About Mar Abraham Chaldean Catholic Church · Scottsdale, Arizona
Mar Abraham Chaldean Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic (Chaldean-rite) parish serving the Chaldean-Iraqi Catholic community of the Phoenix metropolitan area from its home at 6816 East Cactus Road in Scottsdale, Arizona. It belongs to the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle (headquartered in El Cajon, California) and, although it sits within the territorial Diocese of Phoenix, it is an eparchial (rite-specific) parish rather than a Roman-rite one. The parish is part of the Southern Vicariate of the eparchy and ministers to roughly 600 Chaldean families in the Valley, alongside sister communities such as Holy Family Mission in Phoenix and Holy Cross Mission in Gilbert/Tucson. Liturgies are celebrated in English, Chaldean (Neo-Aramaic) and Arabic, and the parish is led by Fr. Peter Patros as pastor with Fr. Roni Schamoun as parochial vicar.
- Patron
- Mar Abraham (a Chaldean-rite saint; 'Mar' is Syriac for 'Saint')
- Rector
- Fr. Peter Patros
- Diocese
- Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle (El Cajon/San Diego), within the territorial Roman Diocese of Phoenix; parish is in the eparchy's Southern Vicariate.
Why belong here
Mar Abraham gives Chaldean-rite Catholics in the Phoenix area a true spiritual home — a place where the ancient Qurbana (Eucharistic liturgy) is celebrated in Chaldean/Neo-Aramaic, English and Arabic, and where Eastern Catholic identity is preserved within a U.S. context. The parish offers regular devotions such as the Sodality of Mary (3rd Wednesdays) and the Sacred Heart Sodality (1st Fridays), Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, family events, youth activities, and Adult Bible Study in both English and Arabic. It is also the mother parish for sister Chaldean missions in Phoenix, Gilbert and Tucson, making it the heart of Chaldean Catholic life across Arizona.
Mass times at Mar Abraham Chaldean Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (every 3rd Wednesday of the month only)
- 1st Friday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Monday–Friday: by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (every 3rd Wednesday of the month — Sodality of Mary, followed by Mass at 6 PM)
- 1st Friday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM — Eucharistic Adoration, Sacred Heart Sodality, followed by Mass at 6 PM
Parish Identity and Eparchy
Mar Abraham is a Chaldean Catholic (Eastern Catholic) parish in full communion with Rome, belonging to the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle. Although physically located in the territory of the Roman Diocese of Phoenix, as an eparchial parish it follows the authority of Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta of San Diego. The parish forms part of the eparchy's Southern Vicariate and serves as the principal Chaldean-rite church in Arizona.
- Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle (El Cajon/San Diego)
- Southern Vicariate
- Within the territorial Diocese of Phoenix
- Patron: Mar Abraham
Parish Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently served by Fr. Peter Patros as pastor and Fr. Roni Schamoun as parochial vicar. Both are listed on the St. Peter Diocese clergy roster and on the parish's own contact information. Fr. Peter Patros was ordained December 19, 2018, and now leads the Scottsdale parish.
- Fr. Peter Patros — Pastor (ordained Dec 19, 2018)
- Fr. Roni Schamoun — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Ray Sarkees — former pastor, now serving at St. Michael Chaldean Catholic Church, El Cajon, CA
Sacramental Schedule
Confessions and Eucharistic Adoration are scheduled in tandem with two regular monthly devotions: the Sodality of Mary on the 3rd Wednesday and the Sacred Heart Sodality on the 1st Friday. Both run from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with Mass following at 6:00 PM. Confessions are also available Monday through Friday by appointment.
- Confession: 3rd Wednesday 5:00–6:00 PM
- Confession: 1st Friday 5:00–6:00 PM
- Confession: Mon–Fri by appointment
- Adoration: 3rd Wednesday 5:00–6:00 PM (Sodality of Mary)
- Adoration: 1st Friday 5:00–6:00 PM (Sacred Heart Sodality)
Devotions and Sodality Life
Devotional life centers on the Marian Sodality (1st Thursday at Holy Family Mission) and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Sodality (1st Friday at Mar Abraham), with Eucharistic Adoration preceding each. The Arabic Chaldean Bible Study meets on Fridays, and the English Adult Bible Study meets at Holy Family. Parish announcements also note annual observances such as the Ascension (Sulaqa) and the Feast of the Body of Christ, plus a Christmas season Easter Sunday Mass celebrated in both Chaldean and English.
- Sodality of the Virgin Mary — 1st Thursday, Holy Family
- Sacred Heart Sodality — 1st Friday, Mar Abraham
- Arabic Chaldean Bible Study — Friday evenings
- English Adult Bible Study — at Holy Family
- Feast of the Ascension (Sulaqa) Mass
- Feast of the Body of Christ Mass
- Easter Sunday Mass (Chaldean & English)
Formation, Youth and Family
The parish supports faith formation for all ages: First Holy Communion preparation for Chaldean children across Arizona, parish-wide Examinations of Conscience posted online for children, teens, adults and Arabic speakers, and a youth ministry that has fundraised to send young adults (18+) to the diocesan Youth Convention in San Diego. Family life is woven through events such as Father's Day gatherings and Family Bingo hosted in the parish halls.
- First Holy Communion preparation
- Examination of Conscience — Children / Teens / Adults
- Examination of Conscience — Arabic
- Youth program (ages 18+) — diocesan Youth Convention
- Father's Day parish event
- Family Bingo after Sunday Chaldean Mass
Parish Resources
The parish's 'Resources' page hosts devotional and formation materials for the wider Chaldean-rite community, including the Emmanuel Prayerbook — a shortened but robust prayerbook of the Chaldean Rite containing the Divine Office (morning, evening and night prayers), devotionals and other prayers following the liturgical calendar. The same page links to the St. Peter Chaldean Diocese Podcast and to Examinations of Conscience in English and Arabic to help prepare for the sacrament of Confession.
- Emmanuel Prayerbook (Chaldean Rite)
- St. Peter Chaldean Diocese Podcast
- Examination of Conscience — Children / Teens / Adults
- Examination of Conscience — Arabic
The Chaldean Catholic Community in Arizona
Mar Abraham is the mother parish for a network of Chaldean Catholic communities across Arizona. Holy Family Mission (Phoenix) and Holy Cross Chaldean Mission (with a 5 PM English Sunday Mass at St. Thomas Byzantine Catholic Church in Gilbert) are both extensions of the Scottsdale parish, while a Tucson Mission continues to serve the southern part of the state. In 2021 the Catholic Sun estimated roughly 1,200 Chaldean Catholic families in Arizona — with about 600 belonging to Mar Abraham and Holy Family — reflecting decades of immigration from Iraq, particularly after the Gulf Wars and the 2014 ISIS displacement of Christians from the Nineveh Plain.
- Holy Family Mission — Phoenix
- Holy Cross Mission — Gilbert (St. Thomas Byzantine Catholic Church)
- Tucson Mission
- Roughly 600 Chaldean families in Mar Abraham / Holy Family
- ~1,200 Chaldean Catholic families statewide (2021 estimate)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Ray Sarkees
Served as pastor of Mar Abraham; later moved to St. Michael Chaldean Catholic Church (El Cajon, California) where he is listed as a parochial vicar.