October 2019

Cardinal Bechara Rai, patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church, and Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan in Bkerke, Lebanon (CNS)

Syriac Catholic Church reestablishes diocese in northern Iraq

The Syriac Catholic Church has reestablished a diocese for the Kurdistan region of Iraq in an effort to support the faithful in the region and encourage them to remain in their homeland.

Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan celebrated the new diocese at a Mass at Queen of Peace Syriac Catholic Church in Irbil, Iraq, on August 24.

Archbishop Nathaniel Nizar Semaan will head the new Diocese of Hadiab-Irbil and all Kurdistan. Previously, the area was under the Mosul archdiocese’s jurisdiction.

Recognized by Crain’s

John Haji, 32, has been selected as one of Crain’s Business’ 40 Under 40. The founder of The Gentleman’s Box, Haji takes serious pride in providing the best products possible to his customers.

Pilgrimage with Fr. Jeff Day

Fr. Jeff Day is leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land! This 9 day pilgrimage is open to all. From the Sea of Galilee and Nazareth to The Old City and Garden of Gethsemane, the pilgrimage will take you to key locations within the Holy Land. For more information or to reserve your spot, contact Corporate Travel Service, Inc. at (866) 468-1420.

Chaldean Man Murdered in Detroit

Lewis Putrus, 77, was shot and killed Saturday, September 21. Putrus was leaving his brother's store, D&D, in Detroit at around 11:00 p.m. when he was approached by a suspect demanding money. Reports cite a second suspect. A $10,000 reward is being offered by the Midwest Independent Retailers Foundation for any information leading to an arrest.

Since 1970, there have been more than 100 Chaldeans have been killed in their place of work.

Longtime California State Legislator, Wadie Deddeh, dies at 98

Wadie Deddeh passed away Tuesday, August 27, just nine days before his 99th birthday in Poway, California. With 16 years in the Assembly and 11 in the Senate, Deddeh built a strong reputation for his bipartisan leadership.

Born in Baghdad in 1920, Deddeh came to the United States in 1947.