JUNE 2008

VOL. 5 ISSUE V 

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CONTENTS 

THE CHALDEAN NEWS VOLUME 5 ISSUE V 

JUNE 2008 

13 

14 

on the cover 

29 WHO ARE WE? 

BY JOYCE WISWELL 

Household survey proves impressive numbers 

20 

33 

27 

42 

features 

33 A GLASS OF FAITH 

BY VANESSA DENHA-GARMO 

Chaldeans meet with Bibles and 

brew to discuss religion 

36 CASA CONTROVERSY 

BY CRYSTAL KASSAB JABIRO 

Student group protests power play 

39 AVOIDING FORECLOSURE 

BY KEN MARTEN 

‘Short sale’ may be the solution 

41 FACING THE MUSIC 

BY SHELLY NAJOR, PH.D. 

Fugitive program comes to Detroit 

sports 

42 SPORTS ROUNDUP 

BY STEVE STEIN 

44 

52 

departments 

8 FROM THE EDITOR 

9 YOUR LETTERS 

10 IN OUR VIEW 

13 GUEST COLUMN 

BY ISMAT KARMO 

Iraq’s Christians need their 

own autonomous region 

15 NOTEWORTHY 

15 NANA SAYS 

16 YOU KNOW YOU’RE CHALDEAN IF … 

18 CHAI TIME 

20 HALHOLE 

24 RELIGION 

27 IRAQ TODAY 

45 MAKING A DIFFERENCE 


Leeanne Kizy and Rafida Salem: Two who care 

A ‘wheely’ good cause 

46 ONE ON ONE 

Wendy Acho’s Four Months in Iraq: 

‘An audacious spiritedness” 

48 FASHION 

BY KONNIE BINNO 

50 CLASSIFIED 

LISTINGS 

52 EVENTS 

Our Lady of Refuge Auction 

Fashion at Shenandoah 


from the EDITOR 

Chaldeans: Who are we? 

When I was younger, 

I was often confused 

about what 

was a Chaldean tradition versus 

an American one. I quickly 

realized that not everyone’s 

dad wears a disdasha (nightgown) 

but sandals were common 

in America. 

One of my journalist 

instructors at Wayne State 

University asked a class one 

afternoon to write down the 

first three things they think of when 

they hear the word Chaldean or Arab 

American. As a Chaldean, I proudly 

wrote religious, entrepreneurs and 

family oriented. Naïve, I assumed the 

class will write very similar traits. 

Instead, they wrote, drug dealers, 

criminals, terrorists, liars, can’t speak 

English, rich — and the list went on. 

Appalled and outspoken, I stood 

and defended our community and 

asked each one of them if they knew a 

Chaldean personally, had one as a 

VANESSA 

DENHA- 

GARMO 

EDITOR 

friend. Not one of them 

responded. They had an 

image in their head based on 

news reports and not on firsthand 

knowledge. 

Who are the Chaldeans? 

Although we are an ancient 

people, many in the Metro 

Detroit area have no idea who 

we are. A new economic survey 

commissioned by the 

Chaldean American Chamber 

of Commerce and conducted 

by the United Way and Walsh College 

offers useful statistics about this affluent 

community. 

It is a long-overdue study that hopefully 

can be distributed to media and 

other universities as a tool to educate 

and inform the community about the 

Chaldeans. We were pleased to be able 

to highlight this study in our cover issue 

this month. We hope you find it useful. 

Who are the Chaldeans? We are 

religious, God-fearing and churchgoing 

people. With six churches in 

Vanessa Denha-Garmo talks about diversity and the Chaldean News on WDET with 

host Jerome Vaughn and Alicia Nails from Wayne State Univsersity 

Metro Detroit with most at standing 

room only on Sundays, it is evident that 

church is a significant part of our lives. 

I recently had the opportunity to 

hang out with a young group of 

Chaldeans at a pub in Birmingham as 

We are religious, 

God-fearing and 

church-going people. 

we discussed the Bible during the Bible 

& Brew session, an informal way to 

chat about God and the Bible with 

friends. Hanging out at a bar having a 

brewski may be typical behavior for the 

20-something crowd but doing over a 

Bible talk is not. I was moved by the 

desire of this group to embrace our biblical 

teachings and that of the church. I 

was impressed by their knowledge and 

devotion. This is a group of Chaldeans 

among many who are holding onto our 

traditions and our values. 

Who are the Chaldeans? I had the 

opportunity to explain just that last 

month on WDET on a one-hour show 

focusing on diversity hosted by Jerome 

Vaughn. I was on with Alicia Nails from 

Wayne State University. 

Who are the Chaldeans – the 

Christians in Iraq? Some of the 

Christians are Assyrians. We also provide 

a recent report from CASCA by 

guest columnist Ismat Karmo who had 

the opportunity to travel to the Middle 

East. I believe that it is valuable to all of 

us to have first-hand accounts from 

members of our community who can 


tell us what is going on with our fellow 

Christians in our homeland. Although 

you may think you have heard it all 

before, there is also more to report. 

Who are the Chaldeans? We are 

entrepreneurs. The study in our cover 

story will tell you the percentages of 

Chaldeans who are business owners. 

We report about a new business in our 

Noteworthy section. A Chaldean guy 

goes Chinese with his three successful 

restaurants in Detroit. I sat down and 

had lunch with colleagues at the Rice 

Bowl in the Millender Center and not 

only is it an attractive and welcoming 

eatery, they serve up some delicious 

egg rolls and sweet and sour chicken. It 

is proven that we can do more than 

dolma (stuffed grape leaves) and 

beryani (yellow rice with chicken, beef 

and nuts). 

Who are the Chaldeans? The study 

will give you facts and figures. But we 

don’t need someone to tell us who we 

are — because we know. We are compassionate 

people. We are loving and 

caring. We are welcoming, great 

cooks, we love food, we love God, we 

attend church, we are hard working — 

we are Chaldeans. 

Alaha Imid Koullen 

(God Be With Us All) 

Vanessa Denha-Garmo 

vdenha@chaldeannews.com 

your LETTERS 

One Truth Only 

Your view of Pope Benedict XVI’s 

remarks regarding the sexual abuse 

scandal [In Our View, May 2008] 

introduced some troubling questions 

to the problem of sexual abuse 

by priests and the vow of celibacy 

that each priest is required to take. I 

would like to remind you that our 

faith teaches us that the vocation of 

the priesthood is a calling from God 

and not merely a career choice. 

Those who are called into the priesthood 

should be commended for taking 

a vow of celibacy, not chastised 

as some kind of “socio-psychological” 

misfits. 

The shortage of priests should 

not be blamed on the vow of celibacy; 

it should be blamed on us, the 

Chaldean community, for not 

encouraging our young men to 

answer the call to the priesthood 

when they feel that it is coming from 

God. We must allow young men to 

feel that the priesthood is an exceptional 

life, and held in high esteem, 

but we do the exact opposite when 

we gossip and talk badly about the 

bishops and priests that serve our 

community so faithfully. 

You present the married priests 

and pastors of the Orthodox Church 

and Protestant denominations as 

examples of married men serving 

their parishes. We also have many 

ways for married men to serve the 

parish — they can be deacons, 

serve on the Parish Council, or volunteer 

their time to the many needs 

of each congregation — but the 

priesthood has been established by 

the church as a special vocation that 

is to be limited to those men who 

take a special vow to serve God and 

not their personal self-interests. 

We must be careful not to confuse 

the way we manage our government 

or business or family with 

the way the church operates. 

Democracy or debate work great in 

government but they have no place 

within the teachings of Jesus Christ. 

To question the doctrine or dogmatic 

teachings of The Church, established 

by Christ, is to question 

Christ our Lord. That path has led 

many Chaldeans to leave the church 

and follow the teachings of those 

“churches” that promote a more 

“personal” relationship with Christ. 

Those Chaldeans are committing 

the grave and selfish error of raising 

their own understanding of the faith 

above that of the Magisterium. 

There is only one truth, and that 

truth is revealed to us by the Holy 

Spirit through the Patriarch and his 

bishops in communion with the Holy 

See. If someone denies the authority 

of the Chaldean Church than that 

person should not call themselves 

Chaldean. If this magazine denies 

the teachings of the Chaldean 

Church than this magazine should 

not call itself The Chaldean News. 

– Nadir Jamil 

Macomb Twp 

Letters to the editor are welcome. 

Please keep your letter to less than 

500 words and include your city. 

The Chaldean News reserves the right 

to edit letters for clarity and length. 

Submit your letter via email to 

info@chaldeannews.com or mail to: 

The Chaldean News, Letters to the 

Editor, 30095 Northwestern Highway, 

Suite 102, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 


in our VIEW 

Free Tariq Aziz 

We join Chaldean Patriarch 

Emmanuel Cardinal Delly 

in calling for the release of 

former Deputy Prime Minister and 

Secretary of State Tariq Aziz. 

Aziz, the highest-ranking Christian 

in the Iraqi government throughout 

most of Saddam’s reign, was the 

diplomatic face of the Iraqi regime at 

the United Nations and throughout 

world capitals. He was widely 

atrocities of Saddam’s regime. 

This has been borne out by the 

current trial. Scant evidence exists 

tying Aziz to the specific charge he 

faces, namely the execution of 42 

merchants in 1992 who were 

charged with price gouging during 

the period when Iraq was under 

strict sanctions. Due process and 

rights more familiar in western legal 

systems like the opportunity to con- 

Tariq Aziz 

There is no evidence that Aziz had any hand in ordering 

or implementing any executions. 

tration. Like Powell, maybe Aziz 

should have done more to try to prevent 

poor decisions. But reality is 

not such. 

The kangaroo-style trial of Aziz 

should be put to an end and he 

should be released. Since it is 

unlikely that the neutered government 

of current Prime Minister Nouri 

Al-Maliki will do it, pressure should 

be applied by the Americans and 

European centers of influence. Tariq 

Aziz should not be executed and 

should be allowed to live his remaining 

time in dignified exile. 

respected as an approachable, reasonable 

and knowledgeable minister 

by his contemporaries throughout the 

Middle East and Europe. Unlike 

Saddam and many of his top loyalists, 

Aziz was well traveled and had 

an expansive as opposed to insular 

world view. Other than by association, 

he was never tied to any of the 

front evidence against one’s self are 

lacking from this process. 

Further, Aziz is very ill. Often 

seen over the years puffing on cigars 

and cigarettes, he now apparently 

has lung disease and has suffered 

several small heart attacks. He has 

lost a great deal of weight and needs 

assistance walking. 

Simply, there is no evidence that 

Aziz had any hand in ordering or 

implementing any executions. He is 

being tried simply because of his 

rank and his place in Saddam’s inner 

circle. It’s like blaming the Iraq 

debacle on Colin Powell instead of 

Cheney, Rumsfeld and Perle simply 

because he was part of the adminis- 

Letters to the editor are welcome. 

Please keep your letter to less than 

500 words and include your city. 

The Chaldean News reserves the right 

to edit letters for clarity and length. 

Submit your letter via email to 

info@chaldeannews.com or mail to: 

The Chaldean News, Letters to the 

Editor, 30095 Northwestern Highway, 

Suite 102, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 


PUBLISHED BY 

The Chaldean News, LLC 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

MANAGING EDITOR 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

EDITORIAL 

ART & PRODUCTION 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS 

PHOTOGRAPHERS 

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS 

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CLASSIFIEDS 

INTERN 

SALES REPRESENTATIVES 

OPERATIONS 

Interlink Media 

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Interlink Media 


Joyce Wiswell 

Konnie Binno 

Crystal Kassab Jabiro 

Ismat Karmo 

Ken Marten 

Shelly Najor, Ph.D. 

