VOL. 13 ISSUE VIII
METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY SEPTEMBER 2017 $
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DIKH EE WHET? HOW ARE YOU?
The Chaldean Community Foundation and Mango Languages team up to create a Sourath series.
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CHALDEAN NEWS
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CONTENTS THE CHALDEAN NEWS
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34
SEPTEMBER 2017
VOLUME 12 ISSUE XII
40
departments
on the cover
6
18
CONVERSING IN CHALDEAN
FROM THE EDITOR BY VANESSA DENHA-GARMO
BY ASHOURINA SLEWO
Celebrating our culture and faith 8
IN MY VIEW BY MICHAEL SARAFA
Twenty years later we miss Diana’s humanity 9
The Chaldean Community Foundation and Mango Languages team up to create Sourath Series.
WHERE DO YOU STAND? BY MICHAEL SARAFA
Teaching Sourath at home?
features 20
BY MONIQUE MANSOUR
Community members dedicated to the Adopt-a-Refugee Family Program
10 NOTEWORTHY 12
CHAI TIME
14 RELIGION 15 OBITUARIES 32 34
22
CHALDEAN ON THE STREET BY HALIM SHEENA
GUEST COLUMN BY CHRISTEN JAMOUA
24
W3R gives back to the community 38
Faithkeepers Documentary 42
Chaldean Nun makes her mark as the principal in the United Arab Emirates
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A DEVOTION TO OUR LADY BY VANESSA DENHA-GARMO
CLASSIFIED LISTINGS
40 EVENTS
SISTER CAROLINE DEVOTES LIFE TO EXCELLENCE BY WEAM NAMOU
ECONOMICS AND ENTERPRISE BY ASHOURINA SLEWO
EASTERN CHRISTIANS INTERVIEW CARDINAL BY FRANCOIS VAYNE
Excursion through the promised land 36
CHANGING LIVES, ONE FAMILY AT A TIME
Marian Shrine is the new home for a local ministry
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SPIRITUAL TRIP BY PAUL NATINKSY AND VANESSA DENHA-GARMO
KIDS CORNER
Visit to Iraq brings local seminarians closer to their culture, faith
30
FLYING HIGH BY ASHOURINA SLEWO
Planned his career as a pilot after his first lesson
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POPE APPOINTS BISHOP SHALETA TO DIOCESE IN CALIFORNIA SEPTEMBER 2017
CHALDEAN NEWS 5
from the EDITOR
Celebrating our culture and faith
PUBLISHED BY
The Chaldean News, LLC
EDITORIAL
M
y hit or miss understanding of the Sourath language. Writer Ashourina Slewo pens the rath language really frustrates me. I used piece. It is another way to preserve our culture by to know it so much better in my younger keeping the language alive. years when I spent more time around my grandAlthough not restricted to the Chaldean mother Agatha and my mom’s family. It was spoCulture, devotions to our Mother Mary and ken all the time. When I lived with my parents, other saints are common in our community. It I listened to conversations and my grasp of the was the reason I wanted to cover the Shrine in language was pretty strong. Today, it is very weak. Pontiac that Fr. Alex Kratz and his ministry has When my sister-in-law was saying something purchased. We wanted to bring the story to you VANESSA to me the other day, I had to intently listen in during the Month of August, which is the month order to comprehend each word; I was spent. I DENHA-GARMO honoring the Assumption of Our Mother Mary, am so excited about Mango Languages finally EDITOR IN CHIEF but our Back to School theme bumped the story CO-PUBLISHER launching the Sourath series. It has been a longto this month. We were also able to bring a sniptime coming. This unexpected announcement pet about the Carey Ohio annual event in our pushed our Fall Fashion spread to the October issue. noteworthy section about the devotion to Mary. Speaking of preserving our culture and language, the Chaldean Cultural Center inside Shenandoah Country Club is hosting the grand opening event on Wednesday September 13. This museum is the only one of its kind in the world. If you have not taken a tour, it is a must. It is also a place to take visitors. You can schedule your own private tour for a nominal fee per person and then have dinner inside the restaurant. That is right – make it a night out. If you have not read about the cultural center, go to our website and search for the articles. We have written about it a few times. Not only do we try to educate our readers on a monthly basis, we create a weekly newsletter that is blasted out every Tuesday and we post on our social media sites almost daily. We are about educating the public about the Chaldean community while keeping our own people informed of what’s going on in the community. In every issue, we celebrate our culture and faith in Mango Languages films promotional video at the Chaldean Cultural Center some way. We want our readers to do the same.
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Vanessa Denha-Garmo MANAGING EDITORS
Denha Media Group Writers CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Christen Jamoua Monique Mansour Weam Namou Paul Natinsky Halim Sheena Ashourina Slewo Francois Vayne
ART & PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative PHOTOGRAPHERS
Vanessa Denha-Garmo Christen Jamoua Razik Ronan Ashourina Slewo
OPERATIONS Interlink Media
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Martin Manna CLASSIFIEDS
Ashourina Slewo
SALES
Interlink Media SALES REPRESENTATIVES
Interlink Media Christen Jamoua Sana Navarrette MANAGERS
Vanessa Denha-Garmo Martin Manna Michael Sarafa SUBSCRIPTIONS: $25 PER YEAR THE CHALDEAN NEWS 30095 NORTHWESTERN HWY, SUITE 101 FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334 WWW.CHALDEANNEWS.COM PHONE: (248) 996-8360
Publication: The Chaldean News (P-6); Published monthly; Issue Date: SEPTEMBER 2017 Subscriptions: 12 months, $25. Publication Address: 30850 Telegraph Road, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, Michigan 48025; Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Rates is Pending at Farmington Hills Post Office Postmaster: Send address changes to “The Chaldean News 30095 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 101, Farmington Hills, MI 48334”
My daughter is also very excited. She has been wanting to learn to speak our native language for a while now. She took after-school classes as part of a pilot program and is itching to learn more. I am making a 2018 goal to spend time on a regular basis listening to the audio program and practicing the language. Perhaps, I will make a concerted effort to only speak Sourath to my mom until I can comfortably communicate. This issue we feature our cover story about the Sou-
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SEPTEMBER 2017
CHALDEAN NEWS 7
in my VIEW
Twenty years later, we miss Diana’s humanity
A
ugust 31, 2017 constant glare of media marked the 20th spotlights. It may be that anniversary of she was never well suited Princess Diana’s death. for the very public life of a On that day, two young princess and future queen. boys lost their mother and But Diana never let the world lost an icon of these challenges stop her humanity. While she was from doing so much good not a commoner—her or using the media crush MICHAEL G. dad was an Earl—she had around her to spread the SARAFA a common touch. Unlike word about her efforts. SPECIAL TO THE the family she married She didn’t shy away from CHALDEAN NEWS into, she was able to contough issues. More than nect easily with real world people of any single person, she humanized all colors, societies and social status, the HIV crisis. She did this mostly including and most especially, the by being with, holding and touching young and the poor. HIV patients. She was an early and Part of what made Diana real constant supporter of international to so many is that she battled real efforts to ban landmines, a ruthless problems. She suffered from depresand brutal tactic of war. Pictures of sion, bulimia and marital infidelity her walking through an area previgoing in both directions. No doubt ously rife with landmines in Angola all these things were related to each were shown around the world. other and, if not brought about, Before her death, Diana was a then certainly exacerbated by the forceful proponent of the Ottawa
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CHALDEAN NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2017
Treaty which signed in 1997 by 128 countries with the goal of eliminating the production and use of mines. Diana’s youngest son, Harry, in honor of his mother’s legacy, has doubled down on the goal of eliminating landmines. Speaking at a ceremony in honor of the Treaty’s 20th anniversary Prince Harry said his mother’s work on banning landmines in the last months of her life “wasn’t universally popular. Some believed she had stepped over the line into the arena of political campaigning – but for her this wasn’t about politics; it was about people,” he said. He added: “She knew she had a big spotlight to shine, and she used it to bring attention on the people that others had forgotten, ignored or were too afraid to support.” He said his mother, were she here today, “wouldn’t be willing to accept any credit” for the Ottawa treaty signed by 122 states in the year of her visit to Bosnia and An-
gola. Nonetheless, she deserves much credit. The UK government continues to support the cause financially under the auspices of the royal family. Diana’s personal interests were often reflected in the organizations for which she was a volunteer. Her work extended from the Great Ormond Street for Sick Children in London to the Leprosy Mission and the National Aids Trust. The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund website says it the best. “The Princess is remembered by everyone she met for her warmth and genuine interest in their situation and difficulties. She threw herself into her charity work in a very personal way, spending countless hours listening to the individual stories and problems of the people she visited. She had the ability to make everybody feel special, in particular vulnerable young people who were touched by her warmth and affec-
where do you STAND?
Teaching Sourath at home? BY MICHAEL SARAFA
tion. She also had a natural empathy with people who were close to death or those who had lost a loved one — something which was clear through her visits to hospitals and hospices in the UK and abroad.” Twenty years later, her legacy still lives on. In a time where so much of the world is plunged into war and chaos, Diana serves as a reminder of the genuine humanity in all of us. More importantly, she is an example of a person who used her position in life for the benefit of others and for the greater good. She was commonly referred to as the People’s Princess. She never did become the Queen of England but after her death, people around the world made her the Queen of our Hearts and Queen of Humanity. In a time where humanity is so lacking, we miss you Diana. We take pause on the 20th anniversary of your death to remember you and what you stood for.
T
his is a tough question. Today, younger people that can speak the Chaldean language learned to do so primarily because they had to communicate with their parents or grandparents. Today, the Chaldean language is mostly a spoken language. Except for priests and other learned people, very few can actually read or write the language. It is a language without a country in a world where you can pretty much get by with English. On the other hand, it is possibly the single best vestige of our heritage other than the Chaldean Church, which has been offering both English and Arabic Masses for more than 20 years. Offering Mass in different languages is, of course, the right thing to do. But the Chaldean liturgy is one of the primary uses of the Chaldean language today. Our Church is doing its part to help keep the language alive and still reads the
Gospel and other parts of the Mass in Sourath, even for English Masses. Other than Chaldean social clubs, the only other center for use of our language is the home. In homes where the parents speak good English and the grandparents
“But now here it is — a modern way to learn and teach yourself or your children the Chaldean language.” are not a presence, teaching the language to our children would have to be a deliberate effort. In other words, it would have to be treated as Chaldean as a second language. There have been fits and starts at Chaldean language lessons through our churches and other organizations, but nothing that has lasted for long or attracted very many people.
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to proper Aramaic which almost no one speaks. Because our language is mostly a spoken language, the dialect tends to vary greatly by country and by village. But now here it is—a modern way to learn and teach yourself or your children the Chaldean language. Where do you stand on having your kids learn Sourath?
