Fr. John: So many people are truly touched simply by the presence of a priest. Whether it be a joyous or sad event, just the presence of a priest makes such a difference in that person’s life. The role of a priest is to be an example of Christ, and our Chaldean Church theology teaches us that a priest is to be a mediator between God and the people. The priest should be an example, a role model, a leader – that helps people become, not more like him, but become more like God.
Read MoreJohn “Junior” Jwad was born to a faithful and loving family on May 7, 1996. The youngest of three siblings, he was baptized and confirmed by the late Monsignor Suleiman Zia Denha. Junior attended St. Fabian Catholic School in Farmington Hills from kindergarten through eighth grade, taking his First Holy Communion there. He continued his education at Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, graduating in 2014.
Read MoreWe follow with pain and concern what is happening in the region, a fighting that ignores international law and targets the lives of innocent civilians, infrastructure, and even hospitals. These actions are shameful. Political officials in the region must realize that the solution is through courageous dialogue to achieve peace and justice, and not through weapons that destroy life and quarantine.
Read MoreIraq’s Chaldean Catholic Cardinal Louis Sako said he would like more Vatican support as he tries to regain formal recognition as the Chaldean patriarch in the country. As reported in an earlier edition of the Chaldean News, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid revoked Cardinal Sako’s decree as head of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq in July.
Read MoreIn 2020, Nathan Pawl’s son, an honor-roll student, felt attacked because he wouldn’t wear a mask in school. This was in Walled Lake School District, and when Pawl, the father, tried to resolve the situation, he felt frustrated that he wasn’t being heard. Pawl then decided to act. He teamed up with Monica Yatooma, a former Oakland County Commissioner candidate, and Matthew Nelson, a Walled Lake parent, and they founded the Great Schools Initiative (GSI), a non-profit organization based in Michigan and dedicated to advocating for premium public education.
Read MoreFor nearly half a century, Chaldeans have been visiting the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio. It is the site of an annual pilgrimage of Roman Catholics, primarily Iraqi Christians, to mark the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, celebrated August 14, on the Eve of the Assumption.
Read MoreChaldean Youth Camp, or CYC for short, is a summer camp program containing a variety of traditional camp activities such as sports, team building activities, art projects, campfires, and indoor games, while at the same time promoting the values and ideals of the Chaldean Catholic Church.
Read MoreOn July 1, the Chaldean community gathered at Mother of God Cathedral in Southfield, Michigan, as Fr. Namir Narra was ordained to the priesthood. A graduate of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Father Narra was ordained through the laying on of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit by the Most Rev. Francis Y. Kalabat, Bishop of St. Thomas the Apostle Chaldean Catholic Diocese. Father Narra will serve as parochial vicar at St. George Chaldean Catholic Church in Shelby Township, Michigan. Please keep him in your prayers as he begins his new journey as a priest!
Read MoreThe annual Ankawa Youth Meeting in Iraq ended with a captivating Divine Liturgy led by Chaldean Archbishop of Erbil, Bashar Warda, alongside participating clergy. Recognized as the largest gathering of Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian youth, this year’s event took place at the esteemed Mor Elijah Chaldean Shrine. Over a thousand young men and women from various Chaldean archdioceses in Iraq eagerly participated.
Read MorePreserving our beautiful language is the responsibility of every person who has been blessed to be born into our Chaldean culture. The language is being spoken less and less in homes and is becoming exclusive to the older generation. What a shame it would be for our thriving community in Michigan to allow our language to die!
Read MoreThe Aramaic language reached South India long before the Christian era. According to Rev. Dr. George Kurukkoor, a philologist and professor of Sanskrit and Malayalam languages, it arrived as far back as the 7th century BC when Sumerians, Babylonians, Jews, and others from the Middle East came to India in pursuit of commercial trade. In later centuries, its importance was replaced by other languages.
Read MoreMany of the faithful visit the Vatican or Holy Land, Our Lady of Fatima, or Lourdes. In each of these places, there is something unique that you may not find in the next. Many pilgrims visit ancient churches with centuries of history to unpack, or places of devotion to saints. No matter where you may find yourself, there is a divine call to enter more deeply into your relationship with the Lord.
Read MoreHis Excellency Bishop Basilio Yaldo visited the Chaldean Community Foundation on May 18. He observed the CCF’s diverse programming, including the Breaking Barriers program, and had the opportunity to visit various employees within the organization. Bishop Yaldo also took part in the CCF’s Little Scholars program where he took a photo with and interacted with children within the program.
Read MoreOn Saturday, March 18, Fr. Marcus Shammami and Fr. John Jaddou led a group of hikers to Saugatuck, Michigan for their annual Lenten hike. The day started off with Mass being celebrated at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Douglas, Michigan, before heading to Saugatuck Dunes State Park for a 4-hour, 6.2-mile hike along Lake Michigan. While the trails were cold and snowy, it did not stop the hikers from enjoying the peacefulness of the nature around them and soaking in Jesus every step of the way.
Read MoreSelwan Anwar Taponi was born to a Syriac Catholic family on April 29, 1969, in Baghdad, Iraq. In August of 1969, he was baptized at the Monastery of the Martyrs Mar Behnam and Mart Sarah in northern Iraq. Growing up in Baghdad, Father Selwan’s home parish was Our Lady of Deliverance Syriac Church in Baghdad. Although they were Syriac Catholic, his family were regular parishioners at Sacred Heart Chaldean Church in the same city; Selwan’s father was particularly close with Bishop (then Father) Jibrail Kassab. It was in this church that he received his First Holy Communion.
Read MoreFor much of history and in many lands, being Christian was considered an act of treason and failure to renounce that belief would result in a death sentence. Called to witness for God and Christ the Savior, these nine brave souls paid the ultimate price for their faith.
Read MoreBetween the fall of 2021 and the fall of 2022, 5,621 Christians were killed, 4,542 were arrested, and 5,259 were kidnapped around the world, according to the Christian international network Open Doors. In addition, over 2,000 churches and church buildings were the target of violence. Almost one in seven Christians worldwide were persecuted, with those in the Middle East bearing the brunt of the hatred.
Read MoreRemembering members of our community who have passed away.
Read MoreEvery year the Chaldean Cultural Center hosts a Lenten Dinner evening with a special emphasis on prayer and reflection. This year the keynote speaker is Father Aram, speaking on “Shairwatha,” Remembrance of the Saints, something that took place in Iraqi villages before Easter during Lent. Father Aram chaired a crisis team in Alqosh and established a medical charity clinic among other trauma-related work. He speaks Syriac, Arabic, and English.
Read MoreAs the season of Sawma Raba (Great Lent) begins in the Church, we must not forget the point of Lent – to prepare our hearts and minds for the glory that is the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Resurrection of Christ is the central aspect of our faith; it is the reason why we offer our hearts to Christ as we celebrate Mass each week. As you prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday – the greatest event in all of human history, and dare I say, the entire universe – you must ready your heart to understand this key event of our faith by traveling and fasting with Jesus in the desert.
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