Steve Stein 

Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

Joseph Sesi 

Nora Bahrou Downs 

David Reed 

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MANAGERS 


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GUEST column 

Iraq’s Christians need their own autonomous region 

Asix-man taskforce from 

the Chaldean Assyrian 

Syriac Council of 

America (CASCA) visited Iraq’s 

Nineveh Plain area in March. 

Their aim was to gather evidence 

and produce a report on 

the current economic, political, 

and social and cultural state of 

the ChaldoAssyrians and other 

minorities in the area. Some 

members went on to Jordan 

and Syria to learn more about 

the refugee situation. 

Following are excerpts of Ismat 

Karmo’s report on behalf of CASCA. 

The Problem 

In recent decades there has been a 

change in the world’s dynamic that 

ISMAT 

KARMO 

GUEST 

COLUMNIST 

These religious minorities 

in Diaspora will eventually 

assimilate into the surrounding 

cultures they adopt and 

in a few generations will be 

lost forever. This can already 

be seen taking place today: 

Third- and fourth-generation 

German, French or Irish 

immigrants to the United 

States have little left to identify 

themselves as unique in 

relation to other Americans 

of European descent; but Germany, 

France and Ireland still exist as independent 

nations which serve to preserve 

the respective cultures despite 

the distance (in time or location) their 

children may be from their homelands. 

Many solutions to the problem of 

The only reasonable 

long-term solution 

to the issues facing 

the religious 

minorities in Iraq 

is the creation of 

an Autonomous, 

Self-Administered 

Region (ASAR). 

the federal government focuses little 

attention. 

The ASAR will have an elected 

parliament whose legislations will 

have the force of law within the governing 

territory. The legislative body 

will work to solve internal problems 

faced by religious minorities in Iraq. 

The legislation by the ASAR parliament 

will be enforced by the federal 

government in said territory as long as 

those laws do not contradict the federal 

constitution. Legislation can be 

extended beyond the geography of 

the region. The effect can reach its 

native people in different areas of Iraq 

and neighboring countries. 

Asking for an ASAR is in total 

compliance with the federal constitution 

of Iraq and the new federal 

Northern Iraq is filled with sad sights, including the ones above. 

has made the future of Christians and 

other minorities in Iraq bleak. In an 

increasingly interdependent and globalized 

society, Christians and other 

minorities no longer have to endure 

religious persecution, but are given 

the opportunity to flee it by emigrating 

to more progressive countries and the 

Christian West. While this may be 

positive in the sense that there is relative 

peace for many families, what the 

world is currently witnessing is a flood 

of Christians and other minorities out 

of Iraq, leaving their native, historic villages 

empty. In recent decades, with 

the rise of radical Islam, and especially 

since the September 11 attacks, 

this persecution and consequent emigration 

has intensified. 

minority rights in Iraq and the Middle 

East have been offered, but they are 

oftentimes only reactionary, specific to 

isolated events and situations. The 

goal must rather be to establish a solution 

that will ensure the long-term 

preservation and survival of these individuals 

without forfeiting their native 

cultures. 

The Solution 

The only reasonable long-term solution 

to the issues facing the religious 

minorities in Iraq is the creation of an 

Autonomous, Self-Administered 

Region (ASAR). 

ASAR is a political and legal term 

that seeks the establishment of a 

region where its people administrate 

their affairs through executive and legislative 

branches of governance. The 

limits of the authority of the ASAR are 

to be negotiated with the federal government, 

which will legislate and 

establish the region as autonomous 

and self-administered. 

The region is to have its own budget 

whose source will be primarily 

three: 

• It will have its own share of revenues 

from the total federal government 

budget 

• Taxes will be imposed upon the 

ASAR’s own citizens 

• International aid will be used to 

support the region 

The ASAR will have control over its 

budget, spending it in places where 

structure of Iraq, and also complies 

with international law. The responsibility 

of achieving an ASAR is not 

only our responsibility as religious 

minorities of Iraq, but it is the responsibility 

of neighboring Kurds, Arabs 

and the international community. 

Accomplishing the ASAR is a test for 

all Iraqis to prove how far they have 

come and how far they are able to go 

in adopting the ideals of ethic and 

religious coexistence and the values 

of democracy, freedom and equality 

for all minorities that make up the 

fabric of Iraqi society. 

Hotelier Ismat Karmo is a member 

of the Chaldean American Chamber 

of Commerce. 



NOTEworthy 

PHOTO BY KHALID YOUSIF 

NANA says 

ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT MICK 

If you’re having a party outside, 

hang a rosary from a tree 

to keep the rain away. 

If a spoon falls on the floor 

you’ll have visitors. 

Thanks to all who shared their 

Nana-isms. Keep them coming to 

info@chaldeannews.com, or write 

to The Chaldean News, 30095 

Northwestern Highway, Suite 102, 

Farmington Hills, MI 48334. 

Arvin’s father, Yousif (Joe) Hermiz (with bullhorn), addresses the crowd. 

Family and Friends Rally 

in Arvin Hermiz Case 

About 50 community members rallied in Southfield on May 

21 in protest of the September shooting death of Arvin 

Hermiz by a Southfield police officer. 

The officer has been cleared of wrongdoing by the 

Southfield Police Department, the Oakland County Sheriff’s 

Office and the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office. 

Yousif (Joe) Hermiz, Arvin’s father, said he plans to ask 

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox to reverse the decision 

by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office. The family may 

also file suit. 

On September 27, Hermiz and a male passenger were 

pulled over by an unidentified Southfield police officer for 

speeding and meandering between lanes, said Chief Joseph 

E. Thomas Jr. After briefly stopping his car, Hermiz attempted 

to drive off. The officer claims that Hermiz aimed the car 

straight at him, so he shot Hermiz three times in self-defense. 

Hermiz, 25, lived in West Bloomfield. His passenger was 

a 19-year-old man from Redford. Hermiz had had some 

scrapes with the law, but his family said police are wrong in 

painting him as a criminal. 

The May 21 protest at the Southfield Civic Center on 

Evergreen Road lasted for more than two hours. Attendees 

wore tee-shirts emblazoned with Hermiz’s picture, carried 

signs and chanted “justice for Arvin.” 

Fr. Andy 

Publishes Book 

Fr. Andrew Younan has published 

The Book of Before & After, an 

English compilation of psalms, 

hymns and prayers from the 

Chaldean Church. 

Fr. Andy is the parochial vicar at 

St. Peter Chaldean Cathedral in 

San Diego. “I got the idea years ago 

as a seminarian when someone 

asked me why we don’t have a 

prayer book in English from our 

own Chaldean tradition and I didn’t 

have any answer for him,” he said. 

“I realized that there was a real 

need for one even more when I 

became a priest and I realized that 

many people are at a stage in their spiritual life where they 

can and should be praying more than once every day.” 

Fr. Andy said the book is meant to deepen the daily prayer 

of the Christian by providing the morning, evening and night 

prayers that have been used for centuries by the Church of 

the East. The selection is from the “Ordinary” of the Liturgy 

of the Hours (the “Hudhra”), and has been made with the 

layperson in mind. 

“We use it here in San Diego on a regular basis already in 

our convent of the Workers of the Vineyard, and will soon be 

using it in our Seminary of Mar Abba the Great,” he said. “I use 

selections from it as an opening prayer for my Bible Study. The 

people who have used it have found it a wonderful addition to 

their spiritual life, and I hope many more Chaldean young people 

make use of it to deepen their life of faith.” 

The book can be purchased at http://www.lulu.com/content/2267636. 

CASCA Scores Victories 

Both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate 

have taken recent steps to help Iraq’s Christians, news seen 

as victories for the Chaldean Assyrian Syriac Council of 

America (CASCA). 

The House included $10 million in its version of the 

Supplemental Appropriations Bill of 2008. This funding is in 

addition to the $10 million included in the Fiscal Year 2008 

Omnibus Appropriations Act. 

The Explanatory Statement accompanying 

the bill noted “vulnerable Iraqi minority groups, 

including Christians.” 

The House passed the Fiscal Year 2008 

Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill on 

May 15. 

Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate Committee on 

Armed Forces highlighted the plight of Iraq’s 

religious minorities in a report accompanying 

S.3001, the Fiscal Year 2009 National Defense 

Authorization Bill. The language says in part, “… 

given the U.S. role and stake in the conflict, the 

committee believes the United States must continue 

to play a significant role in addressing the 

plight of displaced Iraqis, particularly those highly 

vulnerable religious minorities.” 

The committee passed the bill unanimously 

on April 30, and the Senate is expected to consider 

it this summer. 

Henry Ford 

West Bloomfield 

Coming Along 

Staff at Henry Ford Hospital West 

Bloomfield has been reaching out to the 

Chaldean community these past two 

months as they anxiously await the ribbon 

cutting of their new full-scale hospital 

in West Bloomfield. 

Home to a large Chaldean population, 

West Bloomfield will now be home 

to a newly renovated and innovative 

hospital as part of the Henry Ford 

Health System. President and CEO 

Nancy Schlichting along with Gerard 

van Grinsven, president and CEO of 

Henry Ford West Bloomfield have been 

making their rounds in the community to 

meet Chaldean movers and shakers. 

Last month, Frank and Judy Jonna held 

an event at their home to introduce the 

executives and other staff — including 

Chaldeans’ own Gary Sarafa, MD — to 

more than 100 invited guests. The hospital 

will open next year. 


NOTEworthy 

Missing Something? 

Want to see if you’re among the many 

Chaldeans with unclaimed property? The 

Michigan Department of Treasury has millions 

of dollars in lost or forgotten assets 

from dormant bank accounts, uncashed 

checks, valuables left in safe deposit 

boxes and stock certificates. Because 

these properties were considered abandoned 

and unclaimed by the bank or company 

entrusted with them, they are turned 

over to the state as required by law. The 

Michigan Department of Treasury returns 

these assets to their owners, or heirs, 

when they are rightfully claimed. 

Visit www.michigan.gov/treasury to 

learn more. For national searches, visit 

www. missingmoney.com. 

Chaldean Men Strengthen Faith 

More than 150 Chaldean men gathered for the 6th Annual Catholic Men’s Conference at the University of Detroit Mercy on 

April 12. The theme this year was “Brothers in Christ, Standing Together.” 

“The Chaldean men all agree that our community needs to focus more on faith and family, and this conference was the 

perfect way to do so,” said Basil Bacall. “For years Chaldean men have been so focused on making good lives for the families 

in America that they have slowly neglected their role in their family’s faith. … The men feel that joining together as a band 

of Chaldean Christian men they can strengthen each other’s faith, grow in the knowledge of the Lord together and share in 

each other’s struggles and hard times.” 

Bacall called the conference, “a beautiful way to come together and become better husbands, fathers and Christians.” 

On Air 

Chaldean News Editor-in-Chief 

Vanessa Denha-Garmo (right) joins 

Teresa Tomeo on her morning show on 

WDEO Ave Maria Radio last month during 

the station’s annual membership 

drive. The women interviewed Joseph 

Kassab of the Chaldean Federation of 

America on the refugee initiative. 

you know you’re 

CHALDEAN if… 

Your aunt always asks you 

when she can dance at your 

wedding. 

