"In Marseilles there are about 150 families of Catholic Chaldean rite, most of Iraqi origin, under the legal and pastoral direction of the Archbishopric of Marseilles led by Mgr.Paul Georges Pontier who granted to them, and to the Chaldean parish priest of the city, Father Paul Bashi a chapel to celebrate our rite that is called "Our Lady of the Chaldeans," but the Archbishopric, considering the migratory movements that in recent years led many Iraqi Chaldeans to Europe, considered that it was the time for the community to have a more spacious church. After hearing the proposals made by the Archbishopric, and after the evaluation by dozens of the community members who visited it, the choice fell on Saint Mark church, that is located on a hill where you can enjoy a beautiful landscape, but above all that it is large enough to accommodate all the necessary activities for the religious life of the community. The church is indeed great, has a rectory, a great hall, classrooms for catechism and a garden. I like to think that this church will become a garden for the Chaldeans in Marseilles. The families will have a meeting place where they will be able to celebrate the anniversaries, children will have classrooms for catechism and a garden to play, if God wants in the future we will also organize Aramaic language courses. "

Then Saint Mark church will become a Chaldean church. Saint Mark is not a saint of your tradition. Will the name of the church be changed?

"Obviously everybody knows who is Saint Mark and no one wants to forget him. It is also true, however, that for agreements made with the Archbishopric when the new church will be ready the chapel we are using will be given back to the Diocese and the church of Saint Mark will inherit its name of Our Lady of the Chaldeans."

So when Marseilles will have a real Chaldean church?

"The church needs some renovation and for this reason two commissions were appointed, one of the Latin Archbishopric and one of the Chaldean church, to study what to do and the costs. In this regard I must thank the Chancellor of the Archbishopric of Marseilles, Mgr. Edoard Bouquier who is committed to make an appeal to all parishes to help the Chaldean community in this project."

I imagine that the community is happy for this new opportunity…

"Certainly. The Chaldean community in Marseille is well integrated and to have a reference point being a church but also a meeting and studying place can only enhance this integration. The Chaldeans want to live our liturgical tradition within what really is the Holy Catholic Apostolic Church, not to differentiate themselves but to show the beauty of a universal church made also of different rites and languages and united in the love for Christ. The joy for the piece of news was tangible on last Sunday when I celebrated the Holy Mass in the chapel of Our Lady of the Chaldeans with Mgr. Edoard Bouquier and Father Paul Bashi, and even during the lunch that followed it and that gathered most of the Chaldeans faithful in Marseille. This step, this new church in France, is a demonstration of the Grace of God, and we are all united in praying that the peace and the harmony the Chaldean community enjoys in France may soon descend also on our faithful who still suffer in our beloved and battered Iraq. "