JANUARY 2010

CHALDEAN NEWS JANUARY 2010

JANUARY 2010 CHALDEAN NEWS

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CONTENTS JANUARY 2010 

THE CHALDEAN NEWS VOLUME 6 ISSUE XII 

20 

28 38 

on the cover 

20 A Shot in the Dark? 

Vaccination safety needles many 

features 

22 Diplomatic Call 

By Weam Namou 

Kurds say they want solidarity 

with Iraq’s Christians 

24 Chaldean on the Street 

By Caroline M. Bacall 

How do you survive the winter blues? 

26 Pulled from the Brink 

By Joyce Wiswell 

Shenandoah reduces debt, looks forward 

28 Boiling Over 

By Weam Namou 

Angry crowd confronts government official 

29 Spreading the Word 

By Weam Namou 

Fr. Sameem’s Bible study is a hot ticket 

sports 

32 Sports Roundup 

By Steve Stein 

departments 

6 From the Editor 

7 your letters 

9 Noteworthy 

11 Community Bulletin Board 

12 Chai Time 

14 Halhole 

16 Religion 

17 Obituaries 

18 One on One 

By Martin Manna 

Kurdistan’s Fuad Hussein: 

‘We are the ones protecting 

the rights of the Christians’ 

19 In the Kitchen With … 

By Mark Kassa 

Sally Najor: New Year’s good luck dish 

30 High School Highlight 


Southfield Lathrup: 

‘Sharing Learning, Shaping Lives’ 

31 Looking Back 

By Joe Gasso 

Mary Loassia Acho: 

Like wife, like husband 

34 CALC Corner 

36 Classifieds 

38 Events 

Sisters of Mercy 


from the EDITOR 

Decision Making: I pray for guidance 

Published By 

The Chaldean News, LLC 

Editorial 

Editor in Chief 

Vanessa Denha-Garmo 

managing Editor 

Joyce Wiswell 

Contributing Writers 

Caroline M. Bacall 

Joe Gasso 

Mark Kassa 

Rosalie Kakos 

Weam Namou 

Steve Stein 

art & production 

creative director 

Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

graphic designers 

Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

Joseph Sesi 

Photographers 

David Reed 

Ramiz Romaya 

operations 

Interlink Media 

director of operations 

Paul Alraihani 

circulation 

Paul Alraihani 

CLASSIFIEDS 

Joyce Wiswell 

sales 

Interlink Media 

sales representatives 

Crystal Oram 

Lisy Starr 

managers 


Martin Manna 

Michael Sarafa 

subscriptions: $20 per year 

The Chaldean News 

29850 Northwestern Highway, Suite 250 

Southfield, MI 48034 

www.chaldeannews.com 

Phone: (248) 996-8360 

Publication: The Chaldean News (P-6); Published 

monthly; Issue Date: JANUARY 2010 Subscriptions: 12 

months, $20. Publication Address: 29850 Northwestern 

Hwy., Suite 250, Southfield, MI 48034; Application 

to Mail at Periodicals Postage Rates is Pending at 

Farmington Hills Post Office Postmaster: Send address 

changes to “The Chaldean News 29850 Northwestern 

Highway, Suite 250, Southfield, MI 48034” 

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Anytime I am faced 

with a tough decision 

I pray. I ask God for 

guidance. In life, we are often 

forced to make some tough 

decisions. Our cover story 

this month is about vaccines. 

Parents today often struggle 

with the question, “do I get 

my baby vaccinated or don’t 

I?” I know that I studied the 

debate. Although I believe 

there are too many vaccines out there, I 

did get my daughter Elayna inoculated. 

However, I opted against the H1N1 

shot and the traditional flu shot this year. 

Both Elayna I got very sick this past 

month with the flu. It definitely knocked 

me out. We survived it and are doing 

well. Surprisingly to some people, I 

don’t regret not getting the shot. 

Joyce Wiswell talked to parents 

who strongly oppose vaccines as well 

as those who are big proponents. It is 

a story that will have parents thinking 

and the debate continuing. It is not a 

story with a sound conclusion but one 

that will prompt discussion. And parents 

will continue to be forced to make 

a decision. 

I know that I am among many 

Shenandoah members who are trying 

to decide whether or not to stay a member 

of the club. In these tough economic 

times and with a major career 

decision having been made this year, I 

have to ask myself the question, “is it 

worth investing money in the club?” I 

announced last month that I decided to 

leave a full-time job with Wayne County 

to start my own PR/Marketing company 

— a decision years in the making. With 

that decision, I must make tough decisions 

on my spending habits. 

I know several members worked 

Vanessa 

denha-garmo 

editor in chief 

I don’t make decisions 

to start something in 

January. It seems like 

a lot of hype. 

diligently this year to find 

solutions to the economic 

woes facing the club. I am 

also among many club members 

who do not want to see 

the club close. We give you 

a 2010 update in this issue. 

You can read the story and 

decide for yourself. 

The decisions I am making 

in my life seem so minuscule 

compared to the decisions 

so many Christians in Iraq have made 

over the years. They had to ponder the 

question, “do I stay in my homeland or 

do I leave everything, risk my life and 

the lives of my family, and move to another 

country where I may not have any 

opportunity to make a decent living?” 

We often start the New Year with 

New Year’s resolutions. I made a decision 

a long time ago to give up that tradition. 

It was just a letdown. It doesn’t 

mean that I don’t try to improve my life. 

I do on a regular basis. I don’t make decisions 

to start something in January. It 

seems like a lot of hype. Why not start 

a no-smoking program in June or an exercise 

regime in October? Why do we 

make the decision to change ourselves 

at the start of a new year? 

I did make a decision to read more 

of the Bible this New Year. I am not 

alone. In fact, hundreds of people are 

studying the Bible more regularly with 

Fr. Sameem, who will no doubt — one 

day — command the audience rock 

stars usually claim. We have a story 

about his Bible study classes, which 

are getting rave reviews from Chaldeans 

on the Eastside. 

On a side note, I was recently 

questioned by a fellow Chaldean and 

his sister why I often mention God in 

my editorial notes. I simply explained 

that my faith is a big part of who I am. 

He thought it came off as if you have to 

be a strong Christian to read The Chaldean 

News. Not true at all. I don’t care 

if you are an atheist. You can read The 

Chaldean News. In fact, I welcome you 

to. The three of us had an enjoyable 

chat; I always appreciate feedback 

from readers. 

The underlining topic in that conversation 

was decision-making. I have 

made the decision to include my personal 

experiences in my column so 

many of you can know me on a different 

level. As a person who puts God at the 

center of her life, He will bleed through 

my words on these pages. I have made 

that decision, and you as a subscriber 

have made the decision to read this 

magazine and my editorial every month, 

which I greatly appreciate. 

Life is about decision-making. And 

the decisions we make clearly define 

how we live our lives. 

Alaha Imid Koullen 

(God Be With Us All) 


vdenha@chaldeannews.com 

Reminder: You can follow The 

Chaldean News on Twitter or 

become a fan on Facebook. 

Skinz • Rose Taft • San Carlin 

St. John • Jovani & Many More 

West Bloomfield 

Phone: (248) 932-5253 


your LETTERS 

More on the Youth Club 

In 1972 I was the sole founder of the Chaldean 

American Youth Club. I personally 

met with Fr. Garmo, got his permission, 

addressed 500 postcards, ran the first 

meeting along with a friend, Mary Saroki, 

and stayed active on the board and various 

committees for several years. Since I was 

married, I did not attend the Founder’s 

Day party where the photo you featured in 

the December issue was taken. 

Since then I have been active in the 

community as a teacher for over three 

decades and am now the founder of 

MATCHaldean, I am proud of my role as 

founder of the CAYC and even highlight 

that fact on my MATCHaldean website, 

yet I was not even mentioned in your 

article. I dedicated many years of community 

service as the founder and would 

appreciate setting the record straight. 

The Chaldean American Youth Club 

was one of the first organizations bringing 

Chaldeans together. We now have many 

other organizations that help connect and 

make our community stronger, including 

the Chaldean Chamber, the Chaldean 

Federation of America, the Chaldean 

News and even MATCHaldean. 

Our community has grown so much 

over the years. It used to be that everyone 

knew all the other families, however, 

now our population is so large and 

we are all over Metro Detroit and even 

throughout the U.S.; MATCHaldean, 

for instance, has Chaldean clients in 

10 states across the country. 

We have also obviously become 

more Americanized since the days of 

the CAYC. As a result our community 

has put more and more of an emphasis 

on education and Chaldeans have become 

vastly more diverse in business 

as well. It is especially gratifying to 

see how many Chaldean women have 

pursued higher education. Still we 

remain heavily involved in the independent 

business sector, and our business 

acumen has become acknowledged by 

those outside of our community. 

I believe that while our community 

has changed in many ways since the 

CAYC, we have been able to keep 

many of the traditions and qualities that 

make our community so special, including 

our emphasis on family, church, 

hard work and good food! 

– Theresa Dabish Sitto 

Bloomfield Hills 

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noteworthy 

Church Denies 

Wrongdoing in 

Camp Purchase 

Chaldean Church officials deny they 

did anything wrong regarding the purchase 

of 160 acres in Genoa Township, 

now known as Camp Chaldean. 

Two men close to former mayor 

Kwame Kilpatrick — former police officer 

Jerry Rivers and former Deputy 

Mayor Kandia Milton — have pleaded 

guilty of accepting a bribe to facilitate 

the $3.5 million sale of the camp in 

2007. A third man is also implicated it 

the scheme. 

Camp Brighton, located about 40 

miles northwest of Detroit, was closed 

in 1995 and was in decrepit condition 

when it was purchased by the Chaldean 

Church. 

The church maintains the $50,000 

in question — paid by check — was intended 

for consulting services. No one 

from the church has been charged. 

Chaldeans Gather 

for Symposium 

The Diocese of Saint Peter the Apostle 

for Chaldeans & Assyrians is hosting a 

Historical Symposium on January 7-10 

at the St. Peter Cathedral in El Cajon, 

California. 

The event commemorates the 

1,600th anniversary of the Synod of 

Mar Isaac, a significant occasion for 

the history and theology of the Chaldean 

Catholic Church. 

The event will include prominent 

churchmen and intellectuals speaking 

on the significance of the Synod of Mar 

Isaac in AD 410 and its decisive effects 

in shaping the thought and practice of 

the Mesopotamian ecclesial tradition. 

There will also be excursions around 

San Diego, church choir concerts and 

folk dances and drama performances 

by various parishes of the Saint Peter 

Diocese. Bishop Bawai Soro is chair 

of the Organizing Committee. For more 

information, call (619) 928-2010. 

Beaumont Seeks to 

Aid Communication 

Beaumont Hospital has announced 

new efforts to service patients who 

speak little or no English or have hearing 

impairments by participating in a 

collaborative organized by the Robert 

Wood Johnson Foundation. 

Starting with the admission process, 

employees will ask all patients 

which language they prefer to use to 

talk with doctors and nurses. That 

language will become part of an electronic 

file for all health care providers 

to see. 

Beaumont said the program will result 

in the use of more interpreters and 

Special Honors 

The newly revitalized Chaldean American Bar Association held an Honors Ceremony 

on November 19 to celebrate female Chaldean attorneys — in particular, 

Diane Dickow D’Agostini, Nida Samona and Jane Shallal. Guest speaker at 

the Shenandoah dinner was Marilyn Kelly, chief justice of the Michigan Supreme 

Court. She’s seen here flanked by CACA board members David Senawi, Krystal 

D. Hermiz, Ziyad Hermiz, Chanelle Namou and Brian Garmo. 

phone calls to interpretation service 

companies. Last year Beaumont spent 

$435,000 on interpretive services for 

patients who speak English as a second 

language — of whom 46 percent 

spoke Arabic or Chaldean. 

Powerhouse Gym 

Turns 35 

With locations in 20 countries and 39 

states, Powerhouse Gyms International 

is celebrating 35 years in business this 

year. The company has nearly 50 centers 

in Michigan alone, including the 

latest in Birmingham. Henry Dabish is 

Powerhouse’s CEO. Visit www.PowerhouseGym.com. 

Jonna Joins 

ACC Board 

Arkan Jonna of A.F. Jonna Development 

is among three new board members 

of the Arab American and Chaldean 

Council (ACC). 

Jonna has been in the development 

business for more than 30 years. He 

develops, owns and manages many 

shopping centers and office buildings 

in the Southeastern Michigan area. 

The other new board members are 

Wayne Mayor Abdul “Al” Haidous and 

Dearborn Chief of Police Ronald Haddad. 

Know Someone 

Outstanding? 

The Chaldean American Chamber of 

Commerce is seeking nominations for 

Business Person of the Year and Humanitarian 

of the Year. 

Winners will be feted at the chamber’s 

annual dinner in April 16 at 

Shenandoah Country Club. 

To nominate in one or both categories, 

visit www.chaldeanchamber.com. 

Photo by John Meiu, courtesy of Detroit Legal News Publishing LLC 

New Brew 

Helps Priests 

Guest House is offering a new line of 

Arabica coffee to benefit its program 

of hope and healing for clergy and religious 

who are facing addiction. 

The coffee is organic and fair trade 

and comes in six blends. Packaging features 

a saint who offered comfort to the 

suffering while on Earth. A one-pound bag 

is $9.75, and decaffeinated is $10.75. 

Order the coffee at www.guesthouse.org/coffee.html, 

or call (800) 

626-6910. 

Granholm Appoints 

Chaldeans 

Several Chaldeans have been appointed 

by Governor Jennifer Granholm 

to the Advisory Council on Arab and 

Chaldean American Affairs: Salma M. 