You say “Get down from 

the car.” instead of “Get out of 

the car.” 

You always act like you 

want to pay, but in reality you 

hate it. 

Share your ideas! E-mail 

info@chaldeannews.com or write 

to The Chaldean News, 

30095 Northwestern Highway, 

Farmington Hills, MI 48334. 

Fundraiser Honors 

Baby’s Memory 

All seemed to be fine when Evan 

Deddeh was born on April 28, 2007. 

But when he wasn’t moving his arms or 

legs or holding his head up after six 

weeks, his pediatrician ordered a battery 

of tests. 

The results were tragic: Evan had 

spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a usually 

fatal genetic disease that affects 

the motor neurons for voluntary muscles 

used for activities such as crawling 

and swallowing. Three months after 

the diagnosis, Evan died at home in 

Waterford on November 28, 2007. 

In honor of their son’s memory, 

Heather and Tony Deddeh are holding 

a bowling fundraiser on June 8. The 

event, from 2-5 p.m. at Wonderland 

Heading the Call 

Hundreds of young Christian Chaldean/Assyrian 

men recently lined up to register for the new 

police force that is going to be established in 

Iraq’s Nineveh Plain. This is a picture from the 

recruitment station located in Telkaif, Ninewa. 

Lanes in Walled Lake, includes bowling, 

raffles and a silent auction. Mike 

Scott of WYCD will make an appearance. 

Proceeds from the $25 tickets go 

to Families of SMA (www.fsma.org). 

Despite his health troubles, Evan 

was a happy boy. “He always smiled no 

matter how bad he was doing,” Tony 

said, “and he had an amazing smile.” 

To purchase tickets, call Vanessa 

Mona at (248) 755-4010 or Tony 

Deddeh at (248) 821-8778. 

It’s Chaldean 

Graduation Time 

All Chaldean high school and college 

graduates are encouraged to attend the 

26th Annual Chaldean Commencement 

on June 12. 

The Chaldean Federation 

of America once again hosts 

the event, this year with the 

help of Chaldean American 

Student Associations (CASA) 

at six Michigan universities. 

Academic and Newcomers 

(in the U.S. less than five 

years) scholarships will be 

awarded, as well a Special 

Talent Scholarship (including 

arts and athletics) and the 

annual Essay Award. 

The event starts at 4 p.m. 

(participants must arrive by 

3:15) at the Millennium 

Center in Southfield. Visit 

www.chaldeanfederation.org 

for more information. 

That evening at 7 p.m., all 

are welcome to a gala party 

at Shenandoah Country Club. The 

theme is Hollywood and the night 

includes live entertainment, DJ music, 

and dinner. Tickets are $40; contact 

Maria Kesto at mkesto@wayne.edu for 

information. 

John Gumma of Etchen Gumma Limited, 

co-owner Paul Kado and designer Allen 

Shabilla at Detroit’s newest Rice Bowl. 

Kado Opens 

Third Rice Bowl 

Paul Kado may be Chaldean, but he 

sure loves his Asian food. Kado is the 

co-owner of the new Rice Bowl Fresh 

Asian Kitchen, which opened in 

Detroit’s Millender Center in March. 

Kado and co-owner Freddy Liu 

invested more than $400,000 in 

upgrades, construction and décor, 

including an art gallery, in the restaurant. 

Rice Bowl Fresh Asian Kitchen 

serves Chinese, Japanese, Thai, 

Korean, Vietnamese and Indonesian 

cuisine made fresh to order. 

This is Kado’s third Rice Bowl in 

Detroit; the other two are located in the 

New Center One Building and College 

Park Commons. The new eatery in the 

Millender Center is the chain’s flagship. 


T HE MERLE AND SHIRLEY H ARRIS BIRTHING CENTER 

AT H URON VALLEY-SINAI H OSPITAL 

To schedule a tour of the Merle and Shirley 

Harris Birthing Center at Huron Valley-Sinai 

Hospital, call (248) 937-5120. To schedule 

an appointment with one of our physicians, 

call (888) DMC-2500. 

 

 

 

 

 

special needs 

 

 

 

 

Hospital 

 

 

 

99th Percentile 

Satisfaction 

IN NATIONAL SURVEY 


CHAI time 

CHALDEANS CONNECTING 

COMMUNITY EVENTS IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT JUNE 2008 

[Tuesday, June 3] 

Wine: Wines of Chile, Argentina, 

Spain and Portugal are featured in a 

walk-around tasting at Andiamo 

Bloomfield Hills. 7-9 p.m.; $25. (248) 

865-9300 or www.andiamoitalia.com. 

[Wednesday, June 4] 

Cigars: The Chaldean Cigar Club 

enjoys “Smokandoah” with appetizers 

and a cash bar at 6:30 p.m. at 

Shenandoah Country Club. Non-members 

welcome with a member. 

Wine: Burgers, BBQ & Bordeaux is 

the theme of a walk-around wine tasting 

at Andiamo Royal Oak. 7-9 p.m.; 

$25. (248) 582-9300 or www.andiamoitalia.com. 

[Thursday, June 5] 

Wines on the River: Barolo & Beyond 

– the Wines of Piedmont is the theme 

of a sit-down wine tasting at Andiamo 

Riverfront. 6:30-8:30 p.m., $35. (313) 

567-6700 or www.andiamoitalia.com. 

[Friday, June 6] 

Poker: Poker tournament at 

Shenandoah Country Club for members 

only. First hand dealt at 8 p.m. 

(248) 454-1932. 

[Friday, June 6 – Sunday, June 8] 

Detroit Festival of the Arts: More than 

300,000 people are expected to attend 

the 22nd annual festival in Detroit’s 

Midtown Cultural Center, which 

includes 10 stages and 20 square 

blocks of art and performances. Find 

details at www.detroitfestival.com. 

[Sunday, June 8] 

Bowling: Bowling event in memory of 

Evan Deddeh benefits SMA, a genetic 

disease that affects the motor neurons 

for voluntary muscles. $25 includes bowling, 

shoes, pizza and soft drinks. 2-5 

p.m., Wonderland Lanes, Walled Lake. 

(248) 821-8778 or (248) 755-4010. 

[Tuesday, June 10] 

Wine: The Wines of Michigan are featured 

in a walk-around tasting at 

Andiamo Lakefront in St. Clair 

Shores. $25. (586) 773-7770 or 

www.andiamoitalia.com. 


Graduation: 26th Annual Chaldean 

Commencement starts at 4 p.m. (participants 

must arrive by 3:15) at the 

Millennium Center in Southfield. Visit 

www.chaldeanfederation.org for more 

information. At 7 p.m., all are welcome to 

a gala party at Shenandoah Country Club. 

Tickets are $40; contact Maria Kesto 

at mkesto@wayne.edu for information. 


Pool Party: Shenandoah Country 

Club celebrates its third annual 

Summer Pool Party with dinner, drinks 

and live music. Members only. 7 p.m. 

$75; reservations mandatory: (248) 

454-1932. 


Father’s Day: Mother of God Parish 

Council hosts its first annual party for 

dads and families. Live music. 8 p.m., 

Farmington Hills Manor. For info and 

tickets, call (248) 762-4424 or (248) 

866-1435. 

Sunday, June 15] 

Father’s Day: Old-fashioned barbecue 

to salute dad at Shenandoah Country 

Club. 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $17 

adults, $9 children. Reservations necessary: 

(248) 454-1932. 


Golf: Chaldean American Chamber 

of Commerce’s Fifth Annual Golf 

Outing takes place at Shenandoah 

Country Club. Sponsors are welcome. 

www.chaldeanchamber.org or 

(248) 538-3700. 

[Saturday, June 21- Sunday, June 22] 

Basketball Camp-Out: Weekend 

event for boys ages 11 and up and 

men takes place at Camp Chaldean 

with three-on-three games and skills 

competitions. Entry fee of $40 per 

player includes food for both days 

and a jersey. Late registration fee 

(after June 14) is $50. 

nkarrumi@hotmail.com. 

[June 20-June 23] 

Detroit River Days: Family-friendly 

event along Hart Plaza and the 

Detroit Riverfront includes music, 

food, carnival and more. 

www.detroitriverdays.com. 

[Monday, June 23] 

Fireworks: Annual Detroit display 

begins at 10:06 p.m. downtown on 

the riverfront. www.theparade.org. 

[Saturday, July 19 – Sunday, July 20] 

Arab & Chaldean Festival: Annual 

festival has music, Middle Eastern 

food and much more. Hart Plaza, 

Detroit. (248) 960-9956 or 

www.arabandchaldeanfestival.com. 

Detroit Festival of the Arts will 

feature a variety of performers. 

Clockwise from top left: 

Close-Act Visual Theatre’s 

XL-Insects; street painting; Wise 

Fool – Flexion, from Sante Fe, 

New Mexico; and Osadia, an 

interactive street art and theatre 

company from Spain. 



HALHOLE! 

[Births] 

Isabella Maria 

First-time parents Nash and 

Jessica Abbo welcomed their 

daughter Isabella Maria into 

the world on December 13, 

2007 at 5:17 p.m. She 

weighed 5 lbs., 6 oz. and 

measured 17.5 inches. 

Isabella is the 10th grandchild 

of the Basima & the late 

Jamil Abbo and the second 

for Yousif & Lameea Karcho. 

Proud godparents are aunt 

Joanna Karcho and cousin 

Omar Abbo. 

Caden Thomas 

Cameron has been praying for 

a sibling for 10 years and God 

has answered his prayer with a 

baby brother. Caden Thomas 

Kesto was born on January 18, 

2008 at 5:26 p.m. at Troy 

Beaumont Hospital. He 


measured 19.5 inches. Proud 

parents are Thamer and 

Cathleen Kesto. Caden is the 

eighth grandchild for Nouri & 

the late Khalida Orow and the 

fourth for Sabah & Khalida 

Kesto. Amer Kesto is a godparent. 

Mark 

God gave us another miracle. 

Michelle, Matthew and Michael 

Jr. Bahoura would like to introduce 

their precious baby 

brother, Mark. Mark was born 

on June 7, 2007. He weighed 

in at 7 lbs., 14 oz. and measured 

21 inches. Mark has 

brought continued happiness 

to his grateful parents, Mike 

and Firdos Bahoura. Lord 

Jesus, thank you for continuing 

to bless our growing family. 

Ava Maria 

Innocent, perfect and sweet 

as can be, our angel has 

arrived, blessed are we! Jerry 

and Carlin Hannosh joyfully 

announce the birth of their 

first baby, Ava Maria, born 

February 21, 2008 in Phoenix, 

Arizona at 4:17 a.m. She 


measured 20.5 inches long. 

First-time grandparents are 

Vivian & the late Naji Hannosh 

and Yacoub (Jack) & Elham 

Kalla. Great grandmothers are 

Farida Abdulnoor & Hasina 

Zetouna. Godmother is 

Marline Kalla. 

Isabella Maria 

Caden Thomas 

Mark 

Ava Maria 


Katherine Erminia 

Katherine Erminia Shunyia made 

her entrance into the world on 

June 2, 2007 at 7:41 p.m. at 

William Beaumont Hospital in 

Royal Oak. She weighed 7 lbs., 

10 oz. and was 21 inches long. 

Katherine is the first child for Peter 

and Jennifer (Kasco) Shunyia. 

Very proud grandparents are 

Sallim & Wafaa Shunyia and 

Nancy J. Holmes. Great grandmother 

is Erminia Farinelli Bailey, 

for whom Katherine was named. 

