St. Peter’s Episcopal welcomes new rector

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Sycamore welcomed a new rector, the Rev. Georges Jallouf, this week.

Jallouf and his wife, Maha, have moved to Sycamore from Oklahoma City, home of their three adult sons and 2-year-old grandson.

Jallouf was born in Damascus, Syria, attended the College of Yousef el Hazma in Damascus and received his Master of Philosophy from the Oriental Franciscan Seminary in Cairo, Egypt.

He then received his Master of Divinity from the Franciscan Seminary in Jerusalem, Israel, and License of Pastoral Theology at Lateran University in Rome.

In 2004, he came to the U.S. and in 2006 attended the University of the South School of Theology in Sewanee, Tennessee, where he completed his Anglican study.

His ordinations include Franciscan monk, 1984; diaconal ordination, 1992; priesthood ordination, Aleppo, Syria, 1994; and in 2007, he was received into the Episcopal Church as a priest in the Diocese of Florida.

Jallouf’s professional experience includes serving in curate ministry in Rome, vicar general in Aleppo, Syria, chaplain in a children’s hospital in Naples, Italy, and commissariat general of the Holy Land in Naples.

In 2004, he transitioned between the Roman Catholic and Episcopal Church. He served as a curate in Cedar Key, Florida, and Jacksonville, Florida, before becoming rector of
St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After leaving St. Luke's, he became a hospice chaplain in Oklahoma City.

Pastoral care is a priority of Jallouf’s ministry. His wife often accompanies him on his pastoral visits. She has been involved in his ministry, and they both enjoy cooking and working with their parishioners and community.

At 9 a.m. Sunday, Jallouf will preside over his first service at St. Peter’s. He is looking forward to getting to know the people of St. Peter’s, as well as the Sycamore community.

St. Peter’s is at 218 Somonauk St. in Sycamore.