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SEPTEMBER 2017
CHALDEAN NEWS 9
noteworthy
D-Man Foundation Cruise Woodward For the Sixth year in a row, the D-Man Foundation helped to give life to the dreams of wheelchair patients as they organized their annual Dreams Come True on Woodward, in conjunction with the Woodward Dream Cruise. This year’s event took place on Friday August 18 at the back-parking lot of Hands on Auto Detailing. Each year, The D-MAN Foundation transfers more wheelchair-bound individuals into convertibles to participate in the world’s largest one-day auto event. Making the experience even more memorable is the music that the passengers will be listening to is music they’ve produced themselves in D-Man’s unique “barrier free” music therapy studio.
Search for New Recruits Heats Up The Oakland Fire Training Institute at Oakland Community College is seeking new recruits. The Oakland Fire Training Institute at Oakland Community College is the only nationally and internationally ProBoard accredited fire academy in the State of Michigan. Oakland Fire Training Institute’s Fire Academy is currently accepting applications. A free orientation for the Fire Academy will be on August 16, 2017.
Putting Detroit on the Map
Dress for Assumption of Mary Samira Binna, once again, made the dress for Carey, Ohio Assumption of Mary prayer service held on August 14, 2017. She made and donated this dress in honor of all cancer patients and peace in the world. “Please gather and pray for peace and protection! God bless you all,” posted Binna on Facebook.
Gabrielle George, vice president of cultural strategy at Doner in Detroit, has been featured by The Drum in their 30 under 30 from the Midwest. This honor comes from George’s work as a woman, putting herself and Detroit on the map through her “creativity, achievements and dedication to an industry that is changing at a fast clip.”
school will be chosen to be sent to the International Space Station in which astronauts will conduct research for students. Once the data has been sent back to students, they will have a chance to present their research at a conference in Washington D.C.
First Jonna Construction Home on Sale The first home ever built by Jimmy Jonna and Jonna Construction is on the market for the first time since being built more than 50 years ago. Marcine Karmo is selling her parent’s home in Southfield. It was Built in 1966 and the family moved in July of that same year. Her father, Najib lived there for five decades before he passed away on November 16, 2016.
St. Fabian and St. Monica students reach new heights St. Fabian Catholic School of Farmington Hills has partnered with St. Monica Catholic School of Kalamazoo to help their students reach new heights and actively participate in conducting scientific research. St. Fabian’s implementation program was recently accepted by the Students Spaceflight Experiments Program, giving students in grades 4-8 the opportunity to participate in a program with NASA. This program will allow for students to create zero-gravity experiments. One experiment from each 10
CHALDEAN NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2017
West Bloomfield Named Safest City in Michigan Known for being a safe community, West Bloomfield Township has officially been recognized as one of the 10 safest communities in the country by the National Council for Home Safety and Security. West Bloomfield Township takes ninth place on the overall list, but takes first place as the safest community in Michigan.
SEPTEMBER 2017
CHALDEAN NEWS 11
CHAI time
CHALDEANS CONNECTING
COMMUNITY EVENTS IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT SEPTEMBER 2017 This year’s tour highlights 23 sites, six of which are private residencies among them. As well, the Marshall’s two-building historic power plant that has produced electricity since the 1890s is a new feature on the tour. The tour goes through until September 11. Tickets bought in advance are $15, after midnight, tickets are $20. For more information go to www.marshallhometour.com
Friday, September 1 Family Fun: The Michigan State Fair is back in town on Friday, September 1 and runs through September 5 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. The Fifth Third Bank Michigan State Fair ranks itself as Michigan’s No. 1 Family Event, with activities to get kids up close with farm animals and other livestock. Activities include the state fair parade, a farmer’s market, racing pigs, a circus, midway rides, and more. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children 11 and younger, and free for children two and under. For more information go to www.michiganstatefairllc.com Saturday, September 2 Festival: Arts, Beats & Eats is back in town on September 2 and will run through September 5. Each year, Arts, Beats & Eats draws in thousands of people. A variety of events will be happening in Downtown Royal Oak during the festival. The festival showcases hundreds of musical acts, a lineup of food from Detroit, an art show and more. This year’s performers include Buckcherry, Our Lady Peace, Gavin DeGraw, Three Dog Night, Laith Al-Saadi, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. For more information, visit www.artsbeatseats.com
Arts, Beats & Eats returns to Royal Oak, Sept. 2 - 5.
“Go Green — Go Blue” Shoreline Cruise. The cruise, which takes place along the shoreline of Ludington, allows for passengers to celebrate their college spirit on board. The trip includes a Badger Party Buffet and kids are welcome. Tickets are $39, children are $20, children younger than 5 get on the cruise for free. For more information, visit www.ssbadger.com
events, including the Frontier Days Rodeo, arts and crafts, the saloon, a cornhole tournament, live music and camping. The perfect family event, Charlotte Frontier Days is the perfect event to feel like a pioneer. There is no fee to get into the fairgrounds or craft shows, but there is a charge for select activities. For more information, visit www. charlottefrontierdays.org
Saturday, September 2 Music: The Detroit Jazz Festival, which is considered to be the world’s largest jazz festival, is back to take residency in downtown Detroit through September 5. This year’s lineup includes artists such as George Benson, Ron Carter, the Roy Hargrove Quintet, the Soul Rebels and Marcus Roberts and the Modern Jazz Generation. For details, visit www.detroitjazzfest.org
Tuesday, September 5 Family Fun: Have you ever wanted to walk across the Mackinac Bridge? Well now is your chance! Join us September 5 at 7 am to walk across the Mackinac Bridge. While the event starts at 7 am, participants can begin walking anywhere between 7 am and 11 am. The walk will begin at St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula and will end in Mackinac City in the Lower Peninsula. Admission is free, however, $5 is required for transportation if needed.
Monday, September 4 Sports: Football season is here! The Shoreline Cruise on the S.S. Badger is celebrating college football season with its annual Ludington Labor Day
Friday, September 8 Family Fun: Get your country boots on, Charlotte Frontier Days are here. Running through September 11, Charlotte Frontier Days includes a variety of
Saturday, September 9 Faith: Awake My Soul is a day dedicated to spiritual renewal, meant to meet you wherever you may be in your own spiritual journey. Distinguished Catholic speakers will come together for Awake My Soul in order to engage both your mind and soul and you grow in intimacy with our Lord Jesus Christ. Join us for a night of talks, Adoration, Eucharistic Procession and live music. Doors open at 4:30 pm at the Mother of God Church in Southfield. The evening will conclude with midnight Mass. Register for the event at ecrc.us. Saturday, September 10 Family Fun: The Marshall Historic Home Tour is back for the 53rd year.
Saturday, September 13 Culture: It’s A Grand Opening Chaldean Cultural Center Museum Grand Opening being held on Wednesday September 13 at 6 p.m. The museum is inside Shenandoah Country Club located at 5600 Walnut Lake Rd. West Bloomfield. You can contact the Cultural Center for tickets. Go to www. chaldeanculturalcenter.org Monday, September 18 Art Show: Artists from across the globe gather to compete in ArtPrize, which has become one of the biggest art events in the region. The international art fair runs through October 9 throughout nearly 200 venues throughout Grand Rapids. All are welcome to attend. For more information, visit www.artprize.org Sunday September 24 Charity: Join us for the fourth annual Stride for Seminarians, hosted by the Alexander and Gabrielle Mansour Memorial Fund, at 8:30 am on Sunday, September 24 at the Detroit Zoo. The event includes a number of activities and games. Stride for Seminarians will be free for children under 2 years, $30 for children 2-12 years, and $40 for all other participants. A free t-shirt, snacks, lunch, Mass in the zoo pavilion, admission to the zoo all day, and parking are all included in the ticket price. All proceeds benefit The Alexander and Gabrielle Mansour Memorial Fund.
JOIN OUR GROWING TEAM. The Chaldean News is looking for motivated candidates to fill full-time salaried sales positions. Qualified candidates should email a resume to info@chaldeannews.com.
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SEPTEMBER 2017
CHALDEAN NEWS 13
religion
PLACES OF PRAYER
CHALDEAN CHURCHES IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT
THE DIOCESE OF ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE IN THE UNITED STATES St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Diocese 25603 Berg Road, Southfield, MI 48033; (248) 351-0440 Bishop: Francis Kalabat Retired Bishop: Ibrahim N. Ibrahim HOLY CROSS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 32500 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334; (248) 626-5055 Rector: Msgr. Zouhair Toma Kejbou Mass Schedule: Weekdays, noon in Chaldean; Saturdays, 4:30 p.m. in English; Sundays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean and Arabic, noon in English, 6 p.m., in Arabic HOLY MARTYRS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 43700 Merrill, Sterling Heights, MI 48312; (586) 803-3114 Rector: Fr. Manuel Boji Parochial Vicar: Fr. Andrew Seba Bible Study: Mondays, 7 p.m. in Chaldean; Thursdays, 8 p.m. Seed of Faith in English; Saturdays, 7 p.m. Witness to Faith in Arabic Youth Groups: Wednesdays, 7 p.m. for High Schoolers Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 9 a.m. in Chaldean; Saturdays, 5 p.m. in English; Sundays: 9 a.m. in Chaldean and Arabic, 10:30 a.m. in English, Morning Prayer at noon, High Mass at 12:30 p.m. in Chaldean; 6 p.m. in English MAR ADDAI CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 24010 Coolidge Highway, Oak Park, MI 48237; (248) 547-4648 Pastor: Fr. Stephen Kallabat Retired Priest: Fr. Suleiman Denha Adoration: Last Friday of the month, 4 p.m. Adoration; 5 p.m. Stations of the Cross; 6 p.m. Mass; Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Bible Study: Fridays, 8-10 p.m. in Arabic and Chaldean Youth Groups: Thursdays, 7:30-9 p.m. Jesus Christ University High School and College Mass Schedule: Weekdays, noon; Sundays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean and Arabic, 12:30 p.m. High Mass in Chaldean MOTHER OF GOD CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 25585 Berg Road, Southfield, MI 48034; (248) 356-0565 Administrator: Fr. Pierre Konja Retired Priest: Fr. Emanuel Rayes Bible Study: Mondays, 7-9 p.m. in English; Wednesdays, 7 p.m. for college students in English Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m.; Tuesdays, 8:45 p.m. in English; Saturdays, 4 p.m. in English; Sundays: 8:30 a.m. in Arabic, 10 a.m. in English, noon in Chaldean, 7 p.m. in English OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 11200 12 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48093; (586) 804-2114 Pastor: Fr. Fadi Philip Parochial Vicar: Hermiz Haddad Bible Study: Thursday, 8 p.m. for ages 18-45; Friday, 8 p.m. in Arabic. Teens 4 Mary Youth Group: Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Confession: 1 hour before mass or by appointment. Adoration: Thursday, 5-7 p.m. Chapel open 24/7 for adoration. Mass Schedule: Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. in Chaldean; Thursday, 1 p.m. in English and 7 p.m. in Chaldean; Friday 7 p.m. in Chaldean; Sunday, 10 a.m. in Arabic and 12:30 p.m. in Chaldean. SACRED HEART CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 30590 Dequindre Road, Warren, MI 48092; (586) 393-5809 Pastor: Fr. Sameem Belius Mass Schedule: Sundays, 10 a.m. in Arabic, 12:30 p.m. in Chaldean ST. GEORGE CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 45700 Dequindre Road, Shelby Township, MI 48317; (586) 254-7221 Pastor: Fr. Wisam Matti Parochial Vicar: Fr. Matthew Zetouna Youth Groups: Disciples for Christ for teen boys, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.; Circle of Friends for teen girls; Thursdays, 6 p.m.; Bible Study for college students, Wednesdays 8 p.m. Bible Study: Wednesdays, 8 p.m. in English; Fridays, 8 p.m. in Arabic Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean; Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Adoration; 8-10 p.m. Confession; Saturdays, 6:30 p.m. in English (school year); 6:30 p.m. in Chaldean (summer); Sunday: 8:30 a.m. in Chaldean, 10 a.m. in Arabic, 11:30 a.m. in English, 1:15 p.m. in Chaldean; 7:30 p.m. in English Submission Guidelines The Chaldean News welcomes submissions of obituaries. They should include the deceased’s name, date of birth and death, and names of immediate survivors. Please also include some details about the person’s life including career and hobbies. Due to space constraints, obituaries can not exceed 300 words. We reserve the right to edit those that are longer. Send pictures as a high-resolution jpeg attachment. E-mail obits to info@chaldeannews.com, or through the mail at 30850 Telegraph Road, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, MI 48025.
