George Garmo

Georges Francis Garmo
Archbishop of the Eparchy of Mosul
Archbishop Garmo with Blessed Pope John Paul II
See	Archeparchy of Mosul
In Office	September 14, 1980 – September 9, 1999
Predecessor	Emmanuel Daddi
Successor	Paulos Faraj Rahho
Orders
Ordination	December 8, 1945
Personal details
Born	December 8, 1921 Tel Keppe, Iraq
Previous post	Priest

Mar George Garmo (or Georges Garmou) (1921–1999) was the Archbishop of the Chaldean Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul (Mausiliensis Chaldaeorum) in Iraq from September 14, 1980 until his death on September 9, 1999.

Biography

He was born Georges Francis Garmo on December 8, 1921 in Tel Keppe near Mosul, Iraq. George Garmo entered the Chaldean Patriarchal Seminary in 1934; in 1939 he left to Rome to further his studies. While in Rome, George Garmo was ordained a priest on December 8, 1945. He received a Ph.D in Divinity and a Masters Degree in Philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome.

Mission in Patriarchate Seminary In Iraq

During this time there was a scarcity of educated Catholic priests in Iraq. As Rev. Garmo was studying to receive a Ph.D in philosophy, he was requested by the Patriarchate to return to Iraq to minister to the growing Chaldean Patriarchal Seminary, which at the time lacked an extensive Theology and Philosophy department and staff. Rev. Garmo returned to Iraq in the summer of 1947, where he would spearhead the new and improved Philosophy and Theological studies at Chaldean Patriarchal Seminary the following year. Following his first year as a teacher, in 1949 he was elevated to rector of the Seminary, in which capacity he served until September 1960. During his tenure as Seminary Rector, Garmo was assisted by Patriarch Mar Raphael Bidawid before his elevation to the Patriarchate.

Mission In USA

Patriarch Mar Paul II Cheikho appointed Garmo as pastor of Mother of God Parish in Southfield, Michigan.^[1] In 1964, while serving as pastor of Mother of God Church, Garmo began fundraising drives, with the help of the Parishioners and Parish council he was able to purchase a 9-acre (36,000 m²) plot of land in Southfield on Telegraph Road. After the completion of the church, he continued fundraising with the members of the Chaldean Iraqi American Association of Michigan (CIAAM) to raise funds to transfer ownership of 3 acres (12,000 m²) of the church's 9-acre (36,000 m²) property to the CIAAM to build a Chaldean social club, which would become Southfield Manor. Mother of God Cathedral still stands on this property today. In 1964, Garmo was transferred back to Baghdad to serve for two years before he returned to Southfield. On September 27, 1966, Garmo was again appointed Pastor of Mother of God Church and Jacob Yasso Associate Pastor.

Under Garmo's supervision as Pastor of Mother of God Church there were many significant milestones for the Parish and the Chaldean community. In July 1972, the community celebrated the groundbreaking of a newly built Mother of God Parish, as well as a social hall that was dedicated by Patriarch Mar Paul II Cheikho on May 15, 1973. In September 1976, a convent for the Chaldean Sisters was opened on the church's property. Also, while serving as Pastor for Mother of God Church on September 1977, Garmo received Sarhad Yawsip Jammo as an Associate Pastor, who later be named the first bishop of the St. Peter the Apostle Diocese in the US. On April 25, 1979 Garmo began building a new and larger Mother of God Church adjacent to the still standing church which would be converted to the present church's rectory. The new church was completed and dedicated on September 13, 1980 by Patriarch Mar Paul II Cheiko.

Archbishop of Mosul

On September 14, 1980 Garmo was consecrated Archbishop of Mosul by the Chaldean Patriarch. He served as Archbishop of Mosul until September 9, 1999 when he died of cancer.^[2]

Episcopal lineage

Episcopal lineage
Consecrated by:	Mar Paul II Cheikho

Preceded by Emmanuel Daddi †

Archbishop of Mosul 1980–1999

Succeeded by Paulos Faraj Rahho

Archbishop George Garmo was Co-Consecrated By:

• Mar Raphaël I Bidawid †
• Bishop Abdul-Ahad Sana

Archbishop George Garmo was the Principal Co-Consecrator of:

• Archbishop Stéphane Katchou
• Bishop Ibrahim Namo Ibrahim
• Bishop Youssef Ibrahim Sarraf
• Archbishop Jibrail Kassab

References

1. ^ Center Profile: Mother of God Chaldean Church
2. ^ Archbishop Georges F. Garmou [Catholic-Hierarchy]

External links

• Kaldu.org - Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle website
• Catholic Hierarchy.org

Persondata
Name	Garmo, George
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	December 8, 1921
Place of birth	Tel Keppe, Iraq
Date of death	1999
Place of death