Patrick & Serour (Shunyia) 

DiGiovanni are her loving godparents. 

Thank you Katherine for 

making our lives so much happier! 

[Engagements] 

Christina and Omar 

Omar Sesi and Christina Alton 

became engaged on February 

24, 2008. Omar is the son of 

Korkess & Maryam Sesi. 

Christina is the daughter of Faisal 

& Thaira Alton (Hana-Kachel). 

The couple’s engagement ceremony 

was performed by Fr. 

Emanuel Shalita and Fr. Basel 

Yaldo of St. George Church. 

Christina attends Oakland 

University and plans to graduate 

in December with her bachelor’s 

degree in Elementary Education. 

Omar owns his own business. 

May the blessings from the Lord 

above continue to shine on this 

special couple and guide them to 

their wedding day and beyond. 

Jonathan and Rita 

Those who love and are loved 

know that life’s true riches lie in 

the moments spent with family 

and friends. Sabhan & Thaira 

Jarbo are proud to announce the 

engagement of their son, 

Jonathan Jarbo, to Rita Yono, 

daughter of Gorgis & Hasena 

Yono. The engagement took 

place on April 20, 2008.The couple 

plans a spring 2009 wedding. 

[Weddings] 

Sandy and Jony 

Sandy Malan and Jony Hannosh 

were married on November 18, 

2007 at St. George Church. 

Sandy’s parents are Suad & 

Samir Malan and Jony is the son 

of Warda & Najeb Hannosh. 

Best man was Nash Hannosh 

and maid of honor was Celia 

Malan. The reception was held 

at Penna’s of Sterling Heights. 

The couple enjoyed a honeymoon 

Hawaiian cruise. 

Katherine Erminia 

Christina and Omar 

Jonathan and Rita 

Sandy and Jony 


HALHOLE! 

[Weddings] 

Hope and Jeff 

Jeff Sarafa and Hope Hansen celebrated 

the vows of matrimony on 

July 27, 2007, in a beautiful and 

sentimental wedding ceremony at 

St. Lucy’s Catholic Church. A 

reception followed at Villa Ragusa 

in San Jose, California, where the 

couple now lives. Their parents are 

Josephine Sarafa & the late Esam 

Sarafa and Richard & Janet 

Hansen. The best man was Steve 

Sarafa and the matron of honor 

was Tamara Hammer. A second 

reception was held at Shenandoah 

Country Club. The couple enjoyed 

a fun-filled Hawaiian honeymoon. 

Claudia and Lance 

On September 29, 2007, the heavenly 

angles along with family and 

friends gathered to celebrate the 

holy matrimony of Lance (son of 

Farid & Rafida Sitto) to Claudia 

(daughter of Masoud & Jandar Matti). 

The day was filled with joy from the 

ceremony at St. Thomas to the 

reception at Shenandoah Country 

Club. This match made in heaven 

enjoyed a honeymoon in Hawaii and 

Mexico. May God continue to bless 

their lives with happiness. And 

may He grant them many children 

for their uncle-to-be and best man, 

Brandon Sitto, and aunt-to-be and 

maid of honor, Pheape Matti. 

Frederick and Michelle 

Michelle Therese Shallal and 

Frederick Joseph Abdou were married 

on November 17, 2007 at St. 

Mary’s of Orchard Lake. An intimate 

dinner reception followed at the 

Royal Park Hotel in Rochester Hills. 

The couple honeymooned in Los 

Cabos, Mexico. Michelle is the 

daughter of Jamal & Lillian Shallal and 

Fred is the son of the late Frederick 

George Abdou & and Julia Abdou. 

[Anniversary] 

Peter and Samira 

Peter and Samira Essa are celebrating 

50 years of marriage! The couple 

married on June 8, 1958 in 

Baghdad during the revolution. They 

are the parents of Paul (Mary Jo), 

Peter (Debbie), Teresa, George 

(Lauren) and Joe. Peter received 

many medals for bravery in World 

War II, and always jokes that Samira 

deserves the medal of bravery for 

spending 50 years with him. Peter, 

Samira, their children and grandchildren 

are spending this momentous 

occasion on Mackinac Island. 

Congratulations Mom and Dad! 

Hope and Jeff 

Claudia and Lance 

Frederick and Michelle 

Peter and Samira 


Drs. Purcell, Sayegh & Zimny 

*Board Certified Family Medicine Specialists 

Kelly Purcell, D.O. 

Family Medicine 

Anthony J. Sayegh, D.O. 


Matthew C. Zimny, D.O. 


*Specializing in All Aspects of Pediatric, Adult, 

and Geriatric Medicine including... 

• Annual Physicals 

• School/Sports Physicals 

• Gynecologic Care 

• Sick Visits 

*Same Day Appointments Available* 

N 

Novi Rd. 

5 

W Maple Rd. 

14 Mile Rd. 

 

13 Mile Rd. 

12 Mile Rd. 

696 

Halsted Rd. 

BEAUMONT MEDICAL STAFF MEMBERS 

39630 14 Mile Rd. in Newberry Square (Hiller’s Shopping Center) 

(248) 960-3727 

*For your convenience, evening and weekend hours are available 

1229490 


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 

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 (586) 254-7221 

Pastor: Rev. 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: Rev. Ayad J. Hanna (Knanjaro) 

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 

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 

GUIDELINES FOR OBITUARIES 

Obituaries are printed free of charge for members of the community. Include the deceased’s 

date of birth and death, names of immediate survivors, and details on his or her life. Include a 

sharp photograph or high-resolution picture as a jpeg attachment. Please be sure to include 

your phone number in case of questions. Please keep the text to 500 words or less; we 

reserve the right to edit for length and/or clarity. Mail the information to: Chaldean News, 

30095 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills, MI 48334, or e-mail info@chaldeannews.com. 




IRAQ today 

Tariq Aziz faces 

trial in Iraq 

Tariq Aziz, Iraq's 

former deputy prime 

minister, appears in a 

courtroom at Camp 

Victory, a former 

Saddam palace on 

the outskirts of 

Baghdad, Thursday, 

July 1, 2004. 

An Iraqi court on April 29 began 

hearing the capital case against 

Tariq Aziz, one of Saddam 

Hussein’s best-known lieutenants, and 

seven other defendants facing charges 

in the 1992 execution of dozens of 

merchants for profiteering. 

Aziz, 72, is Chaldean and was the 

only Christian member of Saddam’s 

inner circle. 

The court adjourned the 

opening session after half an 

hour because a co-defendant, 

Saddam’s cousin 

known as “Chemical Ali,’’ 

was too ill to attend. 

Aziz and the other defendants 

present, including 

Saddam’s half brother 

Watban Ibrahim al-Hassan, 

sat in a wooden pen, each 

standing as the judge read 

their names and discussed 

legal issues. 

The presiding judge, Raouf 

Abdul-Rahman, said doctors 

had signed a medical report 

saying that Ali Hassan al-Majid 

— who gained the nickname Chemical 

Ali for ordering chemical attacks against 

the Kurds in the late 1980s — was in critical 

condition and needed some three 

weeks to recover. 

Aziz has denied the accusations. 

“I have spoken to Mr. Aziz on this 

matter two weeks ago and I recorded 

our conversation. Mr. Aziz is not guilty 

of any offense whatsoever,’’ said Italian 

attorney Giovanni Di Stefano, who was 

also one of several non-Arab attorneys 

who consulted for the core team 

defending Hussein. 

The trial deals with the execution of 

42 merchants accused by Saddam’s 

government of being behind a sharp 

increase in food prices when the country 

was under strict U.N. sanctions. 

The merchants were rounded up 

over two days in July 1992 from 

Baghdad’s wholesale markets and 

charged with manipulating food supplies 

to drive up prices at a time when 

many Iraqis were suffering economically. 

All 42 were executed hours later 

after a quick trial. 

Another judge with the Iraqi High 

Tribunal, which is prosecuting offenses 

of the former regime, said the charges 

against the defendants would include 

war crimes, crimes against humanity and 

genocide. If convicted, the men could 

face a sentence of death by hanging. 

The judge — who declined to be 

identified because he wasn’t authorized 

to discuss the information — said 

Aziz was being prosecuted because he 

signed the execution orders against 

the merchants as a member of 

Saddam’s Revolutionary Command 

Council, a rubberstamp group that 

approved the dictator’s decisions. 

Another defense attorney, Badee 

Izzat Aref, has said Aziz is ailing and 

still suffers from the effects of a stroke 

Aziz is being prosecuted 

because he signed the 

execution orders against 

the merchants as a member 

of Saddam’s Revolutionary 

Command Council, a 

rubberstamp group that 

approved the dictator’s 

decisions. 

he had prior to the U.S.-led invasion in 

2003. Aziz surrendered to American 

forces on April 25, 2003. 

Aziz was born in Telkaif and studied 

English literature at Baghdad 

University. Known for his faultless 

English, he was No. 43 on the U.S. 

most-wanted list of Iraqi officials. 

— Associated Press 

PHOTO BY KAREN BALLARD/POOL/AP 

Death sentence in Archbishop’s killing 

The Iraqi government says an al- 

Qaida in Iraq leader has been 

sentenced to death for the slaying 

of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho, 

who was kidnapped in February and his 

body found days later. 

Government spokesman Ali al- 

Dabbagh says the Iraqi Central 

Criminal Court handed down the sentence 

May 18 against Ahmed Ali 

Ahmed, an al-Qaida leader also known 

as Abu Omar, for the Bishop’s killing. 

Archbishop Rahho was snatched in 

February in the northern city of Mosul 

by gunmen who attacked his car as he 

left a Mass. His body was found later in 

a shallow grave. 

Al-Dabbagh does not specify when 

Ahmed was arrested, but he says he 

was wanted in other terror attacks. 

— Associated Press 



who are we? 

Household survey proves 

impressive numbers 


Chaldeans in Metro Detroit have always known 

they are a part of large numbers, but until now 

there was no way to prove it. That’s why the 

Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce commissioned 

the Household Demographic Survey 

from the United Way and Walsh College. 

More than two years later, the numbers are in: 

Chaldeans in Southeast Michigan total 113,000 

people, and 61 percent of all families own a business. 

SURVEY continued on page 30

TOTAL CHALDEAN POPULATION IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN 

113,000 

WHERE WE LIVE 

OAKLAND COUNTY 

BIRMINGHAM 

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP 

FARMINGTON 

FARMINGTON HILLS 

MADISON HEIGHTS 

OAK PARK 

ROCHESTER 

ROCHESTER HILLS 

SOUTHFIELD 

TROY 

WEST BLOOMFIELD 

MACOMB COUNTY 

CLINTON TOWNSHIP 

EASTPOINTE 

MACOMB TOWNSHIP 

ROSEVILLE 

SHELBY TOWNSHIP 

STERLING HEIGHTS 

UTICA 

WARREN 

WAYNE COUNTY 

BELLEVILLE 

CANTON TOWNSHIP 

DETROIT 

THE GROSSE POINTES 

REDFORD TOWNSHIP 

TAYLOR 

TRENTON 

WESTLAND 

FOR COMPARISON, HERE ARE 2007 FIGURES FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION: 

MACOMB $55,000 OAKLAND $68,400 WAYNE $58,400 

AT HOME 

MORE THAN HALF OF ALL CHALDEAN 

HOUSEHOLDS HAVE RESIDED AT THEIR 

CURRENT ADDRESS FOR AT LEAST 

MORE 

THAN 

OUT 

9 10 

OF 

HOUSEHOLDS OWN 

AN AVERAGE OF 

HOUSEHOLDS LIVE IN A 

SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE 

VEHICLES 

WHAT WE 

SPEAK 

81% ENGLISH 

66.2% CHALDEAN 

8% CHALDEAN ONLY 

44% ARABIC 

15.7% ENGLISH ONLY 

WHAT DO WE EARN? 

