MARCH 2008

making the GRADE
Perrin Atisha:
Sharing faith
Perrin Atisha believes in
spreading the good word.
“We’re Chaldeans,” he said.
“We should proclaim our faith to
other people.”
Not a typical sentiment from a 15-
year-old, but Perrin is not a typical
teen. The Bloomfield Hills resident has
a deep faith that may steer him towards
the priesthood one day.
“I want to be a religious minister,”
he said. “Now, no one really listens
because I’m just one person, but
sometimes people listen to and give
more respect to priests. I want to help
bring the Chaldean community higher
and want people to be more involved.”
Perrin said if he does choose the
priesthood, he doesn’t think forsaking
a wife and children will be too difficult.
“When you become a priest you
become a community and have all
these children of God who are a part of
you,” he said. “You get love from the
community.”
BY JOYCE WISWELL
Perrin is active in St. Mary’s Youth
Group and acts as a lector at mass. He
also teaches catechism and is a deacon
at St. Thomas. To become more
involved at school, he joined the Key
Club, a service organization for high
school students. He has a 4.0 gradepoint
average.
Perrin would like to start another
club for the 30 or so Chaldean students
at St. Mary’s. “We could get
together once a week or once a month
and talk about things,” he said. “So
many kids my age drink or do drugs. I
want them to know that someone
cares about them, and it is God.”
Vital Stats
Name: Perrin Atisha
Age: 15
Year: Sophomore
School: St. Mary’s Prep, West
Bloomfield
Career Goal: Religious ministry
Parents: Steve and Ibtihal Atisha
CASA: Teens
with a purpose
BY JOYCE WISWELL
It can be difficult to hold the attention of
teenagers, but seminary student Matthew
Zetouna had no trouble captivating his
audience at a recent after-school meeting of
the Chaldean American Student Association
(CASA) at North Farmington High School.
Zetouna, 23, kept the students riveted as
he told about some past poor choices he made
before deciding to devote his life to God.
“You are made with so much potential. Don’t
take that for granted and give your talents back
to the Lord,” said the future priest. “You guys
are the future of the church and so am I.”
Zetouna was a guest speaker for one of
CASA’s biweekly meetings, which attract as
many as 50 Chaldean students. The group just
started last fall thanks to the efforts of Vadia
Delly, the school’s only Chaldean teacher.
“We focus on going to college and doing
really well academically,” Delly said. “The kids
seem really into it, especially the freshmen.”
Christine Marogi, a senior, is one of the
group’s five leaders. “We discuss our culture,
our society, our religion and race,” she
said. “We also tutor and do fundraisers for
the refugees.”
Senior Michael Sheena said he jumped at
the chance to join CASA. “I was excited
when I heard about it,” he said. “We are
treated differently from other groups, and this
helps kids act better.”
Many of the students in the group said
they often feel they’re up against misconceptions.
“Some teachers have a certain stereotype
against us,” said Andrew Maizi, a junior and
CASA leader. “But the stereotype is true a lot
– a lot of kids do mess around.”
“People think we don’t really care – and a
lot don’t because they are not really motivated,”
agreed Blanard Jarbo, a senior and
leader.
Another leader, junior Fadi Odish, said
CASA can help change that. “We’re trying to
help other Chaldeans get together and make
better choices – improve our grades, our
reputations and our success rate,” he said.
Marogi said CASA also helps to show
that Chaldean girls like to get involved in
school activities. But not all of her friends are
interested.
“I try to encourage them to open their
eyes and give it a chance,” she said.
Delly’s contract as a part-time Spanish
instructor is up this month, but she vows to
figure out a way to keep the group going in
her absence.
Sophomore Vania Halabou, also a leader,
is all for it. “It’s a great group,” she said.
“This brings us all closer together.”
CASA teens crowd
around guest speaker
Matthew Zetouna
(wearing a blue shirt in
the back row) and
teacher Vadia Delly
(wearing a black shirt
in the center row).
MARCH 2008 CHALDEAN NEWS 59