About Saint George [Melkite] · Sacramento, California
St. George Melkite Greek Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic parish in Sacramento, California, belonging to the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton (with its see in Massachusetts). Founded in the late 1970s as the first Melkite community in the Sacramento region, the parish serves the area's faithful with the Byzantine-rite Divine Liturgy and the ancient sacramental life of the Christian East, while remaining in full communion with Rome. The community worships God through English, Arabic, and Greek at its chapel on Folsom Boulevard, and is currently pastored by Fr. Hezekias Carnazzo. The parish is widely recognized for its liturgical music, its iconographic tradition, and its outreach through the Institute of Catholic Culture and the Eparchy's Office of Catechesis and Evangelization.
- Established
- 1977
- Patron
- Saint George (the Great Martyr)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Hezekias (Carnazzo)
- Diocese
- Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton (Our Lady of the Annunciation, Newton, Massachusetts)
Why belong here
St. George offers Sacramento-area Catholics a rare opportunity to worship in the ancient Byzantine tradition while remaining in full communion with the Bishop of Rome. The Sunday celebration includes Orthros (Morning Prayer) at 9:15 a.m. and the sung Divine Liturgy at 10:30 a.m., typically in English with Arabic and Greek, with frequent Confession and a strong custom of memorials for the departed. A warm, multigenerational community of around 70 families — many of Middle Eastern descent, but all are welcome — gathers around liturgical music and iconography, with a pastor who is both a Melkite priest and the Eparchy's Director of Catechesis and Evangelization.
Mass times at Saint George [Melkite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:30 p.m. (with Vespers)
- Sunday 9:15 a.m. (with Orthros)
- Half hour before each service, and by request
About St. George Melkite Greek Catholic Church
St. George Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Sacramento, California, is an Eastern Catholic parish belonging to the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton, with its see in Massachusetts. The parish is the oldest Melkite community in the Sacramento region and serves the area's faithful with the Byzantine-rite Divine Liturgy while remaining in full communion with the Pope. The community gathers at its chapel on Folsom Boulevard for the sung Divine Liturgy, with regular Vespers and Orthros, frequent opportunities for Confession, and a strong devotional life organized around the liturgical year.
- Eastern Catholic parish in full communion with Rome
- Member of the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton
- Oldest Melkite community in the Sacramento area
- Approximately 70 families of Middle Eastern descent and beyond
History of the Parish
The parish was planted in 1976 when Father Max Chalhoub arrived in the San Francisco Bay Area to begin a Melkite mission, with the first Palm Sunday and Pascha celebrated in Sacramento in 1977 at Joe Halaway's L'il Joe's Restaurant. A permanent property was found at 1620 Bell Street, and the first Liturgy at the Bell Street church was celebrated in 1979. The community grew through visits from Patriarch Maximos V Hakim (1981), Archbishop Joseph Tawil (1982), and later Archbishop Cyril Bustros (1991) and Bishop John Elya (1996). After heavy rains collapsed the roof of the church and rectory in 1995, the buildings were substantially remodeled under Father Mark Melone's pastorate. Father Mark — beloved as the parish's iconographer — served from 1991 to 2011, was succeeded by Dominican Father Brendan McAnerney in 2017, and was followed by current pastor Father Hezekias Carnazzo. The parish celebrated its Jubilee in 2003 and today continues a Byzantine liturgical life in the heart of Sacramento.
- 1976 — Father Max Chalhoub arrives in San Francisco to plant the mission
- 1977 — First Palm Sunday and Pascha celebrated at L'il Joe's Restaurant
- 1979 — First Liturgy at the Bell Street church
- 1981 — Visit of Patriarch Maximos V Hakim
- 1982 — Visit of Archbishop Joseph Tawil
- 1991 — Archbishop Cyril Bustros visits
- 1993 — Parishioner James Graham ordained
- 1995 — Roof collapse from heavy rains; major remodel
- 1996 — Bishop John Elya re-consecrates the cross
- 2003 — Jubilee year celebration
- 2011 — Father Mark Melone installed; he paints the church's icons
- 2016 — Deacon Dorotheos ordained by Bishop Samra
- 2017 — Father Hezekias Carnazzo named Pastor
The Melkite Greek-Catholic Church
The Melkite Greek-Catholic Church originated in Jerusalem and Antioch, where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians; it remains one of the largest Christian communities in the Holy Land. Its name comes from the word 'malkā' (king) — Middle Eastern Christians were called 'Melkite' because they followed the faith of the Byzantine emperor ('melek') in supporting the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon. Melkites settled in the United States over a century ago, with even greater immigration in recent decades from the Middle East. The Melkite Church is in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome, while preserving the Byzantine liturgical, theological, and spiritual tradition.
Clergy
The parish is led by Rev. Fr. Hezekias Carnazzo, who has served as Pastor since 2017. He is assisted by Reader Fred Struck, who has served the parish for 32 years. Fr. Hezekias also serves eparchial-wide as Director of the Office of Catechesis and Evangelization for the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton, and is the Founder and Executive Director of the Institute of Catholic Culture.