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME 

3 

55.3 

PERCENT OF US 

WERE BORN IN 

MICHIGAN 

YEARS 

42.1 

PERCENT 

COME 

FROM 

IRAQ 

WHEN DID WE COME 

HERE FROM IRAQ? 

37 % 

1970S 

15 % 

1980S 

26 % 

1990S 

OUR AVERAGE 

FAMILY SIZE: 

4.13 

PERSONS 

THE CHALDEAN POPULATION IS YOUNGER 

THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION 

$ 

96,100 

AT WORK 

OWN 

AT LEAST 

ONE 

BUSINESS 

7 61% 

59.9% 1 BUSINESS 

20.4% 2 BUSINESSES 




DID YOU KNOW? MORE THAN 95 PERCENT OF DETROIT’S 

CHALDEANS ARE DESCENDED FROM RESIDENTS OF TELKAIF. 

SURVEY 

continued from page 29 

“I think this survey is more important than 

anything we’ve done in a long time,” said Michael 

George, chairman of the Chaldean Federation 

of America. “We’ve always guesstimated but no 

one had done the scientific research. We can 

make those statements with integrity now.” 

George, the community’s unofficial patriarch, 

added, “I invited myself onto the committee 

because I was so concerned with making 

sure it was legitimate.” 

The survey is particularly important, he 

said, because Chaldeans are chronically 

undercounted by the U.S. Census Bureau. 

The 2000 Census showed 32,398 Chaldeans 

and the 2006 American Community Survey – 

an ongoing statistical study that replaces the 

long form — totaled just 27,066. 

The study was led by Kurt Metzger, director 

of research and community investment & partnerships 

for the United Way of Southeastern 

Michigan. The biggest challenge, he said, was 

coming up with mailing lists of community 

members. Citing privacy concerns, some 

Chaldean churches would not share 

their lists, though Fr. Manual Boji 

of Mother of God did write a 

cover letter assuring participants 

that their answers would be kept 

strictly confidential. 

The first mailing in April 2007 took longer 

than expected and by the time many households 

received it, the deadline to reply was already 

near or passed. That necessitated a second mailing 

in August. In total, about 8,739 surveys were 

mailed out and 1,498 returned – a response rate 

of just over 17 percent. That’s a few points over 

the typical response rate, so researchers said they 

felt confident of an adequate sample. 

“I would have liked to do a telephone survey 

too, but for the first try I think we did 

pretty good,” said Metzger. 

The results held no giant surprises, Metzger 

said. “I guess the high degree of business ownership 

reported was probably the most startling,” 

he said. “Not that we didn’t realize Chaldeans’ 

high rate of entrepreneurship and business ownership, 

but 61 percent is extremely high.” 

Also noteworthy was the trend toward higher 

education. “The education of the younger 

population is a very important component within 

the community,” Metzger said. “In Southeast 

Michigan we keep talking about the importance 

and culture of education, and the Chaldean 

community really does reflect that.” 


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PHOTO BY DAVID REED 

Dick O’Dows is the scene for informal Bible discussions twice a month 

a glass of faith 

Chaldeans meet with Bibles and brew to discuss religion 

BY VANESSA DENHA-GARMO 

With a Bible and a drink in 

hand, Kristina Younan 

lead a recent discussion 

group on Catholicism at the newly 

created Bible & Brew group held at 

Dick O’Dow’s in Birmingham. 

Drinking a beer is not a requirement; 

Younan chose a soda to sip. 

It is not a new concept in the 

Catholic religion — discussing the 

gospels over a beer — however it is 

considered, by some people, edgy for 

Chaldean church-goers. Regardless of 

the controversy that could come with 

the idea, Patrice Konja wanted to tap 

right into the program. 

As an active member of E.C.R.C 

for years, Konja said she finds great 

joy in spreading the Word of Christ to 

high school teens. So she decided to 

mimic the Latin Rite’s program called 

“Theology on Tap.” 

“The concept is foreign to many,” 

explained Konja in an e-mail blast to 

community members encouraging 

them to attend. “We sit in a bar, grab 

a drink, and talk about topics related 

to our faith. We drink lightly and discuss 

heavily. Many might see the 

words ‘Bible’ and ‘Brew’ contradictory 

but the focus is not to drink, the focus 

is Christ. Bible & Brew provides a 

relaxed environment for faith searching 

and allows those who may be lost 

to find their way in an unconventional 

setting. Though technically at a 

bar, the venue is not ‘bar-like’ at all, 

it’s more like a private room at a 

restaurant.” 

Every other Tuesday a different 

person moderates the discussion. 

Younan, a graduate student of theology, 

shared her insight on the topic of 

discussion for the evening: Why we 

should follow the church. 

“I wanted the talk to be an apology 

for why we follow the teachings of 

the church,” said Younan, who is 

studying for her Masters of Arts at 

Sacred Heart Major Seminary with a 

concentration on Systematic and 

Historical Theology. “It [the talk] was 

meant not only to prepare them to be 

able to defend their faith if attacked, 

but also to reinforce the truths that 

they’ve heard in previous Bible & 

Brew discussion.” 

Three young men who contributed 

greatly to the discussion that night 

will each one day be an ordained 

priest. Matthew Zetouna, Pierre 

Konja and Paul Karmo are all thirdyear 

students at Sacred Heart. 

Zetouna said he attended the session 

because he wanted to listen to 

others discuss the faith while adding 

his own input. “Bible & Brew is a 

great way for others to have a conversation 

about Christianity while having 

a meal,” said Zetouna. “I enjoyed 

FAITH 

continued on page 34 


PHOTO BY DAVID REED 

Kristina Younan 

Matthew Zetouna 

Paul Karmo 

FAITH 

continued from page 33 

the last session and would recommend 

it to others who have questions 

about the faith, or simply want to discuss 

it.” 

The program kicked off in January 

and meets every other Tuesday in the 

back room of Dick O’ Dow’s 

(Downtown Birmingham, off of 

Maple, just west of Old Woodward) 

from 8-10 p.m. 

“I attend Bible & Brew because I 

love seeing everyday, down-to-earth 

people discussing faith in a relaxed 

atmosphere and I like sharing a meal 

and drink with good friends,” said 

Pierre Konja. “I would encourage 

anyone to come to Bible & Brew 

because it shows how normal and 

down-to-earth people are who love 

the Lord and keep Him as the focus 

of their lives.” 

The group has already covered 

topics like Mother Mary, Human 

Dignity and the Resurrection. 

Upcoming topics are the Holy 

Spirit, Sin and Confession and 

Apologetics. The casual atmosphere 

that Konja mentioned is one of the 

attractions. 

“Most Bible studies can be very 

lecture-based,” said Paul Karmo. 

“One person teaches a topic in 

Scripture and spoon-feeds it to the 

listeners. Bible & Brew is more discussion-based. 

We begin with a 

topic and presenter at each meeting 

over beer and food and then it goes 

from there. Sometimes the discussion 

can be completely different 

than the original topic, but I think 

that’s fine. People come with burning 

questions that they’ve never 

had answered before. People want 

to know how to talk to a friend who 

has gone bad, or how to reply to 

someone who is attacking the faith 

at work or school, or if they’re praying 

the right way because they feel 

like rosaries and Our Fathers don’t 

do anything for them.” 

Upcoming Bible & Brews are June 3, 

June 17, July 1, July 15 and every other 

Tuesday following. Visit www.ecrc.us or 

drop a line to patrice@ecrc.us to learn more.

Priesthood on Tap 

We caught up with three Chaldean seminary 

students at a May Bible & Brew 

and took the opportunity to ask a few 

questions. 

When did you know that the priesthood 

was the vocation for you? 

That’s a hard question to answer fully 

in a forum like this. I applied to the 

graduate school (which we call 

“Major Seminary”) this year and this 

is what I wrote on an essay they 

required, “Why I want to be a priest”: 

I believe that as I discern a vocation, 

I would do better to not spend 

day and night constantly wondering, 

“Am I called to be a priest?” Rather, 

I find that the Lord confirms my vocation 

when I more perfectly commit 

myself to what I sincerely believe 

God might be calling me to. 

Analogously, an unmarried 

man in a serious relationship 

with a woman should commit 

himself to her as though he 

were married to her (as 

much as he can while still 

unmarried), and in time, by 

grace, he is confirmed in 

prayer, through communication 

with her, and in the 

growing intensity of love 

between them that a life-long 

commitment is a real possibility 

desired by both. So too 

with the priesthood — as I 

have first been moved (and 

continue to be moved) by a 

love and desire for the life of 

priesthood, and in conversation 

with my own future 

bride, the Church, and in my attempt 

to fully commit myself to her as a 

priest would (as much as possible as 

a layman) — the love for this way of 

life increases in me, which I perceive 

as God’s way of confirming this 

vocation for me. I know that there are 

many rough patches along the way, 

sacrifices and hardships that I have 

to endure, but I am not discouraged 

by them; rather, my desire for the 

priesthood is what encourages and 

strengthens me though them. 

– Paul Karmo 

The idea of me having a vocation to 

the priesthood was always in my 

mind and heart, but I finally decided 

to give it a shot when I was 20. After 

being in the seminary for two and a 

half years, I can comfortably say that 

I am called to be a priest of Jesus 

Christ. I just recently finished my 

third year at the seminary. 

– Matthew Zetouna 

I discerned a lot in my first year in 

college and I joined the seminary the 

following year. It is also important to 

note that discernment continues 

through seminary. 

– Pierre Konja 

What do you hope to accomplish as 

a priest? 

I hope to be an instrument that 

reawakens the Gospel for the 

Chaldean people (which actually is 

the job of all baptized people, not just 

priests). Our people are culturally 

religious, which is good, but we can 

grow numb to the things we do and 

those things lose their original meaning 

to us (masses, prayers, etc...). 

In a society which feeds all our senses, 

we focus little attention on our spirits. 

We see the life of the spirit as unimportant 

because it possesses no immediate 

threat to our physical well-being, 

which is all we focus on. I hear that only 

10 percent of Chaldeans in Metro 

Detroit attend church on Sunday. 

Shame on us! Our fathers could have 

converted to Islam and solved all their 

problems, but it was so important to 

them that they would be willing to suffer 

and die to hand down the faith to their 

children, and here we are tossing our 

family’s precious heirlooms in the trash. 

We don’t realize the treasure we’ve 

been given. I forget it sometimes. 

Many people’s souls have been 

sleeping for a long time. We have to 

wake them up! “Awake, my soul! 

Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken 

the dawn! I will praise you, O Lord, 

among the nations; I will sing of you 

among the peoples.” (Psalm 57: 8f) 

– Paul Karmo 

The most important thing I hope 

to accomplish as a priest is to be a 

holy person. If I keep consistent with 

my prayers and listen to the Lord in 

my heart, then He will accomplish 

things through me. 

– Matthew Zetouna 

I hope to accomplish the will of 

God in my life as a priest and to 

serve God and His people to the 

best of my ability. I think that is going 

to mean different things at different 

times in my life. 

