St Mary's Committees

Arch-Deacon Father George was born in Baghdad Iraq on February 6, 1964, to his parents the late Alexander & the late Almas Bet-Rasho. He migrated to the United States with his family at the age of ten.  He was raised in Chicago Illinois where he attended Trumbull grammar school, graduated from Senn high School then continued his education attending Truman College, transferring to Northeastern University then studying at St Johns Seminary College. He received his bachelor’s in Theology from Grand Canyon University.

In 1986 he married the love of his life Helen Bet-Rasho daughter of the late Gewargis and Mariam Malik Chikko in Chicago Illinois. He is the father to four lovely daughters Christine Mariam, who is married to Banipal Shamoon, Alexandra Nineweh who is married to David Youmara, Arbella Josephine who is married to Alberto Albazi and Shana Brateil. He is the proud grandfather to Ashur Banipal, Neenib Atouraya, Adessa Heleneh, Ramsin Gewargis and his soon to be newest addition Lilya Helen. 

His love for Christ was shown at an early age, at the tender age of seven he began his journey into the studies of the Assyrian Church of the East staring at Mar Odisho Parish in Baghdad and continued his studies when arriving in Chicago at Mar Sargis Parish and Mar Gewargis Cathedral. Studying under some of the best teachers as the late archdeacon Father Kako Lazar, Reverand Father Athanasis Yousip, Reverand Father Emmanuel at present His Grace Mar Emmanuel Yosip, the late Reverand Father Charles Klutz, and ArchDeacon Father Auchana Kanoun. 

ArchDeacon was ordained as a reader (Qarooya) in 1983, a sub-deacon (Hopidyaqna) in 1985 then a Deacon (Shamasha) in 1986. He served as a deacon for 10 years at Mar Gewargis Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois and continued his service at Mar. Zaia Cathedral in Modesto, California. On December 22, 1996he was ordinated to the position of Priesthood and was assigned to serve at Saint Mary’s Parish in Los Angeles, California then in 2009 he was ordained to the title of Cor Bishop (Cor-Apiscopa) under His Grace Mar Aprim Khamis. In 2024 he was yet again honored and lifted to the position of Arch Deacon (Arcanyaqon) under His Holiness Mar Awa Royal, Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East.

Father Paulis (James) Darmo was born in the city of Kirkuk Iraq. At young age, he was a member of the Choir at St. George Church in Kirkuk. He Went to medical school in Baghdad in the late eighties and came to America in 1993 and lived in Phoenix, Arizona. He became the first deacon to be ordained in Phoenix on October 23rd , 1994. He also attended pre-medical school there at Arizona State University and graduated with dual bachelors in Biology and Arts ( Directing for theatre) in 2002. In the year of 2006, he moved to Los Angeles to teach sciences for high school at the first Assyrian American Christian school in Los Angeles. And in 2009 he went to Chiropractic medical school and graduated in 2012 from Cleveland Chiropractic college  in Los Angeles. On October 15, 2017, Deacon James Darmo was ordained and Jerusalem to priesthood and his name was changed to Fr. Paulis Darmo. he became the first priest to be ordained in Jerusalem for the Assyrian church of the East after almost 600 years of no ordination in Jerusalem.  Now he is the assistant priest at St. Mary’s Church in Los Angeles and also he is the assigned priest to Saint Mary’s Church in Houston, Texas and Saint Jacob church in Dallas, Texas.  Father Paul is Darmo also practices as a doctor of chiropractic in Los Angeles. 

Please join 

Qasha Paulis Darmo

Every Tuesdays 8:00pm Bible Study Live on FaceBook 

St Mary's Board of Directors & Advisors

Mutwa Members:

President: Philip Younan

Vice President:

Benny Marikta 

Finance: Odesho Vardeh

Nancy Sarmast

Education: Josephin Elieh

Membership: Bernadette Vardeh & Suzie Epperson

Entertainment, Social Media: Josephine Minas

and Jackie Eshaya

Outreach: Jaklin Chalabi

Audit: Zaya Shahbaz

Ladies Auxiliary:

Gladis Barko

Youth: Zaya Aziz

Maintenance:

 Johnny Mansour

Secretary: Shana Rasho

Maloukheh:

Shamasha Walter Rouel

David Dizayer

Albert Davidoo

Fred Faramarzi

Noel Youcefi

Sargon Khaziran

Johnny Vardeh

We warmly welcome our fellow young individuals who are not yet part of our youth ministry but are interested in joining and eagerly anticipate the opportunity to connect with you. We enthusiastically invite other young Assyrians to join us and contribute their talents to the service of our church. Our youth program aims to cultivate spiritual growth among the youth of our parish and neighboring communities through fellowship, service, and worship. By becoming involved in our youth activities, you will discover your unique role in the church and find fulfillment in serving Christ. By becoming involved in youth hopefully one day you too may be eligible to attend and experience how youth conference can really change your life and make relationships with other Assyrian youth members from all over the world. 

The Association of Salt and Light of the Assyrian Church of the East.

History was made today at the launch of a new Association in the Assyrian Church of the East for faithfuls ages 25-40. The Mission of this Association will be to provide a venue and the means to strengthen the members of this age group in their life with Christ the Lord and at the same time strengthen their nationalistic Assyrian identity by teaching the Language and history of their Assyrian Heritage. With the Vision of creating and maintaining Assyrian Christian generations of years to come.