Ajo, Ron J. Boji, Samir A. Danou, and 

Karen L. Karam. The council serves in 

an advisory role to the governor, alerting 

her to pertinent issues within the 

largest Chaldean and Arab community 

outside of the Middle East. 

In other government news, Granholm 

has appointed Suhair Farida to 

the Controlled Substances Advisory 

Commission. 

Free Doctor’s Visit 

Offered 

Those without health insurance, a job, 

and/or a very high insurance deductible 

are being offered one free visit to the 

Royal Oak Medical Center. The service 

is by appointment only — no walk-ins 

allowed. Mumtaz George, MD, is the 

facility’s medical director. 

Royal Oak Medical Center is located 

at 5130 Coolidge Highway in Royal 

Oak. Call (248) 288-9500. 

Peters Introduces 

Resolution 

Supporting Refugees 

Congressman Gary Peters (D-MI) has 

introduced a resolution in the House of 

Representatives to provide support for 

Iraqi refugees and religious minorities 

displaced and persecuted in the aftermath 

of the Iraq war. 

HR 944 seeks 

an investigation into 

human rights violations 

and calls for 

an end to the abuse 

of Iraqi religious 

minorities. It also 

calls on the United 

States and United 

Nations to ask the 

Correction 

Congressman 

Gary Peters 

Iraqi government to protect religious 

minorities by encouraging free and fair 

elections, training Iraqi security forces 

and providing safe places to worship. 

Finally, the resolution calls for the U.S. 

to work with the Iraqi government to ensure 

the physical and economic safety 

of those wishing to return to Iraq. 

“Many who have escaped Iraq to 

seek refuge in neighboring countries 

are forced to live in poverty, unable 

to legally work and lacking sufficient 

support from their host government. 

Those who remain in Iraq live a life of 

constant fear,” Peters said in his official 

record statement. “Iraqi religious minorities 

lack the resources and sturdy 

community foundation necessary to defend 

themselves, and thus remain underrepresented 

politically, legally and 

economically. … It is no longer possible 

to stand by and watch as millions 

of religious minorities are subjected to 

torture, abuse and discrimination.” 

The resolution may come before the 

full House sometime after the first of the 

year. Peters is working closely on the 

issue with Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), 

who has introduced a companion resolution 

in the Senate. 

Due to a production error, the last 

few lines of the St. Thomas Grotto 

article were omitted. It should have 

read: Fr. Frank hopes to see many 

visitors at the grotto. It’s a place, he 

said, where people can “allow the 

peace of God in a holy place to penetrate 

you.” 

We also neglected to mention 

the role of Farmington Hills-based 

Summa Engineering, owned by 

Sabah Hermiz (Summa), in providing 

the structural engineering and 

other services for the grotto. 

Read the entire article at 

www.chaldeannews.com 


noteworthy 

Leaders Mull Christian’s Future in Iraq 

“ o Christians Have a Future in 

DIraq?” More than 100 Iraqi Christian 

leaders convened in Baghdad on 

December 12 to address the possible 

extinction of their community at Iraq’s 

First Christian Leadership Conference 

on Refugees and Internally Displaced 

Persons (IDPs). 

Since the downfall of Saddam 

Hussein in 2003, nearly half of Iraq’s 

one million Christians have fled for 

refuge abroad, while many of the 

remnants live as destitute IDPs. According 

to a report by the Hammurabi 

Human Rights Organization (HHRO), 

a co-sponsor of the conference, 518 

Christians have been killed as a result 

of politically inspired violence during 

the past six years and 48 churches 

have been destroyed. 

In her keynote speech, Annette 

Walder, international president of 

Christian Solidarity International, 

warned that the survival of both the 

Iraqi state and the Christian community 

are inextricably linked. She urged 

Christian leaders throughout the world 

to break their “eerie silence” surrounding 

the crisis. 

HHRO President William Warda 

stressed that Iraq’s ancient Christian 

community, together with the indigenous 

Yezidi and Mandean minorities, 

constitute the deepest roots of the 

Iraqi nation. If Iraq’s Christian roots 

are severed, he said, the Iraqi nation 

and state will shrivel and die. 

Habib Ephrem, president of the 

Syriac League in Lebanon, urged 

Western powers to help secure the 

survival of Christians in Iraq by refraining 

from the pursuit of economic and 

strategic interests without due regard 

for principles of democracy and human 

rights. 

In a written message, Dr. Adel Abdul-Mahdi, 

vice president of Iraq and 

patron of the Christian Leadership 

Conference, declared, “Those who kill 

Christians and bomb churches are enemies 

of Iraq” and pledged that the Iraqi 

state will “facilitate the return of refugees 

and provide generous assistance 

to those who have lost their homes, 

their jobs and their loved ones.” 

Mark Storella, the U.S. Embassy’s 

senior coordinator for Refugee and 

IDP Affairs, said the U.S. government 

spent $387 million for Iraqi refugees 

and IDPs in 2009, and cited President 

‘Those who kill 

Christians and 

bomb churches are 

enemies of Iraq.’ 

– Dr. Adel Abdul-Mahdi 

Barack Obama’s February 2009 Iraq 

pledge to “provide more assistance 

and take steps to increase international 

support for countries already hosting 

refugees.” 

In other news from Iraq, a church 

and a convent were attacked on November 

26, causing severe damage to 

both but leaving no casualties. 

One of the attacks hit the St Theresa 

Convent of Dominican Nuns in the 

western Jadida (New Mosul) district, 

according to Fr. Yousif Thomas Mirkis, 

chief representative of the Dominican 

order in Iraq. 

“These attacks are aimed at forcing 

Christians to leave the country,” he told 

AFP, noting that the bomb had been 

placed inside the convent grounds and 

caused damage to its building. 

Another bombing struck the 

Church of St. Ephrem in the same 

Mosul district, causing major damage 

to the Chaldean church building, said 

Patriarchal Vicar George Basman. 

“We cannot pray there,” he said, 

referring to the damage. “There were 

no casualties because it was a working 

day.” 

According to Voice of Iraq, a Christian 

man was killed in a drive by shooting 

on December 17, in Mosul. Zaid 

Majid Yusuf, 30, was walking to his 

home after parking his car when he 

was shot from a car that drove in front 

of his house. The gunman got out of the 

car to make sure that Zaid was dead. 

Reported by Christian Solidarity International, 

AFP and other sources. Reprinted 

with permission of the Assyrian 

International News Agency, aina.org. 

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10 CHALDEAN NEWS JANUARY 2010

Community Bulletin Board 

Play Ball! 

The Shenandoah Youth Soccer 

Program ended on November 14 

with an award banquet for the 51 

participating boys and girls ages 

6-12. This was the third session for 

a program filled with skills, drills, 

practice and extremely competitive 

games with great support from 

parents who acted as fans and 

helped with coaching. 

The Under 9 group winner was 

Coach Tom Kyriakoza’s team, 

which consisted of Nathan Kenaya, 

Cassidy Ayar, Andrew Toma, 

Anthony Faranso, Giavino Murad 

and Angelina Haisha. The Over 9 

group winner was Coach Anthony 

Kallabat’s team of Anthony Denha, 

Justin Bacall, Nathan Miskina, 

Gabby Najor, Caitlyn Kallabat, 

Norman Haisha and Sam Jwad, Jr. 

Now’s the time to sign up kids 

in the same age group for basketball. 

It starts in mid-January and 

takes place on Saturday afternoons 

at the Shenandoah gym. For 

information, call Tom Kyriakoza at 

(248) 217-7171. 

Finding Salvation 

Mike (Masoud) Yono of Yono Properties, 

LLC, and his family sponsored the 

Salvation Army’s Fourth Annual gala 

fundraiser, A Harvest of Blessings, at 

Shenandoah Country Club on October 

29. The Hollywood-theme event 

included a fashion show of items found 

at Salvation Army thrift stores. Proceeds 

benefit the Performing Arts Department 

of the Salvation Army’s Southeast Michigan 

Adult Rehabilitation Center. 

Welcome 

The newly opened Iraqi 

consulate in Michigan 

recently met with numerous 

Iraqi-American 

organizations at a dinner 

at the Ryan Palace. “We 

are here to serve the 

community,” said Louay 

Nouri Bashar, Michigan’s 

Iraqi consul general. The 

consulate can be reached 

at (248) 423-1250. 

VIP 

Rapper Sean Combs – better 

known as Diddy – paid a visit to 

the Park Place Wine Shoppe in 

Southfield on December 10 to 

promote a new vodka. He’s seen 

here flanked by store owner Eddie 

Foumia and Patrick Foumia. 

Holiday Happening 

The Chaldean American Chamber 

of Commerce decked the halls for 

a Christmas Party on December 

10 at its Southfield office. 

From left: Ed Bahoura, Silvana 

Goriel, Nick Kaczmar, Layth Barish, 

Carl Hakim, Joe Shallal, Tommy Haji 

and Paul Mona; Rena Mansour and 

Oliver Bahoura; Kevin Jappaya and 

Robert Gappy 

Have an item for the Bulletin Board? Send it to 

Chaldean News, 29850 Northwestern 

Highway, Southfield, MI 48034, or e-mail 

info@chaldeannews.com. 

JANUARY 2010 CHALDEAN NEWS 11

CHAI time 

chaldeans conNecting 

community events in and around metro detroit january 2010 

[Saturday, January 2 – 

Sunday, January 3] 

Bridal Show: Brides-To-Be presents a 

show at the Hyatt Regency at the Fairlane 

Towne Center in Dearborn. Tickets 

are $7 in advance, $8 at the door. 

Show hours are noon-5 p.m. www. 

bridestobe.us or (586) 228-2700. 

[Wednesday, January 6] 

Cigars: Monthly Smokandoah cigar 

club meets at 7 p.m. for cash bar and 

appetizers. Shenandoah Country Club, 

West Bloomfield. (248) 683-6363. 

[Saturday, January 9- 


Zoo: Wild Winter Carnival at the 

Detroit Zoo includes games, entertainment, 

face painting and more. Free 

with zoo admission. www.detroitzoo. 

com or (248) 541-5717. 

[Sunday, January 10] 

Bridal Show: Brides-To-Be presents a 

show at Fern Hill Country Club, 17600 

Clinton River Road in Clinton Township. 

Tickets are $7 in advance, $8 at 

the door. Show hours are noon-4 p.m. 

www.bridestobe.us or (586) 228-2700. 

[Wednesday, January 20] 

Marketing: “Marketing in the Post-Advertising 

Age: How to Make It in the New 

Economy” is the topic of a seminar by 

public relations firm Your People LLC. 

Tickets are $30 in advance, $40 at the 

door. 8-11:30 a.m., The Corners, 2075 

Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield. 

(248) 376-0406 or lynne@yourppl.com. 

[Thursday, January 28] 

Chamber: Chaldean American Chamber 

of Commerce holds a Quarterly 

Networking Meeting. (248) 996-8340 

or www.chaldeanchamber.com. 

[Friday, January 29] 

Sesame Street: Elmo’s Green Thumb 

is the latest Sesame Street Live production, 

which runs through February 

15 at the Fox Theater. Tickets are $12- 

$32. (800) 745-3000 or www.olympiaentertainment.com. 

[Saturday, January 16 – 


Auto Show: The 2010 North American 

International Auto Show takes 

place at the Cobo Center in Detroit. 

The show is open from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. 

daily (no admittance after 9 p.m.). 

Tickets are $12, $6 for seniors and 

kids. www.naias.com. 

[Friday, January 29] 

Music: Ninth Annual Ferndale Metro 

Blues Festival features live music at 

22 venues and shuttle buses running 

between venues on the weekends. 

Runs through February 6 in downtown 

Ferndale. www.ferndalebluesfestival.org. 

[Sunday, January 31] 

Bridal Show: Brides-To-Be presents 

a show at Barrister Gardens, 24225 

Harper Avenue in St. Clair Shores. 

Tickets are $7 in advance, $8 at the 

door. Show hours are noon-4 p.m. 

www.bridestobe.us or (586) 228-2700. 

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11416_DET 


Call 866-501-DOCS 

for more information 

Get the new year off to a 

The primary care physicians of 

Providence and Providence Park 

Hospitals never stop caring about you 

and your family. We are on your side, 

listening carefully to you and caring for 

your needs. To make an appointment 

with a high quality primary care 

physician, call 866-501-DOCS. We’ll 

work together with you to find the 

most appropriate doctor for you and 

your family. 

A P A S S I O N f o r H E A L I N G 

HOSPITALS IN SOUTHFIELD AND NOVI 


HALHOLE! 

Come and experience a great dental visit. Valerie Hailo, a Chaldean and 

Arabic speaking dental assistant, will make your child’s visit fun and positive. 

[Births] 

Roman David 

David Kajbo & Dalia Dalou 

Kajbo would like to welcome 

the newest member of their 

family, Roman David. Their 

little angel Roman was born 

on September 9, 2009 in 

Scottsdale, Arizona and is 

accompanied by his big sister, 

Isabella Marie. Grandparents 

are Latif & Nazhat Kajbo and 

Samir & Hana Dalou. The 

growing family now resides in 

Phoenix. 

Roman David 

Kayla Eva 

God has blessed proud parents 

Scott & Eva Lucia with their 

third child. Kayla was born on 

May 24, 2009. She weighed 

7 lbs., 7 oz. and measured 

20.5 inches. Brother Ryan and 

sister Ashley can’t kiss her 

enough! Loving godparents 

are Vinnie Anton and Alexandra 

Lucia. Kayla is the third grandchild 

for Kamal & Basima Anton 

and the ninth for Georgette & 

the late Hani Lucia. Thanks to 

God for this wonderful bundle 

of joy in our lives. 

