SEPTEMBER 2022

More documents

Info

CHALDEAN DIGEST Salah Hadi is determined to rebuild his home in the town where his family has lived for generations. Pope Francis’ visit brings Iraqi Kurdistan’s safe-haven status into sharp focus On a recent afternoon, Salah Hadi applied a coat of cement on a large ceramic tile and carefully pressed it into place. The 51-year-old’s home in the northern Iraqi town of Qaraqosh is still blackened with soot after Daesh militants set it ablaze in 2014. But with long ancestral ties to the town, Hadi is determined to repair the damage. “I came back to Qaraqosh in 2017 after the war was over,” Hadi told Arab News as he stepped back to check that the new tiles were level. “The town was full of rubble and destruction. There were war remnants. Most of the houses were burned.” The arrival of Pope Francis has offered the Nineveh governorate’s Christian population a keen sense of spiritual renewal, but also a moment for sad reflection on its traumatic recent experiences. “The Daesh period was a time of pain and hardship,” said Hadi. “Every community in Iraq was hurt by Daesh’s attack. What happened during the time of Daesh was hard, but it has to be told.” Hadi’s neighbor, Sharabil Noah, also fled to Irbil to escape the Daesh invasion. There he and his family rented a house until they felt it was safe enough to return. “We didn’t take our belongings when we left. We thought it would be only a few days and we would be back home,” the 52-year-old told Arab News, a large cross hanging on the living room wall above his head. “When we came back, the town was destroyed. It was a ghost town full of stray dogs. There was no water, no electricity, no infrastructure. All of it was gone.” Although he has struggled to find work, Noah is determined to rebuild his life in Qaraqosh. “This is the land of our ancestors. We will not leave it,” he said. Noah wants security guarantees to prevent further persecution. “I would like to have international protection for us here that can assure the Christians that they can stay here, where their rights will be given and the Christians who left are allowed to return,” he said. “The pope’s visit raises the spirits of Christians in Iraq and tells them there are people who care for them out there. I hope this visit will strengthen relations between the communities here.” With help from aid agencies, life is gradually returning to normal in Qaraqosh. Hadi, for one, is confident better times lie ahead. “It is sad what has happened to Iraq,” he said as he scooped up more cement using a trowel to install another tile. “We have to stand together and be united in this country, so we can rebuild it over again.” “Daesh feels like a far-off memory that is long gone now,” Hadi said, dusting off his hands. “We forgot about them. It’s over.” – Arab News PHOTO BY MAHAMAD AMEEN ABDUL AL-JAWAD Chaldean Patriarch Sako Confirms His Intention to Resign Baghdad — The intention announced by Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako to present his resignation to the Pope from the patriarchal office at the age of 75 continues to be discussed. This intention had been expressed by the Iraqi Cardinal in the course of a television interview by Jordanian priest Nabil Haddad and broadcast by Nour Sat TV. Over the past few weeks, the Patriarch’s words have aroused controversy and comments on social networks, prompting the Patriarch to draw up a clarification note, released in recent days by the official media of the Chaldean Patriarchate. The note clarifies that Patriarch Sako had also mentioned in the past his intention to resign from the patriarchal office when he reaches the threshold of 75 years of age. According to the canonical provisions in force, all Catholic Bishops are required to present their own letter of resignation to the Pope when they reach the age of 75. This rule does not apply to the Patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches, for whom there is no ‘retirement’ age. “But it is a pity” reads the clarification note issued by the Chaldean Patriarchate “that among the Orientals, both in the institutions and in the political parties and in the Churches, an appropriate ‘culture of retiring’ is not widespread in due course.” The role of Patriarch - the patriarchal text points out - “is a role of service that does not depend on the individual person who holds it, however charismatic he is.” – Fides.org 16 CHALDEAN NEWS SEPTEMBER 2022
SEPTEMBER 2022 CHALDEAN NEWS 17
Page 1 and 2: METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY VO
Page 3 and 4: OFF PREMISE CATERING FULLY STAFFED
Page 5 and 6: METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY |
Page 7 and 8: OPINION The perils of insurance whi
Page 9 and 10: WE BUY ALL CARS Are you tired of yo
Page 11 and 12: CELL: (248) 497-8333 E-MAIL: MYALDO
Page 13 and 14: PROJECT LIGHT THERAPY SERVICES Ther
Page 15: Help your loved one schedule a scre
Page 19 and 20: Nuha Mansour Yousif Aug 26, 1957 -
Page 21 and 22: NOW REGISTERING FOR FALL CLASSES GE
Page 23 and 24: CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION NOW ENROLLI
Page 25 and 26: Little SCHOLARS PRESCHOOL EARLY CHI
Page 27 and 28: Left: Seated on the shelf of a rock
Page 29 and 30: A CELEBRATION OF THE LEGENDARY QUEE
Page 32 and 33: PROFILE Chris George, the Branding
Page 34 and 35: SPORTS Detroit City Football Club S
Page 36 and 37: CULTURE & HISTORY Hands Clasped: Fr
Page 38 and 39: FAMILY TIME KMD Young Warriors clas
Page 40 and 41: EVENT 1 3rd Annual Chamber Golf Out
Page 42: FROM THE ARCHIVE Dressing for the P

SEPTEMBER 2022

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?