About Holy Cross [Chaldean] · Gilbert, Arizona
Holy Cross is a Chaldean Catholic mission in Gilbert, Arizona, part of the Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle of San Diego (serving Chaldeans and Assyrians across the western United States). It is hosted by Mar Abraham Chaldean Catholic Church in Scottsdale, and its Sunday liturgy is celebrated at St. Thomas Byzantine Catholic Church, 19 West Bruce Avenue, Gilbert. The mission brings the East Syriac Chaldean rite — celebrating the Mass in Chaldean (Neo-Aramaic) for the faithful in the East Valley of metro Phoenix.
- Patron
- Holy Cross
- Rector
- Fr. Peter Patros (Pastor of Mar Abraham Parish, Scottsdale, and Administrator of Holy Cross Mission in Gilbert)
- Diocese
- Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle of San Diego
Why belong here
Holy Cross Mission gives Chaldean Catholics in the East Valley a regular home where the Mass is celebrated in Chaldean (Neo-Aramaic) with the full East Syriac liturgical tradition. As a mission of Mar Abraham in Scottsdale, it brings the faithful the same devoted pastoral care of Fr. Peter Patros, together with devotions such as the Sodality of Mary, Sacred Heart Sodality, Eucharistic Adoration, and a women's group. It is also a place of cultural continuity, where Iraqi and Assyrian Catholic families worship together and pass down their faith — the legacy of a community that has known both persecution and deep perseverance.
Mass times at Holy Cross [Chaldean]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Available Monday–Friday by appointment (contact the parish office)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration with the Sacred Heart Sodality, followed by Mass at 6:00 PM)
About Holy Cross Chaldean Mission
Holy Cross is the East Valley mission of Mar Abraham Chaldean Catholic Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. It serves Chaldean and Assyrian Catholic families living in Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, and the surrounding communities, celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the East Syriac (Chaldean) rite. Although geographically located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, it comes under the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle, which is headquartered at St. Peter's Chaldean Catholic Cathedral in San Diego and serves Chaldean and Assyrian Catholics across 26 states of the western United States.
- Mission of Mar Abraham Chaldean Catholic Church, Scottsdale
- Hosted at St. Thomas Byzantine Catholic Church, 19 W Bruce Ave, Gilbert
- Sunday Chaldean-rite Mass at 5:00 PM
History of the Mission and Its Community
The Chaldean Catholic Church is one of the Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome; it entered Catholic unity in 1552 and traces its apostolic origins to St. Thomas the Apostle's preaching in Mesopotamia. The American Chaldean Catholic community grew rapidly through the 20th century as Iraqi Christian families fled persecution, sanctions, and war — most prominently after the Gulf Wars and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and again after the ISIS occupation of the Nineveh Plain in 2014. The mission in Gilbert is part of the Mar Abraham parish family in Scottsdale, which was shepherded by Bishop Felix Shabi (a relative of martyred Fr. Ragheed Ganni) and then by Fr. Ray Sarkees before the current pastor, Fr. Peter Patros, was assigned there in 2022.
- Chaldean Catholic Church in communion with Rome since 1552
- Mar Abraham parish family in Scottsdale serves as the mother parish
- Administrator since 2022: Fr. Peter Patros
Parish Clergy & Leadership
Holy Cross Mission is administered by Fr. Peter Patros, who is also the pastor of Mar Abraham Chaldean Catholic Church in Scottsdale. He was ordained on March 13, 2022, and his family is Iraqi — refugees who fled from Zakho into Turkey and eventually settled in the United States. The Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle is led by Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, who oversees Chaldean and Assyrian Catholic parishes and missions across 26 states of the western U.S.
- Fr. Peter Patros — Pastor of Mar Abraham and Administrator of Holy Cross
- Bishop Emanuel Shaleta — Bishop of the Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle
- Fr. Ray Sarkees — former pastor of Mar Abraham (now pastor emeritus in press references)
- Bishop Felix Shabi — former pastor of Mar Abraham
Devotions & Parish Groups
In addition to the Sunday liturgy, the Mar Abraham parish family gathers for several Chaldean devotional traditions and parish groups, including the Sodality of Mary, the Sacred Heart Sodality, and a Women's Group. Daily Arabic Vespers (Ramsha) is celebrated Monday through Friday at the Scottsdale parish.
- Sodality of Mary (monthly, third Wednesday evening)
- Sacred Heart Sodality (First Friday)
- Women's Group
- Arabic Vespers (Ramsha), Monday–Friday 6:30 PM at Mar Abraham Scottsdale
Belonging & Pastoral Care
Parishioners at Holy Cross come from Iraqi, Assyrian, and broader Middle Eastern Catholic backgrounds and gather around the East Syriac liturgy — a tradition kept alive in the diaspora after centuries in the Middle East. Fr. Peter Patros and the Mar Abraham community focus on sacramental life, family faith formation, and supporting newcomers and refugees, continuing the legacy of a Church that has known persecution yet persevered.
- Chaldean/Assyrian Catholic liturgical and cultural heritage
- Pastoral support for newcomers and refugee families
- Sacramental, devotional, and community life centered on the East Syriac Mass
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Ray Sarkees
Former pastor of Mar Abraham parish (the mother parish in Scottsdale); referenced in press coverage of Pope Francis's 2021 Iraq trip.
- Bishop Felix Shabi
Former pastor of Mar Abraham parish, related to martyred Fr. Ragheed Ganni; referenced by The Catholic Sun.