Kayla Eva 

Allyson Gabrielle 

God has blessed our family 

for a third time. Alyssa and 

Andrew are proud to announce 

the birth of their baby 

sister, Allyson Gabrielle. She 

was born on September 20, 

2009. Allyson weighed 6 lbs., 

9 oz. and was 19.5 inches 

long. Proud parents are Chris 

& Sandy Darakdjian. Allyson is 

the 12th grandchild for Najib & 

Cicil Acho and the seventh for 

Hrair & Annig Darakdjian. 

Allyson Gabrielle 

Couture Bridal Gowns | Mother of the Bride and Groom 

and Eveningwear Collections 

www.katerinabocci.com (586) 247-3622 

Gabriel Steve 

Our hearts have been filled 

with so much joy as God has 

blessed us with an amazing 

little boy! Steve & Vera Kassab 

proudly announce the birth of 

their first child, Gabriel Steve. 

Gabriel was born on April 27, 

2009 weighing 9 lbs., 2 oz. and 

measuring 21 inches long. Gabriel 

is the seventh grandchild 

to Elias & Hakima Kassab and 

the first for Shawkat & Latifa 

Katty. May God bless Gabriel, 

and all children, with health and 

happiness always. 

Gabriel Steve 


Ashton Joey 

Norman & Lana Murad are 

thrilled to announce the birth of 

Ashton Joey, born on December 

1, 2009. He weighed 7 

lbs., 1 oz. and measured 20 

inches. Older siblings are Antonio, 

Ashley and Alexa. Proud 

godparents are Mike Pattah 

and Chanel Pattah. 

Sloan Khaira 

Sloan Khaira was born on May 

14, 2009 to blessed parents 

Joseph & Rina Bahri. 

We thank God everyday for giving 

us His precious angel. 

Ashton Joey 

[Wedding] 

Jeffrey and Carlene 

On July 5, 2009, Jeffrey Amouri 

and Carlene Hesano began 

their lives together. The couple 

was married at St. Thomas 

Chaldean Catholic Church with 

a reception following at Penna’s 

of Sterling Heights. Jeffrey 

is the son of Badir & Samia 

Amouri and Carlene is the 

daughter of Sammy & Iman 

Hesano. The couple enjoyed a 

honeymoon in Hawaii. 

Sloan Khaira 

Ines Di Santo 

2010 Couture Bridal Collection 

Trunk Show 

January 29 - 30 

Personal Designer Appearance! 

708 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham, MI • 248-723-4300 • romasposa.com 

Jeffrey and Carlene 

share your joy 

with the community 

Announcements are offered free of charge to 

paid subscribers. Please email or mail announcements 

with a photo to the Chaldean News at 

halhole@chaldeannews.com or: 

Chaldean News; c/o Editor, Subject: Announcements 

29850 Northwestern, Suite 250, Southfield, MI 48034 

Please include your address and phone number to 

verify your paid subscription. Hard copies of photos 

can be picked up after the 15th of the month. Photos 

are not mailed back. 


Our Lady of Refuge Catholic School 

Pre-K through 8 th Grade 

Come Grow With Us In Knowledge And Faith 

3750 Commerce Road 

Orchard Lake, MI 48324 

248-682-3422 

www.olr-school.net 

Open House!! 

Wednesday, January 27 th 

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 

& 

Sunday, January 31 st 

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 

Accredited by the Michigan Non-Public Schools Accreditation Association 

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 

Mar (Bishop) Ibrahim N. Ibrahim 

www.chaldeandiocese.org 

MOTHER OF GOD CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

25585 Berg Road, Southfield, MI 48034; (248) 356-0565 

Rector: Rev. Manuel Boji 

Parochial Vicar: Rev. Wisam Matti 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays except Tuesday, 10 a.m.; 

Tuesday, St. Anthony prayer at 5 p.m. followed by mass at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, 5:15 p.m. 

in English; Sunday: 8:30 a.m. in Arabic, 10 a.m. in English, 12 noon in Chaldean; 

7 p.m. in English 

SACRED HEART CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

310 W. Seven Mile Road, Detroit, MI 48203; (313) 368-6214 

Pastor: Rev. Jacob Yasso 

Mass Schedule: Friday, 6 p.m. in Chaldean, Sunday 11 a.m. in Chaldean 

MAR ADDAI CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

24010 Coolidge Hwy, Oak Park, MI 48237; (248) 547-4648 

Pastor: Rev. Stephen Kallabat 

Parochial Vicars: Rev. Fadi Habib Khalaf, Rev. Suleiman Denha 

Mass Schedule: Weekday masses at 12 noon. 

Sunday 10 a.m. in Sourath and Arabic; 12:30 p.m. in Sourath 

ST. GEORGE CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

45700 Dequindre Road, Shelby Township, MI 48317; (586) 254-7221 

Pastor: Msgr. Emanuel Hana Isho Shaleta 

Assistant Pastor: Rev. Basel Yaldo 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m.; Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday: 8:30 a.m. in Chaldean, 

10 a.m. in Arabic, 11:30 a.m. in English, 1 p.m. in Chaldean. Baptisms: 2:30 p.m. on 

Sundays. 

ST. JOSEPH CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

2442 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48083; (248) 528-3676 

Pastor: Msgr. Zouhair Toma (Kejbou) 

Parochial Vicar: Fr. Sameem Balius 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean; Saturday, 5 p.m. in English and 

Chaldean; Sunday, 8 a.m. in Chaldean, 9:30 a.m. in Arabic, 11 a.m. in English, 

12:30 p.m. in Chaldean. Baptisms: 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. 

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: Sunday, 9 a.m. Assyrian; noon Assyrian and English 

ST. THOMAS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

6900 Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322; (248) 788-2460 

Pastor: Rev. Frank Kalabat 

Rev. Emanuel Rayes (retired) 

Parochial Vicar: Rev. Jirgus Abrahim 

Mass Schedule: Monday-Friday 10 a.m. in Sourath, Saturday 5 p.m. in English, 

Sunday 9 a.m. in English, 10:30 a.m. in English, 12:30 p.m. in Sourath 

ST. TOMA SYRIAC CATHOLIC CHURCH 

2560 Drake Rd., Farmington Hills, MI 48335; (248) 478-0835 

Pastor: Rev. Toma Behnama 

Mass Schedule: Sunday 12 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 6 p.m. 

All masses are in Syriac, Arabic and English 


obituaries 

Adel Altoni Kassab 

Adel Altoni Kassab was born in 

Telkeppe, Iraq on September 5, 

1956, and went back, suddenly, 

to God from Troy, Michigan on 

November 30, 2009. 

Adel was the baby of his 

siblings. He was a jack-of-alltrades, 

owning many different 

successful businesses. He was 

in the midst of writing a book, 

and all together he cultivated skills from real-world experience 

that most others must go to graduate school 

to acquire. Adel was a hard-working, savvy and charismatic 

individual who was the rock and hero of his 

wife and children. His wife, Nawal, has lost her best 

friend and the love of her life. 

Adel’s favorite saint was St. Therese, the Little 

Flower, who was known for working in small ways to 

help others. He went out of his way for everyone he 

knew, whether it be his kids, his nephews, nieces, siblings 

or the workers at the gas station down the street 

to whom he brought plates of warm Thanksgiving food 

just days before he left us. Adel, or Ed as many called 

him, always had a joke to make you smile. Adel was 

everybody’s favorite uncle and he could charm anyone 

and make them feel comfortable. 

He was taken from us much too soon, but we 

know he will always be with us and our faith tells us 

we will all be together again forever. He is and will 

always be sorely, sorely missed, especially by his wife 

and children. We love you Dad! 

Adel is being welcomed in heaven by loving parents 

Altoni and Shamama; his grandparents; his eldest 

brother Sami; his sister Katina and her husband 

Sam Dabish; his father-in-law Hanna Babi; brothersin-law 

Shamoo Konja and Ishak Yasso; his great 

nephew Danny; and all the relatives who came before 

us so that we may exist today. Adel has joined 

his family in heaven and will continue to watch over 

his wife and kids on earth. 

Adel is survived by his wife Nawal (Babi) and 

his children, Phillip, Phyllis (Paul) Jeden, Christopher, 

Ryan and Jacob. He is also survived by Vinolia 

Kassab, wife of the late Sami A. Kassab; his 

brothers Jalal (Nidal) and Basim (Amira); his sisters 

Badria (the late Shamoo) Konja, Semri (the late 

Ishak) Yasso, Basima (Antiwan) Loussia, and Juliet 

(Nouri) Barbat. He is also survived by his mother-inlaw 

Jamila (Hanna) Babi; his brothers-in-law Bahjat 

(Hana) Babi, Adel (Sana) Babi, Ramzi (Inaam) Babi, 

Riad (Maysoon) Babi, and Nimat (Shirley) Babi; his 

sisters-in-law Samira (the late Kiryakoz) Shammami, 

Ramziya (Kiryakoz) Najor, and Ibtisam (Najib) Ayar; 

as well as all his nephews and nieces. 

Karim Al-Attar 

Karim Al-Attar was born on July 

1, 1925 in Telkeppe, Iraq, the 

youngest child of Hermiz and 

Khokhi. Quite the athlete in his 

high school days, he was on the 

boxing team and on the school’s 

volleyball team. With a passion 

for education, he enrolled in a 

Teacher’s Academy in the 1940s 

and thereafter taught elementary 

school for nearly 30 years. In 1958, he married Firial 

Shamouni Kassab and together they raised three children: 

Thair, Rafi and Janan. He retired from teaching 

to come to the United States with his wife and young 

children in 1976. 

While his children adapted to American culture, 

Karim tended to his garden, read extensively and 

wrote poetry in Arabic and Sourath. He was also a 

dedicated churchgoer who never missed a Sunday 

mass. Nothing was more special to him than his family 

and good friends. He was quite fit until a few months 

ago when complications hindered his health. 

Karim was predeceased in death by his parents 

Hermiz and Khokhi (Asmar); his brothers Faraj and 

Gorgees; his sister Jamila (Ousa); and his parents-inlaw 

Aziz and Jamila Kassab. 

He is survived by his wife Firial; his son Thair and 

his wife Hanan (Shounia) and their daughters Macey 

and Melina; his son Rafi and his wife Shahd (Sitto) and 

their children Paul, Neal, Kyle and Lily; his daughter 

Janan and her husband Talal Zaia Hanna Ketchel and 

their children Alex and Alexia; his brother’s wife Salima 

(Jadan) Al-Attar; his sisters-in-law Amira Kassab, 

Nadira Dalaly, Suhama Marogi and Kamelia (George) 

Matti; his brother-in-law Amir (Khalida) Kassab; and 

numerous nieces and nephews. 

Karim was much loved by all those who knew him. 

May he rest in God’s care. 

Recently deceased 

Community members 

Georges Kajy 

December 20, 2009 

Saad F. Saffo 


Yousif Lazar 

Hermiz Rayes 


Sabri Karana 


Selim Abboud 

Kasmikha 


Michael Hanna Jabiro 


Sabri Dawood Garmo 

November 28, 2009 

Joseph Najor 

November 24, 2009 

Submit your love’s one obituary to info@chaldeannews.com, 

or send it to Chaldean News, 29850 Northwestern Highway, 

Southfield, MI 48034. 

Najiba Khemmoro Kizi 

Najiba Kizi … One of the most remarkable 

women who ever walked 

on earth! She had an inspiration 

about her like no other. A heart 

of gold and a million dollar smile 

that lit up any room she walked 

into. She was the mother of 11, 

grandmother to 22, eldest of 11, 

and dearest aunt to 38. Above all, 

a loyal friend to the end. 

Never needed an invitation, you just walked right in 

(even from the garage) and within minutes your tea was 

brewing and meal was ready with a smile. That’s just 

who she was: loving, caring and nurturing. 

Our mother’s unconditional love was something that 

no one can explain. It was made of deep devotion and 

joy … far beyond defining. 

She was very religious and dedicated to her church. 

She was a proud member of the Ladies of Sacred Heart 

and the Ladies of the Heart of the Virgin Mary. 

When Najiba was born on December 1, 1936, 

she was crying and everyone around her was smiling. 

When she left us on November 16, 2009 at 9:01 a.m. 

to be with her beloved husband and our father, Abid 

J. Kizi, she was smiling and all of us were crying. We 

know now that we have two beautiful angels in heaven 

watching over us. 

On behalf of the Kizi family: Galia Thomas (Eli), 

Husnia Kizi, Muhsin Kizi, Bushra Kashat (Waad), Khaloud 

Khemmoro (Awnie), Nadir Kizi (Monica), Khalid 

Kizi (Linda), Amir Kizi (Claudia), Amira Kizi, Sandy 

Sesi (Nick), and Suhel Kizi (Heather), we would like 

to thank each and every one of you for your compassion 

and support to our family. We acknowledge and 

appreciate the love and concern shown to us during 

this difficult time. Thank you. 


ONE-on-ONE 

Kurdistan’s Fuad Hussein: 

‘We are the ones protecting 

the rights of the Christians’ 

photo by DAVID REED 

Dr. Fuad Hussein, Chief of 

Staff to President Massoud 

Barzani of the Kurdistan 

Regional Government, was among 

several KRG officials who paid a recent 

visit to the U.S. and Metro Detroit. 

