Chaldean Catholic questions

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ddellari

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Hi!

I’m a Roman Catholic who is interested in attending a Chaldean Catholic church close to my home. I have some questions though that I was hoping someone could help me with. Firstly, I assume that women are expected to wear a head covering (just wanting to make sure, as I don’t want to ‘stick out’). What style is acceptable? Is a chapel veil ok? While this is my main question, is there anything that I should know (do s and don’ts) for attending a Chaldean Catholic service?

Thanks
 
The one time I attended the Chaldean Catholic Liturgy, I did not notice the women covering their heads.

This, in itself, means nothing. I’m sure it varies from place to place. Do whatever feels comfortable.

If you go to

www.kaldu.org

you can find the official English translation of the Chaldean Liturgy.
 
I attended a Chaldean Mass in the Chaldean language and most women didn’t cover their heads.
 
The Chaldean Church celebrates the Holy Qurbana (of Mar Addai and Mari) in the Eastern Syriac language; the Syro-Malabar Church celebrates the same liturgy with adopted Indian custom along with the local St. Thomas Traditions.
 
ddellari said:
Hi!

I’m a Roman Catholic who is interested in attending a Chaldean Catholic church close to my home. I have some questions though that I was hoping someone could help me with. Firstly, I assume that women are expected to wear a head covering (just wanting to make sure, as I don’t want to ‘stick out’). What style is acceptable? Is a chapel veil ok? While this is my main question, is there anything that I should know (do s and don’ts) for attending a Chaldean Catholic service?

Thanks
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I attended a vespers last summer at the St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral I didn’t see women wearing head covering. That was my only experience with a Chaldean Catholic service. The church decorations and the music were quite different from Greek and Russian Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic I’m more used to. They have some videos on their site. (Scan down to " Holy Week as Celebrated in the Chaldean Liturgy")

I usually wear a shawl that I can put on as a head covering if I find women are wearing a head covering. I think of chapel veils as lace, but I may be incorrect in that assumption. It seems like you probably won’t need a head covering but mostly in Eastern and Orthodox churches when I have seen head coverings I’ve seen something more like a scarf or like a turban or hijab - something more substantial than a chapel veil. I hope some Chaldeans or other Eastern Catholic or Orthodox will speak to that, in general. I’d like to cover my head more but in a setting where no one else is I don’t. As a woman I would wear a skirt or dress and have my shoulders covered. Members of the parish may not dress that modestly, but as a guest I always do.

Personally, I encourage emailing the deacon, Presbytera/Khouria etc., or other primary contact for the church, let them know of your interest in visiting and ask them what you’re asking here. I’ve always been warmly welcomed.

Father Thomas Loya has had Juliana Taimoorazy of Iraqi Christian Relief as a guest a number of times on his radio program “Light of the East”, most recently Broadcast 240 Sunday, May 03. You might listen to those programs to know more about the situation of Chaldean Catholics in that land of origin for many of them.

Many churches are getting a lot up on their web sites now. They often have the parish bulletin and other news. I assume you’ve already looked at the web site for this church. It of course may not be in English. 🙂

I hope you’ll post about it after you’ve been there.
 
Thanks everyone for the information. I’ll be sure to check out the links that you’ve posted.
 
Hi,
I go to St. Peter’s Chaldean Catholic Cathedral. There are only a few women that wear veils or any head garment. As far as do’s or don’ts, it’s not that bad, the red handbooks that you’ll see when you sit go through the Mass (it tells you when to sit, stand, kneel, etc…). It’s a nice Mass, the English ones on Sundays are 9:30am and 4:30pm. I’ll be there in the morning 👍
 
Hi,

Thanks for the recommendation! Unfortunately, being in NorCal it’s a little far to go for Mass :). I still haven’t gone to a Chaldean Catholic service yet. The nearest ones from where I live are about an hr. away, so it requires a bit of planning (deciding beforehand that I’ll be going, waking up at a decent hr.:D, etc.). I’m still trying to decide between two churches, which to attend, and of course when.
 
Hi ddellari,

There are many Chaldean churches available in Northern Cali. There is one in Ceres {near Modesto}, Turlock, and San Jose. I know that there is a new one being made in Sacramento, as well as an English mission there. I believe our priest also makes it down to Monterey everysooften to tend to the flock there. If Monterey is closer, let me know and I’ll find out dates/times/locations for you.

Regards,
Anthony
 
Hi Anthony,

That’s very kind of you. I have been thinking about going to either St. Thomas or St. Matthew’s (Turlock or Ceres, mainly because they were the only one’s that I was aware of). San Jose would be a bit off the beaten path, but I had also wanted to go to a Latin Mass in Oakland soon. San Jose would be just a little further of a drive than would Oakland, so certainly doable.

If you don’t mind my asking, are you familiar with either the Ceres or Turlock church? Is one (including the church in San Jose) bigger and thus easier to disappear into the congregation (:o)? Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Dina
 
antgaria said:
Hi ddellari,

There are many Chaldean churches available in Northern Cali. There is one in Ceres {near Modesto}, Turlock, and San Jose.
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The Oakland Diocese Directory (2008) lists St. Mary Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church as being in Campbell. It looks like they moved there from San Jose in 1995. That Directory doesn’t list St. Matthew’s in Ceres at all. San Jose and Campbell are right next to each other. The SF Archdiocese Directory (2009) only lists St. Thomas in Turlock.

