Welcome Father David Stephen!
Photo: Portrait of Fr. David Stephen
Father David Dominic Stephen is a Chaldean Catholic Priest born in Baghdad, Iraq, who moved with his family to the United States in 1999. He entered the Chaldean Seminary of Mar Abba the Great in San Diego, California, in 2009 and graduated from John Paul the Great Catholic University in Escondido, California, with a degree in Biblical Theology in 2014.
Call to the Priesthood
He was ordained to the Priesthood on August 14, 2015, on the eve of the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, a Feast very dear to his heart.
Photo: Fr. David Stephen with his parents
He first felt called to the priesthood when he was 8 years old, and for a brief period of time, he considered entering the Jesuit novitiate after high school. It was then that the late Assyrian Chaldean Bishop Sarhad Jammo stepped in, setting the stage for what would prove to be an intense encounter.
“He said, ‘If you are at your friend’s house and you hear that your house is on fire, and another house in your neighbourhood is on fire, where would you go to first?’
I said, ‘My house, of course,’ like ‘what’s he talking about? Of course it’s logical that I would go to my house first.’
And then he just stared at me for about two minutes until finally it clicked, what he was trying to get through. This is my home. This is my house,”
Photo taken by Nancy Wiechec
Newly ordained, Fr. David Stephen receives a kiss from his aunt during a reception at Saint Peter Chaldean Cathedral in El Cajon. A Dominican Sister of Saint Catherine of Siena, she travelled from Iraq to be with the family for his ordination.
Further Studies in Rome
Photo: Fr. David Stephen with the Sons of the Covenant Chaldean Monks at St. Peter’s Square, Vatican
After six years of ministry in the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle, he was sent to Rome, Italy, to pursue a licentiate in Moral Theology at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum. He completed his licentiate in 2024 and began the doctoral programme in Moral Theology in 2025.
Photo: Fr. David Stephen shaking hands with his Holiness, Pope Francis in Rome
Return to Catholic Chaldean Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle
He has now returned to the Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle and has been assigned as the youth administrator for Northern California for the time being while also continuing to research and write his dissertation on thought recognition technology and human cognitive liberty.
Photo: Fr. David Stephen ministering to the Chaldean faithful the Holy Sacrament of Baptism to an infant
Father David loves working with the youth and dedicates his time and energy to teaching them to know Christ through caring for those who are less fortunate. He enjoys travelling, especially to Iraq, where he is able to continue his service even if for a short period during his free time. He also enjoys preparing the daily Gospel reading and a short homily online as well as other spiritually educational videos through social media.
We warmly welcome Father David Stephen to the Totus Tuus Apostolate!