Hussein sat down with Martin 

Manna, co-publisher of The Chaldean 

News and executive director of 

the Chaldean American Chamber of 

Commerce, on December 19 to talk 

over the relationship between Kurds 

and Chaldeans in Iraq. 

Chaldean News: Tell me about the 

state of affairs in Kurdistan and Northern 

Iraq and the progress being made by 

the Kurdish Regional Government. 

Fuad Hussein: The progress by the 

KRG is many sided – economic development, 

open society, political 

pluralism, trying to guarantee the 

freedom of various communities and 

also individual freedoms and freedom 

of women. We are still in the process 

of continuing the process. And of 

course, we are trying to guarantee 

democratic rights not only in Kurdistan 

but also in Baghdad. 

CN: As a minority in Iraq yourself, 

many other minorities including the 

Chaldean Assyrian Syriac community 

are looking towards the Kurds for leadership 

when it comes to protecting the 

rights of all minorities. What is it specifically 

you are doing to help Chaldeans 

preserve our language, our culture and 

our history? 

FH: We don’t call ourselves a minority 

or other communities minorities, 

we are all one community. It doesn’t 

matter how big or how small any 

community is. The Christians, the 

Kurds, the Arabs and the Turkmen 

– we are all partners in the Iraqi society 

and we are all partners in the 

new political process in Iraq. It was 

the Kurdish leader who insisted that 

we fix the paragraph [in the proposed 

constitution] that had to do with the 

right of the Christians. As we are 

struggling for the rights of the Kurds 

we must struggle for the rights of 

other communities. Without having 

democratic rights for all communities, 

there will not be rights for the 

Kurds. That’s part of our struggle for 

democracy, and when we are talking 

about democracy that means all communities 

must have the same rights. 

CN: There have been many concerns 

from members in our community that 

people are being pressured to join Kurdistan 

Nationalist parties, primarily the 

Kurdish Democratic Party, in an effort 

to “Kurdify” our people. There is also 

frustration that there has become a separation 

of the Assyrian, Chaldean and 

Syriac communities. We in the U.S. 

view that we are one people and we feel 

that there is interference being run in 

Iraq — specifically that Kurdish parties 

are trying to separate our people. 

FH: First, we have been the subject 

of the Arabization policy and we suffered 

from this because the former 

regime in Iraq proceeded to destroy 

our identity, country and culture. 

We are against Arabization and we 

are against Kurdifying. Neither our 

principles nor our policy will allow 

that to be implemented towards any 

community. If there are some people 

asking others to join their political 

parties, this is not a policy – these 

are individual acts. In Kurdistan the 

people are free to join or to leave a 

political party. 

By the way, I myself am not a 

member of any political party. Many 

people do not believe that. So nobody 

is obliging the Christian community 

to be a part of a political party. 

But it is different when you are 

asking the other side to have common 

goals, to work together. That 

doesn’t mean that we are trying to 

implement a Kurdification policy. 

We believe in pluralism; we believe 

that even if we have unity, it must 

lead to diversity. We are not talking 

about Kurdistan is for Kurds; we are 

talking about Kurdistan is a land for 

all people who live in Kurdistan – the 

Kurds, the Arabs, the Turkmen, the 

Assyrians, the Chaldees. We fought 

for a long time for our identity; we 

are not going to impose our identity 

upon others. 

Dr. Fuad Hussein 

CN: Some are blaming Arab Islamic 

fundamentalists, others are blaming the 

Peshmerga [Kurdistan Armed Forces] 

for violence against our people in Mosul 

and the surrounding areas. I’d like your 

thoughts on that and also, what about 

other concerns we have heard – intimidation 

by the KRG and past land encroachment/land 

annexation? 

FH: It is an important question. 

There were some voices in Nineveh 

and some Arab nationalists accusing 

the Kurds of killing the Christians in 

Nineveh. But there is another fact. 

There have also been attacks on the 

Kurdish community in Nineveh and 

more than 2,000 Kurds have been 

killed only in Nineveh and the Sinjar 

area. And in that area, the majority 

of the people are Kurds. We 

don’t have Peshmerga there. It is 

not true. You see, neither our principle 

nor our interest will allow us to 

do these things. 

Besides that, people from Nineveh 

are fleeing to Kurdistan. Somebody 

will be killed in Nineveh and the 

rest of the family, most of the time, 

is running and coming to Kurdistan. 

We have got a Christian community 

inside of Kurdistan and we feel that 

they are part of the process of building, 

they are part of the political process, 

and they have the same rights 

as we have. 

Since 2003, a policy of ethnic 

cleansing in Baghdad was not the 

responsibility of the Kurds. There is 

a policy of the terrorist organizations 

and a preface of the former regime 

to clean problems and to target the 

Christians. So it is not about Christians 

in Nineveh; it is also about 

Christians in Baghdad. This question 

would be better asked if it asked 

about what happens in Baghdad. It 

is impossible to believe that this is 

true about Kurds and Peshmerga. We 

don’t do that, we are against that and 

we are the ones who are protecting 

the rights of the Christians in Iraq. 

That’s a huge problem in Iraq 

– during the deportation process of 

Saddam Hussein’s regime, during the 

internal conflict, during his reign 

and the war between Iraq and Iran, 

many people were deported and left 

their area. Sometimes there was a 

policy by Saddam Hussein to confiscate 

these areas and give it to Ba’ath 

party members or supporters of the 

regime. After 1991, when the Kurds 

came back and part of Kurdistan was 

liberated, we faced new problems because 

we would see a building or land 

with five or six owners. 

This is not an issue that has anything 

to do with Christians, this is 

really an issue with many places in 

many areas and with many communities. 

CN: We have supported the Kurdish 

community. Do you support autonomy 

for our people? If so, how can we make 

it happen? 

FH: The right has been guaranteed in 

the constitution of the KRG. It is up 

to your community to accept it. 

The interview was cut short due to time 

constraints. We will follow up with additional 

questions on how the KRG will 

specifically help in the rebuilding efforts 

in the Nineveh Plains. Meanwhile, read 

more about the Kurds’ visit on page 22. 


in the KITCHEN with 

photos by DAVID REED 

Kuba Halowa (Qaseya) 

Kuba Dough 

Ingredients 

½ Cup Ground Sirloin 

1 Cup Cream of Rice 

½ Tsp. Salt 

½ Cup Water 

Sally Najor: 

New Year’s good luck dish 

By Mark Kassa 

A 

brand new year can hold significant 

value. Starting off on the right track 

can help to assure success with new 

personal goals and resolutions. If self motivation 

falters from the beginning, it will certainly not 

sustain all the challenges of maintaining discipline 

throughout the whole year. However with 

holidays, vacations, and football bowl games 

upon us at the beginning of the year, postponement 

of the typical resolutions is better than 

throwing them out all together. Regardless, a 

self-reflecting, social, and good luck way to start 

the year is to prepare the dish that many have 

disregarded or forgotten — Kuba Halowa. 

According to Sally Najor, who immigrated 

to the U.S. with her family as a 15-year-old girl, 

“by Chaldean tradition, Kuba Halowa is considered 

good luck for the New Year, and it is good 

luck to have a plentiful table spread to accompany 

the dish.” 

Najor acknowledges that this point of view 

is superstitious, but she recollects that the items 

were more good luck in a sense that they were 

not practical to be obtained or prepared on a 

frequent basis, rather meant to be appreciated 

for the holidays and especially the New Year. 

Some of the fruits included in this good luck 

spread are pomegranate, pineapple, coconut, 

grapefruit and an assortment of dried raisins, 

apricots, mangos and cranberries. Chestnuts 

and pistachios accompany the array. Naturally, 

the idea of the tradition was stimulated before 

the produce importation was so widespread. On 

New Year’s Day splurging to obtain these sweet 

and sour culinary gems would hopefully bring a 

family good luck for the coming year. Najor believes 

in the Chaldean New Year’s tradition and 

sets up the table spread annually for her family. 

Having only barely been able to boil maya 

(water) for chai (tea) upon getting married, 

Najor has progressed into an excellent cook. 

She reached out to her mother Soud Kiryakoza, 

maternal grandmother Rosa Savaya and aunt 

Intsar Gomma for the culinary direction. 

Even if Kuba Helowa has never been prepared 

for your family, it is never too late to pick up a 

cherished Chaldean tradition and appreciate all 

that you have to start this new year off in a fortuitous 

kind of way. This recipe, courtesy of Najor, 

was inspired by the late Georgette Kito. 

From above: 

Mark Kassa 

and Sally Najor 

toast 2010. 

Kuba Halowa is 

a traditional 

New Year’s treat. 

Instructions 

Mix all ingredients well and set aside. 

Stuffing for Kuba 

Ingredients 

1 ½ lb Ground Beef 

Salt and Pepper to taste 

Instructions for forming Kuba 

Take a small ball of dough. Open thin 

pocket and fill with stuffing. Close and 

shape like a tiny football. Repeat until 

all are stuffed. Batch should yield 20- 

25 pieces. 

Halowa 

Ingredients 

5 Pieces of Beef or Lamb Shank cut 

about 3 inches 

1 Cup Prune 

1 Cup Dried Apricot 

½ Cup Date Syrup 

3 Tbsp. Sugar 

1 Tbsp. Tomato Paste 

½ Cup Golden Raisins 

½ Cup Almonds 

4 Cups Water 

Salt and Pepper to taste 

Water for stock 

Instructions 

In a saucepot, brown meat and shank 

bones. Add enough water to cover 

shanks and simmer until tender and 

stock has formed. Add salt and pepper, 

tomato paste, 4 cups of water, 

prune and apricot. Bring to a boil, then 

immediately add date syrup, sugar and 

Kuba. Allow mixture to boil until Kuba 

is cooked. Add almonds and raisins 

and continue cooking for another five 

minutes. 

Mark’s advice 

If in the past members of the family 

have distinguished the dish as being 

too sweet, add the sugar content in 

stages or even omit some of it. The 

level of sweetness is accentuated 

through the cooking process. 


a shot in the dark? 

Vaccination safety needles many 


Christian Jarjonie was a typical baby, developing 

right on schedule along with his 

twin brother. But that changed dramatically 

after the twins received the MMR vaccine, a 

“cocktail” of measles, mumps and rubella vaccines 

recommended for 1 year olds. 

“Within a day or two I noticed Christian wasn’t 

responding to us and was making no eye contact,” 

said his father, Steve Jarjonie of Franklin Village. “I 

actually thought he was deaf. He was there one day 

and gone the next.” 

Two months of grueling tests later, 

the family finally got their answer: 

Christian had developed autism. 

Though no link can be proved to the 

MMR vaccine, Steve has no doubt that 

it was the cause. 

“My wife and I did a lot of research 

and found they use thimerosal in the 

vaccine. There is a direct link between 

that and autism,” he said. 

Now age 7, Christian is still autistic 

but shows signs of improvement thanks 

to lots of therapy. “No matter what God 

has dealt us it’s still a blessing,” said 

Steve. “I believe God does what He 

does for a reason.” 

But the Jarjonies have stopped getting 

vaccinations for their children, including 

their 2-year-old daughter, who has never received 

a shot. 

Over in Sterling Heights, Sue and Majid Kattula 

still mourn their son Matthew Majid, who 

died of chickenpox in 1992 at age 4, after enduring 

nearly a year in the hospital. The chickenpox vaccine 

was introduced in the U.S. in 1995. 

“If that vaccine was available back then he 

would have been here with us today,” Sue Kattula 

said. “I wish I could speak to the parents who are 

hesitant about vaccinations. I have proof of how 

chickenpox killed — but I don’t have proof of a 

vaccine causing autism.” 

The Jarjonies and Kattulas are stark illustrations 

of the great vaccination debate. An increasing 

number of parents — and medical professionals 

— are questioning how safe these routine shots are. 

At the same time, the amount of childhood vaccines 

continues to rise. In 1983, there were 10 recommended 

vaccinations for children through age 

6. Today, that number has soared to 36. 

“It is a business and they are always finding 

more things to make medications 

for, rather than encouraging people 

to lead a healthy lifestyle,” said 

Mumtaz George, MD, the medical 

director at the Royal Oak Medical 

Center. 

Matthew Majid Kattula died at 

age 4 of chickenpox. 

Fighting Infection 

Vaccines are made with actual disease 

bacteria or viruses that are either 

killed or weakened. The body 

reacts to them by making antibodies, 

a protein made by the white 

blood cells to fight infections. Proponents 

say vaccines save lives and 

keep children from infecting the 

general population. Opponents say 

they are ineffective and contain a host of toxic substances 

including latex rubber, monosodium glutamate, 

aluminum, formaldehyde and mercury. 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintains 

that vaccinations are safe. “Vaccines are held 

to the highest standard of safety. The United States 

currently has the safest, most effective vaccine supply 

in history. Years of testing are required by law 

before a vaccine can be licensed,” says the CDC 

website. “Severe reactions to vaccines occur so 

rarely that the risk is difficult to calculate.” 

Regarding thimerosal, which some like the Jarjonies 

believe is linked to autism, the CDC says 

there is no evidence it has caused harm in vaccines, 

except for minor local reactions. Nevertheless, 

in 1999 the Public Health Service Agencies, 

the American Academy of Pediatrics and vaccine 

manufacturers agreed that thimerosal levels 

in vaccines should be reduced or eliminated “as 

a precautionary measure.” Today, says the CDC, 

“There is no convincing scientific evidence of 

harm caused by the minute doses of thimerosal in 

vaccines except for minor effects like swelling and 

redness at the injection site due to sensitivity to 

thimerosal.” 

