On Sunday, May 4th, an announcement was made at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The announcement heralds the entry of the parishes of ACAD {the Assyrian Catholic Apostolic Diocese} into the local Chaldean Catholic dioceses.
It seems that after their uplifting visit to Rome, H.G. Mar Sarhad and H.G. Mar Bawai are fully underway to leading their diocese to a union. On Saturday, May 10th, at noon, at St. Thomas Chaldean Chatholic Church in Turlock, CA, there will be a joint prayer of unity with the clergy of the two diocese. Then at 5pm, there will be the “Syameeda” {laying of hand} of St. Matthew Church in Ceres. This new church will be opened with the clergy as one.
The parishes which were part of ACAD will be joining the local Chaldean Diocese, so that our California parishes will be in the diocese of H.G. Mar Sarhad, where as the parishes in other areas or countries will be joining whichever diocese they fall under territorially.
This is a significant event in history. Truly, it would have been a significantly greater steps towards unity had the entire Assyrian CotE kept in earnest pursuit of communion with the Catholic Church. However, the significance of this diocese uniting with the Chaldean church should not be underestimated: it has been about 180 years since any similar scale unity between our people. This diocese has managed to follow the teachings of our Church, and to establish communion with our brothers already in the Catholic Communion.
Although one can have regrets about not being able to do it as a whole, one must remember to trust in God All-mighty. Our goal now will be two-fold… to continue in the path that is opened to us, in true faithfulness to the teachings of the Church fathers, and to pray and help our brothers and sisters that did not take this step.
SEE ALSO:
Mar Bawai Soro & The Presentation to Synod in 2005
Post from BaghdadHope: Mar Bawai Soro
Father Jarjis Robert Sayd & Mar Bawai Soro At The Vatican: Hope, Defiance, Unity
Assyrians Electing To Enter Communion With Rome: Declaration Of Intent
The Black Cordelias 
This is wonderful news and a sign that the Lord is drawing us to himself by drawing us into reconciliation and unity with each other. All this and in time for Pentecost. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Dear Fr. J.
Thank you. Everything went like a dream. I just got home not too long ago {yes, it is 2:30am}, and I am still not tired or sleepy enough to think about sleeping. Unfortunately, I have some work to attend to tonight, but when I wake up in the morning, I will be sure to share what all took place {perhaps after Church if I don’t wake up in time to write before}.
It was wonderful, and everything worked well, and as was pointed out, all in time for the Pentecost. As the followers of Christ had gathered in prayer, and in unity, so we too were gathered in prayer and unity and tomorrow will be the Pentecost.
Praise be to God!
Wonderful!!!!!!
So, next time I receive the Holy Sacrament, I will be “in full communion” with almost 3000 new brothers…
Praise be to God!
I am only a bit chagrined that this is not reported on ByzCath.com.
It is, but buried at the end of an old thread.
Hmmmm….should this surprise?
Since it isn’t on their top ten topic list? No surprise at all!
Plus, it’s way too positive a story.
Dear All,
It was my fault I buried it at the end of an old thread. I didn’t at the time know how to start a new topic. … now I know.
Didn’t know that was you. Can you ask a moderator or the admin to split it off into its own thread?
Yes, Father, it is news to celebrate and highlight. It should definitely have its own thread. I am glad that the festivities were happy ones. Are most of the former ACAD in California or are they also in Detroit? I know a Chaldean priest who has a lot of family in Detroit in the Arab community there.
A great number of us are from Chicago, not Detroit. I think that most of our people in the Detroit area are already members of the Chaldean church.
Point of clarification, Chaldeans are not Arabs, they are Assyrians, the same as the 3,000 Assyrians who recently joined them in their communion with Rome. If they were Arabs, they wouldn’t be using Syriac as their liturgical or mother tongue, they would be only using Arabic.
Thanks Raman. I do get that confused. Part of this confusion on my part comes from conversations with my Iraqi Chaldean priest friend who says that in Iraq while the official language of the rite is Syriac, the liturgy is most often said, depending on the region, in Arabic because many of the people through the generations have lost the knowledge of their original tongue. Is this what you have experienced, Raman?
It’s true many Chaldeans speak Arabic but the church retains Syriac in its liturgy. Many Chaldeans speak Syriac, a few are Syriac scholars, including some famous Chaldean clergy. My point was not to mix up Iraqi Chaldeans with the mainly Shi’ite Iraqi Arab community of Detroit, there are vast differences between the two communities.
[…] 4 mai la réunion de ce diocèse schismatique au diocèse chaldéen catholique Saint-Pierre-et-Paul a été annoncée, et l’union a été célébrée lors de la vigile de la Pentecôte, à l’église […]
[…] 4 mai la réunion de ce diocèse schismatique au diocèse chaldéen catholique Saint-Pierre-et-Paul a été annoncée, et l’union a été célébrée lors de la vigile de la Pentecôte, à l’église […]
5wThank’s for greate post.6k I compleatly agree with last post. gqm
паркет и ламинат 4p
QzIMmLtR7d3Se
Панно из мозаики для ванной, кухни, бани, сауны, бассейна, хамама, фасада дома. Изготовление панно из мозаики в Москве. стеклянная мозаика