St. Jacob Melkite Catholic Church - San Diego

06/15/2026

“Take, eat; this is My Body, which is broken for you for the remission of sins. Drink of this, all of you; this is My Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins.”

These sacred words are proclaimed during the Divine Liturgy as the faithful are called to partake of the Holy Mysteries. The seal of the Prosphora reveals the entire Church gathered around Christ: the Most Holy Theotokos, the saints, and the faithful both living and departed, united in the Eucharistic offering of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

06/11/2026

In a remarkably candid exchange with young people in Barcelona's Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium June 9, Pope Leo XIV reflected on depression, su***de and the pressures of modern life, warning that many modern societies have embraced a vision of progress that burdens people with expectations and demands that undermine their well-being.

"It is important to recognize how mental health is increasingly threatened in societies that consider themselves advanced," he said, calling it a sign that "there is something deeply wrong" with a culture centered on constant performance and productivity.

📸 (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

06/10/2026

O Great and Almighty God, send down upon us from Your high and holy heavens Your holy wisdom, that sits at Your side!

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ

Christ is with us!

Congratulations to all our graduates! May the Lord continue to bless you in all your future endeavors!

If you'd like us to remember in prayer and recognize your HS or college (or Law School, etc.) grad please send Fr Shaun or Reader Rami the name of your graduating child, godchild, niece, nephew, cousin, grandchild, etc., by Thursday close of business (i.e., 6:00 pm).

As always, many thanks and blessings for your support!

In Christ,
Fr Shaun

06/01/2026

With its 243 paragraphs and more than 200 references, “Magnifica Humanitas – on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence,” the first encyclical of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, will undoubtedly stand as a milestone in the development of Roman Catholic social doctrine. In retrospect, one better understands Cardinal Robert Prevost’s choice of the name “Leo” a little over a year ago: it signals a clear intention to situate his pontificate within a tradition of continuity, particularly in the Church’s mission to serve the most vulnerable in society, as did Pope Leo XIII.

While the document draws deeply from the longstanding teachings of the Magisterium, it is equally evident that something new is taking shape. Although artificial intelligence and its many ramifications constitute a recurring thread throughout the text, Pope Leo seizes the opportunity to revisit critical moments in the development of the Church’s Social Doctrine.

Notably, he expresses a profound and disarming honesty in addressing past failures—especially in relation to slavery: “It is impossible not to feel deep sorrow when contemplating the immense suffering and humiliation endured by so many in stark contrast to their immeasurable dignity as persons infinitely loved by the Lord. For this, in the name of the Church, I sincerely ask for pardon” (par. 176).

GRE 🇬🇷

Η εγκύκλιος Magnifica Humanitas: Για τη διαφύλαξη του ανθρώπινου προσώπου στην εποχή της τεχνητής νοημοσύνης, η πρώτη εγκύκλιος της Αγιότητος του Πάπα της Ρώμης Λέοντος ΙΔ΄, που αριθμεί 243 παραγράφους και περισσότερες από 200 βιβλιογραφικές και λοιπές παραπομπές, αναμένεται αναμφίβολα να σηματοδοτήσει μια νέα καμπή στην κοινωνική διδαχή της Ρωμαιοκαθολικής Εκκλησίας. Έναν και πλέον χρόνο μετά την εκλογή του, γίνεται πια κατανοητή η επιλογή του ονόματος “Λέων” από τον Καρδινάλιο Robert Prevost: μια επιλογή που φανερώνει τη σαφή πρόθεση να ενταχθεί η διακονία του Πάπα σε μια παράδοση συνέχειας, στο πνεύμα του Πάπα Λέοντος ΙΓ΄ και της μέριμνάς του για τους πλέον ευάλωτους της κοινωνίας.

Read Fr. Nicolas’s full piece for the Observer at the link in the comments below.

06/01/2026

We have another fast coming up!
This means another countdown calendar!

Accompany us on a Walk through the Apostles’ Fast! It begins on June 1st for those on the Western Calendar. Those on the Eastern Calendar can jump in on June 8th!

Print it for yourself or look for it in the May Issue of ByziKids!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CEOxA5ieLJtontKj98fwpUj__8tXQkKn/view?usp=drivesdk

06/01/2026

05/20/2026

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05/19/2026

A special message from our Bishop Michael Pham to the Muslim Community of San Diego.

“We stand united in solidarity and prayer with the Muslim community who was subjected to a senseless act of violence at the Islamic Center of San Diego which claimed the lives of five people including the suspects.

The Islamic Center has been a longtime partner in our collaborative work for justice, especially in accompanying immigrants. Houses of worship must always be sanctuaries of peace, safety, and prayer. An attack on one faith community is an attack on the sacred dignity of all human life.

On behalf of the entire Roman Catholic community of San Diego, we offer my deepest condolences, solidarity, and fervent prayers to the families of the victims and the entire Muslim community.”
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05/15/2026

An important message from our Diocese of San Diego.
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05/14/2026

The longtime Melkite Catholic leader of Aleppo stayed beside Syria’s Christians through war, insisting God’s providence preserved them.