The American Academy of Pediatricians also 

says that there is no scientific data to support a 

link between thimerosal and autism. “Autism is 

usually discovered when a child is 18-30 months,” 

says the AAP’s website. “Children get the MMR 

vaccine just before this age, so some people believe 

that MMR vaccine causes autism. These 

people often have the wrong information.” 

Second Thoughts 

George said he always recommended vaccines to 

patients but developed grave concerns about their 

links to autism and stroke after attending a seminar 

on the topic by Mary Tocco, a Michigan antivaccine 

activist who insists that the shots are not 

only unsafe, but may actually be responsible for 

many chronic health problems in children. 

“Now that I learned what I learned I am hesitant 

to immunize,” George said. “I have four children 

ages 10-18 who did have all their childhood 

vaccinations. Now, I would do a lot more research 

about what they contain and if the side effects 

outweigh the benefits.” 

The additives and preservatives added to vaccinations 

are the cause of much of the controversy. 

“I am not against vaccinations but I am against 

all the preservatives they put in them,” said Nahla 


Abbo of West Bloomfield. 

Abbo was a believer in the 

system until five years ago, when 

she developed an adverse reaction 

to a routine flu shot. After 

learning that her vaccine contained 

both thimerosal and mercury, 

she has not allowed any 

vaccinations for her three children 

ages 6 through 12. 

“When someone says, ‘how can you not vaccinate?’ 

I tell them it’s because I’ve done the research. 

I’ve spent hours in front of the computer 

and made decisions based on facts and not fear,” 

Abbo said. “There are a lot of other things I am 

doing that are probably a lot more proactive than 

getting them injected with contaminants. They get 

plenty of rest, eat well-balanced meals with lots of 

antioxidants, wash their hands constantly and take 

multivitamins. I feel like getting them vaccinated 

would be hurting their immune and neurological 

systems.” 

Jarjonie said he and his wife Linda have actually 

noticed that their children are healthier since they 

stopped vaccinating. “When they were young they 

all had problems with ear infections and we were 

constantly going to the doctor,” he said. “Since we 

stopped vaccinating that’s all gone. The only time 

we go to the doctor now is for their yearly checkups.” 

Frances George, a neuromuscular therapist and 

the mother of two children ages 3 and 6, is also in 

the “anti” camp. 

“The human body is spectacular in its ability to 

heal itself. I believe much of our illnesses today are 

the results from our body’s inability to heal itself 

because they have been vaccinated,” said the West 

Bloomfield resident. “Am I at risk of my child dying? 

Yes. Am I at risk if my child has a vaccine? Yes. 

I think the risk is higher with the vaccine.” 

The Jarjonie family: Jevon, Cameron, Steve, Christian, Linda and Ave Maria. The family believes a 

vaccination caused Christian’s autism. 

‘Solid Science’ 

Irvin Kappy, MD, service chief of pediatrics at 

Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, said childhood 

vaccinations are backed by solid science. 

“I deal with parents all the time and they want 

what’s best for their children. I always encourage 

them to take advantage of the wonderful technology 

in this country, the new vaccines created to eliminate 

disease,” he said. “Infectious disease is a major 

problem in most of the world with literally millions 

of deaths, and we do not have this problem in the 

United States. I am grateful we have the means to 

eliminate all these illnesses. There are some side effects 

but the benefits far outweigh the risks.” 

Kappy said the media has done a poor job on 

this issue by unnecessarily alarming parents and 

reporting on a famous — or infamous, depending 

on who you ask — British study that linked MMR 

with autism. That study “has been disproved 100 

times over,” Kappy said. 

“The number of parents refusing vaccines or asking 

for their own tailored schedule has increased 

enormously. Generally the more educated the parents, 

the more they question the vaccine — which 

is ironic,” Kappy said. “For the vast majority of children, 

it is a very effective schedule. The reason these 

vaccines work is ‘herd immunity’ — we need to vaccinate 

as many as possible because once people start 

refusing vaccines, they put others at risk to spread 

the disease. People forget about the dramatic illnesses 

we had just one generation ago 

like diphtheria, polio and deaths 

from chickenpox.” 

While most states mandate 

vaccinations before children can 

attend public school, Michigan is 

a State of Choice, allowing parents 

to make the call. 

Royal Oak Medical Center’s 

George said that parents must do 

their homework on the subject. “I tell parents to 

look at all the options before making the decision,” 

he said. “And I try to educate them on a healthy 

lifestyle to keep their health strong.” 

Steve Kallabat, MD, is a Bloomfield Hills pediatrician 

who believes the debate is far from over. 

“There is really no right or wrong answer,” 

said Kallabat, who has chosen to vaccinate his 

three children ages 1 to 6. “There is a golden rule 

in medicine that if too many people are debating 

something, that means no one really knows.” 

Learn More 

Pro Vaccine 

• Centers for Disease Control 

www.cdc.gov/vaccines 

• American Academy of Pediatricians 

www.aap.org 

• Michigan Department of Community Health 

www.michigan.gov/immunize 

Anti Vaccine 

• National Vaccine Information Center 

www.nvic.org 

• Activist Mary Tocco 

www.childhoodshots.com 

• Think Twice Global Vaccine Institute 

http://thinktwice.com 


Attendees watch 

a Power Point 

presentation 

diplomatic call 

Kurds say they want solidarity with Iraq’s Christians 

By Weam Namou 

Insisting they want to strengthen 

their relationship with 

Christians, representatives of 

Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government 

(KRG) held a dinner meeting 

of some 200 guests at Shenandoah 

Country Club on December 18. 

“We want to strengthen relationships 

and partnerships with 

our colleagues here in matters that 

serve our collective interests,” said 

Qubad Talabani, KRG representative 

to the United States and the 

son of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. 

Accompanying Talabani was Dr. 

Fuad Hussein, chief of staff to the 

president of the KRG, and Falah 

Mustafa, director of foreign relations 

of the KRG. 

The meeting, hosted by the 

Chaldean Federation of America 

and the Chaldean American 

Chamber of Commerce, was an opportunity 

to highlight policies of 

the Kurdistan regional government 

while addressing the concerns of 

the Christian community. One of 

Abu Azad and Essam Bacall 

which was, are the Kurds killing 

Christians? 

“Christians from all over Iraq 

come to Kurdistan to be protected 

and we’re happy about that,” said 

Hussein. 

Hussein noted that despite having 

110 churches in Kurdistan, 

there has not been a single Christian 

killed or church burnt in the 

region. He also noted that the draft 

of the Kurdish Constitution, which 

they hope to complete by next year, 

guarantees the rights of all minorities. 

“I’ve visited families from every 

ethnicity and nationality in Kurdistan,” 

said Nidhal Garmo, president 

Photos by David Reed 

of For Victims of War and Poverty, 

“and I can vouch that Kurdistan is 

a good place for Christians.” 

But Amir Denha, publisher 

and editor of the Chaldean Times, 

pointed out that the governor of 

Mosul, Atheel Al Najafi, blames the 

armed Kurdish fighters called peshmergas 

for the problems occurring 

in Mosul. 

“Atheel Al Najafi blames the 

Kurds for every problem,” responded 

Hussein. “That’s his problem.” 

He added that Christians are 

being killed everywhere in Iraq, 

whether by terrorists or those implementing 

an ethnic cleansing policy. 

And it’s not just Christians, he said; 

all ethnicities and religions have 

been targeted. 

“Kurdistan is an easy but rare 

success story of Iraq,” said Talabani. 

“Enemies of the state wish to find 

reasons to blame Kurds for things.” 

Talabani credits their “unity” for 

such success. 

“When we were not united, we 

fought each other and our development 

slowed down,” he said. “Enemies 

used this division against us. 

Christians need unity.” 

“Part of our ability to unify is because 

we are a tolerant culture who 

does not believe in retaliation and 

revenge,” said Mustafa. 

Nabil Roumaya, president of the 

Network of the Iraqi American Organization 

(NIAO), said that people 

need the Kurdish government to 

work harder and do more. 

“Your government is very crucial,” 

said Roumaya. “You have a 

debt to pay for all the people who’ve 

died for you. We’re disappointed 

you’re not doing enough.” 

While Hussein said that they 

too want to do more, he noted that 

democracy is not a mechanism that 

can be imported. It is, he said, a process. 

“Democracy didn’t exist in Iraq 

before,” he said. “Saddamism was 

there for 30 years. To change Saddam’s 

culture to democracy is not 

easy.” 

Another guest disagreed with 

Roumaya. 

“You [the KRG representatives] 

being here today says that you are 

doing a lot,” he said, but wondered 

why the government doesn’t try to 

bring back date production — Iraq 

was once the world’s largest date producer 

— and tourism, a billion-dollar 

industry, to help Iraq’s economy. 


‘When we were not 

united, we fought 

each other and our 

development slowed 

down.’ – Qubad Talabani 

“We must first build the infrastructure 

because we need the proper hotels 

and restaurants,” said Mustafa. 

As for date production, the men 

said water shortages, high levels of 

salinity, desertification and decades 

of war have badly affected agricultural 

production. 

Nonetheless, Mustafa said that 

the region in Kurdistan is investor 

friendly and open for business, particularly 

in housing, infrastructure 

and agriculture. He urges people to 

come and see for themselves. 

After Mustafa raved about how 

westernized Kurdistan has become, a 

woman from the Kurdish Women’s 

From left: Dr. Fuad Hussein; Falah Mustafa; Qubad Talabani; Congressman Gary Peters 

League wanted to know what the 

Kurdish government is doing to protect 

women who suffer violence and 

killing due to an old culture mentality. 

“You are talking about honor 

killing, which is really dishonorable 

killing,” said Talabani. “The government 

is cracking down heavily on 

this horrible crime. We’re working 

with the NGO [non-government 

organizations], the civil society and 

media outlets to educate the public 

and make them know that this criminal 

offense is not tolerable.” 

Walid Jaadan of MBN TV and 

Radio said that while some do claim 

the Kurdistan government is doing a 

great job, others say they’re doing it 

for their own interest to win over the 

Nineveh Plains. 

“Are you guys supporting one 

group over another?” asked Jaadan. 

“Kurds don’t want to use you because 

we’ve been used before and 

we didn’t like it and we don’t want 

to practice it,” said Mustafa. “Chaldeans, 

the oldest nation, should 

take the challenge, commit to their 

cause and stay in their land so we 

can help them.” 

Talabani said the Nineveh Plains 

falls in disputed territory. 

“Until Article 140 is left unresolved 

the issue of the Nineveh 

Plains will not be resolved,” he said, 

referring to the section of the Iraqi 

Constitution that outlines a threestep 

process to remove and reverse 

the Hussein-era “Arabization” policy 

in Kirkuk. 

What does Talabani recommend 

be done to resolve this and other issues? 

“We need to work together quietly 

and diligently,” he said. 

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chaldean on the STREET 

How do you survive the winter blues? 


Christmas is over and bills are overdue. It’s blistering cold and your car is snowed in. What can you do to be 

merry again? We visited the Shenandoah Christmas Brunch in West Bloomfield and Mother of God Church 

in Southfield for some insight we can all incorporate in our lives during the long, cold winter months. 

Joseph: I like to play with the 

presents I got for Christmas 

and I look forward to my 

birthday, which is right after 

Christmas. When there’s no 

school, I love sleeping in and 

playing in the snow. 

Christian: When there’s three 

inches of snow, I love to go 

outside. Me and my sister like 

to go sledding the most. If 

there’s more than six inches of 

snow, I’d rather be somewhere 

hot. Going on vacation 

after Christmas is the best. 

Joseph Naman, 11 


Christian Kasmikha, 9 


Bianca: I like to work out in 

indoor gyms as well as take 

advantage of outdoor winter 

sports to keep me going. I 

love skiing and figure skating. 

I don’t mind the winter season 

— I actually like it. 

Brittany: After the holidays, 

my family and I enjoy going 

up North. I love sledding and 

enjoying hot chocolate on a 

cold winter day. 

Bianca Jonna, 18 

Brittany Jonna, 15 


I simply keep doing what I did 

before the holidays — I don’t 

slow down. In fact, I become 

more active to stay motivated. 

My family knows to call on me 

for help with putting away the 

Christmas tree and all of the 

decorations. Everything needs 

to be back to normal at some 

point, but keeping the happiness 

with family after Christmas 

is the most important. 

Faiza Manjo, 55, with 

grandkids Preston Brikho, 2 

and Gia-Marie Brikho, 1 


Other than staying indoors and 

keeping warm, I use this time 

as an opportunity to complete 

any of the indoor projects and 

activities I neglected when 

the weather was nice. Winter 

season is also the best time 

to be in school and study. If 

there is anything that I can 

learn for professional and career 

enrichment, this is when I 

attempt to learn it. 

Senan Karmo, 33 


It’s nice that my birthday is in 

January — but aside from that, 

it’s almost like you’re forced 

to stay inside because it’s so 

cold and snowy outside. It’s 

a good thing because there is 

more time to spend with family. 

If we treated every day like it 

was Christmas, then everyone 

would be in the spirit all year. 

Angie Naimi, 26 


I go to the gym more often and 

spend more time with my family 

and daughter. I like to start 

off the New Year fresh and look 

forward to spring. 

Michael Jonna, 33, with 

daughter Kaitlyn, 2 

Commerce Township 

Eat ice cream! Just kidding. 

My sister and I plan on going 

to the Bahamas after the holidays. 

Although I love it here, 

I moved here from Orange 

County, California, three years 

ago. It’s hard being away from 

the sun. 