- Fr. Hezekias Carnazzo, Pastor — ordained May 1, 2016; pastor since 2017
- Reader Fred Struck — 32 years of parish service; [email protected]
Our Pastor — Fr. Hezekias Carnazzo
Fr. Hezekias Carnazzo graduated from Christendom College in 2004 and completed a master's degree in systematic theology with an Advanced Apostolic Catechetical Diploma at Christendom College's Graduate School of Theology. In 2009 he founded the Institute of Catholic Culture and has served as its Executive Director ever since. Ordained to the priesthood on May 1, 2016, he also serves as Director of the Office of Catechesis and Evangelization for the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton. A recipient of the Guadalupe Radio Network's 'Fishers of Men' award and the Brent Society's Bishop Thomas J. Welsh Award for Distinguished Service, Fr. Hezekias has lectured throughout the U.S., is a regular guest on the Son Rise Morning Show, and has appeared on EWTN's Sunday Night Live, Marcus Grodi's Coming Home Network, and The Journey Home. He and his wife Linda have seven children.
- [email protected]
- (916) 920-2900 ext. 1
Mass and Service Schedule
The parish follows the Byzantine liturgical calendar, with the Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings preceded by Orthros (Morning Prayer). Confession is regularly available before and after each service, and by request. Feast days are marked by their own Liturgies and evening Vespers.
- Saturday 5:30 p.m. — Vespers & Confession
- Sunday 9:15 a.m. — Orthros & Confession
- Sunday 10:30 a.m. — Divine Liturgy
- Feast Day Eve 6:30 p.m. — Vespers & Confession
- Feast Day 6:30 p.m. — Divine Liturgy
Music and Liturgy
The Divine Liturgy is sung. Most of the service is in English, with some Arabic and Greek. The structure parallels the Latin rite — entrance, Liturgy of the Word, homily, Liturgy of the Eucharist, Communion, and closing prayers — but follows the Byzantine tradition throughout: parishioners typically stand or sit (no kneeling), incense is used, and the service is enriched with psalmody and chant. The parish website features recordings so visitors can listen to the kind of music they will encounter at the Divine Liturgy.
Sacraments and Memorials
Please contact Father Hezekias for information on the Mysteries of Christian Initiation (six months' notice required), Holy Crowning / Marriage (ten months' notice required), and Holy Baptism. Confession is available upon request or one half hour before each service, and is also heard during the regular Saturday Vespers and Sunday Orthros. The parish maintains a strong custom of Divine Memorial Intentions: a memorial service, offered for the reposed, is customarily celebrated at the end of Sunday Divine Liturgies, traditionally on the 3rd, 9th, and 40th day after a death and on subsequent anniversaries.
- Holy Baptism
- Mysteries of Christian Initiation (6 months' notice)
- Holy Crowning — Marriage (10 months' notice)
- Divine Liturgy (Eucharist)
- Holy Confession
- Divine Memorial Intentions for the departed
Catechesis, Formation, and Outreach
Through its pastor, St. George is a center for catechesis and evangelization far beyond Sacramento. Fr. Hezekias founded the Institute of Catholic Culture in 2009, an adult faith-formation organization dedicated to the re-evangelization of society through free educational and cultural opportunities, and he directs the Eparchy's Office of Educational Services, which provides catechetical materials and training, the 'Theosis Program' for adult enrichment, the Antioch retreat, pre-baptismal catechesis, and program materials for parishes across the country.
- Institute of Catholic Culture (founded 2009)
- Office of Catechesis and Evangelization, Eparchy of Newton
- Theosis Program (adult enrichment)
- Antioch Retreat
- Pre-baptismal catechesis
- Regional catechist formation and training
Visit Us
Visitors are warmly welcomed at St. George. Come as you are, and the parish will be honored to worship with you. The parish is at 9501 Folsom Blvd. in Sacramento; ample parking is available on site. For Confession, sacraments, or funeral/burial arrangements, contact the parish office at (916) 920-2900.
- Address: 9501 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95827
- Phone: (916) 920-2900
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stgeorgemelkite.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Max Chalhoub1976–1980
Melkite pathfinder; celebrated the first Palm Sunday and Pascha in 1977 at L'il Joe's Restaurant and the first Liturgy at the Bell Street church in 1979; departed in 1980 to found St. John of the Desert in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Father Maximos Mardelli1981–1984
Served until transferring to St. Elias the Prophet in San Jose, CA.
- Father Gus Deasio
Served; later transferred to St. Joseph in Akron, OH.
- Father Jim Babcock1989–
Arrived in 1989.
- Father Ken Sherman
Later transferred to St. Nicholas in Rochester, NY.
- Father Mark Melone1991–2011
Installed by Archbishop Ignatius in 2011 after ~20 years; beloved iconographer who painted icons on the church's walls and ceilings; transferred to St. Joseph in Lawrence, MA.
- Father Brendan McAnerney, OP2017–
Dominican priest of the Latin rite with Melkite faculties; previously at Ashland, Oregon; succeeded Father Mark Melone; later became Pastor Emeritus upon retirement.
- Father Hezekias (Carnazzo)2017–present
Originally appointed Parish Administrator, then Pastor; ordained to the priesthood May 1, 2016; also serves as Director of the Office of Catechesis and Evangelization for the Eparchy of Newton and as Founder/Executive Director of the Institute of Catholic Culture.