– Pierre Konja 



CASA controversy 

Student group protests power play 

When Firas (Fred) Ayar and Zeina Kassab 

(Sharak) established the Chaldean 

American Student Association 

(CASA) at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 

1993, they knew it would make its mark on the 

Chaldean community. CASA’s dedication to education 

motivated Chaldeans at other universities to 

mirror its values. It has always been an association 

“for the students, by the students.” 

Fifteen years later, CASA boasts six chapters — 

U of M-Dearborn, Michigan State University, 

Oakland University, University of Detroit-Mercy, 

U of M-Ann Arbor and Wayne State University – 

and has become a prominent fixture in the 

Chaldean community. 

Enter Robert Kakos, a very involved 

community member and professor at 

Wayne State University’s College of 

Engineering. Last summer at the Mother 

of God Church Festival, he approached 

Sarah Qarana and Melody Dankha, 

CASA presidents from U of M- 

Dearborn and Oakland University 

respectively, and told them he was from 

CASA National. They needed to turn in 

their by-laws, he said, or else they will be in violation 

of the board. The students were confused. 

“Prior to that day, we had never heard of Robert 

Kakos, let alone ‘CASA National,’” said Qarana. 

In the fall, all six CASA presidents received an 

e-mail by Kakos stating that they needed to turn in 

their by-laws or would be considered inactive. This 

letter sparked frenzy among the student leaders. 

“The presidents were very apprehensive to hand 

over any documentation representing CASA to a 

man who had claimed to always be in the inner 

workings of CASA and yet never showed inclination 

of his interests in the past,” said Qarana. 

The CASAs are legally non-profit organizations 

through their own universities, but are not 

federally recognized. Technically, Kakos had the 

right to register the name, especially if he paid for 

it. But CASA leaders are crying foul over what 

they call questionable tactics. 

“Problems arose when Chaldean.org posted an 

BY CRYSTAL KASSAB JABIRO 

Robert Kakos 

event that was to be hosted by CASA, which was 

completely false and grounds for fraudulent behavior,” 

said Qarana. “We e-mailed the director of the 

website to have the CASA name removed from 

being affiliated with any event not approved by 

the presidents first.” 

The website only removed links to the six 

CASA sites. 

CASA members called two meetings with Kakos 

over the past few months to discuss his intentions. 

According to him, the federal government has millions 

of dollars to offer to American students of 

Middle Eastern descent. Kakos — who declined 

the Chaldean News’ invitation to comment — told 

CASA members he can get grants for Chaldean students 

if they were a unified body in 

Michigan and in other states with a large 

number of Chaldean college students, 

such as California. He also said he wanted 

to create high school chapters. 

Members said that while they believe 

that Kakos is knowledgeable about 

CASA’s name and reputation, he went 

behind them to register it without considering 

the opinions of their existing group. 

On May 5, 28 of CASA’s present and 

newly elected executive boards met at Mother of 

God Church to contemplate the idea of a National 

Governing Board (NGB). In attendance were also 

five CASA alumni and two community members 

invited to mediate and offer advice. Most comments 

were directed towards corruption and greed, 

while few considered it a chance to use Kakos’ 

resources to get money for students. 

Several CASA members said they believe they 

could raise money for their own chapters themselves. 

Most did not feel they could put their confidence 

in Kakos and worried that money and politics 

might bring CASA down. 

Belinda Kakos, a former CASA president and 

founder from Wayne State, was one of the alumni 

present. She said the idea of a national CASA has 

merit but is concerned about the allocation of 

money and the lack of a democratic process. She 

called CASA National a “hostile takeover” in the 

fashion of “Vladimir Lenin and Mao Zedong” 

since “past behavior predicts future behavior.” 

Madana Hermiz, vice president of OU’s chapter, 

concurred. “It’s quite obvious we don’t trust [Kakos],” 

she said. “You can’t follow a leader you can’t trust.” 

A small minority made their statements in the 

opposite direction. 

Donovan Asmar, the incoming president of the U 

of M-AA chapter, encouraged his peers to consider 

joining the NGB. He asked them to put their personal 

grudges aside and use Kakos positively as a resource. 

“If he can get us more money, then why not?” 

asked Asmar. We can establish by-laws.” 

MSU Secretary Raven Atisha also supported 

the idea. “The NGB would get us money,” she 

said. “It would be helping us.” 

Steve Jajouni and Karl Barash, youth coordinators 

at Mar Addai Church in Oak Park, proposed 

that CASA meet with Kakos again to discuss their 

roles in the NGB. After personally talking to Kakos, 

Jajouni told the group, “Robert is 100 percent willing 

to sit down with you and write the by-laws.” 

While Jajouni said he agreed with those who 

believe that registering the name was underhanded, 

he encouraged them to rethink their bitterness and 

take ownership of this opportunity. “You guys write 

the by-laws that state you have total control,” he 

said. “[Kakos] even said he didn’t need to be a part 

of the board. If you don’t want to, he’ll back off and 

focus on other universities and high schools.” 

Barash added, “All [Kakos] cares about is that 

CASA expands.” 

After three hours of deliberation, the 28 board 

members voted to either keep things the way they 

are, or to establish a national group (but not necessarily 

with Kakos). The vote was 15-13. 

Kurtis Zetouna, chair of this year’s Chaldean 

Commencement, has been working closely with 

CASA for the past two years. He said he was hurt 

by the controversy because he saw how frustrated 

it made his fellow CASA members. While he supports 

a parent organization, Zetouna does not 

agree with Kakos’ process. 

“CASA was not given the proper respect by simply 

opening a dialogue and continued communication 

will resolve this,” said Zetouna. “We have to 

maintain the values of our Christian teachings.” 

At press time, The Chaldean News learned that 

Kakos announced he was starting competing organizations 

at all universities with a CASA. In response, 

the current CASA boards have voted to change their 

name and plan to spread the word at the Chaldean 

Commencement, which they are co-sponsoring, on 

June 12. 



In the mail. On the street. 

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The 

Chaldean 

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2 per copy 


avoiding foreclosure 

‘Short sale’ may be the solution 

BY KEN MARTEN 

Laith Petrus put his West Bloomfield house 

on the market three years ago, but despite 

numerous price cuts he can’t unload it. 

Unable to make his monthly mortgage payments, 

he is now going the “short sale” route, taking 

advantage of the Mortgage Debt Cancellation 

Relief Act passed by Congress in December. 

According to recent Associated Press reports, 

more than 234,000 homes received foreclosure 

notices in March compared to slightly more than 

149,000 a year earlier. Michigan doesn’t have the 

most foreclosures – Nevada, California and Florida 

rank one, two and three, respectively – but it’s on 

the top 10 list. 

To avoid foreclosure, the Mortgage Debt 

Cancellation Relief Act tweaks the short sale 

process, which means that a home is put on the 

market for a price less than – or “short” of – what 

the homeowner paid. 

While the short sale lets sellers off the hook by 

not having to pay the difference back to the bank, 

the Act removes the income tax penalty attached 

to the difference. Prior to the Act’s passage, the difference 

in a short sale was considered a gift to the 

seller and subject to federal income tax. 

The government sprang to action just in the 

nick of time according to Richard Kallabat of 

Kallabat Consultants, a real estate consulting group 

that operates from the offices of Keller Williams 

Realty in Royal Oak. 

“It transformed this whole process, 

and that’s why it’s the best answer to an 

imminent foreclosure,” said Kallabat. 

“Foreclosure is a very sad time. However, 

if you’re in this situation, now is the best 

time to be in it. You can walk away with 

no penalty whatsoever, except that it 

will impact your credit score. It’s almost 

a do-over, a free Mulligan in life.” 

Kallabat called the act a win-win situation 

because banks also avoid refurbishment 

and selling costs for homes they 

repossess, which average about $17,000 per property. 

Petrus bought his three-bedroom, 1,500-squarefoot 

home in 1998 for $175,000. A drop in income 

and paying for his 92-year-old mother’s healthcare 

– she lives with him – forced Petrus in 2005 to put 

his home on the market. Petrus, 47, is a former 

singer who now drives a wine delivery truck. 

“I said, ‘Rich, please get me out of this home,’” 

Petrus said. “We put the price at $249,000. Then 

we lowered it to $239,000. Then to $195,000. Now 

we’re at $159,000. We’ve had about 30 showings, 

but nobody’s putting in a bid.” 

Petrus hasn’t made a house payment in seven 

months. He’s made peace with the future, which 

likely means moving to an apartment, putting his 

mother in a nursing home, and giving up his 

Richard Kallabat calls 

short sales “a free 

Mulligan in life.” 

beloved German shepherd, Misha. 

Petrus estimates that he has five 

more months in his home. 

“To tell the truth, I was very inexperienced 

with what was going on in the 

market,” Petrus said. “I’ve come to the 

point where money isn’t everything, 

and I’ve paid for the short sale process 

to begin. My credit is going to be bad, 

but not as bad as if I had a foreclosure.” 

The short sale isn’t the only way out. 

Other scenarios are possible but often 

less desirable. Those who try to sell 

their home for more than what they paid better 

brace for a long wait. Homeowners who charge payments 

to their credit cards or borrow more money 

often dig a deeper hole and worsen their credit 

score. Those who ride it out to foreclosure will 

absolutely ruin their credit, Kallabat said, which 

delays future home loan approvals for about seven 

years. 

If foreclosure is imminent, this is time to act. 

Kallabat said it takes banks eight months to a year 

from when a homeowner stops making payments to 

process foreclosure and eviction. 

“If you’re privileged enough to have savings, you can 

pay the difference, stay in your home and lock into a 30- 

year rate,” Kallabat said. “That’s the window where 

homeowners need to talk to people like me.” 


40 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2008 

www.oakwood.org

facing the music 

Fugitive program comes to Detroit 

Chaldean business owners say they applaud 

Fugitive Safe Surrender, in which fugitives 

with non-violent warrants are 

encouraged to turn themselves in June 4-7. 

Fugitives from Detroit’s 36th District Court and 

Wayne County’s Third Circuit Court who surrender 

during the program receive favorable 

consideration but not 

amnesty. The program was 

developed by the U.S. 

Marshals Service in cooperation 

with state and local law 

enforcement agencies and the 

faith-based community to provide 

a second chance at life. The program 

targets non-violent offenders, including persons 

wanted for drug possession, theft and misdemeanor 

offenses. 

According to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, 

there are currently 17,941 outstanding misdemeanor 

warrants and 29,532 felony warrants in Wayne County. 

BY SHELLY NAJOR, PH.D. 

“Our experience is that these sorts of programs 

are very successful and do work. Our retailers are 

victims of numerous unsolved crimes,” said Jane 

Shallal, president of Associated Food and 

Petroleum Dealers (AFPD). 

Signed into law is 2006, the 

program has enjoyed success 

in seven other cities, 

including Indianapolis, 

Phoenix and Washington, 

D.C. The largest turnout 

to date took place in 

Memphis last September, 

when more than 1,500 fugitives 

turned themselves in. 

Efforts to get the message out 

at the grassroots level include participation 

from professional associates with large Chaldean 

membership including AFPD and the Michigan Food 

and Beverage Association. 

“I encourage Detroit-area small businesses to 

help get the word out about this program. It’s compassionate 

yet makes the streets safer for everyone,” 

said Edward Deeb, president of Michigan Food and 

Beverage Association and the Michigan Business 

and Professional Association. 