Monique Shounia, 18 

Rochester 

To join family or friends on a 

vacation to somewhere warm 

is my motivation. Cancun, 

Mexico, would be nice. In the 

meantime, I like to socialize at a 

night lounge, and have a drink 

with friends or new people I 

have met during New Year’s. 

Jerome Tinpan, 26 

Sterling Heights 

Winter times can be tough. I 

plan on going to the St. Thomas 

grotto anytime I feel down, since 

it’s open 24/7. I feel renewed 

any time I go. There’s nothing 

better than to spend more time 

with family and share the joy of 

making a good meal together. 

Khalid Arabo, 27 


I try to keep the joyful mood 

going by continuing to enjoy 

get-togethers and dinners with 

my family. When the holidays 

are over, that doesn’t mean 

we still can’t enjoy our times 

together to the fullest. I still 

look forward to Sundays with 

the family and celebrating the 

next holiday to come. 

Lowrd Hanna, 18 

Oak Park 


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pulled from the brink 

Shenandoah reduces debt, looks forward 


A 

new financial arrangement 

has pulled Shenandoah from 

the brink of foreclosure and, 

proponents say, ushered in a new 

chapter for the troubled country club 

in West Bloomfield. 

After a year of negotiations, 

Shenandoah purchased its $20-million 

bank note for $6.7 million in a 

deal signed on December 28. That 

money was raised through $10,000 

equity injections by more than 100 

members, additional member loans, 

and a $3 million commitment from 

the Private Bank. The club also 

still owes $530,000 to the Bank of 

Michigan and $500,000 to the St. 

Thomas Chaldean Catholic Diocese. 

Former board president Mike 

Sarafa called it all “friendly debt” 

with no short-term interest. 

“This was no doubt the toughest 

year in the club’s history,” Sarafa 

said of 2009. “We were literally being 

swallowed by massive, unsustainable 

debt. Now that that has been lifted 

it’s like 150 pounds of barbells off 

your shoulders.” 

The money lent by members has 

gone into forming an LLC that will 

have “a tremendous stake in the 

decision-making process that governs 

the club in the next couple of 

years, which we hope will bring a 

more business-minded approach,” 

Sarafa said. 

Club Vice President John Loussia 

said he is excited about the deal after 

Shenandoah Country Club is entering 

2010 in better financial shape. 

enduring many sleepless nights pondering 

Shenandoah’s fate. “There is a 

big difference between a $22 million 

and a $6 million debt service. I am 

sure this is going to stabilize us and 

put us on the right track,” he said. 

Neb Mekani, who is serving his 

second term as Shenandoah’s president, 

said the deal should attract 

more members — an essential aspect 

of the club’s long-term plan. After 

peaking at nearly 1,000 people, membership 

has dropped to about 500. 

“In the coming years you’ll 

see north of 750 or 800 members, 

creeping toward that 1,000 goal,” 

Mekani said. 

Equity memberships and annual 

dues have dropped since the luxurious 

Shenandoah opened to great 

fanfare in January 2005. Initial fees 

were once as high as $12,000 and 

annual dues were $3,000. Today, the 

initiation fee is only $1,000 and dues 

are $1,500 a year. Though there has 

been talk of opening membership to 

non-Chaldeans, that is unlikely to 

happen in the foreseeable future. 

The club will also offer more affordable 

rates for banquets. “We were 

trying to compete with the Ritz and 

the Townsend,” Sarafa said, “and our 

target market was more Penna’s and 

the Farmington Manor.” 


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boiling over 

Angry crowd confronts government official 

From left: 

A large group 

demanded answers 

about U.S. policy 

Alaa and Lawrence 

Mansour question 

the State Department 

representative 

By Weam Namou 

When Michael Corbin, a 

U.S. State Department 

official, told a crowd of 

about 300 in his opening remarks 

that this was his “first but not last” 

visit to Michigan, he evidently didn’t 

know what he was in for. 

What started out as a congenial forum 

on December 10 at Bella Banquet 

Hall in Warren quickly turned hostile 

as many audience members showed 

their outrage at U.S. government policies 

concerning Christian Iraqis. 

“We don’t care about the Iraqi 

government, oil and the elections!” 

several men shouted angrily. “We 

care for you to solve our problems!” 

These statements were accompanied 

by a great deal of wailing from 

a woman who has been separated for 

years from a son who she said is stuck 

in Syria. 

“I’m dying!” the woman cried. 

“Our children are dying!” 

Despite efforts by audience members, 

including nuns, to defuse the 

situation, the scene grew more chaotic. 

Accusations for not doing enough 

to help the Chaldean refugees were 

thrown at the Church and the Chaldean 

Federation of America (CFA), 

which hosted the forum along with 

the Chaldean American Chamber of 

Commerce and the Chaldean Assyrian 

Syriac Council of America. 

“These are terrible humanitarian 

issues,” said Joseph Kassab, executive 

director of the CFA, as he tried 

to calm everyone down and resume 

with the forum. 

Once composed, the audience 

basically took over the event by addressing 

issues that were more important 

to them than politics. They conveyed 

their problems and demanded 

answers. Some had loved ones “stuck” 

in Syria, unable to come to America. 

Others were denied political asylum 

Michael Corbin tries to deflect an angry 

audience 

several times. The new refugees are 

unable to financially support themselves, 

they said. 

“I’m under an Order of Deportation,” 

one man said. “If I go back to Iraq, 

that’s an automatic bullet in the head.” 

“According to U.S. law, given 

to the current conditions there, a 

refugee cannot be returned to Iraq,” 

Corbin responded. 

Kassab told Corbin that the CFA 

has submitted 186 deportation cases 

to Homeland Security for review. 

Saying he was unaware of the increased 

rejection rate for refugees, 

Corbin said he will work on reducing 

it by speaking about the issue 

in Washington and by making U.S. 

judges have full background knowledge 

of the situation concerning 

Christian Iraqis. 

“As for the challenges facing Iraqi 

refugees who are new into the U.S., 

I promise that we are looking into 

that,” Corbin said. 

Corbin serves under Secretary of 

State Hillary Rodham Clinton and 

was appointed by President Barack 

Obama to the position of Deputy Assistant 

Secretary of State in the Bureau 

of Near Eastern Affairs, where he has 

served since July 2009. He focuses on 

issues concerning the ethnic and religious 

minority communities in Iraq. 

“How can the U.S. protect Christian 

Iraqis from harm?” one man asked. 

“Iraq is a sovereign country,” 

Corbin said. “We can work very hard 

to protect the minorities in Iraq and 

to help the Iraqi refugees in Syria and 

Jordan, but we can’t guarantee the 

desired outcome.” 

A Catholic Lebanese priest who 

stated that, “The U.S. didn’t do its 

job,” reminded Corbin that under 

Saddam’s regime Christians were 

protected and treated extremely 

well. Today, some Iraqi women have 

had to turn to prostitution. 

“Why not pass a bill?” the priest 

proposed. “Something more aggressive 

must happen.” 

“There is no bill that can do that, 

but we have a strong commitment to 

work on individual situations so that 

families can be whole,” said Corbin. 

“Not all refugees will be resettled. 

That’s just the fact.” 

Betsy Nasouri, vice president 

of For Victims of War and Poverty, 

complained that there are three issues 

that need to be addressed immediately. 

First, she said, is that more should 

be done to prevent judges from denying 

refugees political asylum. Second, 

Homeland Security needs to know 

that Christian Middle Easterners are 

peaceful people and therefore should 

not take years doing background 

checks. Third, she said, more financial 

assistance is needed for refugees. 

“You took over Iraq — liberated 

Iraq or whatever you want to call it 

— and took Iraq’s oil,” said Nasouri. 

“At least give some of the money to 

the Iraqis here who can barely find 

enough to eat. It’s your responsibility 

to help them.” 

People clapped and cheered 

Nasouri’s comments and afterwards 

lodged more criticism and questions 

towards Corbin — until the clock 

ticked 9:30 p.m. and he anxiously hurried 

off the stage. His absence didn’t 

put an end to peoples’ rage. Accusations 

continued against the CFA and 

the Church, despite the nuns’ verbal 

and strong disapproval. 


spreading the word 

Fr. Sameem’s Bible study is a hot ticket 

By Weam Namou 

Many Chaldeans wait anxiously 

for Tuesday nights 

— not so they can go to 

a party, hit the casino or have chai 

with relatives, but so they can attend 

Fr. Sameem Belius’ Bible Study class 

— which within one year has grown 

from 20 to more than 1,500 students. 

While attendees have multiplied 

at the 7:30 p.m. class — causing the 

priest to move the class from St. Joseph 

Chaldean Church in Troy to St. 

Nativity of the Virgin Mary Macedonian 

Orthodox Church at 19 Mile 

and Ryan — the numbers are nowhere 

near Fr. Sameem’s expectations. His 

mission is 20,000 students. 

He might soon arrive at these figures. 

The new place is filling up fast. 

No worry, the priest already has 

a plan that will enable enough space 

for everyone. He’ll “rent a stadium.” 

So what is it about this 31-year-old 

priest that’s drawing such large crowds? 

“He’s very spiritual,” said Raeda 

Afram, a Jordanian who attended 

the Bible Study class after her Chaldean 

neighbors raved about it. “His 

comforting words make you forget 

your troubles.” 

That’s because Fr. Sameem addresses 

the community’s inner problems 

yet focuses on optimism by providing 

spiritual solutions. 

“God, Jesus and the Virgin Mary 

— the three pillars of life — are here 

to help,” he said. 

Aside from being down to earth, 

charismatic, humorous and versatile 

(he plays the flute and violin and reads 

everything, including mathematics), 

Fr. Sameem is not afraid to criticize 

himself and at times, the church. 

“I use stories and examples — not 

just theories — to deliver the message,” 

he said. 

“Fr. Sameem does a great job and 

is an amazing teacher, mentor, priest,” 

said Lena Korkes. “He has affected 

everyone who attends in more ways 

than one, myself included. He touches 

base on everything and anything 

and really makes you want to become 

a better Chaldean/Catholic.” 

His method is partially attributed 

to having studied monkhood in Italy. 

He conveys a new image of Christ, 

one outside of theology. 

“I talk of a Jesus that’s alive, who is 

living between us, helping the poor and 

the sick and showing mercy,” he said. 

His open-mindedness and respect 

for others has attracted people from 

various religious sects and nationalities. 

Even those who do not 

understand Arabic attend. 

“I am close to any human 

being,” said Fr. Sameem, “regardless 

of his or her background.” 

What Fr. Sameem noticed 

when he arrived from Europe to 

Michigan a little over a year ago 

is that people here are thirsty 

for spirituality and in need of 

re-evangelization. 

“Our trees and leaves are many 

Photos by Ramiz Romaya 

but they have no fruit,” he said. 

He traces these problems to 

two factors: lack of spirituality and 

clash of cultures. 

“Those who come new from Iraq 

do not hold onto their ancestors’ 

traits but quickly adapt to a culture 

which they do not understand,” he 

said. “Remember, America is a fruitful 

land. Whatever seed you plant 

you will get results.” 

Catch Him On the Air 

Fr. Sameem Belius draws crowds each 

Tuesday night. 

He stresses what’s most important 

in life is one’s relationship with God, 

because that will affect one’s relationship 

with the self and others. 

“Say yes to God — without any 

priest continued on page 30 

Fr. Sameem has several radio shows on Sahir Al Malih’s Voice of Tomorrow, 

690 AM (mornings) and 680 AM (evenings): 

Monday 12:30–1 p.m. (addresses problems of the community) 

Thursday 7:30–8 p.m. (English) 

Friday 7–7:45 p.m. Catholic Preaching (Voice of Preaching) 


HIGH SCHOOL highlight 

Southfield Lathrup: ‘Sharing Learning, Shaping Lives’ 


Southfield Lathrup High School 

was once crowded with Chaldean 

students, but that has 

changed in recent years. Today, less 

than 1 percent of the student body 

is Chaldean — but these students 

are still leaving their mark. 

Before retiring in 2007, Nuhooth 

Oraha was an ESL para-educator 

who worked exclusively with Chaldean 

students for 29 years. During 

Oraha’s first decade of teaching, 

Chaldean immigration to Ameirca 

was at its peak with a majority who 

settled in Southfield. 

“It always felt like home,” Oraha 

said. “People came to me for all 

Chaldean kids’ issues or problems. 

Translation was needed and students 

felt more comfortable knowing 

that someone could understand 

their situation.” 

Alyce Howarth, an ESL (English 

as a Second Language) social studies 

and English teacher for three years, 

is currently one of the coordinators 

for students transitioning from another 

country. To make their new 

school easier for Chaldean refugees, 

ESL facilitators begin with an extensive 

interview with the parents and a 

multilingual paraprofessional as part 

of the intake process. Many refugees 

have delayed schooling and been out 

of school for two to five years. 

“It is tremendously difficult for 

a 16-year-old who has a fifth-grade 

education to enter ninth grade, but 

they come with enthusiasm and an 

eagerness for a sense of normalcy,” 

Howarth said. 

Francis Dallo, David Jamel, Joseph Dallo, Sabreen Nafsu, Jaimie Dallo and Melad Jamel 

are among the Chaldean teens at Southfield Lathrup. 

But in the modern-day crowd 

of Chaldean-American students at 

Lathrup, Howarth has seen a disconnect 

with those born in the U.S. 

and the refugees. “I hear the term 

‘boater’ thrown around, and have 

had to be very frank with the newcomers 

about the ignorance of some 

other students,” she said. 

Caroline Kalaydjian attended 

Lathrup from 1990-1993 when the 

student body was as high as 25 percent 

Chaldean. An Armenian, she 

remembers that all ethnic groups 

got along. 