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CHALDEAN NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2017
ST. JOSEPH CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 2442 E. Big Beaver Road, Troy, MI 48083; (248) 528-3676 Pastor: Fr. Rudy Zoma Parochial Vicar: Fr. Bryan Kassa Bible Study: Mondays, 7 p.m. in Arabic; Tuesdays, 7 p.m. in English; Thursdays, 7 p.m. Chaldeans Loving Christ Youth Group for High Schoolers Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean except Wednesdays, 10 a.m. in Arabic Saturdays, 6 p.m. in English and Chaldean; Sundays, 9 a.m. in Arabic, 10:30 a.m. in English, noon in Chaldean, 2 p.m. in Chaldean and Arabic, 7 p.m. in Chaldean Baptisms: 3 p.m. on Sundays. ST. PAUL CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 5150 E. Maple Avenue, Grand Blanc, MI 48439; (810) 820-8439 Pastor: Fr. Ayad Hanna Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 6 p.m.; Sundays, 12:30 p.m. ST. THOMAS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 6900 Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322; (248) 788-2460 Administrator: Fr. Bashar Sitto Parochial Vicars: Fr. Jirgus Abrahim, Fr. Anthony Kathawa Retired Priest: Fr. Emanuel Rayes Bible Study: Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. in Arabic Youth Groups: Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. Girls Challenge Club for Middle Schoolers; Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Chaldeans Loving Christ for High Schoolers; Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. Boys Conquest Club for Middle Schoolers Other: First Thursday and Friday of each month, 10 a.m. Holy Hour; 11 a.m. Mass in Chaldean; Wednesdays from midnight to Thursdays midnight, adoration in the Baptismal Room; Saturdays 3 p.m. Night Vespers (Ramsha) in Chaldean Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean; Saturdays, 5 p.m. in English; Sundays, 9 a.m. in English, 10:30 a.m. in English, 12:30 p.m. in Chaldean, 2 p.m. in Arabic; 6 p.m. Grotto is open for Adoration 24/7 for prayer and reflection
Prayers to Begin a School Year God of wisdom and might, we praise you for the wonder of our being, for mind, body and spirit. Be with our children as they begin a new school year. Bless them and their teachers and staff. Give the strength and grace as their bodies grow; wisdom and knowledge to their minds as they search for understanding; and peace and zeal to their hearts. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CHALDEAN SISTERS/DAUGHTERS OF MARY OUR LADY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ORDER Superior: Benynia Shikwana 5159 Corners Drive West Bloomfield, MI 48322; (248) 615-2951 CHALDEAN SISTERS/DAUGHTERS OF MARY HOUSE OF FORMATION 24900 Middlebelt Road Farmington Hills, MI 48336; (248) 987-6731 ST. GEORGE CONVENT Superior: Mubaraka Garmo 43261 Chardennay Sterling Heights, MI 48314; (586) 203-8846 EASTERN CATHOLIC RE-EVANGELIZATION CENTER (ECRC) 4875 Maple Road, Bloomfield Township, MI 48301; (248) 538-9903 Director: Patrice Abona Daily Mass: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. Thursdays: 5:30 Adoration and 6:30 Mass First Friday of the month: 6:30 p.m. Adoration, Confession and Mass Bible Study in Arabic: Wednesdays 7 p.m. Bible Study in English: Tuesdays 7 p.m. ST. GEORGE SHRINE AT CAMP CHALDEAN 1391 Kellogg Road, Brighton, MI 48114; (888) 822-2267 Campgrounds Manager: Sami Herfy ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ST. MARY HOLY APOSTOLIC CATHOLIC ASSYRIAN CHURCH OF THE EAST 4320 E. 14 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48092; (586) 825-0290 Rector: Fr. Benjamin Benjamin Mass Schedule: Sundays, 9 a.m. in Assyrian; noon in Assyrian and English ST. TOMA SYRIAC CATHOLIC CHURCH 25600 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48335; (248) 478-0835 Pastor: Fr. Toma Behnama Fr. Safaa Habash Mass Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 6 p.m.; Sunday 12 p.m. All in Syriac, Arabic and English CHRIST THE KING SYRIAC CATHOLIC CHURCH 2300 John R, Troy, MI 48083; (248) 818-2886
Prayer for Students Lord our God, in your wisdom and love you surround us with the mysteries of the universe. Send your spirit upon these students and fill them with your wisdom and blessings. Grant that they may devote themselves to their studies and draw ever closer to you, the source of all knowledge. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for Teachers Lord God, your spirit of wisdom fills the earth and teaches us in your ways. Look upon these teachers. Let them strive to share their knowledge with gentle patience and endeavor always to bring the truth to eager minds. Grant that we may follow Jesus Christ, the way, the truth and the life, forever and ever. Amen. COURTESY OF CATHOLICCATALOGUE.COM
obituaries A MINISTRY
ARCHDIOCESE
OF
DETROIT
HOLY SEPULCHRE CATHOLIC CEMETERY
Dr. Zeia Casab Rueda The Casab family is mourning the loss of Dr. Zeia Casab Rueda. He began his journey towards our Lord God on 8/18/2017. He will reunite with his parents Tobias and Julia, and his siblings Jasibi, Kamal, Juanita and Nagib and Ulises I. He leaves his brothers Alfredo, María, Ulises, Hector, Hugo, Homero and Juliette, along with his beloved wife Janet and children Zeia, Armin and Zerlina, who will pray for the salvation of his eternal soul. Dr. Zeia was born in 4/25/1931, in Juchitán de Zaragoza, Oaxaca, México. He attended the University of México City in 1961. After graduating, he cared for the sick and
OF THE
Living Our Mission We are a Church-owned non-profit organization founded from faith.
injured sugar cane workers in Northern Mexico. In 1968, he was an onsite physician during the Olympic Games in México. In 1970 he moved to the United States, becoming the first Mexican of OBITUARY continued on page 16
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Shamasha (Deacon) Ameer Thomas Our beloved father Shamasha (Deacon) Ameer Thomas was born in Tel Kaif on Sept 8, 1941 and entered into eternal life on July 27, 2017. Shamasha Ameer was a dedicated husband of 47 years to Angel and father of 3- Randy (Christina Kasmikha) Renee and Ronny and grandfather to John Paul. He is also survived by his siblings- Elia (Beloved Bernadette), Kamal (Linda), Gorgis, Jamila Haddoo, Beloved Zarifa Pattah, Helen Bakou, Amira Kanouna, and Beloved Oraha(Nadeema) and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Dawood Anton Barash Dawood Barash was born in Telkaif, Iraq and was the son of the late Anton Marogi and Wardia Kassab. He had five brothers, the late Salim and Jalal Barash, Najeb, Jamil and Sabah Barash, he also had two sisters that died as infants.
He was ordained a Shamasha by Bishop Ibrahim on March 9, 2008 and dedicated his life to serving God and the Mother of God Parish after serving and volunteering at the Mar Addai Parish for many years. He was also given the role of caretaker of Mother of God which he did with such pride and humility. He was a humble man with a heart of gold who was devoted to his family, friends, church and community. He taught us to love as Jesus did and showed us by his examples. He was an inspiration to so many, especially those serving the church. He was a true soldier of Christ. Shamasha Ameer loved to joke and laugh and was described as an angel and was loved by everyone who knew him. He always had a smile on his face. Now he is our guardian angel guiding us as he did on earth and resting in eternal peace. You are in our hearts forever our beautiful father, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and servant of God. Until we meet again. “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” John 11:25
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Shamamta (Saroki); daughter Haifa (Sue) and husband, Masood Kirma; son, Walid and wife Haifa (Shounia); daughter Sana and husband Derey Isho; son, Mazyn and wife, Annette (Hamameh); son John and wife, Karen (Jouja); 15 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.
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As a child, he worked with his father digging wells and breaking boulders. He served under the British Army in Levie, Company 7. He later operated a store until he migrated to America on June 20, 1966. His last employment was at Ford Motor Company where he worked until age 73. He will be remembered for his solid work ethic, love of God and family, a passion to serve the community and let’s not forget his love of gardening. He faced a great deal of adversity throughout his life but he never allowed it to get in the way of all his passions. He was a humble servant of the community. When he migrated to America, he would pick up the elderly and take them to church. He often drove up and down 7 Mile Road to see if anyone needed a ride home.
If you ever drove down 14 Mile Road and Orchard Lake, you would see him, his wife, his son Mazyn, daughterin-law Annette and their children Samantha and David collecting money for the Knights of Columbus Charities. He won consecutive awards for being the single biggest fund-raiser in the state. SEPTEMBER 2017
CHALDEAN NEWS 15
obituaries
RECENTLY DECEASED COMMUNITY MEMBERS CHALDEAN COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION
Help Wanted!
Mary Aziz Kaji Sesi Oct. 1, 1947 July 23, 2017
Dawood Anton Barash June 9, 1923 July 24, 2017
Shamasha Ameer Thomas Sept. 8, 1941 July 27, 2017
Florentine H. Van Tiem Sept. 15, 1924 July 29, 2017
Najat Dawood Shammami July 1, 1942 Aug. 1, 2017
Mary Suliman Kakos Alnaqash July 1, 1938 Aug. 2, 2017
Hayat Orow Daman Suleiman Jan. 1, 1942 Aug. 3, 2017
Manuel Putrus Qasawa Dec. 31, 1936 Aug. 10, 2017
Please consider hiring one of our many new Americans. More than 30,000 Chaldean refugees have migrated to Michigan since 2007. Many possess the skills and determination to work hard for you and your organization. The Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) has a bank of resumes of candidates qualified to do a variety of jobs. To inquire about hiring a New American, call or email Elias at 586-722-7253 or elias.kattoula@ chaldeanfoundation.org.
