About St. Joseph Chaldean · Spring Valley, California
St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church is a Chaldean Catholic parish located at 3348 Sweetwater Springs Blvd in Spring Valley, California, serving the faithful of East County San Diego. The parish belongs to the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle (headquartered nearby in El Cajon) and celebrates the Chaldean Rite in Syriac/Arameic. It is a multilingual community that celebrates Mass in Chaldean, Arabic, and English, reflecting the Iraqi-Chaldean Catholic diaspora it was formed to serve. A preschool (St. Joseph Academy Preschool, ages 2-5) and a program of sacraments and faith formation are part of parish life.
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Monsignor (Chorbishop) Philip Najim
- Diocese
- Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle (El Cajon, CA) — located within the geographic territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
St. Joseph Chaldean is one of the few parishes in the United States where the faithful can worship week after week in the Chaldean Rite in Syriac/Arameic and in Arabic, while also offering fully English-language Masses for Chaldean-American families and newcomers. With a pastor who also serves as Judicial Vicar of the Eparchy, a parochial vicar dedicated to youth ministry, four Sunday Masses, daily Chaldean/Arabic Masses, sacraments for children and adults (baptism, communion, marriage), an on-site licensed preschool, and confession available during every Sunday Mass, it offers both a strong Chaldean liturgical identity and the practical parish life of a vibrant East County community.
Mass times at St. Joseph Chaldean
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Available during all Sunday Masses
About St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church
St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church is a Chaldean-rite (Syro-Oriental) parish in Spring Valley, California, part of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle. The parish provides a home for Chaldean Catholic faithful in East County San Diego, offering the Chaldean liturgical tradition in Syriac/Arameic as well as Arabic- and English-language celebrations so that multi-generational Chaldean families can worship together. The church sits geographically within the territory of the Roman Diocese of San Diego but, as an Eastern Catholic parish, is immediately subject to its own eparchy rather than to the Latin-rite bishop.
- Rite: Chaldean (Syro-Oriental)
- Eparchy: Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle
- Pastoral language communities: Chaldean/Neo-Aramaic, Arabic, English
Clergy
The parish is led by Chorbishop (Monsignor) Philip Najim, who serves both as Pastor of St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church and as Judicial Vicar of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle. He is assisted by Father Tristan Farida as Parochial Vicar and Youth Minister. Fr. Farida is a graduate of the Seminary of Mar Abba the Great (the first Chaldean Catholic seminary outside Iraq) and was ordained to the priesthood on March 13, 2022.
- Monsignor (Chorbishop) Philip Najim — Pastor and Judicial Vicar of the Eparchy
- Father Tristan Farida — Parochial Vicar and Youth Minister (ordained March 13, 2022)
Sacraments
The parish administers the usual seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, including baptism, first Holy Communion, confirmation, marriage, and others. First Communion preparation is structured as an annual program with online registration, currently advertised for the 2026 First Communion cycle. Detailed guidance and registration forms are linked from the parish website under 'Sacraments.'
- First Communion — annual preparation and registration (see parish website)
- Other sacraments: contact the parish office at 619-754-4222
Youth Ministry
Youth ministry at St. Joseph Chaldean is led directly by Parochial Vicar Fr. Tristan Farida, providing a clear pastoral point of contact for teens and young adults in the Chaldean-American community. The program is integrated with the parish's sacramental preparation and broader community life.
- Director: Fr. Tristan Farida (Parochial Vicar)
St. Joseph Academy Preschool
The parish campus houses St. Joseph Academy Preschool, a licensed early-childhood program serving children ages 2 through 5. It operates under California license #376701557 and is part of the parish's broader mission of faith formation and family ministry.
- Ages served: 2 to 5 years
- California License #376701557
- Preschool Telephone: 619-754-9222
- Schedule options: Full-time and part-time, with 5-day, 3-day (Mon/Wed/Fri) and 2-day (Tue/Thu) programs
- Yearly registration/material fee: $150 per student
- Snack provided by preschool; parents provide daily lunch
Diocese & Eparchy
St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church belongs to the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle, headquartered at St. Peter's Chaldean Catholic Cathedral in El Cajon, California. The eparchy was erected by Pope John Paul II on May 21, 2002, carved out of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle (Detroit), and is exempt — meaning it is immediately subject to the Holy See and not part of any Latin-rite ecclesiastical province. It serves Chaldean Catholics across nineteen western U.S. states; the largest concentration of the faithful is in San Diego County, which is why four of its early parishes (including this one) were founded in the Spring Valley / El Cajon corridor.
- Eparchy established: May 21, 2002
- Cathedral: St. Peter's Chaldean Catholic Cathedral, El Cajon, CA
- Jurisdiction: 19 western U.S. states; largest community in San Diego County
Visit & Contact
The parish office is located at 3348 Sweetwater Springs Blvd, Spring Valley, CA 91977, and can be reached by phone at 619-754-4222, with fax 619-588-8281. Office hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, closed on Wednesdays. The parish maintains an active presence on Facebook and Instagram for news and announcements.
- Address: 3348 Sweetwater Springs Blvd, Spring Valley, CA 91977
- Phone: 619-754-4222
- Fax: 619-588-8281
- Office Hours: Mon–Sat 10 AM–3 PM (closed Wed)
- Website: http://www.stjosephchaldeanca.org/
- Facebook: facebook.com/stjosephchaldeanca
- Instagram: instagram.com/stjosephchaldeanca