The Comfort of Community
Sarah Kittle
Editor in Chief
Although this issue tackles some heavy subjects, sharing our stories and our feelings can help us carry the emotional load. The old sayings—“A problem shared is a problem halved,” “When we share our burdens, they become lighter,” and even “Many hands make light work”—have endured for a reason: They ring true.
Some burdens are not meant to be carried alone; they are meant to be shared. In that spirit, and because September is Suicide Awareness Month, I am sharing a story that is deeply personal. I wept through every review and draft, and I’m welling up as I write these words now. But if sharing my story helps even one person feel less alone, that matters more than how hard it was to write.
The Chaldean community is also grieving the loss of one of its pioneers, Ron Acho. He touched the lives of countless people, and many had the privilege of calling him a friend. In this month’s cover story, we celebrate his life and share in the loss of a remarkable man. Together, we shoulder the burden of grief.
Perhaps no story in this community touches us more deeply than that of John and Ann Mansour, who turned personal tragedy into something that continues to benefit the entire community. Strides for Seminarians provides aspiring priests with the financial support they need to pursue their vocation, much like the CCF Scholarship Program helps aspiring college students pursue their educational dreams. From the Mansours’ deepest loss came a legacy of hope, generosity, and opportunity for others.
The CCF will honor the late John Mansour this month for his many humanitarian efforts. In doing so, the community will share in the sorrow of his loss while celebrating a legacy that continues to shape the future of the Church and help others navigate the deep waters of grief.
At the same time, we share our successes. Young people can now attend college because of the generosity of community donors to the Chaldean Community Foundation. Students have blossomed under the guidance of teachers who share their memories and stories of teaching in the 7-Mile Chaldean Town neighborhood, a place fondly remembered by so many in the community.
Sharing these stories preserves them for future generations, much like the Telkeppe Heritage Museum safeguards the daily life of villagers in Iraq. This kind of preservation is not only for those who lived that reality; it gives future generations an opportunity to understand where they came from, the lives their ancestors lived, and what they endured.
Sorrow needs contrast, and to that end, we also share stories of Christian villages in Iraq and explore how the “mighty date palm” became a symbol of richness and abundance, carrying that symbolism across an ocean to the community here in the US.
Other articles explore challenges, such as the growing role of artificial intelligence in academics, as well as stories of achievement, such as Ronia Shamona’s. Through perseverance, faith, and trust in herself and her community, she rose to become a reliable and familiar presence on Metro Detroit television.
In the end, perhaps that is the greatest gift of sharing our stories: We remind one another that none of us carries our burdens—or our joys—alone.
Sarah Kittle
Editor in Chief