Walid Mansour Moussa Feb. 6, 1946 Aug. 15, 2017
Noori Yousif Ammouri June 1, 1934 Aug. 15, 2017
Dr. Zeia Casab Rueda April 25, 1931 Aug. 18, 2017
Chaldean Community Foundation Sterling Heights Office 3601 15 Mile Road Sterling Heights, MI 48310 586-722-7253 www.chaldeanfoundation.org
OBITUARY continued from page 15
Chaldean-Iraqi origin to obtain a degree in Cardiology and Internal Medicine, a Professor at Wayne State University and a volunteer for the World Hispanic Soccer Association. Dr. Zeia’s mission was to help people, regardless of their race, status or economic situation. He lived up to this principle, every single day. The concept of serving others, of giving back and paying forward the fortune of good health, and a happy family he had received from God. 16
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Among his many accolades, the Chaldean Federation of America made him the recipient of the prestigious Humanitarian Award. He was also recognized by The Detroit Chamber of Commerce by the Mexican Consulate of Detroit, and by the Detroit Free Press for his relentless efforts on behalf of his community. His passion for medicine was a given, but his respect for human life, and his honest desire to serve people in need was even greater. He will be truly missed, but his humanitarian legacy will live on.
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CHALDEAN NEWS 17
Left: Jumhoria Kaskorkis Right: Kam Kewson
Conversing in Chaldean The Chaldean Community Foundation and Mango Languages team up to create a Sourath series. BY ASHOURINA SLEWO
C
haldean (Aramaic), a language dating back more than 3,000 years to the time of Christ, is scarce in the world and on the brink of extinction. With the persecution that Christians have faced and continue to face in Iraq, Chaldean proves to be a difficult language to preserve for future generations. Recognizing the importance of preserving the Chaldean language, the Chaldean Community Foundation has teamed up with Mango Languages to create a Sourath Series. “We met the Mango Languages leadership at a “Building Community” event being hosted by the Jewish News and Chaldean News,” said Martin Manna, president and CEO of the Chaldean Community Foundation. “The Mango owners are Jewish and took an interest in preserving our language because their Torah is in Aramaic.” Based in Farmington Hills, Man18
CHALDEAN NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2017
Interviews at Chaldean Cultural Center for promotional video.
go Languages is an online learning resource. Mango Languages provides a new take on learning a different language as they provide learners with realistic conversations and an incorporation of culture. With the
incorporation of culture in the teaching of the language, Mango Languages proves to be the right company to help the Chaldean Community Foundation in their mission to preserve Chaldean.
“We provide cultural information along with grammatical explanations; we teach based on authenticsounding conversations and we teach phrases that can be used in everyday speech,” said Mango Languages linguist, Lilia Mouma. “Learners can use the language from day one.” Born out of frustration with the methods in which were being employed to teach the language, a community member came forward to fund the project to create a better method of teaching and preserving Chaldean. “We’ve been working with Mango Languages for several years now, as part of an effort the Chaldean Community Foundation has taken to preserve our language,” said Manna. “We didn’t get rolling on the project until a community member – Jason Najor – approached us. He was frustrated in how the language was being taught and wanted us to help develop a practical method to teach the language to future generations. He has funded the first phase of the project.” Even with the funding and the manpower to back the project, creating the Sourath series has been a struggle. A large portion of the struggle can be attributed to the very reason the Sourath series is being created. With very few people having the ability to fluently speak Chaldean and English, finding someone to aid in the development of the program has proven to be difficult. “It’s been a struggle developing the program; many people assume they are experts in the language but unfortunately, not many are,” said Manna. “It took us some time to find those that were fluent in both English and Chaldean and to be able to read and write the language. Initially we worked with a woman out of Arizona but contractual issues forced us to abandon that effort and to re-start
Filming promotional video at Chaldean Cultural Center
a year later. Mahir Awrahem, Yasir Marroki and Jumhoria Kaskorkis were contracted by Mango to develop the program. The Chaldean Voice and Shoki Konja also provided technical assistance and a studio for recording.” Working with experts of the Chaldean language and culture, Mango Languages first designed an outline of what the course would look like. “We based the outline on what the learner of Chaldean would be interested in learning so they could use the language in their everyday exchanges with their immediate family and with other Chaldeans,” stated Mouma. Kaskorkis, who recorded dialogue for the Sourath series and aided in editing and reviewing, believes that this program is a great tool for anyone who may be interested in learning Chaldean. “What you learn is not only the language, but also you get to know a lot about the culture and way of life of other communities,” said Kaskorkis. Once the outline had been created, Mango Languages was able to move forward in developing and recording the series. Recorded by native Chaldean speakers, the Sourath series will have an authenticity about it that many language learning resources tend to lack. As well, for learners who do not know how to read Chaldean, Mango Languages have created “pronunciation popups” to accompany the lessons. With the first phase of the project done, a tentative launch date for the end of September has been set. Once the Sourath series is launched, learners can access it through Mango Language’s website, and smartphones and tablets via Mango Language’s IOS and Android apps. “We hope to continue the programming; this is only phase one of the project,” said
Manna. “Our goal is to complete phases two through four soon, which will allow the learner to become fluent in Chaldean. That will depend on the success of Phase one and future funding.” Through this partnership, the foundation and Mango Languages are able to bring awareness to the Chaldean language’s existence and promote its preservation. Simultaneously, Mango Languages have also opened up an avenue of learning that goes beyond what most language learning resources have offered. “With the ongoing turmoil in Iraq, it’s only a matter of time before our language becomes extinct. It’s unlikely we will survive in Iraq and that is why we need efforts like this to preserve our language, similar to efforts to preserve our history (texts) and culture,” stated Manna. “Many others have published books to teach the language and our Church continues to offer classroom instruction. They should all be commended for their work. The Mango Languages Chaldean Tutorial will complement their work.” The need for the Sourath series is apparent as the language is being lost even within the community. For years, churches in the community have attempted to teach Chaldean, finding it hard to remain consistent and reach individuals. “It is very important to learn the Chaldean language to preserve our mother tongue, the language that Jesus spoke; [we have to] keep the language alive in our communities and for younger generations,” stated Kaskorkis. “People love languages and the best way to approach other communities is conversation, Mango Languages is a great start to spread the Chaldean Language in a unique [and] advanced way.”
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CHALDEAN NEWS 19
Changing lives, one family at a time Community members dedicated to the Adopt-a-Refugee Family Program BY MONIQUE MANSOUR
A
ccording to the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 28,300 people a day are forced to flee their homes because of war, conflict, persecution and discrimination based on a variety of factors, including race and religion. On a global scale, there are 65.6 million people worldwide who have been forcibly displaced. To date, the world is facing the highest numbers of displaced people on record. Those who flee their country of origin and enter into another nation face a multitude of obstacles because of their refugee and undocumented status. Finding stable employment that pays a living wage is oftentimes out of reach, as is finding safe and secure housing to raise a family in. Statistics such as these are discouraging, daunting, and overwhelming. So many people need assistance that it’s often hard to decipher where to begin to solve this massively complex problem. Thankfully, there are Chaldeans in the community who are working to lower these numbers by making a positive impact on the lives of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced people. The Adopt-a-Refugee-Family program began with Basil Bacall’s vision to aid Christian refugees from war-torn Iraq in 2007. Karl Senawi, an Iraqi-born American who now calls West Bloomfield home, helped to reignite the program six years ago and since then, the organization has grown and expanded to help families in dire need of assistance. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the Adopt-a-RefugeeFamily program go directly to families in need. Each year, since 2009, the non-profit has hosted an annual golf outing in an effort to raise funds for the program and to inform others of the crisis plaguing people in the Middle East. The most recent outing took place on July 26th at Shenandoah Country Club. This year, the outing raised $47,600 –the highest amount thus far for the annual event – and many young members of the Chaldean community stepped in to help out. One individual felt particularly compelled to take action. Haley Denha, a rising senior at Marian High School, netted $1,388 by asking friends, family, and local members of her community to contribute. Chris Toma of Commerce Township, a passionate volunteer for the Adopt-a-Refugee-Family program, was inspired by Denha’s efforts. “We need more young people in our Chaldean community to donate and get involved with the Adopt-aRefugee-Family program. They hold the power to impact an entire family living in another part of the world dealing with unthinkable circumstances. These are our people and American-born Chaldeans like Haley can make a huge difference.” All the raffle winners at the outing donated 20
CHALDEAN NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2017
Golf Outing fundraiser for Adopt-a- Refugee. Their 10year Anniversary Event is October 5.
back their prize money to the organization. Michael K. Jonna of West Bloomfield, an impassioned volunteer for the program was touched by this gesture. “It was an incredible sight to see. On behalf of Chris Toma, Karl Senawi, and myself, we would like to thank all of our sponsors who participated in this year’s golf outing as well as the attendees who came out to support this great cause.” “The more people we have like Rafed Yaldo, Basil, Chris, and Karl supporting the Adopt-aRefugee-Family program the more successful and impactful it will be,” said Jonna. “The time they dedicate to the program and the donations they put forth mean so much to so many people who need our help.” October 5th, 2017 is a special date for the organization. It marks ten years since the program began and, as a result, volunteers of the nonprofit are
hosting a ten-year anniversary party at Shenandoah Country Club. The event will include cocktails, music, and speeches. The goal is to raise $250,000 so that 208 families can benefit from the funds. “Christianity will cease to exist in the Middle East if we don’t support this cause. These people are family to us, even if we’ve never met them,” said Senawi. “We must always remember that.” If you’d like to attend the ten-year anniversary party, please visit www.adoptarefugeefamily.org to purchase tickets and learn more about the event. At the party, individuals can pledge to adopt a family by donating $100 a month, or $1,200 a year to support families in dire need. Individuals who are unable to attend the event can contribute an amount of any kind at any time on the organization’s website. Together, in support and solidarity, a brighter future can be created –one family at a time.
Welcome to Bloomfield Hills Schools! A limited number of tuition spots are available K-12 for the 2017-18 school year.*
“I could almost describe Bloomfield Hills High School as a college campus, with the variety of classes available and all of the different places to eat and learn. I really like the Learning Communities.” -MYCAH BUTLER
I enjoy going to the library to check out books and use the chromebooks. When I was a new student I made friends really fast! I love my teacher; she is the best teacher in the whole world!
“I really like school! In Science, we learned about the lymphatic, endocrine, respiratory, and circulatory systems. When I grow up I want to be a surgeon so that I can help people.”
*Enrollment acceptance is based upon applicants meeting current tuition guidelines and space availability. Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance. Available spaces will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.