“Armenians and Chaldeans 

would converse with each other, 

have lunch together, and established 

friendships with each other after 

graduating,” she said. “There were 

also African-Americans, Jewish 

students, Asian and Caucasian students. 

I never really sensed tension 

between different ethnic groups, and 

many were quite friendly with each 

other. Many students formed longstanding 

friendships at Lathrup.” 

Current senior Jaimie Dallo was 

born and raised in Southfield, and 

decided early on to engage in many 

activities during and after school 

hours. Dallo, who has a 3.8 gradepoint 

average, is currently captain 

of Lathrup’s varsity softball and volleyball 

teams, a member of the National 

Honors Society, participates 

in Lathrup’s Medical Academy and 

Student Perspective committees, and 

Photo by David Reed 

is enrolled in AP calculus, AP biology 

and honors English. “I think we 

have a really good theater program, 

and the TV production crew is very 

active with a ton of students who are 

involved in shows,” Dallo said. 

TV production teacher Richard 

Zecchini said more community 

members are becoming active in 

clubs. “I see Chaldeans becoming 

involved much more than before,” 

he said. “I would personally love to 

see more Chaldeans at Southfield 

Lathrup like I did years ago. It’s nice 

to see the cultural diversity.” 

Howarth said she is impressed 

with the dedication of the refugee 

students. “With many of the refugees, 

I have seen a tremendous work 

ethic regarding jobs they hold outside 

of school,” she said. 

Oraha looks back on her career 

and former Chaldean students fondly. 

“Many of the students learned English 

successfully and went on to become 

successful workers in the pharmacy 

and engineering fields.” 

Southfield-Lathrup High School 

19301 W. 12 Mile Road 

Lathrup Village, MI 48076-2587 

(248) 746-7200 

TOTAL POPULATION: 

1,359 students 

CHALDEAN PERCENTAGE: 

Less than 1 percent 

NOTEWORTHY CHALDEANS: 

Anita Bodiya, MD, Jaimie Dallo, 

Joseph Dallo, Karen Denha, Esq, 

Sabreen Nafsu and Jacob Rayis 

priest continued from page 29 

compromise or mediocrity,” he said. 

“Lack of stability in faith is painful.” 

He is happy that some people have 

left the casinos and bars to follow his 

teachings but insists, “I don’t want spiritual 

pride. I’m a servant. I am nothing. 

It’s all Christ. When I leave the stage, I 

don’t know what I’ve said.” 

While Fr. Sameem is grateful for 

the numbers of people who show up 

to Bible study, he realizes there is 

much more work to be done. He has 

two books that already have been 

translated from German into Arabic, 

one coming out soon, and quite a few 

more to publish in the near future 

— some of which will be in English 

— that will help address various community 

and spiritual issues. He plans 

to have youth volunteers and preachers 

all over Michigan and to himself 

preach in English in a year or so, after 

he completes his theology degree at 

Sacred Heart Seminary and enters the 

University of Detroit to study counseling 

and psychology. 

“I want to be prepared to give a 

beautiful picture for the Chaldean 

church,” he said, encouraging all 

Christians to be prepared in order to 

“seek the spirit and be ready — clean, 

happy, fearless — to see God.” 

Still, Fr. Sameem had his challenges 

when he first arrived to the 

U.S. Having been educated in numerous 

countries, he had to figure out 

how to read the Christian’s mind here 

and to understand the philosophy of 

the churches. What made the process 

easier was Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim, 

for whom he directly works. 

“I am thankful for the Bishop’s acceptance 

and embrace,” he said. “He 

believes in me and has given me his 

blessings to do these teachings.” 

For the New Year, Fr. Sameem 

wants people to remove the masks 

in order to be simple and seek depth. 

Assuring us that God won’t think us 

unbeautiful even if we have curly hair, 

he tells a joke about a woman who had 

cancer and was on her deathbed. After 

intense prayer, God told her he’d give 

her 40 more years. She was so ecstatic 

that she made herself over with plastic 

surgery. One day she was crossing the 

street and was killed by a car hitting 

her. When she met up with God, she 

said, “You promised me 40 more years. 

What happened?” He answered, “Oh, 

is that you? You’d changed so much I 

didn’t recognize you.” 


looking BACK 

Mary Loassia Acho: 

Like wife, like husband 

By Joe Gasso 

Mary Loassia Acho, now 80, 

of Telkaif was eager to start 

her new life in Detroit. She 

could only imagine the economic opportunity 

and newfound freedom that 

lay ahead — but she never imagined 

herself behind the wheel of a car. 

At 55, Mary was a new Iraqi immigrant 

trying to adjust to America while 

working at the Henry Ford Hospital 

to support her family. Similar to most 

Iraqi immigrants, Mary and her family 

did not have a fortune and therefore 

could only afford an old and slightly 

broken white Ford Zephyr. 

The Zephyr with the broken 

muffler did get her to and from 

work every day but on one particular 

Monday its use seemed 

to have expired. Mary took her 

usual route to work only to find 

it was closed due to construction. 

In fear of being late, Mary 

quickly took another route she 

felt was right — but somehow 

managed to end up on the highway 

with cars flying past her as 

she drove 40 mph. In perfect 

ten and two hand placement, 

Mary timidly remained in her 

seat but after five more minutes 

of the highway and unfamiliar 

scenery she began to panic. 

“I was a new driver and I 

had been taking the same route 

to work for months so this was 

all so new to me,” recalled Mary 

as she let out a chuckle. 

After several miles of driving 

aimlessly, Mary’s “need service” button 

began to flash red, so she decided 

to get off at the nearest exit to ask for 

directions and fix her car. She found 

a gas station and quickly ran inside to 

ask the clerk for directions. 

“I remember running as fast as I could 

get into the gas station,” Mary said. 

To her dismay, Mary was informed 

she was headed 30 miles north in the 

wrong direction from Henry Ford. 

Already several minutes late to work, 

Mary decided to phone the hospital 

and sheepishly admit she was lost. The 

hospital understood and told her she 

could make up the shift the next day. 

Mary complied and made her way 

to her daughter’s house, where she 

asked for alternate directions to the 

hospital in fear of being fired. Her 

daughter did not know either but assured 

her Baba would know. 

Baba Toma was Mary’s husband 

and was shocked to hear Mary got 

lost but quickly conceived a plan. 

The next day Mary was to follow 

with her car as he drove to the appropriate 

exit to prevent Mary from 

missing work again. Mary agreed and 

the next day the plan was set in motion. 

Mary drove with confidence as 

she merged on to the freeway. 

Driving to work drove Mary Loassia Acho crazy. 

Several minutes later she realized 

she was again on an unfamiliar route, 

got off at the next exit, and again quickly 

ran into the nearest gas station. Mary 

was met with a familiar face as the clerk 

recognized her from the day before and 

the two could not help but laugh. 

Unfortunately Mary never made 

it to work that day but prides herself 

in finally mastering Michigan Avenue. 

She is confident she will never 

get lost on it again. 

Do you have an amusing or poignant 

story to share from the old country or as 

a new U.S. immigrant? Send it to info@ 

chaldeannews.com or write to Chaldean 

News, 29850 Northwestern Highway, 

Southfield, MI 48034. Please be sure to 

include your telephone number. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


SPORTS roundup 

team deeee-troit basketball! 

Eight friends have won five national championships 

By Steve Stein 

They’re best friends, and 

they’re family. And the 

eight guys on Team Detroit 

are five-time Chaldean/ 

Assyrian Basketball Tournament 

national champions. 

“It’s good for our team that 

we’re all close,” said captain 

Anthony Acho. “We can say 

whatever we want to each other 

because we know the next 

minute, everything will be all 

right.” 

Team Detroit captured its 

second consecutive and fifth 

overall Chaldean/Assyrian 

championship over Labor Day 

weekend in Rosemont, Ill., 

winning five of six games over a grueling two-day 

stretch. 

A three-point shot by Janero Dawood with seven 

seconds left gave Team Detroit a 66-63 win over 

a squad from Chicago in the championship game. 

Team Detroit dedicated its title to the late Danny 

Kassab, the inspirational quadriplegic who died 

August 12. 

“Danny touched many lives with his story, and 

we wanted to give something back to him,” said 

Team Detroit’s David Acho. “We went to the tournament 

with a mission. We trained hard to become 

champions.” 

Besides Anthony and David Acho, Team Detroit’s 

starting lineup also includes Tim Acho and 

Sean Mattia. Stefan Kalabat, Shahir Matty and John 

Roumayah make major contributions off the bench. 

The eight men are all in their 20s, and their occupations 

off the basketball court range from retail 

to mortgage to real estate. Each played high school 

basketball (Berkley, Birmingham Brother Rice, 

Walled Lake Western and West Bloomfield were 

the sites), and four played college basketball. 

Anthony Acho played at Marygrove and 

Michigan-Dearborn, Dawood at Rochester College, 

Mattia at Michigan-Dearborn, and Kalabat at 

Marygrove. 

Team Detroit has been together for five years, 

compiling an impressive 39-3 record in seven 

Chaldean/Assyrian national tournaments during 

the stretch. Two of the three losses came in championship 

games against Sacramento, California. 

The tournaments were held in Sterling Heights, 

Boston, Illinois, Arizona and Rosemont. 

Next for Team Detroit is another Chaldean/ 

Assyrian national tournament in February in 

Modesto, California. 

Team Detroit players are friends on and off the court 

Anthony Acho said he’d help other Chaldean 

basketball players who want to form a team to play 

at the national level. At least eight players as well 

as team sponsors are needed. Anthony Acho can 

be reached at (248) 739-2724. 

Kronk Kid 

Teenage boxing sensation Zachariah Kas Shamoun 

of Beverly Hills is now fighting out of the renowned 

Kronk Gym in Detroit under the tutelage 

of famed trainer Sugar Hill. 

“We made the switch from his other gym because 

of the opportunity for Zachariah to work 

with Sugar,” said Connie Kas Shamoun, Zachariah’s 

mother. “If you’re going to fight world-class 

fighters, you need to train in a world-class gym 

and work with a world-class trainer.” 

Connie Kas Shamoun, herself a registered boxing 

coach, said she’s noticed a big difference in her 

son’s boxing skills since he began working with 

Hill in April following an amicable 

departure from the Casa 

de Boxeo gym in Lincoln Park. 

“Zachariah is much stronger 

physically, and he’s really 

connected with Sugar,” she 

said. “A boxer needs to have a 

strong rapport with the man in 

his corner because success in 

boxing is 50 percent physical 

and 50 percent mental.” 

Zachariah is 15 and a sophomore 

at Birmingham Groves 

High School. He’s been boxing 

competitively around the state 

and country since he was 8, and 

his record is 72-8. He’s won several 

Junior Olympics and Silver 

Gloves titles and currently fights as a 119-pounder. 

Nobody Runs Like Mike 

When Mike Atchoo graduates this spring from 

Troy High School, he’ll leave an athletic legacy 

that will be nearly impossible to surpass. 

After winning the Division 1 track state 

championship in the 1600-meter run last spring, 

Atchoo won the Division 1 cross country state 

title this fall. Division 1 schools have the highest 

enrollments in the state. 

So which state championship means more to 

the 18-year-old? 

“If I had to pick, I’d have to say track because I 

prefer that sport over cross country, and it was my 

first state championship,” Atchoo said. 

A 3.97 grade point average student, Atchoo 

has narrowed his college choices to Georgetown, 

Harvard, Stanford and Notre Dame. 

They’re No. 1 

Family and friends came out to support the Chaldean 

Basketball League’s Thursday night championship game 

December 17. Chris Jonna’s team, led by the incomparable 

Jenero Dawood, had the right plan and a great 

regular season, but couldn’t execute. Jason Hesano’s 

team led by the stellar defensive play of Timmy Acho, 

who was able to stifle Dawood, had the right defensive 

scheme and played team ball. Hesano’s team claimed 

the trophy with a final score of 48-33. Donations were 

taken at the door for the Chaldean Federation of 

America. Pictured here are the winning team of Timmy 

Acho and Derek Dickow (front) and Lance Denha, 

Jason Hesano, Danny Kallabat and Avis Kalasho. 


A Program 

to help 

YOU. 

Services are available for all age groups and focus on those who: 

• Are you experiencing: 

• Difficulty adjusting to: 

◊ Any personal life challenges? 

◊ School environments and/or demands? 

◊ Work expectations such as loss of career? 

◊ Inability to use skills practiced in the past? 

• Upsetting thoughts or memories? 

• Loss of home, divorce, war, religious freedoms or persecution? 

• Abuse or other violence? 

• Feelings of sadness? 

• Unable to sleep? 

• Crying spells? 

• Concentrating due to nervousness and anxiety? 

The Chaldean Community Foundation can help with anyone experiencing the above concerns to those 

who have no insurance or the ability to pay. All services provided are FREE of charge. 

Services include: Medications • Transportation (needs will be assessed upon request) • Interpreters 

If you, a loved one or friend are in need of the above services, please contact: 

Jihan Daman, LLMSW 

St. John Health / Eastwood Clinics 

248-288-9333 

Najat Hamama, Outreach Coordinator 

Chaldean Community Foundation 

248-996-8340 

CHALDEAN COMMUNITY 

FOUNDATION 

Funding provided by the Chaldean Community Foundation through the Michigan Department of Community Health. 


NOTE from the 

PRESIDENT 

LeeAnn Kirma 

In 2010 the Chaldean American 

Ladies of Charity are celebrating 

its 49th Anniversary. 

