Feb. 06--EL CAJON, Calif. -- Speaking in Aramaic, Father Noel Gorgis is preaching to parishioners of St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Church at a Saturday night Mass.
Older parishioners are pleased that Gorgis celebrates Mass -- and hears confessions -- in Arabic and Aramaic, the ancient language of the Chaldean people. Younger parishioners appreciate Gorgis' use of websites and live-streaming.
FOR THE RECORD
10:42 a.m.: The headline on an earlier version of this article said Father Noel Gorgis was an L.A. Chaldean priest. Gorgis is based in El Cajon, about 16 miles northeast of San Diego.
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In his four years at St. Peter, the soft-spoken Gorgis, a naturalized U.S. citizen, has become a popular figure among the faithful, many of whom, like their priest, are immigrants from Iraq.
The dispute between El Cajon and Irbil involves a question of what it means to be a Catholic, said Rebecca Moore, professor of religious studies at San Diego State.
"The issue is: Where is your loyalty? Is it to your own self or to the church of Jesus Christ?" Moore said. From that perspective, Sako may someday be seen as a Catholic hero for fighting the Islamic State radicals, she said.
But to the parishioners of St. Peter, the issue of Father Noel is practical, not theological.
"We are praying every day for him," said Beth Younan, 54, who was born in Kirkuk, Iraq, and is now a member of the parish council at St. Peter. "We know that prayer can do miracles."