Many Detroit area small businesses are participating 

by hanging posters and handing out flyers. 

“As a Detroit business owner I am in full support of 

this program. Giving these fugitives a second 

chance at turning themselves in would greatly benefit 

the city and its many businesses,” said John 

Yonan, owner of four Detroit-area Happy’s Pizzas. 

“To reduce the chances of a confrontation with a 

fugitive is a plus in my book.” 

Vincent Najor, co-owner of Superland in Detroit, 

said, “Fugitives turning themselves in peacefully not 

only means less people hanging out in the streets and 

parking lots, but it also gives them a chance to turn 

their lives around. It’s a win for everyone.” 

The program is designed to reduce the risk of a 

physical encounter to law enforcement officers, the 

community and the fugitives themselves. “For every 

fugitive that comes forward,” said Wayne County 

Sheriff Warren Evans, “there is one less potentially 

confrontational encounter with the law.” 

Fugitives are encouraged to turn themselves in from 

9 a.m.-5 p.m. June 4-7 at Second Ebenezer Church, 

14601 Dequindre Road in Detroit. Learn more about 

Fugitive Safe Surrender at (888) 377-7233 or 

www.detroitsafesurrender.org. 


sports 

Paul Shaya in 

the midst of his 

112-mile ride. 

Ironman Arizona, but he said being 

tough mentally is more important 

than athletic skills when it comes to 

finishing an Ironman. 

“It’s 80 percent mental,” the 5-foot- 

10, 160-pounder said. “It all comes 

down to how much you want it.” 

Even though Shaya’s family wasn’t 

with him physically in Arizona, 

they were there in spirit after helping 

him greatly in his preparation. Shaya 

thanked his father for maintaining 

his bike, his mother for planning out 

his strict diet, and his three brothers 

for motivating him in the gym. 

Shaya is a Birmingham Groves 

High School and University of 

Michigan grad. 

sports spotlight 

BY STEVE STEIN 

Gut-buster 

It’s a feat in itself to swim 2.4 miles, 

ride a bike for 112 miles, and run 

26.2 miles in one day. Add desert 

temperatures that topped 100 

degrees and high winds that made 

riding a bike an adventure, and that 

transformed the Ford Ironman 

Arizona competition into a nearly 

impossible test of endurance. 

More than 2,000 well-prepared 

athletes began the April 13 race in 

Tempe. Only 1,690 finished. One of 

the finishers was Paul Shaya of 

Bloomfield Hills, who completed the 

grueling event in 16 hours, 27 minutes 

and 19 seconds. It was Shaya’s 

first full Ironman. He had previously 

finished several half-Ironmans. 

“The Ironman Arizona was a gutbuster,” 

said Shaya, 38, who nevertheless 

was back at work two days 

after the competition. 

Shaya said swimming is his favorite 

part of an Ironman, and not just 

because he considers himself a better 

swimmer than bike rider or runner. 

“You’re in a confined space, so it’s 

quite violent,” he said. “People are 

always hitting and kicking each 

other, not because they’re trying to 

do it, but because you need to get 

your stroke going.” 

Shaya trained at least four hours a 

day for eight weeks leading up to the 

They’re Misfits 

Anthony Dickow and Jeff Farida are 

Misfits, and proud of it. 

Dickow and Farida are two of 

nine players on the Misfits hockey 

team that won its second consecutive 

age 30-and-over division championship 

in the Canadian Hockey 

Enterprises International Men’s 

Tournament in London, Ontario, in 

late March. 

Two years ago, the Misfits won 

the Novice II division title at the 

Labatt Blue U.S. Adult Hockey 

National Championship in Chicago. 

Dickow, 42, a forward, has been 

the Misfits’ captain for the team’s 

entire six-year existence. Farida, 31, 

is a defenseman. He’s also been on 

the team for six years. 

“I met Jeff at a party. He told me 

he played hockey, and I told him 

about our team,” Dickow said. 

Both men graduated from 

Birmingham Brother Rice High 

School, and they also play hockey in 

the Chaldean Hockey League. 

Farida played collegiate hockey at 

the University of Michigan- 

Dearborn. 

Dickow said playing for the 

Misfits is fun because “it isn’t all 

about hockey. Everybody brings 

something to the table.” 

For example, one player owns a 

1992 Bluebird school bus that he 


turned into a Misfits team bus complete 

with couches, a sound system, a 

satellite television and a bathroom. 

Another player is in the hotel business, 

and gets discounted room rates 

for team trips. 

The fun is even reflected in the 

Misfits’ blue-and-white jersey, which 

features the team mascot — a 

Cyclops wielding a hockey stick. 

Hoops Champs 

Champions have been crowned in 

the Chaldean Church Sports 

League’s inaugural basketball season. 

Mar Addai captured the boys ages 

11-14 division title, Mother of God 

was the boys ages 15-18 winner, and 

St. Thomas won the 

girls ages 15-18 crown. 

Mar Addai’s coach 

was Namir Narra. 

Players were Razi 

Antoon, Ben and Brian 

Boulus, Julian and 

Steven Gorges, Lamar 

Hermiz, Steven Hosmi, 

Joseph and Yousif 

Kashat, Dillon Reban, 

Joseph Rofia, Andi 

Senawi, David Toma, 

and Emanuel and 

Marcelino Touma. 

Mother of God coaches were 

Salam and Samer Petrous. Players 

were Julius Abbu, Fadi Arabo, James 

Assk, Louay Atisha, Dillon and 

Landen Denha, Nawar Dimitry, 

Ramy Hakim, Adam Jajou, Donovan 

Jappaya, Mike Karmo, Luai Kesto, 

Christopher Khemmoro, Anthony 

and Raymond Konja, David 

Mansour, Fadi Odish, Anthony 

Ravis, Kevin Shammami, Jarvis and 

Maverick Toma, Christopher and 

Justin Yelda, and Rami Yousif, 

Linda Zetouna was the St. 

Thomas coach. Vanessa Hajjar and 

Chenelle Jonna were assistant 

coaches. Players were Estee Alias, 

Janel Ayar, Vernick Bashi, Bianca 

Dabish, Nicole Garmo, Melissa 

Hajjar, Bianca Jonna, Francesca 

Kesto, Mandy Khemmoro, Nicole 

and Tamara Nofar, Napoli Oraha, 

Kristina Pattah, Vanessa Poota, 

Amanda Putrus, Samantha Savaya, 

Loresa Sharrak, Amanda and Chanel 

Shina, and Noor Yono. 

Nearly 300 youths from all six 

area Chaldean churches played basketball. 

Games were held Sundays at 

the Boys & Girls Club of South 

Oakland County in Royal Oak. 

The CCSL actually was launched 

last summer, when about 150 youths 

ages 13-18 from the six Chaldean 

churches participated in flag football 

and sand volleyball at the Southfield 

Civic Center. 

Flag football and sand volleyball 

are offered again by the CCSL starting 

in July at the Southfield Civic 

Center, along with soccer (boys ages 

Misfits Anthony Dickow and Jeff Farida with teammates, 

kneeling, from left. 

10-13 and girls ages 10-13) and adult 

volleyball (men ages 19-35 and 36- 

older and women ages 19-35 and 36- 

older). Cost is $40 per player. 

Openings remain in the CCSL’s 

3-on-3 Basketball Camp-Out 

Tournament June 21-22 at Camp 

Chaldean in Brighton. 

The event features a Gus Mackerstyle 

basketball competition for boys 

and men on Camp Chaldean’s outdoor 

courts and an opportunity for 

the players to take advantage of the 

camp’s facilities, including an 

overnight stay. 

Divisions include boys ages 11-13 

and 14-17, and men ages 18-35 and 

36-up. Besides games, there will be 

basketball skills competitions. 

Entry fee of $40 per player includes food for 

both days and a jersey. Late registration fee 

(after June 14) is $50. Questions and comments 

about the CCSL’s summer sports and 

Camp-Out Tournament should be directed 

to Karrumi at nkarrumi@hotmail.com. 


Don’t let gambling get the best of you. 

Please gamble responsibly. 

Michigan Department of Community Health 

Get the best of gambling by gambling responsibly. 

That means having a plan, setting a budget and a 

time limit. There are lots of tips to help you get the 

most enjoyment out of gambling. There are also 20 

signs that gambling is becoming a problem too. 

If you think you or someone you know needs more 

information just call 1.800.270.7117 for help. 


making a DIFFERENCE 

Two Who Care 


Leeanne Kizy: 

Giving till it hurts 

Leeanne Kizy admits that at times she 

wondered what she had gotten herself 

into when she agreed to be a blood 

marrow donor for a complete stranger. 

“Going through the procedure was 

no fun,” she said of her experience in 

February. 

Kizy, an office manager who lives in 

West Bloomfield, was registered on 

the National Bone Marrow Registry 

after signing up at a drive two years 

ago at St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic 

Church. Kizy wasn’t eligible for the 

young girl for whom the drive was held, 

but it turned out that she was a perfect 

match for a 51-year-old woman with 

leukemia in desperate need. 

Kizy was set to donate the marrow 

in September, but the woman became 

too sick for the procedure. After 

chemo and radiation the woman went 

into remission and Kizy got the call 

again in February. She was given two 

days to decide if she wanted to be a 

donor, but it only took her one. 

“I said to myself, if it was one of my 

children I would be there in a second,” 

she said. 

Kizy had to endure a daily shot over 

the next five days to boost her bone 

marrow production, which turned out 

to be surprisingly painful. “I swore 

when I decided to do this I wasn’t 

going to complain,” she said, “but I 

took a lot of Vicodin and Tylenol 3.” 

After five days, Kizy went to the 

hospital at the University of Michigan 

for the marrow extension. For five 

hours, she had to keep perfectly still 

while hooked up to a machine that 

drew blood from one arm, extracted 

the marrow, and returned the blood 

into her other arm. Then she had to do 

Bone marrow donor Leeanne Kizy was 

asked repeatedly why she would go to 

such lengths for a perfect stranger. 

it all over again the next day. The 

process was so exhausting that it took 

Kizy about three weeks to fully recover. 

The news that the anonymous 

recipient of her marrow is doing well 

made it all worthwhile. “I cried when I 

heard,” Kizy said. She hopes to one 

day meet the woman, but rules preclude 

that for a year. “I’m sure it will be 

pretty emotional,” she added. 

While Kizy’s immediate family supported 

her decision, she said many members 

of the Chaldean community where 

aghast. “A lot of people questioned the 

long-term effect and what would happen 

to me. They couldn’t understand how I 

could do this for a stranger,” she said. 

“But I said, what if that was your mother, 

your brother or your child and someone 

was a perfect match but they decided 

not to do it because they were not a 

blood relative?” 

Learn more about marrow donation at 

www.marrow.org. 

Rafida Salem: 

Feeding the masses 

If you think cooking Thanksgiving dinner 

for 40 family members is exhausting, 

imagine first preparing the same 

meal for 420. 

Though that’s the routine of Rafida 

Salem of Shelby Township, you won’t 

hear her complaining. She does 

admit, however, to being exhausted 

after cooking 42 turkeys along with 

the necessary stuffing, yams, beans, 

rolls and biscuits for the homeless 

clients of Cass Community Social 

Services in Detroit. She even made 

six giant cakes for dessert on commercial-sized 

trays. While husband 

Emil helped with the birds, Salem did 

all the other cooking on her own. 

