Magazine design · St. Peter's Chaldean Catholic Diocese
Kepha, Spring 2025: He Is Risen
Kepha's Easter issue explains the sacraments of initiation in the Chaldean tradition, tells the story of St. Peter, the rock, and charts the church year at a glance.
St. Peter's Chaldean Catholic Diocese
Kepha
The Easter issue
He Is
Risen
Baptism, confirmation, and first communion in the Chaldean tradition.
ExclusiveFirst communion and the sacraments of initiation
PlusOur patron, St. Peter, the rock
Contents
Spring 2025
Features
- 4
The Sacraments of Initiation
Baptism, confirmation, and first communion, as the Chaldean Church celebrates them.
- 6
Peter, the Rock
The fisherman Jesus renamed, and the cathedral that bears his name.
- 8
The Church Year at a Glance
Ten seasons shape the East Syriac year, from Subara to the Dedication of the Church.
In every issue
- From the Editors3
- Parish Spotlight: Holy Family10
- Parish Spotlight: Mar Abraham11
- Every Family at the Table12
- Mass Times in San Diego County13
- Around the Eparchy14
- Mark Your Calendar15
- Mass, Wherever You Are16
April 20
Easter Sunday
Christ is risen! Ask your parish office for Holy Week and Easter Mass times.
Kepha is published quarterly for St. Peter's Chaldean Catholic Diocese, the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle. Spring 2025 edition.
Eparchy Office 1627 Jamacha Way, El Cajon, CA 92019. 619-579-7997. office@stpeterdiocese.org
Cathedral Office 619-579-7913
Design and production HQT
Photographs Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle
Mass times and event details were current at press time. Please confirm with your parish office.
From the Editors
Christ Is Risen
Easter is the oldest feast of the Church and the center of its year. For fifty days, from the empty tomb to Pentecost, the liturgy repeats the same news in every language our parishes pray in: the Lord is risen, and death does not have the last word.
Spring is also the season of first communions. Across the eparchy, children who were baptized and confirmed as infants come to the altar to receive the Eucharist for the first time. Our cover story explains how the Chaldean Church celebrates these sacraments of initiation, and why the order is different from the one many neighbors know.
We also tell the story of our patron. Before he was St. Peter he was Simon, a fisherman, and it was Jesus who gave him the name Kepha. On page 8, a chart of the church year shows where Easter sits among the ten seasons of the East Syriac calendar.
From all of us who make this magazine, a blessed and joyful Easter.
Christ is risen; he is risen indeedThe editors of KephaSt. Peter's Chaldean Catholic Diocese
The Sacraments of Initiation
In the Chaldean Church, an infant is baptized and confirmed in the same liturgy. First communion waits for the age of reason.
Three sacraments bring a person into full communion with the Church: baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist. The Church calls them the sacraments of initiation, and every Catholic receives all three.
Baptism and confirmation together
In the ritual of the Chaldean Catholic Church, baptism and confirmation are celebrated together, during the same liturgy. The child is washed in the water of baptism and anointed with holy oil, and leaves the church a full member of the Body of Christ.
First communion at the age of reason
Holy Communion is delayed until the age of reason, when a child can begin to understand what the Eucharist is. Parishes prepare children through their catechism programs, and most first communions take place in the spring.
Registering
Families can register for baptism, first communion, and marriage through the Sacraments page at stpeterdiocese.org, or by calling their parish office.
Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.Matthew 19:14
Why the order is different
Families who know the Latin Church, where many children are confirmed as teenagers, are sometimes surprised by the Chaldean order. Both traditions celebrate the same three sacraments. The Eastern Churches have kept the ancient practice of giving baptism and confirmation together, so the newly baptized infant is sealed with the Holy Spirit at once.
What families can do now
- Call the parish where the child will be baptized well before the date you have in mind.
- Keep the certificate of baptism and confirmation safe. First communion programs and, later, marriage preparation will ask for it.
- Ask your parish when its catechism program enrolls, and what grade a child must be in to begin first communion preparation.
A first communion is a family feast, but it is a beginning, not an end: from that day the child is welcome at the altar at every Mass.
Peter, the Rock
He was a fisherman from Galilee named Simon. Jesus gave him a new name, and built his Church on it.
Simon, son of John, fished the Sea of Galilee with his brother Andrew. The Gospel of John records that when Andrew brought him to Jesus, Jesus looked at him and said: "You will be called Cephas," the Greek form of the Aramaic Kepha, which means rock.
"You are Peter"
At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples who they said he was. Peter answered for them all: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied that on this rock he would build his Church, and gave Peter the keys of the kingdom.
