On December 11, CCF West celebrated Chaldean Cultural Night featuring artist Reni Stephan and Fr. Patrick Setto. Both Stephan and Setto shared powerful reflections on art, faith, and the spiritual guidance that inspires creativity. Their stories highlighted the deep connection between culture, religion, and the artistic journey.
Read MoreCCF President Martin Manna had a meeting with the Board of Trustees of the American University of Iraq–Baghdad to discuss key priorities supporting the university’s continued growth and success.
Read MoreOn December 15, CCF West hosted 20 kids, ages 8–15, for a fun, hands-on experience decorating their own holiday cookies. With pre-measured dough, festive cookie cutters, frosting, sprinkles, and candy decorations, the kids let their creativity shine. After baking and decorating, each participant boxed up their cookies to take home.
Read MoreWhen Dawn (Shaouni) Pullis’s stomach pains were too much to bear, she went to the doctor and was surprised by a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. She was 21. The examination was caught in its early stage, so she had an oophorectomy, the surgical removal of both her ovaries, and did not require chemotherapy or radiation. It took eight weeks to recover, but years to find a life partner who would accept her as an infertile wife.
Read MoreStephen Hannawi is a man with a mission. It all started when he was 8 years old in Tel Kepe, where he and his older brother served in church—attending Vespers, daily prayers, and the rosary. In Iraq, Vespers was celebrated in the Chaldean language; Stephen started to learn the language so that he could participate in the liturgy. “I love the language because it was the language of Jesus Christ,” Stephen explains. He was seriously considering entering the priesthood.
Read MoreThe Chaldean Community Foundation hosted a cultural evening at its West Bloomfield location on Thursday, December 11, titled “Art and Music.” Father Patrick Setto and visual artist Reni Stephan were the guests of honor. The event drew a large crowd of community members who enjoyed an evening celebrating art, music, culture and history.
Read MoreFor most students, attending college is a moment to strike out on their own, the start of a solo journey of discovery and growth. But for Sarah, Samantha and Sebastian Jarbou—a trio of siblings enrolled at the University of Michigan-Flint—higher education is a shared adventure filled with mutual support, friendly mix-ups and a deep commitment to giving back.
Read MoreManresa Jesuit Retreat House is a retreat center in Bloomfield Hills. It is situated on 39 beautiful acres of forest, gardens and a stream with outdoor Stations of the Cross and many places for quiet prayer and contemplation. Thousands of people visit Manresa each year to experience God in new ways through their retreats, programs, classes and spiritual direction, many of whom leave with a life-giving encounter with the Sacred.
Read MoreThe 4th Annual Beth Nahrain Writers Conference was held November 8, 2025, in a virtual format, celebrating books and achievements by Chaldean authors and speakers. Previously hosted at Oakland University, the Chaldean Cultural Center and the Chaldean Community Foundation, the 2025 conference moved online to better serve its expanding global audience of writers and participants exploring Mesopotamian history and culture.
Read MoreOne of the most common New Year’s resolutions is saving money. In today’s uncertain economy, making smart financial decisions is more important than ever. Building a solid savings cushion, maintaining a diversified investment portfolio, and following a consistent budget are proven ways to achieve financial stability.
Read MoreOn December 18, CCF West hosted a Cooking Chaldean - Pacha Edition. The hands-on class led by Natasha Dallo provided a step-by-step process on how to prepare pacha from cleaning to sewing and stuffing, just in time for the holidays.
Read MoreJanuary invites both reflection and renewal—a moment to honor where we come from while setting intentions for the year ahead. As we welcome the first issue of the new year, this edition reflects the strength, resilience and evolving identity of the Chaldean community, told through stories of faith, culture, education and perseverance. Together, these narratives capture both the challenges faced and the hope that continues to guide the community forward.
Read MoreThere has been a surge of commentary about the H-1B program lately. Much of it, in my view having worked in this field for over 30 years, is misguided. Too often, the debate assumes that H-1B professionals threaten the U.S. workforce. In reality, the program brings in only about 85,000 highly educated professional workers in specialty occupations a year—an insignificant number in a labor force of nearly 180 million.
Read MoreAs part of our coverage of the history of the Chaldean people and the regions where they have lived, I had the honor of interviewing His Excellency Bishop Mar Habib Hormuz Nawfli, shepherd of the Chaldean Diocese of Basra and the South, and apostolic visitor to Europe. He shared insights into the Chaldean community’s historical presence in Basra, its spiritual and cultural life, and the challenges it faces today.
Read MoreFor the first time in over fifteen years, the Chaldean Antonian Hormizdian Order welcomed a new novice. On the third Sunday of the season of Subara (Annunciation), Daniel Orcen, a 31-year-old from France, received the beige cassock that marks the beginning of monastic life at the Monastery of the Servant of God Martyr Abbot Gabriel Denbo in Ankawa, Iraq.
Read MoreA new Michigan Historical Marker to be unveiled along Seven Mile Road will formally recognize the area as Chaldean Town, honoring the neighborhood that served as the cultural and economic heart of Detroit’s Chaldean community for much of the 20th century.
Read MoreThe Shenandoah Young Adult Committee presented a $36,298 check to the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center’s Patient and Family Support Program. The funds were raised through the committee’s inaugural 5K run, which was planned in just one month and brought the community together for a morning of purpose and unity.
Read MoreThe Chaldean Community Foundation hosted members of Temple Shir Shalom at Shenandoah Country Club on December 11 as part of its Cultural Education for Adults initiative. Following a guided tour of the Chaldean Cultural Center, participants gathered in the dining room and were divided into four small groups for a facilitated question-and-answer discussion led by Chaldean moderators.
Read MoreLong before cookbooks, before sugar or tomatoes or even the idea of a “dessert course,” the people of ancient Mesopotamia were cooking with remarkable sophistication. Between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers—often called the cradle of civilization—food was not merely sustenance. It was ritual, identity and an offering to the gods.
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