Churches have

A wedding celebrated in the Chaldean By Beth Griffi n Church with the crowning of the bride hen we think of worship in the and groom. vernacular, in the language W of the people, we generally imagine English or Spanish or Tagalog or any of the familiar modern tongues brought to these shores by generations of Catholic immigrants. So it may come as a surprise to learn that one of the newest, most expansive, Chaldean Scout group at an annual summer program. and fastest-growing in the country celebrates the in , one of the distinctive liturgical and legal systems that world’s most ancient languages. refl ect the national or ethnic character of their The language Jesus spoke is very much alive region of origin. Chaldeans are descendants of in the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of St. Peter the ancient Babylonians and are the primary the Apostle. The diocese was established in Christian group in . 2002 to serve a torrent of people fl eeing vio- According to Fr. Andrew Younan, rector of lence and persecution in Iraq and . Bishop the St. Thomas diocesan seminary of Mar Sarhad Jammo is its fi rst leader. Abba the Great in San Diego, an early wave

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SPRING 2015 A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FROM MISSION AMERICA …continued from page 1 FROM THE of Chaldean immigrants settled successfully in the Detroit area 40-50 years ago. The community CHAIRMAN grew to more than 200,000 people, Dear Friends, the largest Chaldean group outside For the Eastern Catholic Iraq. A smaller group settled in San Church, an eparchy is most Diego and Phoenix. In 2007, more similar to a diocese and than 2,000 former members of the is also in with Rome. The Chaldean Assyrian joined Catholic Diocese of St. Peter the Apostle St. Peter the Apostle. is an Eastern Church that is still relatively More than half of the world’s new, but growing quickly! Founded in 2002, 900,000 Chaldean Catholics now this diocese now serves ten parishes and six live outside Iraq, Fr. Younan says. The Workers of the Vineyard, a community of missions in four diff erent states. “Chaldean refugees by the thou- In this issue, read about how Bishop women religious formed by Bishop Sarhad Jammo. Sarhad Jammo works to serve the members sands” have sought to immigrate of his fl ock, many of whom are refugees lately, because so few people are The young diocese devotes much of fl eeing the violence and persecution in Iran willing to tolerate the dangerous its resources to serving the newcomers. and Iraq. Fr. Andrew Younan also explains situation in Iraq and Iran, which is It relies on how the Church is continuing to foster voca- exacerbated by the rise of the Islamic for critical help with communications, tions to the priesthood and religious life in State, he says. The new diocese started evangelization, seminary education, order to minister to their many members. This diocese has found creative ways to with 40,000 people and now includes and formation of women religious. use technology in order to reach out to its more than 65,000, many of whom are In its short existence, St. Peter the members all over the world. recent refugees. Apostle has cast a wide net. From a Funds from a Catholic Home Missions “The Church is central to everything base in southern California, Kaldu grant have been used to help support for- we do. Historically, the was Television and two Kaldaya web- mation for their seminarians and religious central to the village, and the priest was sites reach Chaldean Catholics in community as well as their media outreach, aiding this young diocese as it faces its the go-to person. It carries over, and their homeland and the countries to many challenges. here the Church is the fi rst place they which they have fl ed. Fr. Younan says Thanks to Catholics like you, who come,” Fr. Younan says. the Internet outreach was started by are willing to give each year, Catholic “We do everything we can for the ref- Bishop Jammo shortly after the diocese Home Missions is giving $9 million in ugees, from housing and jobs to helping was established. grants to dioceses here in the United them get government assistance. “People are scattered, and many are States that struggle to meet basic pastoral needs. We are able to help because you Poverty is something the Church is far from their families. Through our so generously support the Catholic Home expected to address, as well,” he adds. websites, they can be connected to the Missions Appeal. whole Chaldean Church,” Fr. Younan This collection will soon be taken up in says. “The websites give our commu- most dioceses in the United States. Through nity everywhere in the your generosity, many dioceses will receive world comfort, guid- the support they need to continue their ministries and promote an encounter with ance, spiritual food, and Christ for their people. Thank you for social togetherness.” joining me in supporting and promoting The television station this collection. broadcasts live celebra- I ask that God bless you and your fami- tions of the Chaldean lies as you lead your lives in faith. Together, Mass and other litur- let us continue to strengthen the Church at home. gical prayers, as well as lectures, social com- Yours in Christ, munity gatherings, and other events. The media