The organization has grown 

to include more than 600 

Chaldean women members. 

Our work could not be done 

without the volunteers and 

dedicated members who give 

much of their time in assisting 

our Chaldean Community. The 

Chaldean American Ladies of 

Charity has been able to provide 

so many needed services 

through the generosity of our 

Chaldean Community and 

Community Partners. CALC 

wishes everyone a wonderful 

and very Blessed New Year. 

32000 Northwestern Hwy. 

Suite 150 

Farmington Hills, MI 48334 

(248) 538-8300 

www.calconline.org 

info@calconline.org 

ROOTS (Refugee Outreach 

and Orientation Team 

Services) Program 

CALC ROOTS provides Outreach and 

Assessment and Services and Resource 

Development through: 

• Learning groups CAFES (Coffee 

And Family And Education And 

Support) sessions 

• Life skills building activities for 

adults and youth 

• Support groups for adults, adolescents 

and children 

• Parenting classes 

• Education and advice to the 

refugee community to increase 

mental health literacy and address 

stigma 

• Basic needs assistance and 

valuable information about resettling 

in the U.S. through the 

CALC Resettlement Team 

• Advocacy with other Chaldean 

Organizations, agencies and institutions 

working with the refugee 

community 

CALC CAFÉs held in 2009 addressed 

educational topics aimed at increasing 

refugees’ knowledge of immigration 

laws, American culture, mental 

health issues, and social, health, and 

educational resources in the community. 

Refugees were give information 

on how to obtain a Michigan 

driver’s license, complete Department 

of Human Services paperwork, 

apply for Medicare, Medicaid, and 

food stamps, Parenting Tips, Alcohol 

and Drug Awareness, Nutrition and 

Health, Self-Esteem, Anxiety, Grief 

and Loss. 

CALC ROOTS program staff developed 

partnerships with several local 

and national chain grocery stores 

and restaurants that regularly donated 

food, vouchers or food certificates 

for needy, resettled Iraqi individuals 

and families. Through an outreach 

event targeting physicians and health 

care clinics, ROOTS established linkages 

with several medical specialists 

who agreed to provide free services 

for dermatological, obstetrical, 

gynecological and ophthalmologic 

exams, and treatment for refugees 

with limited or no health coverage. 

ROOTS staff also initiated contacts 

with local area businesses for possible 

employment opportunities for 

newly resettled Iraqi refugees. 

In 2009 the CALC’s accomplishments 

in the ROOTS Program included: 

• ROOTS held support groups for 

10 weeks attended by a minimum 

of 100 adults. The different 

support groups focused on 

social well being and mental 

health. 

• ROOTS held learning groups for 

6 weeks (social skills, communications, 

and anger management) 

in various school districts 

attended by a minimum of 50 

adolescents and 20 children. 

Topics included respect, asking 

for help, positive ways to deal 

with anger, healthy communication 

styles, self-esteem, and how 

to set goals. 

100 families received free trans- 

• 

portation to the ROOTS CAFES 

series. 

7 families received transporta- 

• 

• 

tion and translation services to 

10 medical appointments. 

40 children were provided week- 

ly transportation to and from the 

summer youth program. 

69 people were provided transportation 

to and from the 

Chaldean Ladies of Charity warehouse 

for needed household 

items such as furniture, bedding, 

kitchen utensils, and clothing. 

• 

• Document translation and preparation 

services were provided 

to 14 families. 

• 9 individuals benefited from our 

linkages with local area businesses 

for possible employment 

opportunities and have found 

employment. 

4 individuals received eye exams 

• 

and glasses. 

• 1 person received an doctor’s 

intake exam and a follow-up appointment 

with an ENT. 

• 1 individual had an ENT surgical 

procedure (tonsil/adenoid removal) 

along with pre- and postsurgical 

medication. This family 

was also provided with funds for 

additional prescription medication, 

popsicles, juice and other 

types of liquid nutrition post surgery. 

1 woman received obstetrical 

• 

and gynecological services. 

• 1 individual had an intake appointment 

with a dermatologist. 

• All of the people receiving medical 

services were provided with 

transportation and translation 

services by ROOTS staff for all 

intake and follow-up appointments. 

ROOTS also transported 

them to a local pharmacy for 

prescription medications. 

• 12 families were provided $25 

food vouchers from Meijer. 

• 2 families were provided $50 

food certificates from Save-A- 

Lot. 

• Twice weekly donations from 

Panera Bread served 300 families 

in the program. 

Refugee Resettlement 

Programs 

The resettlement of our fellow 

Chaldeans into American society 

has been a major program this last 

year and will continue to be so in the 

future. CALC exists to give a sense of 

Community and access to services, 

to refugees and other immigrants 

coming to live in the U.S. This program 

assists families with Clothing & 

Furniture Assistance, Transportation 

Services, and Financial Assistance. 

In 2009 CALC Warehouse serviced 

more than 1,700 individuals. CALC 

made 228 furniture pick-ups from 

donors and was able to make 72 furniture 

deliveries to families in need in 

2009. Aside from the 72 deliveries, 

many families came to the warehouse 

directly to pick up needed furniture, 

bed mattresses, clothing, bedding 

and other household appliances. 

Adopt-A-Family Program 

This program pairs needy Chaldean 

families with sponsor families who 

want to fulfill another family’s Christmas 

wishes. Much is required 

to make this program a success. 

Thank you to our very dedicated volunteers 

who put in more than 500 

hours starting from September to 

December’s Delivery Date. This past 

Christmas CALC was able to assist 

72 families totaling 352 individuals 

through our 92 generous sponsors. 

There were more than 40 volunteers 

who helped make this happen. Volunteers 

helped with family assessments, 

uploading information into a 

database, shopping for the wish list 

items, sorting and packaging, and 

delivering packages. 

Scholarship Program 

Provides new immigrants with an opportunity 

to continue their education. 

In 2009 we were able to provide a 

$1,000 scholarship to an immigrant 

newcomer college-bound student. 

Turkey Drive 

This program provides turkeys to 

families during Thanksgiving. In 

2009 we provided turkeys to 225 

families. 

Senior Citizen Programs 

CALC advocates for the safety and 

well-being of our Chaldean senior 

citizens and tries to ensure a good 

quality of life and independence 

through various support services 

and activities. Our advocates provide 

companionship, comfort and 

assistance to seniors. 

Throughout 2009 CALC volunteers 

visited with residents at St. Anthony’s 

Nursing Home in Warren, Michigan. 

Additionally, a Mass was held and 

lunch served to about 35 attendees 

for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

CALC also held monthly Senior 

Bingos at Chaldean Manor and Baptist 

Manor. Attendees enjoyed a few 

rounds of Bingo with great little gifts. 

The number of participants was 50- 

60 seniors for each location. 

Youth Programs 

As a community builder, CALC is committed 

to strengthening families and 

making a positive impact on youth. 

Our programs help to educate and 

inspire youth to take responsibility 

for the choices they make in their 

lives. 

Saturday D.R.E.A.M.S. Discovering 

through Recreation, Education, Adventure 

and Mentoring on Saturdays 

– D.R.E.A.M.S is a youth mentoring 

program which provides positive 

role models for at-risk teens. It gives 

youth greater access to resources 

through field trips, educational and 

recreational activities one Saturday 

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igrant 

nt. 

ys to 

. In 

225 

s 

y and 

enior 

good 

ence 

rvices 

proand 

teers 

ony’s 

igan. 

and 

dees 

hristenior 

Bapa 

few 

gifts. 

s 50- 

a month. The Dreams volunteer 

mentors provide unique experiences 

and a nurturing environment for disadvantaged 

youth. There are about 

30 youth in our DREAMS program. 

This past year the youth, through 

the help of their mentors, attended 

a Tiger Game, performed a Variety 

Show titled “ Pay It Forward” where 

the proceeds went to benefit Sacred 

Heart Church in Detroit, the CFA’s 

Adopt-A-Refugee Program, and the 

CALC Refugee Program. 

Empowered Voices is a girls’ program 

tailored to developing and enhancing 

their relationships with other 

girls, their mothers and promoting 

responsible actions. It includes Understanding 

Self & Relationships, 

Building Cultural & Gender Identity, 

Education & Career Options, Adolescent 

Development, Alcohol, Tobacco, 

and Drug Prevention, and Community 

Service. In 2009 we held two 

separate 18-week sessions each 

having about 12 young girls in the 

West Bloomfield area and the Troy/ 

Sterling Heights areas. 

Chaldean Angels of 

Charity 

Volunteering is a form of community 

involvement and plays a valuable 

role in shaping how youth learn to 

interact with their community and 

develop the skills, values, and sense 

of empowerment necessary to 

become active citizens. The Angels 

are Chaldean High School girls who 

want to make a difference in our 

community through service and 

volunteering. 

In 2009, more than 25 participated 

in the program by visiting and serving 

lunch at the Haven Domestic Violence 

Shelter, packaging health care 

items for the homeless at the World 

Medical Relief Center, planting flowers 

at St. Anthony’s Nursing Home, 

holding a school supplies drive for 

Iraqi Refugee children, serving lunch 

at the Ronald McDonald House, and 

sorting clothing at the CALC warehouse. 

phanages and local community 

Non-Profit Organizations 

• Provided 11 families with $50 

Gift Certificate from Save-A-Lot 

• Provided 3 individuals with $25 

BP Gas Cards 

• Provided 1 individual with $25 

Meijer Gift Card 

• Provided Bus Transportation 4 

times to transport 30 individuals 

each time from St. Joseph’s to 

CALC Warehouse 

As you can see, 2009 was a very 

busy year for CALC. On average 

CALC’s main office receives about 

20 calls per day from individuals 

seeking information, guidance and 

assistance. The CALC’s warehouse 

receives additional 10-12 calls per 

day regarding basic needs. 

CALC was very Blessed in 2009 with 

very generous donors who donated 

varied and much-needed items. 

Several area hotels and individuals 

donated furniture, bedding and 

houseware items, an individual donated 

more than 200 boxes of new 

women’s clothing, several hundred 

new winter coats were donated by 

a Community member, and a local 

Chaldean retailer donated several 

heavy winter blankets. 

Some of our CALC members had 

a unique approach this Christmas 

Season to gather items to help fill the 

CALC warehouse. Thank you to the 

many who held Holiday Gatherings 

at their homes and collected items 

to be donated to CALC warehouse. 

We are so thankful to all of you 

who supported the CALC so that we 

could provide all these services. If 

you wish more information about 

CALC programs or services, or wish 

to help in any way, please contact us 

at (248) 538-8300. 

1 

2 

coms 

and 

outh. 

and 

ibility 

their 

ering 

, Adrdays 

toring 

sitive 

gives 

urces 

l and 

urday 

Charitable Giving 

Donations made directly to assist 

families with basic necessities such 

as rent, food and utility payments. 

Additional monetary donations 

are also made to assist Chaldean 

churches, and other programs and 

charities. 

In 2009 thru the CALC Charitable 

Giving Program we were able to do 

the following: 

• Assist 10 individuals with financial 

assistance or utility assistance 

because of their dire circumstances 

• Over $14,300 in donations made 

to local Churches, Chaldean Or- 

PICTURES FROM TOP TO BOTTOM 

1. Adopt-A-Family Christmas Program 

Volunteers 

2. The CALC Warehouse 

3. Chaldean Angels gardening at St. 

Anthony’s Nursing Home 

4. Chaldean Angels packaging 

healthcare items for the homeless at 

the World Medical Relief Center 

5. Saturday D.R.E.A.M.S. Pay It Forward 

cast with Fr. Jacob Yasso 

3 4 

5 

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events 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

sisters of mercy 

1. Crowded house 

2. Fr. Basel Yaldo 

3. Ferial Yaldoo and Evit Sarafa 

4. Mary Najjar, Sahera Issa, 

Wesal Michael, Laila Mulehtar, 

Muna Yousif and Sabrina Samano 

5. Manal Kasyonan and Lisa Gappy 

6. Jennifer Haio and Inam Yousif 

7. Kayla Jamil, Renee Mattia, 

Bianca Mattia and Nicole Matti 

8. Mouna Yaldo and Bushra Orow 

9 

9. Basima Hanna 

Photos by Ramiz Romaya 

The Sisters of Mercy, a group of women who get together monthly 

to help refugees and to pray for priests and the unborn, began last 

January. The ladies’ first Advent Celebration, held on December 

9 at the Knights of Columbus in Sterling Heights, drew more than 

300 people. The Sisters of Mercy, which is comprised mainly of 

Eastside women and some members of the Chaldean American 

Ladies of Charity, meet the third Thursday of each month and all 

are welcome. E-mail artcrazeforever@yahoo.com for details. 



New Day, 

New Shenandoah, 

New Membership Specials 

NEW MEMBERSHIP INITIATION 

only $1,000 dues $1,500 

through March 31, 2010 for New Members Only 

w w w . s h e n a n d o a h c c . n e t 

Amenities: 

• State of the Art Banquet Facilities 

• Award Winning Dining Room 

• Private Wine Lockers 

• Activity Rooms 

• 18-Hole Golf Course 

• Pro Shop 

• Locker Rooms with Private Lockers & Sauna 

• Basketball Gymnasium 

• Olympic-size Outdoor Pool 

Membership Functions: 

• Cocktail Parties 

• Arabic Nights 

• Easter Brunch 

• Mothers Day Brunch 

• Fathers Day BBQ 

• Halloween Party 

• Christmas Dinner 

• New Years Eve Gala 

… and more! 

Call Terri Shammami at (248) 454-1931 for more information.

JANUARY 2010

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