About Saint George [Chaldean] · Shelby Township, Michigan
St. George Chaldean Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic (Chaldean) parish serving the Chaldean-Iraqi Catholic community of Shelby Township, Michigan, in Metro Detroit. The parish was founded in 2000 and celebrated its first Mass at 45700 Dequindre Road on December 23, 2005. Today it is a thriving, multilingual congregation that celebrates the Chaldean Rite in Chaldean/Surath (Neo-Aramaic), Arabic, and English. It belongs to the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Detroit, though geographically it sits within the territory of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. Under pastor Rev. Fawaz Elia Kako and three parochial vicars, the parish runs an extensive set of ministries, choirs, religious education, and a perpetual adoration chapel, and is known locally for its vibrant liturgical life.
- Established
- 2000
- Patron
- Saint George (soldier-saint who defended the Church and confessed his faith in difficult circumstances)
- Rector
- Rev. Fawaz Elia Kako
- Diocese
- Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Detroit (within the geographic territory of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit)
Why belong here
St. George is a single parish that genuinely holds three worlds under one roof: the ancient Chaldean (Syriac) liturgy in Surath, Arabic Mass for heritage-speaking families, and English Masses for younger generations and newcomers. Whether you are a cradle Chaldean Catholic, an Iraqi Christian family new to Metro Detroit, or an English-speaking inquirer, there is a Mass time and language that fits, plus a full sacramental and devotional life: weekday and Sunday Masses, perpetual adoration in the chapel, regular confession, weddings, baptisms, First Communion preparation, religious education, altar serving, and choirs for adults, children, and the Chaldean/Arabic community. The parish's website explicitly invites visitors to 'bring Christ to others through our actions, supported by prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary and nourished by the Holy Eucharist.'
Mass times at Saint George [Chaldean]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 6:50 PM
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM
- By request — call the parish office at (586) 254-7221 to schedule a private confession with a priest
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel (perpetual / 24/7 — code 5673 'LORD', accessed through the left side of the parking lot)
- Tuesday 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM (in chapel)
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (in church, publicly exposed)
- Thursday 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM (in church)
- 1st Friday of the month 7:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Welcome from the Pastor
The homepage of St. George Chaldean Catholic Church features a direct welcome from the pastor. Rev. Fawaz Elia Kako writes: 'I am so glad that you are here browsing through our website! St. George Chaldean Catholic Church hosts a large number of very active ministries, events, and programs for all ages. St. George is a community of believers that strive to live their faith by making a difference for Christ in the world.' He frames the parish's mission in the words: 'In our own time and place, within our families and neighborhoods, at work and in our parish, let us do the same: Bring Christ to others through our actions, supported by prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary and nourished by the Holy Eucharist. May God bless you and your families.'
- Rev. Fawaz Elia Kako — Pastor
- Mission statement: Bring Christ to others through action, prayer, and the Eucharist
Parish History
St. George was established in 2000 to serve Chaldean Catholic families in the northern Detroit suburbs. The community built its church at 45700 Dequindre Road in Shelby Township and celebrated its very first Mass on Friday, December 23, 2005, remaining open through Christmas weekend. Opening-weekend Masses were offered in Sourath (the Chaldean neo-Aramaic liturgical language), Arabic, and English. Within a few years the parish had grown into one of the most active communities in the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Detroit.
- Parish founded: 2000
- First Mass celebrated: December 23, 2005
- Original opening-weekend schedule included Sunday Masses at 10 AM (Sourath), Noon (English & Sourath), and 2 PM (Sourath & Arabic)
Sacraments
The parish website presents the seven sacraments — Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Marriage — with catechetical explanations. In the Chaldean tradition, Confirmation is typically conferred together with Baptism (in infancy), rather than as a teenage milestone as is more common in the Latin Rite. The Eucharist is received weekly, with a dedicated First Communion program for children.
- Baptism — usually in infancy; arranged through the parish office
- Confirmation — typically received together with Baptism in the Chaldean Rite
- Eucharist / First Holy Communion — annual preparation program
- Penance / Reconciliation — scheduled times plus by appointment
- Marriage — coordinated through the parish (Martina Karoumy, Wedding Coordinator)
- Anointing of the Sick and Holy Orders also offered
Faith Formation: CCD, Catechism & First Communion
Religious education is at the heart of parish life at St. George. The parish runs a Religious Education (CCD) program under Director James Sesi, plus a dedicated First Holy Communion program led by Director Rebecca Kakos and Co-Director Stephanie Hermiz, and a Private Catechism track (with required documents such as a child's baptismal certificate) for families preparing for the sacraments outside the regular CCD calendar.
- Religious Education Director: James Sesi
- First Holy Communion Director: Rebecca Kakos
- First Holy Communion Co-Director: Stephanie Hermiz
- Private Catechism registration available through the parish
Liturgical Music & Choirs
St. George maintains four choirs supporting its trilingual liturgical life. The Arabic & Chaldean Choir, directed by Dlawar Murad, leads the heritage-language liturgies. Two English choirs — an adult choir under Valene Jadan and a kids' choir under Francesca Hermez — lead the English Masses. A team of three altar-server directors coordinates servers for the different Sunday Mass times.
- Arabic & Chaldean Choir — Dlawar Murad
- Adult English Choir — Valene Jadan
- Kids English Choir — Francesca Hermez
- Altar Servers: Arkan Meka (10 AM & 1 PM), Steve Warda (11:30 AM), Deanna Dickow (7:30 PM)
Parish Leadership & Staff
The parish is led by a pastor and three parochial vicars, supported by a Parish Council, a Finance Committee, a parish secretary, and volunteer directors for each ministry. The parish office is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 AM to 4 PM (closed Mondays).
- Pastor: Rev. Fawaz Elia Kako
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Namir Narra, Rev. Joseph Nannoshi, Rev. Eahab Ishak
- Parish Secretary: Martina Karoumy
- Parish Council President: Benjamin Daoud
- Finance Committee: Alhan Kalasho, Renee Kakos
- Website coordinator: Joseph Babi
- Tech-Team: Steve Kassab, Fady Aboona