The diaconal ordination of center includes a modest Royal Hannosh and David Stephen in 2014. publishing operation Bishop Peter F. Christensen Diocese of Boise PAGE 2 | SPRING 2015 DID YOU KNOW? • The Chaldean Catholic Diocese of St. Peter the Apostle was established in 2002 and covers the 19 westernmost states of the United States. • Eastern Catholics are in full communion with Rome. Roman Catholics may receive the in Eastern Catholic Churches, when needed. Child being baptized in the Chaldean Church. • and archeparchies in the Eastern are akin that enables the diocese to produce its to dioceses and archdioceses in the own liturgical booklets and catechet- . ical materials in Aramaic, English, • The diocese has ten parishes and and . The rite of the as six missions in California, Arizona, Six women religious of the Workers celebrated in the Chaldean Church. Nevada, and Texas. of the Vineyard congregation run and it’s magnetic,” he says. “We praise • Its 65,000 parishioners are served the websites and the media center by sixteen priests, ten deacons, and and have developed a catechetical God and thank God for it—and he fi ve women religious. There are series for Chaldean Catholic liturgy takes care of it.” ten seminarians preparing for the and practices. “God has worked through Catholic priesthood, four of whom will be ordained in 2015. “Liturgy is a big part of how we come Home Missions,” Fr. Younan says. to understand Christ,” Fr. Younan says. “Nothing we do is luxurious. We are • In 2005, after a lengthy discernment process, a former bishop of the “We incorporate liturgical texts into cat- following the command of Christ to Assyrian Church of the East joined echetical books. Our liturgy is a jewel.” preach and provide workers for the vineyard. CHM is one of the the CHM funds help support the sisters and the Diocese of St. Peter the ways God has allowed us to continue to and enable hundreds of children to Apostle. He was accompanied by 3 participate in Catechism and First Holy do his work.” priests, more than 14 deacons, and Communion preparation classes. CHM funds help support seminari- 2,000 parishioners. The 16 priests of the diocese wear ans, who take part of their training at • Chaldean Catholics use Aramaic, multiple hats, and their eff orts are John Paul the Great Catholic University English, and Arabic. People who spread thin, but reinforcements are on in Escondido, California. speak Aramaic can generally read Arabic, and refugees whose fi rst the way. Ten deacons were ordained last Refl ecting on the challenge of fi nanc- ing a new and rapidly growing diocese, language is Arabic generally learn year, and Fr. Younan says there are ten Aramaic to participate in the Bishop Jammo says, “This diocese, men in the seminary. “Proportionally, community and the liturgy. having received most of its faithful as it’s a great blessing, but an expensive • Bishop Jammo was elected by the immigrants and refugees, could not one,” he laughs. Chaldean Synod in 2002. John He says the students are mostly immediately provide for diocesan needs. Paul II named him the fi rst bishop American-born Californians. All have That is why the support of Catholic of the new diocese. some knowledge of Aramaic, the pri- Home Missions at this critical period was • Married clergy immigrated with mary language of the liturgy, some are important for establishing the fundamen- and serve Chaldean Catholics in more fl uent than others, and about half tally needed institutions in the diocese.” the diocese, but the seminary is restricted to single men. speak it at home. Classes are taught in He concludes, “The grant money English and Aramaic. has been pivotal for the major diocesan • Catholic Home Missions supports approximately 13% of the budget of Fr. Younan, the seminary rector, says projects. As a new diocese, we needed this additional brotherly support to the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of there must be a secret to the robust St. Peter the Apostle. vocations, “but I don’t know it! We try build the basic new institutions so that our community will be acquainted with • For a sample of the beautiful liturgy to be as faithful and dedicated to Christ and prayers, visit Kaldu.tv. as we can, and they come. Young men them and grow up in supporting them.” and women see us work to the bone,

PAGE 3 | SPRING 2015 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 61 Hyattsville, MD

SUBCOMMITTEE ON CATHOLIC HOME MISSIONS Offi ce of National Collections United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 3211 Fourth Street NE Washington, DC 20017-1194

SPRING 2015

IN THIS ISSUE SUBCOMMITTEE ON THETHE CATHOLICCATHOLIC HOME MISSIONS APPEAL CATHOLIC HOME MISSIONS Chairman Most Rev. Peter F. Christensen READ ABOUT THE RAPIDLY Members STRENGTHENING Most Rev. growing Chaldean Catholic Diocese Most Rev. Edward J. Burns THE CHURCH Most Rev. Robert E. Guglielmone of St. Peter the Apostle, an Eastern AT HOME Most Rev. Curtis J. Guillory, SVD Church working to create a home of Most Rev. Alberto Rojas Most Rev. Paul D. Sirba faith for refugees. Most Rev. James S. Wall Staff Jessi Poré Ken Q. Ong

Copyright © 2014, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Photo credits: © 123RF, Stocksy United, Veer, Lightstock. 30200215 www.usccb.org/nationalcollections Your generosity to the Catholic Home Missions Appeal supports essential Copyright © 2015, United States Conference ministries in poor dioceses across the United States and its territories. of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Photos: ©123RF, and courtesy of The THANK YOU for being part of our eff orts to strengthen the Church at home. Chaldean Media Center.