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www.bloomfield.org 248.341.6390
National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica 2100 West Twelve Mile Road, Royal Oak
In Celebration
St. Thérèse Little Way Award Ceremony TUESDAY, OCTOBER THIRD, 7:00
PM
WITH SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER FATHER TIM MACDONALD
REAL ESTATE
VICAR, DIOCESE OF LANSING
EXCLUSIVELY
Recognizing the Recipients of the Little Way Award MRS. JEAN VIDOSH HUMBLE AND FAITHFUL SERVANT TO THE PARISH
SR. PEGGY DEVANEY, IHM JAIL & OUTREACH MINISTRY, FOUNDER/CHAPLAIN
MR. MICHAEL STACK (POSTHUMOUSLY) BELOVED FORMER PARISHIONER, 1949 - 2014
TAILORED TO YOUR COMMERCIAL NEEDS
Also Honoring Mr. Steven Burt, Shrine Dad’s Club Mrs. Angela Clark, Shrine Mom’s Club and Young Shrine Parish Members, Niklas Jenkins and Abigail Sobeck For more information access www.shrinechurch.com or call 248.541.4122 x455 “What matters in life is not great deeds, but great love. ”
586-625-6557 LDALLO@KW.COM SEPTEMBER 2017
CHALDEAN NEWS 21
Eastern Christians Interview Cardinal BY FRANÇOIS VAYNE
VATICAN CITY Eminence, in your role in charge of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, what would you see as the priorities in providing support to Christians living in the vast biblical territories? “I often receive groups of Catholics led by their bishops, eager to express their generosity to their brothers and sisters of the East. Benefactors want to know our priorities. Promoting the fullness of religious freedom of Christians is part of the issues at stake, especially in Muslim majority countries. Eastern bishops work with us, so that governments legislate in this direction and so that all citizens are treated in the same way. I also insist on the importance of Catholic schools in the Holy Land, for example, as they are a source of dialogue and peace in society. Without the economic support of the universal Church, these schools would not survive: the competition is very strong and many teachers prefer private institutes that are able to pay them better. Another challenge is emigration from the Middle East. Christians leave the area because of insecurity, so their absence unbalances the countries. We must work to restore trust and this happens every time we build bridges of friendship where we live. Finally, we need to show our Eastern Christians our closeness and to support them morally, as do the Knights and Dames of the Order by going on pilgrimage to the Holy Land and meeting the local communities that form part of the ‘Mother Church.’ ” Each year, you coordinate the Good Friday collection, which involves the whole Church. How are the fruits of this action of solidarity shared? “All the dioceses in the world deliver the outcome of these collections to Rome: 65% goes to the Franciscan Custody for the maintenance of the holy places; 35% is assigned to our Congregation for Oriental Churches Projects, which — we can say – extend from Ukraine to Iraq, from Eastern Europe to Mesopotamia ... This is certainly not enough, but fortunately some Institutions are dedicated 22
CHALDEAN NEWS
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throughout the year to supporting these Christians who are often in difficult economic situations because of the various conflicts that wound the world. Some good news is that of the progressive return of Christians in the Nineveh Plain: many are returning to their liberated villages and there is the effort of helping reconstruct their homes and their churches.” Could you describe in a few words the mosaic of the Eastern Churches and explain their reason for being in the present context, the relevance of their message traced down through the centuries? “Christianity was born in the East, Jerusalem, and then came to Rome, the then capital of the Empire. However it was from the great centers of the Orient that the Gospel spread: Alexandria in Egypt, now home to the great Coptic tradition that spread also to modern day Ethiopia and Eritrea, Antioch, with the proclamation that gave rise to the Eastern Church, Seleucia-Ctesifone (present Iraq) and beyond in southern India- there are the churches of Western and Eastern Syriac tradition — Constantinople, with the Byzantine tradition developed over the centuries in eastern Europe and in the Balkans. With the exception of the Church of Antioch and the
Maronites and the Syro-Malabar Church of India – which do not have a counterpart in the Eastern Orthodox and Orthodox world, today’s Catholic, Coptic, Melkite, Syro, Chaldean, Armenian, Malankarian, and Byzantine traditions were born at different moments through the rapprochement and recognition of the primacy of the Bishop of Rome, who however allowed them to maintain and live their theological, liturgical and disciplinary patrimony. Their existence and their geographical link with the primitive apostolic tradition remind us that we are in debt to the Gospel, and it is also a sound provocation not to think of unity of the Church as uniformity, but as the communion in diversity inspired and animated from within by the Spirit of the Risen One, and visibly held together by the one who is called to preside in charity — according to the wellknown expression of St. Ignatius of Antioch — and to exert the solicitude for all the Churches: the Pope, Bishop of Rome. The Catholic Eastern Churches are then a gift for us, even in their daily life, to reexperience the Passion of the Lord in today’s Middle East, but they are also called to be responsible for this treasure by safeguarding commit-
ment on the path to visible unity of all Christians.” The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem occupies a special place in the heart of the universal Church. How is the pastoral care of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, partly coordinated by the Franciscan Custody, articulated? “Christians throughout the whole world go on a pilgrimage to “see Jesus” by retracing his steps in the Holy Land, where he lived and gave his life. The popes entrusted these holy sites to the Franciscans, through the Custody, whose mission extends far beyond the territory of the Latin diocese of Jerusalem. This patriarchal diocese — reconstituted at the end of the 19th century — today expresses the identity of a local church gathered around its bishop, without losing that universal openness that has always characterized the vocation of the holy city of Jerusalem. The current bishop to lead the patriarchal diocese, that stretches from Cyprus to Jordan, passing through Palestine and Israel, is the former Franciscan Custos Monsignor Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The Mother Church of Jerusalem is at the center of our concerns in Rome, and I would like to thank the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, for without its help the life of the Latin
of relations between the Congregation for Oriental Churches and the Order of the Holy Sepulchre? “There is an existential connection between our Congregation and the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Relations have been strengthened thanks to Cardinal Edwin O’Brien — Grand Master of the Order — and the outgoing Governor General Agostino Borromeo, two personalities who have encouraged aid to the Oriental Churches, also in the name of the Order’s commitment to serving the Holy Land. I would like to express our profound gratitude to the Knights and Dames of the Order for this effort: they are witnesses to the resurrection and joy of the Lord, especially in today’s times when we face the problem of refugees in the Middle East, trying to support families fleeing from the areas of war and to fuel their hope of returning to the lands of their ancestors. I would like to express my greetings and my warm wishes to Prof. Borromeo’s successor, Ambassador Leonardo Visconti of Modrone.” The Pope refuses to equate Islam with terrorism. How can we withstand the lobbyists who want to oppose the West and the East at all costs, dragging public opinion toward a logic of hatred and violence? “St. John Paul II – whom I had the honor to serve as Substitute for General Affairs to the Secretary of State — acted very concretely for Christians and Muslims to go hand in hand, following the spirit of the interreligious meeting of Assisi, which he convoked on October 27, 1986. Pope Francis solemnly recalled the anniversary of that meeting, thirty years later, last October. The Catholic Church underscores that it is reductive to equate Islam with terrorism: there are media campaigns that attempt to convince people otherwise but we must strive to isolate the promoters of hatred, division and violence. Education is a work of peace directed towards this fraternity which we seek to spread on all levels. On the other hand, I am convinced that peace in the Middle East can largely arise from the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian problem. The solution of the two states will facilitate the easing of tensions throughout the area, because — as the prophet Isaiah says — peace presupposes justice.” Reprinted Courtesy of Vatican Insider
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Patriarch would be impossible, especially with regard to the seminary, Catholic schools and all the pastoral activities of evangelization. It is also important to emphasize the importance of the work done by the Order for Hebrew-speaking Catholics, also present in Israel. In the areas of education, assistance and protection of the Christian presence in the Holy Land there is an effective collaboration between the Patriarchal Diocese and the Custody of the Holy Land, while maintaining the shrines and serving the pilgrims is almost entirely entrusted to the Franciscans.” The Order of the Holy Sepulchre collaborates with you through the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches known as “Roaco”, which you preside over. What is this committee’s role? “Indeed, the Order of the Holy Sepulchre is part of Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches, a coordinating body established in 1968. It brings together several Catholic agencies and institutions operating alongside the Catholic Churches, Oriental and Latin, in the territories followed by the Congregation. Every year we gather to reflect together on some particular themes or to focus on precise geographic areas — even though the Holy Land is usually always among them. And it is also an opportunity to verify the willingness to support various aid projects in pastoral outreach, education, health care or emergencies, as we have unfortunately seen in recent years in Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine. The Holy Father wants the help of the Holy Land to be understood in a broad sense, integrating all of the biblical territories. We are especially grateful to the Order, who also during the last meeting – its 90th to be accurate — expressed its support for several projects, in addition to the truly extraordinary and praiseworthy commitment to the life of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. This year we wanted to reflect on the formation of priests in the Middle East in particular, to foster the preservation of their respective cultures and traditions in full unity with the universal Church. Since the birth of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, established by Pope Benedict XV one hundred years ago, the formation of the clergy has always been a priority, because the people of God need shepherds. That was the theme of our last Roaco meeting.” How would you envision the evolution
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CHALDEAN NEWS 23
Sister Caroline devotes life to excellence Chaldean Nun makes her mark as the principal in the United Arab Emirates BY WEAM NAMOU
I
t wasn’t an assignment Sister Caroline Toma Semaan was seeking but the Chaldean nun speaks of her principal position at her private school with great pride. “We are sisters who run the school but our school is for everybody,” said Sister Caroline. “We have 145 teachers and our student-body is at capacity with both Muslim and Christians students.” Born in1943, Sister Caroline entered the convent in Baghdad at the age of 16. Since 1975, she has been the principal of Sharjah Private School in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Over the years, this elementary school (K to 6th Grade) has excelled and won numerous awards, including a highly prestigious one for the 2016/2017 year. Its students have won the first place in the international test TIMSS in science and Sister Caroline herself won a $15,000 award from the country for leading a school of excellence. She divided the money among the teachers and staff, three of which are Chaldean nuns including the assistant principal. “Our institution seeks to do all it can for the benefit of its students so they can perform their best,” she said. “Therefore, we don’t waste effort or spare money in order to achieve what we aspire for.” The award winning school opened on December 1, 1974 when Sister Caroline was studying in Chicago. After completing her education, she was requested to go to the UAE, starting immediately as a principal because she had prior experience in Iraq. Today, Sharjah Private School is at capacity with 2400 students, 5 percent Chaldeans and the rest Muslims. Bible is taught to Christians and the Koran to Muslims. The Sheik of her state is proud of Sr. Caroline’s work which she credits to devoting her life to two basic things: To pleasing God and worshipping Him to the fullest and to paying attention to her work. “Perhaps that’s what makes me devote every minute of my life to 24
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the success and care of my institution,” she said. “I make my life a daily journey of [good] conscience and satisfaction that I have given to the young people a sound education based on science and moral ethics and that I’ve helped them build their leadership traits so they can be active members in their communities.” Sister Caroline says that success is not a coincidence. Sometimes, coincidence may play a role in putting a person on the path of success. But if the person does not have the elements of success, which include determination, high motivation, sound thinking, an ability to solve problems and face difficulties, they cannot complete the path of success. “Success is achieved only with patience, perseverance, dedication, love for the work and faith in the goals that we seek to achieve,” she said. “What I achieve is never dependent on chance, but is the result
of sound planning and continuous follow-up of all large and small details so that things go in a straight line to bring about the desired goals.” In achieving the school’s goals, Sister Caroline expects there are risks and challenges involved, but she confronts issues in order to find solutions or minimize the negative effects. “My work is my life,” she said. “I have devoted all of my time, both during and outside the working hours, to follow up all that is necessary for my educational institution so it goes through the path of success and excellence.” Many say that Sister Caroline’s secret to success is her smile. What makes her smile so radiant? “When a person is full and his heart is satisfied, he is always happy with goodness, his face is full of love,” she said. “The smile is the most beautiful greeting to meet people with. I
really love everyone, I wish them well, and I’m happier when I offer them help that will satisfy them and ease their life.” For that reason, she is always trying to find the balance between a firm and soft management. “I have a strong relationship with everyone I work with,” she said. “They are my soldiers who help achieve our ambitions. I appreciate the role of all and the importance of what they do.” However big or small, Sister Caroline doesn’t take anyone’s work for granted including the custodians’ duties, appreciating the significant impact cleanliness has on the work environment of the students and the staff. “I try to get close to everyone and listen to them, consult with them, and identify their problems and needs in order to help them,” she said. “Maybe they’re then able to do their work with a clear mind and satisfied self.” Although she admits that maintaining this type of relationship is not easy, she does it because as a leader it’s important to follow up, motivate, reward and show accountability. “It is the responsibility of the school leadership to make known to the employees the vision of the institution and have them work according to its principles and objectives,” she said. “Rewarding distinguished persons is also important because it motives them and also their colleagues may want to follow in their footsteps.” While she hopes to retire in the near future, for now, she will continue to provide the best education for her students. “Our real profit is the distinguished persons who graduated from our school and now occupy the highest positions, both inside the country and in their own country.” She feels the utmost happiness when students who graduated from the Sharjah Private School visit her and tell her they will never forget the role the school played in positively shaping the course of their lives.