Denial and forgiveness
Peter was not made of stone. On the night of the Passion he denied his Lord three times. After the Resurrection, on the shore of the same sea where he had been called, the risen Christ asked him three times, "Do you love me?", and three times gave him the charge to feed his sheep.
Feed my sheep.John 21:17
The first to preach
At Pentecost it was Peter who stood up in Jerusalem and preached the first sermon of the Church. According to ancient tradition he later led the Church in Rome, where he gave his life as a martyr.
The cathedral that bears his name
St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral on Jamacha Way in El Cajon is the seat of the eparchy and its busiest parish. Mass is celebrated there every day: at 10am in Chaldean and Arabic and at 6pm in English on weekdays, and four times on Sunday, in Arabic, English, and Chaldean.
Confession is heard at every daily and weekend Mass, and the cathedral's adoration chapel is open twenty-four hours a day. On the first Sunday of every month, a Special Needs Mass is celebrated at 2:30pm in English.
A name for the whole eparchy
The eparchy itself carries Peter's name: the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle. Every parish from El Cajon to Las Vegas belongs to it.
The Church Year at a Glance
The Chaldean Church keeps the East Syriac calendar, which divides the year into seasons, most of them about seven weeks long. Each has its own readings, hymns, and character.
Easter falls in the season of Qyamta, the Resurrection. The Emmanuel Chaldean Prayer app follows the calendar day by day.
- 1. Subara the Annunciation
Four Sundays before Christmas. The angel's announcements to Zechariah, to Mary, and to Joseph prepare the Church for the birth of Christ - 2. Yalda the Nativity
Christmas. The birth of the Lord and the days that follow it - 3. Denha the Epiphany
From January 6. The baptism of Christ in the Jordan and the revelation of the Trinity - 4. Sawma Rabba the Great Fast
Seven weeks before Easter. Lent, the season of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving - 5. Qyamta the Resurrection
Easter and the weeks after. Fifty days of rejoicing in the risen Christ - 6. Shlihe the Apostles
From Pentecost. The descent of the Holy Spirit and the mission of the apostles - 7. Qaita Summer
The weeks of summer. The growth of the Church, sown by the apostles - 8. Eliya and Sliba Elijah and the Cross
Around September 14. The prophet Elijah and the exaltation of the Holy Cross - 9. Mushe Moses
Autumn. The law and the prophets, and the journey toward the promise - 10. Qudash Idta the Dedication of the Church
The last four Sundays. The Church as the bride of Christ, closing the year
He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.Matthew 28:6
Phoenix, Arizona
Holy Family Chaldean Catholic Church
Holy Family serves the Chaldean Catholic community of the Phoenix area from its church on North 21st Avenue, beneath a white steeple and a green roof that stands out among the trees.
The parish celebrates Mass in all three of the eparchy's languages: a Saturday Mass in English at 5pm, and Sunday Masses in Arabic at 10am and in Chaldean at 11:30am. Confession is available before or after Mass.
Holy Family belongs to the eparchy's East Vicariate, alongside Mar Abraham in Scottsdale, the Holy Cross Mission in Gilbert, and the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mission in Tucson.
Mass times
- Saturday
- 5pm English
- Sunday
- 10am Arabic, 11:30am Chaldean
Clergy
Visit
Address
16612 North 21st Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85023
Phone
480-905-1545
Scottsdale, Arizona
Mar Abraham Chaldean Catholic Church
On East Cactus Road in Scottsdale, Mar Abraham gathers Chaldean Catholics from across the northern Phoenix valley.
Sunday Mass is celebrated at 10am in English and 11:30am in Chaldean. The parish also celebrates Mass on the first Friday of the month and the third Wednesday of the month at 6pm, with confession at 5pm before each.
The church's bright, simple sanctuary, with its rows of wooden pews facing a crucifix and altar, is shown below. The parish keeps its own website at marabrahamcc.org.
Mass times
- Sunday
- 10am English, 11:30am Chaldean
- 1st Friday
- 6pm
- 3rd Wed.
- 6pm
Clergy
Visit
Address
6816 East Cactus Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Phone
480-912-1554
Website
marabrahamcc.org
Youth and Family
Every Family at the Table
On the first Sunday of every month, St. Peter Cathedral celebrates a Special Needs Mass, followed by fellowship for families.
Some families stay away from Mass because they worry that a child or an adult with special needs will not be welcome. The cathedral's monthly Special Needs Family Mass and Fellowship is meant for exactly those families, and for anyone who would like to pray alongside them.
The Mass is celebrated in English at 2:30pm on the first Sunday of each month, at the cathedral on Jamacha Way.
The same welcome reaches into the cathedral's sacramental preparation. Its first communion registration asks parents whether a child has special needs and what they are, so that catechists can prepare before the first class rather than after it.
Good to know
- The Mass is on the first Sunday of every month, at 2:30pm.
