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Chaldean Catholic Churchin Switzerland
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From Mesopotamia to the Alps, one and the same faith

Heir to the Church of the East, the Chaldean Catholic community in Switzerland prays in the language of Christ a faith received from the earliest centuries, and keeps it alive today from Geneva to Winterthur.

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“Together, let us keep the faith alive, preserve our heritage and pass it on with hope to future generations.”

Our story

A heritage handed on from generation to generation

The Chaldean Catholic Church draws its origin from the very ancient Christian tradition of Mesopotamia, one of the first lands to be evangelised. Heir to the Church of the East, it entered into full communion with the Catholic Church in the sixteenth century while keeping its own spiritual, liturgical and theological heritage.

It celebrates the faith according to the Chaldean rite and preserves in its prayer the use of Aramaic, the language of Christ, a living sign of a two-thousand-year-old Christian heritage faithfully handed on from generation to generation.

The community in Switzerland

The Chaldean community in Switzerland gathers the faithful belonging to this Church as well as anyone interested in its religious, pastoral and cultural activities.

This community takes full part in the mission of the Catholic Church in Switzerland, of which it is an integral part, and collaborates in its work of evangelisation, communion and service. As such, it belongs to Migratio, the body of the Catholic Church in Switzerland responsible for the missions and the pastoral care of communities of migrant origin.

The ministry of the priest

The priest appointed to serve the Chaldean community receives his canonical mission from the competent Swiss bishops. He exercises his ministry in communion with them and in accordance with the provisions of canon law, at the service of ecclesial unity and of the spiritual growth of the faithful.

The language of Christ

Aramaic, alive in prayer

In the Chaldean liturgy, Aramaic is no museum piece: it is the language of prayer, sung at Mass and handed on to the children.

To pray it together is to remember that the faith comes to us from a particular land and a particular voice, and that it is entrusted to us to be passed on in turn.

Our name, in our languages
  • Église Chaldéenne Catholique en SuisseFrançais
  • Chaldäisch-Katholische Kirche in der SchweizDeutsch
  • الكنيسة الكلدانية الكاثوليكية في سويسراالعربية

Chaldean appears on our logo; we prefer not to give an approximate transcription of it here.

The path of faith

  1. First centuriesIn Mesopotamia, one of the first lands to be evangelised.
  2. Sixteenth centuryEntry into full communion with the Catholic Church.
  3. TodayA living community at the heart of the Church in Switzerland.
Where we celebrate

A scattered community, gathered together

Masses in the Chaldean rite are celebrated in turn in several cities of French- and German-speaking Switzerland, so that everyone can join the community without crossing the country.

Full calendar

You are most welcome

Whether you belong to the Chaldean community, are passing through Switzerland, or are simply curious about this very ancient rite, our celebrations and gatherings are open to you.

See the coming MassesContact