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CHALDEAN NEWS 25
A Devotion to Our Lady Marian Shrine is the new home for a local ministry BY VANESSA DENHA GARMO
H
e is a priest known to many Chaldeans wearing a recognizable religious garment worn by the Franciscans; Fr. Alex Kratz, OFM, along with co-founder Patti Giangrande, OFS, a secular Franciscan, and their Terra Sancta Ministries have ventured into a new project that most certainly would be of interest to the faithful. They purchased a new location for their ministry. The property was owned by the Archdiocese of Detroit. It’s one of six official Marian shrines of Michigan. Located at 400 South Boulevard West near St. Joseph Hospital in Pontiac, the church was originally founded in 1923 as St. Joseph Parish in the Polish Hills. In 1948, diocesan priest and a Third Order Franciscan, Fr. Bernard Jarzembowski, on July 5, 1939, became the pastor. In 1947 Fr. Jarzembowski attended the Marian Congress at Ottawa, Canada—perhaps the largest religious event in North America. A parish history notes, “There in the Chapel of Peace, stood a replica the statue of Our Lady of the Cape. On June 18 and 19, Father spent most of the hours in the chapel, several times venerating the statue and praying. He was emotionally moved. He returned home, but the statue was constantly on his mind.” Fr. Jarzembowski wrote in his memoirs, that as he prayed before the statue of Our Lady of the Cape, (which is actually the image of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, the Immaculate Conception, Mediatrix of All Graces as She appeared to St. Catherine Laboure’ in 1830), “a feeling came over me which would not leave” and he then re26
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SEPTEMBER 2017
ceived his mission, to “come back to St. Joseph Church and establish a Shrine to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart where people could come to learn about Mary and develop a relationship with Her that would become a treasure for their whole lives.” After a few days, he decided to obtain from Montreal a full replica of the statue for the new church. Today, The Shrine Grotto with the immaculate Heart of Mary statue outside the actual church and then inside the church is the statue of Our Lady of the Cape—one of only eleven exact replicas in
the world. According to the Catholic Tradition website, Our Lady of the Cape (Notre-Dame-du-Cap in French) is a title given to Mary the Mother of God in Cap-de-laMadeleine, Quebec Canada. The title pertains more specifically to a statue of the Blessed Mother, which is currently located in the Old Shrine. Deep Marian Devotion existed in Cap-de-la-
Madeleine (near Three Rivers) since 1694 with the institution of the Brotherhood of the Rosary under Father Paul Vachon. There was a decline in devotion after the death of Fr. Vachon (1729) which lasted 115 years, until devotion to Mary was revived under Father Luc Desilets in 1867. After he had seen a pig holding a rosary in its mouth, Fr. Desilets decided to consecrate himself to the Blessed Virgin and reinstate devotion to her. The image was crowned by Pope Pius X on 12 August 1904. The restored Lady Chapel was dedicated on June 22, 1888. That evening a lame man called Pierre Lacroix was brought into the chapel by Father Desilets and Blessed Father Frederic Janssoone (beatified by St. John Paul II in 1988). The three men experienced an amazing apparition centered on the statue of Our Lady. “She raised her eyes!” Father Desilets later reported. “She looked in front of her as if looking outwards into the distance. Her face was severe and rather sad.” The three men swore an oath that what they had seen had truly taken place, and their statement is stored on parchment in the library of the sanctuary to this day. “The Diocese still owns the actual statues,” said Fr. Alex. “They wanted to make sure they always stayed within the Catholic Church.” The marble statue outside in the grotto is from Italy and has been reported to be the site of miracles. “In 1960, on the Feast of Our Lady’s Queenship, eight people signed a sworn affidavit that Our Lady came alive from the waist on up, especially her eyes probably because they were honoring her,”
Terra Sancta’s Wish List said Fr. Alex. “In the mid-60s, Mother Teresa visited because of its reputation for healing and the fact that it is an official Marian Shrine.” The goal of the ministry is to rekindle devotion to Mary as part of the overarching effort to deepen Catholic discipleship. Intentionally or not, “Our Lady has been marginalized in American Catholic devotional and liturgical life. If her charism is to “crush the serpent’s head” (Gn. 3: 15) and to help us be pure in an oversexualized society, marginalizing her will not enable us to evangelize America effectively.” “Besides, as the holy Mother of God, proper veneration of her is her due.” After all, said Fr. Alex, “true Marian devotion will always lead us more deeply to Jesus.” Hopefully, “this holy shrine will be a place of grace that attracts spiritual seekers and the unchurched—groups we want to reach.” In the early 1980s, the statue inside the grotto was vandalized with someone using what was believed to be a sledge hammer. The statue is still chipped today. After the vandalization, a tear channel appeared in the marble underneath her left eye. Also on the property there are outdoor Stations of the Cross—11 columns and three statues of Jesus’ Passion including a large crucifixion scene. “The place truly has a holy presence.” said Fr. Alex. “Many people often comment on this sense of the holy.” Inside the St. Joseph Chapel are olive wood Stations of the Cross, hand-carved by Christians in Bethlehem. “Amazingly, after having ordered them from the City of our Savior, we realized they match our pews and new sanctuary floor exactly. It once again confirmed that building bridges to the Mother Church of Jerusalem is part of our charism,” said Fr. Alex. They conducted a Catholic Bible Study to help Catholics “get into the word” and hope to start a St. Anthony Evangelization Center on site as well. “We want to train Catholics how to share the faith and Gospel with more confidence and effectiveness.” Terra Sancta Ministries also has a devotion to St. Anthony— the “Evangelical Doctor.” On the Feast of St. Anthony, they handed out four hundred rolls of blessed St. Anthony bread at Mass and to the families in the neighborhood. “We found out that Fr. Jarzembowski had a devotion to St. Anthony who healed him when he was a child,” said Fr. Alex. “To our surprise, this place also had a Third Order of St. Francis fraternity (Secular Franciscans)—all Franciscan elements we were unaware of when we started this venture but which gladdened our Franciscan hearts. Still, the main charism is Marian, and it is Mary, by God’s grace, who can help renew the Church and save our society.” The Shrine is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. with a 12-noon Mass,
Terra Sancta still needs much work and they have a wish list of items and services needed. Fr. Alex is asking that all to, “Please pray about what donation the Holy Spirit is asking you to make for this ministry.” CHAPEL Vestments Hymnals: Gather III hymnals $15.00 per hymnal (50 hymnals = $750) $120.00 for two music accompaniment books $80 for shipping & handling Stations of the Cross ($800/Station): See Stations donation sheet. 13 still need paying for. Confessional: $1,250.00 Chair in Confessional: $200.00 Fix second confessional: no estimate yet Matching furniture: Tile flooring for the basement. “Flower Fund”: Flowers for statues Hand-held Dust-buster type vacuum with crevice tool (Eureka) Maintenance needs: Vanities for the basement. Faucets for the basement. Small fridge for sacristy. Glass covers for 2 statue stands (St. Joseph & Our Lady of the Cape) Vacuum cleaner: INDOOR Commercial color printer: $2,000 OUTDOOR Signage: Fix fence: Landscaping: bushes, flowers, benches, regarding the hillside Repaving parking lot: Tree maintenance: Trees need to be trimmed and cut down. Redo outdoor altar area: OUTDOOR STATUARY Angel & Jesus Kneeling (both 4 feet) (includes additional wing): White: $5,250.00 Brick word for the Stations of the Cross: estimate needed Life size Crucifixion Scene (5 feet): White $13,100.00 New Pieta (60 inches wide x 40 inches deep x 58 inches high): White $4,400.00 New Dead Savior (65 inches wide x 22 inches deep x 25 inches high): White $4,000.00
Rosary following and Confessions before Mass. Fr. Alex is the Spiritual Director and Patti Giangrande, OFS is Executive Director and Pilgrimage Coordinator. As a Catholic non-profit, Terra Sancta Ministries is entirely volunteer-run and depends entirely on donations. Terra Sancta in Latin means “holy land” or “holy ground.” “For now, we are the custodians of this holy place,” said Fr. Alex, “Because through prayer that is what the Holy Spirit has called us to do.” “With the help of many generous volunteers and benefactors, and especially our leading partner, Laura Sovel, God has enabled us to restore this abandoned shrine to become a place of beauty—all for God’s greater glory.” He continued, “With St. Joseph as our patron, we hope to foster pilgrimage here as it occurred in the past. Pilgrimage is our specialty—we lead two
each year to the Holy Land. But why not here in Pontiac too?” The Holy Land connection was confirmed when they found out about Franciscan friar, Blessed Federic Janssoone, who left the Holy Land for Canada to promote pilgrimages to Our Lady of the Cape at Three Rivers. “It confirmed for us that this whole endeavor was being directed by Heaven,” said Fr. Alex. “Blessed Frederic also saw the ‘miracle of the eyes’ as the eyes of Our Lady of the Cape came alive. That set his heart on fire as he preached about taking pilgrimages and living the gospel life. He also was instrumental in re-establishing the Franciscans after they were kicked out of Canada by the British.” Terra Sancta Ministries hopes to bring more people to Christ through a devotion to His Mother. “The property is a little oasis of peace,” said Fr. Alex, “and, hopefully it will touch a lot of souls.” For information about the shrine, call (248) 320-0107. To contact Fr. Alex, email abunaalex@yahoo.com. SEPTEMBER 2017
CHALDEAN NEWS 27
Spiritual Trip Visit to Iraq brings local seminarians closer to their culture, faith BY PAUL NATINSKY AND VANESSA DENHA GARMO
I
t is said that to truly understand someone, you have to walk a mile in his shoes. That is exactly what four Chaldean seminarians did this summer on their trip to Iraq. On one day, they walked nine miles in 100-degree weather at the edge of a war zone. Seminarians Deacon Fadie Gorgies, Deacon John Jaddou, Perrin Atisha and Rodney Abasso spent nearly a month in Northern Iraq, Kurdistan visiting displaced Christians and engaging in the life of the community at all levels. Their trip is a vital part of their formation as future Chaldean priests immersing themselves in Chaldean culture in their native homeland. This is the second year the Chaldean Church in Detroit has sent seminarians such as Deacon Fadie to Iraq and Father Patrick Setto who first embraced the opportunity last year 28
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while still a seminarian. “We are so blessed in America” said Perrin Atisha. “There are so many blessings that build our faith and you don’t realize that until you go to a place like Iraq and see what others are going through.” There are many opportunities in America like bible study, theology classes and workshops that are not available in Iraq. “The faith is so very alive in Iraq, yet they don’t have the same tools we have in America to learn and practice the faith,” noted Atisha. “Even if they have what we have, they are not widely attended because they are being persecuted in Iraq. Things are so available to us here but we learned that God works everywhere. He is working in Iraq even with the limited resources.” After their tip, the seminarians had a deeper understanding of the persecution going on in the U.S.