- It is celebrated in English.
- Brothers and sisters, grandparents, and caregivers are welcome.
- Questions? Call the Cathedral Office at 619-579-7913.
Mass Times in San Diego County
Weekday and weekend Masses at the eparchy's parishes in San Diego County, and at the mission in Temecula.
| Mon to Fri | 10am Chaldean and Arabic, 6pm English |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 10am Chaldean and Arabic, 4pm English |
| Sunday | 8am Arabic, 10am English, 12pm Chaldean, 4pm English |
| Mon to Fri | 9am Chaldean, 6pm English |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 6pm English |
| Sunday | 8am Arabic, 10am and 12pm Chaldean, 6pm English |
| Mon to Fri | 10am Chaldean, 6pm English |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 5pm English |
| Sunday | 8am Arabic, 10am Chaldean, 12pm English, 7pm English |
| Mon to Fri | 6pm Chaldean and Arabic |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 8:30am Chaldean, 10am Arabic, 12pm English |
| Sunday | 1:30pm Chaldean and English |
|---|
Confession and adoration
Confession is heard at every daily and weekend Mass at the cathedral and during Sunday Masses at St. Michael, St. John, and St. Joseph. The cathedral's adoration chapel never closes, and St. John holds adoration at 8:30am and 5pm on weekdays.
Around the Eparchy
Register for the Sacraments Online
The Sacraments page at stpeterdiocese.org now carries registration for baptism, first communion, and marriage. Families can begin the paperwork from home and follow up with their parish office.
The page also explains the order of the sacraments of initiation in the Chaldean Church, the subject of this issue's cover story.
Follow the Eparchy Online
News, photographs, and announcements from the cathedral are posted on Facebook, Instagram, and X under the name @stpeterchaldean.
The St. Peter YouTube channel carries the cathedral's liturgies and programs. All of the links are on the home page of stpeterdiocese.org.
Holy Week to Pentecost
The great feasts of spring, and the standing appointments at the cathedral.
Palm Sunday
Jesus enters Jerusalem, and Holy Week begins.
Good Friday
The Passion and death of the Lord.
Easter Sunday
The Resurrection of the Lord, and the beginning of the season of Qyamta.
Ascension
Forty days after Easter, the Lord ascends to the Father.
Pentecost
The Holy Spirit descends on the apostles, opening the season of Shlihe.
Sts. Peter and Paul
The apostles' feast in the Roman calendar, and a day to pray for the eparchy that bears Peter's name.
Special Needs Mass
Every first Sunday of the month at 2:30pm in English, St. Peter Cathedral.
Adoration
The cathedral adoration chapel is open around the clock.
Holy Week times
Holy Week and Easter Mass times vary by parish. Call your parish office, or see the cathedral's pages on Facebook and Instagram at @stpeterchaldean.
St. Peter Media Center
Mass, wherever you are
Homebound, traveling, or far from a Chaldean parish? The cathedral's liturgies are on the St. Peter YouTube channel.
Find the links at stpeterdiocese.orgSt. Peter's Chaldean Catholic DioceseChaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle
1627 Jamacha Way, El Cajon, CA 92019
Eparchy Office 619-579-7997 · stpeterdiocese.org
Kepha · Spring 2025Delivered to the homes of parishioners across the eparchy. To update your address, contact your parish office.
About this issue
The spring issue arrives for Easter. Its cover story explains the sacraments of initiation as the Chaldean Church celebrates them, with baptism and confirmation given together and first communion at the age of reason.
A second feature tells the story of the eparchy's patron, the fisherman Jesus renamed Kepha, and a two-page infographic charts the ten seasons of the East Syriac church year. Parish profiles go to Holy Family in Phoenix and Mar Abraham in Scottsdale, and a family page introduces the monthly Special Needs Mass at the cathedral. The issue closes with Mass times across San Diego County and the Holy Week and Easter calendar.
Inside this issue
- p. 3From the Editors
- p. 4The Sacraments of InitiationBaptism, confirmation, and first communion, as the Chaldean Church celebrates them.
- p. 6Peter, the RockThe fisherman Jesus renamed, and the cathedral that bears his name.
- p. 8The Church Year at a GlanceTen seasons shape the East Syriac year, from Subara to the Dedication of the Church.
- p. 10Parish Spotlight: Holy Family
- p. 11Parish Spotlight: Mar Abraham
- p. 12Every Family at the Table
- p. 13Mass Times in San Diego County
- p. 14Around the Eparchy
- p. 15Mark Your Calendar
- p. 16Mass, Wherever You Are
Stories, schedules, and photographs in this issue come from the diocese's website, stpeterdiocese.org. Mass times and event details were current when the issue was prepared; readers should confirm them with their parish office.