Ceres and Turlock are so close together. It’s interesting there are two parishes there.
ddellari said:
… but I had also wanted to go to a Latin Mass in Oakland soon. San Jose would be just a little further of a drive than would Oakland, so certainly doable.

… Is one (including the church in San Jose) bigger and thus easier to disappear into the congregation (:o)? …

Thanks,
Dina
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Dina-
Are you thinking of St. Margaret Mary in Oakland for that? FYI off topic: their priest Father Stanislaw Zak “describes himself as a bi-ritual priest… Eastern-rite Byzantine-Ukrainian Mass”. Some St. Margaret Mary parishioners were at Our Lady of Fatima on Pentecost and they said that Fr. Zak will be celebrating the Divine Liturgy there one day in July. I don’t know the date.

When you decide when you’re going to any of those three Chaldean churches let me know. I’m in the East Bay, about an hour from Campbell and an hour and a half from Ceres/Turlock. We could go “together” maybe.

I don’t know what you look like Dina but I wouldn’t have a prayer of “disappearing” in a Chaldean chuch, even though my auburn hair is now mostly grey 😉

-Marylouise
 
Well I’m kind of sad… I wrote an reply yesterday, but looks like it wasn’t posted. It was my fault, my computer was acting weird.

Diana, I listed all the churches I could think of in the north not knowing where you might be. St. Mary’s {which is in Campbell as Marylouise pointed out… I just have a bad habit of calling it San Jose} is the one I go to, but it is far from you, and even from Oakland it would be maybe 45 minutes drive. But we are always glad to have visitors visit us and if you do make it, it would be well… otherwise both St. Matthew or St. Thomas are nice churches with great people in them.

Marylouise, the list of churches within the Chaldea diocese out here can be found on kaldu.org, more specifically here. St. Matthew is really close to St. Thomas as you mentioned, and the reason for that is… besides the large number of our people out in that area… St. Matthew is a parish that recently came into the Chaldean Church.

I think both will be nice to visit eventually. The St. Matthew church has a more Eastern layout, so you get to see that. You will most likely see more women with head coverings on in that parish too, but that is because we are used to it, and it is not necessary. I know the priest of that parish personally and he is a great man. St. Thomas is a beautifully decorated Church as well with great people too.

:rolleyes: I know I know… I sound like the kind of guy who thinks that all his churches are just perfect. Well aren’t they? 👍 😃

Let me know if you guys decide to visit any of those, and maybe I’ll be able to be there for that visit as well.

in Him… Anthony
 
Cluny said:
The one time I attended the Chaldean Catholic Liturgy, I did not notice the women covering their heads.

This, in itself, means nothing. I’m sure it varies from place to place. Do whatever feels comfortable.

If you go to

www.kaldu.org

you can find the official English translation of the Chaldean Liturgy.
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Nice link. Actually found an answer to another questionI had. Clergy from Eastern Rite Churches can be elevated to the College of Cardinals.

kaldu.org/1_chandean_church/index.htm
 
JohnT58,

Nice quote you have in your sig. 👍

Regarding Eastern clergy as cardinals, I think the cardinals in the Ukranian Greek Catholic Church are probably more commonly seen in the West… and they are an Eastern Rite Church.

We were quite happy when Mar Emmanuel was elected cardinal. I think especially with all that was happening to our church, it was even more touching. God grant him long life.

Well work calls… 🤷 sorry for the short replies to all.
 
Friend Anthony-
Re:
mlouise007 said:
St. Mary Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church …in Campbell… St. Matthew’s in Ceres… St. Thomas in Turlock.
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Since you’re familiar with these specific churches that we are hoping to visit, can you tell me do they all use pews? Is standing, sitting, or kneeling the dominant posture during the Qurbana, Liturgy? I’m thinking I will put a message in my parish bulletin asking anyone who is interested in going with me to contact me. If anyone wants to join me I’d like to let them know some basics of what to expect. How long is Sunday 11:00 a.m service typically?

-Marylouise
 
Hi Marylouise,

All of the churches have pews for sitting. During the Liturgy, the predominant stance is standing. There are parts of sitting as well and kneeling during sections.

In Him,
Anthony
 
Anthony-
I was just looking for some Qurbono samples on YouTube and see that there are a number of clips of your church there 🙂

"The first Holy Qurbono of the St Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox congregation in Bay Area (San Francisco/ San Jose) which was celebrated on Saturday May 9th, 2009 by H.E. Archbishop Clemis Eugene Kaplan and assisted by Fr. Sabu Thomas. "

youtube.com/watch?v=tMLY64mqJt8&feature=related
youtube.com/watch?v=QJRgVhFf8QA&feature=related
youtube.com/watch?v=M8JO-3Iegsc&feature=related
youtube.com/watch?v=AzsZi3kU6_k

-Marylouise
 
antgaria said:
Hi Marylouise,

The links you provided are actually Syrian Orthodox {Oriental Orthodox} and not our Church. Some quick links I found with some pictures of our small church are the following:

kaldaya.net/2009/04/April16_09_A6_GoodFriday_StMary_CA.html
kaldaya.net/2009/04/April16_09_A5_Easter_StMary_CA.html

Regards,
Anthony
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🙂 Oops… I should have read more carefully what I cut and pasted there LOL. AlI I noticed was the “Qurbono”, “St. Mary’s” and “San Jose”.

Syrian Orthodox St. Mary’s looks like maybe the men and women tend to sit on separate sides in the church.

Thanks for your photos! I especially love those Good/Holy Friday photos. Your Sepulcher was beautiful. I love calla lilies.
 
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