“We may not be physically persecuted as they are in Iraq,” said Atisha, “but there is a spiritual persecution with everything going on in society and the beliefs of the world creeping into our Catholic Faith. We need to ask ourselves if we are going to stick to our faith like the people in Iraq have been doing or are we going to compromise because of what the world wants us to do?” The men spent more than a month out of the country, first visiting the Chaldean community in the Republic of Georgia and their priest Father Benny Bethyadgar. After being dazzled by the community and the Chaldean Church in Tbilisi, Georgia, the seminarians departed for a 26-day mission in Iraq. They spent two weeks in Ankawa, one week in Alqosh, and four days in Dohuk. The group spent time in the
well-developed town of Ankawa, a Christian suburb of Erbil. Their stay in Ankawa included living and participating in seminary life and teaching classes to high school students at Mar Qardakh School. “The experience made us want to serve our people more,” said Atisha. “There is so much work needed not only in Iraq but in our own Diocese in America. It is not just physical work. It is spiritual work. We are not only dealing with people, we are dealing with souls.” As they continued to teach, the seminarians discovered a strong faith “instilled in the culture” and “fertile minds” that were eager to embrace the teachings of the church. It was this experience that Deacon John said moved him the most during the trip. “The kids started falling in love with Jesus,” said Deacon John about his teaching experience.
Three years ago, ISIS fighters ravaged villages from Mosul north in their conquest and desecration of Iraq. Christian villages were hit very hard, losing homes, churches and lives. Still, the communities remained bonded together, said Rodney. When the seminarians arrived in Alqosh, they were given an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the persecuted. It just so happened that when the men arrived in Alqosh, the next morning was a memorial walk on the road from Alqosh to Teleskoof. The seminarian’s nine-mile trek began in Alqosh. The four young men headed south to the war-torn village of Teleskoof, where they participated in celebration of the first mass since the invasion of ISIS three years ago. For Rodney, the journey, retracing the steps that terrified villagers took fleeing gunfire and destruction, and seeing the destruction left by ISIS, challenged his sense of forgiveness. But once he saw how the community retained its faith and lived without resentment, he felt inspired by the strength of their faith amidst adversity. Perrin was also deeply affected by what he saw at Teleskoof. “It was humbling, eye opening,” he said upon viewing the destroyed homes and smashed church statues. The seminarians witnessed firsthand the aftermath of evil and war. The men first encountered this in Qaramlesh as they walked around
the village with Father Thabet, the parish priest of Qaramlesh. Many Chaldeans in the Metro Detroit community saw this destruction through a Vlog that was created by the men at vlog.chaldeanchurch.com. Rodney recounts that although they witnessed the aftermath of evil, “there was much good that we witnessed too. We saw the joy and love on the face of a people united in faith. Love remained. The love of Christ was still present in the community and it was Christ and His love that brought the people through their pain and suffering. It was the love of Christ that united us to them; and ultimately love remained victorious.” The trip to Iraq was an excellent
experience for the men as they prepare to be Chaldean priests. Perrin Atisha noted “Our mission to Iraq helped me realize how blessed I am. In America, we grow up with everything and can forget that not everyone is as fortunate.” It was Deacon Fadie who had been instrumental in planning the trip. He was a knowledgeable guide for the other men as he speaks Chaldean, Arabic and Kurdish, in addition to English, and is very familiar with the Iraqi geography and culture. The men all hope these trips will continue if the political situation lends itself. “The destroyed churches were very humbling and eye opening,”
said Atisha. “It really made us angry at first. We saw our churches desecrated and statues smashed. We saw the tabernacles stolen. After that, the “ah-ha” moment was seeing the happiness with the displaced Christians in the refugee camps. They built temporary chapels there and their faith is alive. If what happened to them, happened to us, I think many of us would doubt God.” It was witnessing the forgiveness that really moved the seminarians. “If they can forgive ISIS, how can we not?” asked Atisha. “When we don’t forgive others, we will lose our faith. The reason the faith is so alive in Iraq is because they forgave their enemies.” SEPTEMBER 2017
CHALDEAN NEWS 29
Flying High Planned his career as a pilot after his first lesson BY ASHOURINA SLEWO
A
fter nearly 30 years, the novelty of being a commercial airline pilot has yet to wear off for George Gorial, 54, captain at JetBlue Airlines. Gorial has been at JetBlue for 10 years, where he upgraded to captain after only three years at the airline. Before working for JetBlue, Gorial worked as a charter pilot out of Detroit City Airport for five years and then for 12 years, worked at Skyway Airlines, where he was also a captain. Gorial didn’t always set out to be a pilot, in fact, Gorial had wanted to end up in the medical field and eventually become a doctor. After some encouragement from billboards near his family’s business, which was located near the Detroit City Airport, Gorial decided to take a flying lesson. “I always watched the airplanes flying overhead when I worked at my family’s business near Detroit City Airport and would see the signs 30
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‘Learn to fly’,” said Gorial. “I took one flying lesson and when I was in that airplane, it was just like “wow, I could really do this,” when we took off in that airplane, I thought this is it. That was it for me, I knew I wanted to be a pilot.” Unsurprised, Gorial found that he had very little support when he decided to abandon his choice to pursue a career in the medical field to become a pilot. “Nobody believed that I could do it,” Gorial said. “My mom would always say ‘you could have been a doctor, what are you doing,’ but I wanted to be a pilot. Honestly, though, the only person that believed in me was my mom, everybody else thought I was crazy. Some of the people closest to me didn’t think I could actually do it, but it didn’t matter to me what they thought I could or couldn’t do.” Shortly after receiving his private pilot license, Gorial decided to also
obtain his certification for private and instrument training. One year after receiving his certification, Gorial became a simulator instructor at Oakland Community College and at a flight school in Detroit City Airport. It was during his time as an instructor that the reality of his career choice dawned on him. “When I started teaching, I became an instructor at Oakland Community College to pay for my two years of college there, I looked and thought to myself, ‘this is my job now, this is what I am going to do’,” Gorial said. In his 28 years as a pilot, Gorial’s most memorable moment at work is not what one would expect. Gorial states that nothing could compare to surprising his mother on a flight, not even when his plane was struck by lightning. On a short flight from Wisconsin to Detroit, Gorial was able to surprise
his mother, who had never been on an airplane being flown by her son. Even as she sat on the plane, waiting for take-off, Gorial’s mother had no idea who the captain was until it was announced by the flight attendants. “When she heard the announcement over the PA, she was so surprised,” said Gorial. “She was telling everybody ‘that’s my son.’” She loved being able to say I was her son. It was so surreal to her.” During his career, Gorial has been able to achieve everything that he had set out to do, as well as things he never dreamed of doing; from achieving his career goal of becoming a commercial airline pilot to sharing his successes with his mother, who cheered him on from his very first flight lesson, Gorial hopes to continue flying larger aircrafts across great distances. “It is surreal and the novelty of it all never wears out,” said Gorial.
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CHALDEAN NEWS 31
chaldean on the STREET
How important do you think it is to preserve the Chaldean language? BY HALIM SHEENA
With the launch of Mango Languages’ Sourath series this fall, we wanted to ask community members how they felt about preserving the Chaldean language.
There is no greater bond to our culture and to each other than our language. It neatly encompasses our collective experiences, our culture, and our ties to our homeland in one package. Without it, we will lose our identity as a people. And with no identity, we lose everything that makes us who we are. – Aessin Shikwana, Farmington Hills 32
It is very important to preserve our Chaldean language because it is the strongest tie we have to our culture. If we forget our language, our culture and heritage becomes lost for our future generations. – Sandy Mikha, West Bloomfield, 36
It is extremely important. I owe so much to my grandparents for teaching me to speak Chaldean as a child. The Chaldean language is one of the oldest languages in the world and we should be passing it on to future generations and preserving our rich heritage. – Jake Jarbou, Shelby Township, 24
I think it is imperative that we do everything in our power to preserve Sureth (Neo-Aramaic). Language is more than simply a means of communication; It is the way by which we express ourselves, and for our language in particular, it symbolizes our distinct ethnic identity from Arabs et al. Recently, my friends and I created a Sureth “Whatsapp” chat, where we discuss different words and expressions (mathlé) as a means of preserving the language. It is interesting to see the similarities and differences between the various dialects represented in the chat. – Christopher Sesi, Sterling Heights, 27
It is crucial the Chaldean language is preserved as it is one of the many things that separates Chaldeans to the many diverse groups of people in the Middle East. The Mesopotamian civilization was considered the first advanced civilization in the world due to the fact it was the first to have a written language with a highly developed culture and social organization. In that case, if the Chaldean language is no longer being spoken or written, it is like a civilization, that was around for thousands of years, has been lost. With that being said, after all that has happened in Iraq with ISIS destroying historical artifacts of much of our culture, who knows how long the remaining tangible artifacts will last. If there is one thing that cannot be destroyed physically it is a language, that if preserved, can be what keeps our culture ‘advanced’, keep our culture different, and keep our historical culture alive! – Andrew Kizy, Oak Park, 21
I believe it is very important to preserve our Chaldean Language. preserving the Chaldean Language is one of the best ways to preserve the Chaldean culture itself. When the language dies out, a huge part of our culture will die out with it. Being able to speak Chaldean gives us a way to express ourselves and a way to communicate with one another. There is so much beauty in the Chaldean language and I believe it is immensely important to preserve it. – Deanna Dickow, Sterling Heights, 18
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of St. Joseph, Troy, Michigan; then, until 2006, he was pastor of the same parish and then parish priest of St. George in Township, Michigan, until 2015. In 2009, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his priestly ordination, he received the title of Chorbishop.
He received the title of Chorbishop in 2009, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his priestly ordination. On January 15 2015, the Holy Father Francis appointed him as bishop of the eparchy of Mar Addai of Toronto of the Chaldeans, Canada, and he was ordained on February 6, 2015. Mar Shaleta speaks Chaldean, Arabic, Italian and English, and knows Assyrian, Kurdish, French, German, and among the ancient languages, Latin, Hebrew and Greek.
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ast month, Pope Francis appointed Mar (Bishop) Emanuel Hana Shaleta eparchial bishop of Saint Peter Apostle of San Diego of the Chaldeans. Mar Shaleta is being transferred from the eparchy of Mar Addai of Toronto of the Chaldeans, Canada. He was born in Fishkabour-Zakho, Iraq, on November 12, 1956 and in 1971, following his primary studies in his village, he entered the St. John Minor Seminary near Mosul, which was run by the Dominican Fathers. In 1977, Mar Shaleta was sent to the Pontifical Urbanian University where he studied philosophy and theology. He was ordained a priest by Pope St. John Paul II on 31 May 1984. He continued his studies in the faculty of theology of the Urbaniana University and obtained a doctorate in biblical theology in 1987. He transferred to the Chaldean eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Detroit which at the time was the Chaldean Diocese of the entire United States. From 1987 to 2000 he served in the parish of St. Paul, North Hollywood, California; from 2000 to 2002 he was deputy priest
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CHALDEAN NEWS 33
GUEST column
Excursion through the promised land T
his year forever many of our wrists serves as a changed the lives reminder that the Holy Land of 44 people who never leaves you. attended Fr. Pierre Konja’s I recall the eighth day of our Pilgrimage through Mothtrip to the Church of the Visitaer of God Church. I was tion and the Holy Spring where privileged enough to be the meeting between Elizabeth one of those people. We and the Virgin Mary took place. toured the holiest places Getting there meant walkfrom France to Israel ing up more than 200 flights CHRISTEN to Italy. From the early of stairs and I was worried my JAMOUA mornings to the exhaust- SPECIAL TO THE Aunt, Janet Yatooma, who has ing walks and the hours CHALDEAN NEWS back and knee problems, would of plane and bus rides, it is be unable to finish. without a doubt that this pilgrimage is I remember turning to her and not for the weak of heart. telling her how inspired I was by her The trip not only made a mark and her willingness to pull through. on our lives, but the permanent inkHer response to me was “If the Virgin marks of religious tattoos now on Mary could do it then so could I… 34
CHALDEAN NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2017
she gives me strength.” It was at that exact moment that I understood just how powerful this trip was to the human experience. I have so much respect for travelers in groups. The unfamiliarity of experiencing worlds outside your element may present all kinds of anxiousness, but throwing strangers into the mix can produce unease. “I was actually very nervous about the thought of going with a bunch of strangers, worried that I would feel uncomfortable or that I wouldn’t belong with a certain group,” said Scarlet Akkam. Akkam shared that she then overcame her anxieties before boarding Air France for our flight to Lourdes, when she noticed how
several group members shared her same passion for the trip. “I knew then that we would all become very close by the end of the experience.” Fr. Pierre is a phenomenal leader. The itinerary for the trip was overwhelming and almost impossible to fathom how the whole thing was orchestrated with such precision. If anyone plans to travel to the Holy Land, I recommend to do it with a priest. Fr. Pierre held a private mass every day in which we received the Eucharist. “Having a priest with us to Mass was invaluable, particularly since we were able to celebrate Mass in the holiest places in the world,” said Roxanne Arabo. Many of the pilgrims shared that their most cherished experience took
place at the Sea of Galilee where we sailed on the peaceful waters. Marcella Kinaya explains that “As a group, we went on a boat ride and put on Christian music and reflected. We closed our eyes, and meditated on our thoughts. This experience hit home for me; I might have shed a tear or two…or cried my heart out, but it was just incredible.” This was the same miraculous sea where Jesus walked on water and taught men to fish. “I truly felt Jesus on the water, looking at our boat. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as great as I did there; I felt safe, I felt loved, I felt completely full.” Jesus’ presence was also felt in those that travelled with us in prayer. A true testimony to the miracles of prayer can
be seen in Sarah Witting’s story. Witting’s only request to Nada Jamoua was that she pray for her friend Jenny, who was pregnant with twins. These prayers came into play when these babies were born premature and faced life threatening heart risks. One week into our pilgrimage, the afflicted twin’s heart began healing itself. Surgery was no longer a ne-
cessity. Going home became a reality. Travel to the Holy Land. Follow the footsteps of Jesus. The Holy Land is a book and those who don’t travel have read only one page. Five books recorded the life of our Lord Jesus. Four of them you will find in your church and library but the fifth you can only find in the Holy Land. Come walk the land of the Fifth Gospel.
“There are so many words to describe the trip, but not one word can do it justice. Put any reservations you have aside, and just GO,” said Kinaya. Christen Jamoua works for The Chaldean News as the Account Executive. This is her first stand-alone article. We look forward to seeing more pieces from her. SEPTEMBER 2017
CHALDEAN NEWS 35
ECONOMICS & enterprise
W3R gives back to community BY ASHOURINA SLEWO
W3R
Consulting came to fruition as a result of a budding college friendship between Eric Hardy, Chief Executive Officer, and Patrick Tomina, Chief Financial Officer. Hardy and Tomina came together as business partners and recognized the potential of Information Technology. For years, Hardy and Tomina worked on developing their company. Their perseverance and commitment to their business model has made W3R one of the largest minority owned staffing companies in Michigan. “We had plenty of opportunities to give up and to continue our careers as engineers,” said Tomina. “Today, we are glad we had the perseverance to continue forward.” Now 22 years later, W3R Consulting continues to stand strong and is looking to honor their company’s success by giving back to the very communities that supported them throughout their journey. W3R Consulting decided to give $100,000 in STEM/STEAM in scholarships. “The major partnership team is African American and Chaldean American,” said Tomina. “We always had an understanding that we would give back to our own communities at an equal level when we had the chance. We are fortunate enough now to be able to try to provide students and our future leaders with financial assistance and mentorship opportunities.” Through their partnerships with both the Chaldean Chamber of Commerce and the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce, W3R Consulting have devised a plan in which the scholarship money will be doled out over the course of five years. W3R Consulting will split $20,000 between the two chambers each year, leaving each chamber with $10,000. The two chambers are then tasked with choosing two scholarship winners to receive $5,000 each. According to Tomina, both chambers have played significant roles in the success of W3R over the years and feel it is important to give back to the chambers whenever they can. “It is also equally as important to help our minority communities and business partners,” said Tomina. 36
CHALDEAN NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2017
“Since Patrick and I began our careers as engineers and we specialize in providing STEM consultants to members of local business communities, we were very enthusiastic about the idea of contributing to STEM/ STEAM education,” said Hardy. As well as giving $100,000 in STEM/STEAM scholarships, W3R Consulting gives back to the community in a number of ways. From being involved in chamber related activities to volunteering and providing financial support, W3R Consulting is steadily making an impact in their minority communities as
well as the local community outside of their own. “Whether we’re spending time volunteering, acting in a board leadership capacity, providing financial support to programs, our team is always dedicated to engaging with our communities,” said Hardy. “It’s that spirit of giving that makes our team exceptional.” Along with the spirit of giving, Tomina states that the relationships they have forged with customers, employees and community leaders are the secret to their overall success. Attributing their successes to strong
relationships and their setbacks to the lack of relationships. “Strong relationships will get you through any situation as long as you are genuine in that relationship,” said Tomina. “Our employees also appreciate the genuine nature of the ownership team and they reward us with great work.” Michigan-based Chaldean students can apply for the scholarships through the Chaldean Chamber of Commerce. Students applying must be pursuing STEM undergraduate degrees and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
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New Documentary on Middle East Crisis PHOTOS BY RAZIK RONAN
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any gathered at the Shenandoah Country Club on July 24 for the premiere of the long-awaited documentary, Faithkeepers, that would put a face and voice to the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. The documentary highlights the persecutions that Christians and other minorities are currently facing at the hands of groups like ISIS. As well, the documentary traces back a century of persecution, including the genocide of World War I that took nearly two thirds of the Chaldean/Assyrian/Syriac population. In attendance were special guest speakers Richard Green, executive producer, Ryan Mauro, Clarion Project National Security Analyst, and Nahren Anweya, Assyrian-American human rights activist for Christians.
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1. The audience prepared for viewing of the documentary. 2. Marvie Neubauer. 3. Nahren Anweya. 4. Richard Green. 5. Ryan Mauro. 6. Linad Glisman. 7. Euge Greenstein. 8. Guests were given opportunities to speak at the premiere. 9. Carolin Sarigiannis, Bothina Khoshaba, Fr. Ameer Brikha. 10. Tom Naemi 11. Guests watch the documentary.
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CHALDEAN NEWS 41
KIDS corner
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WORD SEARCH
PACK ALL OF THE ESSENTIALS The first day of school is nerve wracking enough on its own, forgetting your school supplies won’t help the nerves one bit. Be sure to pack your school supplies. Don’t go overboard, but an extra pencil or two never hurt anybody.
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GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP Dozing off on the first day is not a good way to start the year. You’ll want to plan carefully and make sure you get at least eight hours of sleep the night before your first day back.
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ENJOY YOURSELF
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School should never be all work and no play. It’s important to remember to enjoy yourself. You’ll be learning a whole lot and making new friends in no time!
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PICK THE PERFECT LOOK Looks aren’t everything, but a little effort can go a long way to calm your nerves the first day back to school.
EAT A NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST It’s hard to learn on an empty stomach, you’ll find yourself forgetting your teacher’s name and counting the minutes to lunch. Eating a full and nutritious breakfast will keep you full and focused!
42
CHALDEAN NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2017
Committed to making our communities stronger. At Kroger, service isn’t something that stops at our front door. Our commitment to our customers stretches out to the Michigan communities in which we live and serve. Over 19,000 dedicated associates proudly support events for charitable groups, health organizations, educational initiatives and more. It’s the Kroger Promise—to help our communities grow and prosper.
©2017 The Kroger Co.
SHOP ONLINE WE DELIVER 2017 BUICK ENCORE LEASE FOR ONLY
99
$
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*
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995 DOWN $ 25,430 MSRP
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*
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$
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*
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MSRP
58,940
$
MSRP
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2017 GMC ACADIA AWD SLT-1 PER MONTH
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*
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*
STOCK# B71127
LEASE FOR ONLY
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239
$
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UP TO $10,000 CASH OFF
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LEASE FOR ONLY
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OPEN SATURDAYS 10AM-3PM MON. & THURS. 8:30AM-9PM - TUES., WED., & FRI. 8:30AM-6PM - SAT. 10AM-3PM
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* Offer ends 8/31/2017. All leases must have GMS and qualify for all available rebates. Plus ACQ fee, tax, title, plates, DDC fee not included. Tier 1 credit required and 10k miles per year on lease. No security deposit required. Photos may not represent actual vehicle. Price is subject to change without notice. **Plus tax title and plates extra. Tier one credit required. All rebates to dealer. Photos may not depict actual vehicle.