Then, in true Chaldean fashion, she 

whipped up Thanksgiving dinner for 

her extended family of 40 the next day. 

Salem started helping out at Cass 

Community four years ago, when she 

and her sister Raghad helped the group 

prepare for Thanksgiving. The next year 

she donated a few turkeys and before 

she knew what hit her, she was singlehandedly 

cooking the entire feast. 

Rafida and Emil own Bernie’s 

Market in Clinton Township where all 

the food is prepared thanks to the 

store’s giant oven. Rafida starts baking 

the rolls, biscuits and cakes a few days 

before the holiday. On the day before 

Thanksgiving, she spends at least 15 

hours cooking. 

The couple also pays for all the 

Rafida Salem shows off 

her hard-earned award. 

Salem starts baking the rolls, biscuits and cakes a 

few days before the Thanksgiving holiday. On the 

day before, she spends at least 15 hours cooking. 

food. “I look for good deals in large 

quantities,” she said. 

In March, Salem was lauded for her 

work at the organization’s annual dinner 

at the Oakland Hills Golf Course in 

West Bloomfield. She was one of the 

evening’s honorees but only because 

she was tricked into attending, having 

previously turned down the offer of 

recognition on numerous occasions. 

“It feels good, very overwhelming,” 

Salem said of her award. “This is 

something that everyone should do. I 

believe one person can make a difference.” 

To contribute food or funds for Radifa 

Salem’s Thanksgiving feast this year, 

call (586) 416-6000. 

A ‘wheely’ good cause 

At least 25,000 

children in Iraq 

need wheelchairs 

because of 

conditions such 

as spina bifida 

and cerebral palsy. 

Christine Samiran Ayar can’t 

forget a story she saw on 

CNN.com several months 

ago. “There was a very touching feature 

about these two brothers who 

carried an 8-year-old on a five-hour 

walk to Mosul to be fitted for a 

wheelchair,” she said. “It was really 

hard not to be moved from that and 

I thought, how can I help to make 

things better in the country my father 

came from?” 

At least 25,000 children in Iraq 

need wheelchairs because of conditions 

such as spina bifida and cerebral palsy. 

Ayar, a librarian who lives in Keego 

Harbor, wants to help locally. She hopes 

to connect with like-minded people to put 

on a fundraising event such as a dinner 

or wheelchair basketball game. 

Proceeds will benefit Reach Out & 

Care Wheels (www.rocwheels.org.), 

which will send more than 300 

customized wheelchairs to Iraq 

this year. 

Interested in helping Ayar get 

things rolling? Drop her at line at 

christine.ayar@gmail.com. 


ONE-on-ONE 

Wendy Acho in Iraq with colleagues and military personnel. 

Four Months in Iraq: ‘An audacious spiritedness” 

A20-year banker, Wendy Acho 

recently spent four months in 

Iraq as Managing Director, 

Investment Strategy Task 

Force to Improve Business and 

Stability Operations, for the U.S. 

Department of Defense. She traveled 

around the country arranging meetings 

between Iraqi ministers with private 

equity, investment bankers and sovereign 

wealth fund CEOs and met with 

countless citizens and entrepreneurs 

about economic development and job 

creation mechanisms. 

Acho, a former board member on 

the Chaldean American Chamber of 

Commerce, said she was deeply 

moved by the experience. 

“Despite the memories of wars and 

the savagery upon its people, there 

was an audacious spiritedness,” she 

said. “The people told me they will 

never forget, but they wanted to move 

forward. They were not sure how to 

start the process of ‘healing.’” 

Chaldean News (CN): What devastated 

you the most about what you witnessed? 

Wendy Acho (WA): What impressed 

me most were the people. What devastated 

me most were the people. The 

country’s landscape can be repaired, 

but what needed repair were the people. 

Understanding both sides is difficult 

to translate into words, deeds and 

action. Human suffering is rampant, 

while I was keenly aware of the epic 

battle between government and service 

to its people. 

I toured governates, spoke with 

local mayors, met with governors and 

citizens to assess their realities and 

perspectives. I sought to understand 

the U.S. military’s role in the territory it 

patrolled. My findings were consistent, 

despite the ethno-sectarian-political 

dichotomies in Iraq: this Iraqi citizenry 

wanted to be empowered and 

needed an enabling program to lift Iraqi 

societies out of despair and poverty as 

an absolute imperative. After five years 

in Iraq, the lack of resonating development 

was an immediate threat to the 

national psyche. 

I was overwhelmed with the work 

that needed to be done. After five 

years in Iraq, I tried to assess the 

progress from the Iraqis. I met with the 

refugee, tourism, scientific, and 

women/widows committees, and they 

deemed drastic action immediately. 

I understood 200 factories were 

closed and 500,000 were suddenly 

unemployed, 60 percent of the population. 

Combine this with 40 percent of 

Iraq’s population still being under the 

age of 15, and you begin to understand 

how tens of thousands of unemployed 

Iraqis joined terrorist armies. One solution 

may lie in building a system that 

supports sustainable job creation, nonoil 

dependent economies as Iraq was 

historically a diversified economy. 

The Chaldean community understands, 

first hand, the backbone and 

lifeblood of a local economy are the 

independently owned businesses, 

whereby every dollar produced and 

spent locally could impact three to five 

complementary businesses. Hence, my 

thoughts have concluded that from the 

onset, left out of the equation has been 

the local Iraqi entrepreneur. It has been 

apparent to me that the greatest risk-takers, 

stakeholders and shareholders are 

the locals, despite the lack of investment 

laws processes and the fragile security 

situations, not the foreign investors. 

CN: Do you have hope for the country 

and it citizens? 

WA: Absolutely. I have had the opportunity 

to meet, present and personally 

speak with many Iraqi, Kurdish, 

American and British ministries and 

commanders. There have been 

many success stories in Iraq that never 

made headlines. Citizens are opening 

their doors for business across the 

country. Institutions and legislations 

are forming. Institutionalizing of systems 

and processes are forthcoming. 

Cautious hope permeates, as my calendar 

was always full of appointments 

with Iraqi men and women “selling” me 

their business ideas. Hopes and aspirations 

continue. 

CN: Do you ever plan on returning? 

WA: Absolutely. Going outside my core 

competencies was challenging as I 

toured undiscovered landscapes, but a 

passion in purpose led by my inner 

compass assisted me through the 

series of ambiguities and unbeknownst 

threatening game-changers. I went to 

Iraq with the mantra of possessing my 

own strong opinions, yet I weakly held 

them and maintained a broad peripheral 

vision. I am currently seeking opportunities 

to leverage my experience in-theater 

to further develop existing economic 

development schemes led by NGOs as 

well as the esoteric financial community. 

CN: How has the visit changed you 

as a person? As a Chaldean? 


‘Mosul, with Iraqi 

expatriate participation, 

will be the 

epicenter of a 

healthy, wealthy 

and wise community 

in Iraq. I knew this 

will happen one day 

as I walked through 

the Chaldean Culture 

Center in Erbil.’ 

– WENDY ACHO 

Wendy Acho meets with the owner of a hotel on Abu Nuwas Street in Baghdad. 

WA: Iraq was an experience that really 

defined my purpose in life, and I really 

began to understand God. My DNA is 

unique to me, and God has a plan for 

me. I believe life is an evolution built on 

a series of revolutions that ultimately 

cements one’s own unique style of 

authentic leadership role. Led by your 

truisms and truths, expect them to be 

tested through your lifetime. Hence, 

one’s moral compass is built on our 

foundation stone. The Gospel of 

Matthew 21:42 speaks of human sacrifice 

that was paid in the unwavering 

foundations that emerged our people 

and value systems as a Chaldean. 

I just left the North when I heard 

about the death of Archbishop Paulos 

Faraj Rahho and the new assaults on 

Mosul. The new destabilization effort to 

disband and divide the country and citizenry 

through violence only emboldened 

my desires to stop the chaos. 

Mosul, with Iraqi expatriate participation, 

will be the epicenter of a healthy, 

wealthy and wise community in Iraq. I 

knew this will happen one day as I 

walked through the Chaldean Culture 

Center in Erbil. St. Thomas the Apostle 

brought Christianity to Mesopotamia 

(Iraq) and founded the Chaldean 

church, and Chaldeans will prosper in 

Iraq as there is support from leadership. 

CN: What message do you want to 

send to others about Iraq? 

WA: Despite your political perspectives, 

I am of the opinion that whether I 

am seeking a martial partner, raising 

children, building a business team, lifting 

a failed nation from ruins or seeking 

global peace, we will never prevail until 

there is parity in participation. 

Globalization is opening minds to 

the infinite possibilities and awakening 

the most vulnerable, fragile societies, 

begging the developed world to assist 

them to integrate and participate 

among national economies. 

Also, I believe Iraq’s Ministries do 

seek to become responsible global citizens. 

Equally, it is upon great expectations 

from its people that the governments 

build and transform the country by 

converting its natural resources to build 

its financial wealth, while preserving this 

wealth for future generations. As such, 

they must put in place strong governance, 

build transparency and accountability 

systems on large-scale infrastructure 

projects impacting its citizens. 

Iraq is in the position of becoming 

the epicenter of economic, commercial 

and trade activity as well as securing a 

leading competitive position in the 

region. Among the 18 governates, 

almost 14 are safe and open for business 

in Iraq. 

Remember that Iraqi ministers and 

citizens have 35 years of brutality, annihilation 

and exile experience building 

opposition and resistance movements. 

Today, they have been asked to serve in 

leadership roles where they are still 

developing such capacities such as 

budget execution and hydrocarbon legislations 

as well as reconciliation among 

competing political agendas. The citizenry, 

Iraq’s human capital, requires 

rebuilding its knowledge requirements 

to par; they will prevail. 


fashion 

Get the look that ‘suits’ you 

BY KONNIE BINNO 

Memorial Day weekend marked the beginning of 

the beach season, barbeques and fun in the 

sun. But after such a long and cold winter filled 

with dolma and taquratha let’s face it, no one is ready 

to jump into their bikini just yet. 

Michiganders are always looking forward to the hot 

summer days and warm summer nights, but since we 

spend much of the year in cold temps, we tend to neglect 

ourselves as we hibernate with comfort foods. 

Swimsuit season is the least anticipated time of year 

for many of us. Women feel the pressure of looking like 

a Victoria’s Secret model just off the runway. It is great 

to have high expectations for yourself but remember, 

looking your best comes from the confidence of wearing 

a suit that flatters your body type. There are also a 

few simple quick fixes that can help you look a bit 

tighter and toned before your venture to the pool. 

Skin always looks firm and taut when it has a sunkissed 

touch. Self-tanners and shimmer lotions are the 

best ways to achieve this look quickly and safely. It’s 

also important to maintain hydrated skin. I promise that 

you will notice a difference in how you feel and look in 

your bikini pre- and post self-tanner. It really enhances 

skin tone and can even mask any imperfections like 

varicose veins and scars. A good confidence booster! 

Monitoring what foods you eat a day or two before 

slipping into your swimsuit can make the difference 

between looking three months pregnant and having a 

pancake flat stomach. I’m not saying to starve yourself 

— we are Chaldean, we love to eat, and food is the 

center of our universe. But cutting out certain foods 

like sugar and starch and increasing your intake of 

other foods high in fiber and fruits and veggies can 

really make a big difference by eliminating a bloated 

belly. And instead of choosing carbonated beverages, 

remember that your best bet is always water. It will 

keep you hydrated without adding extra calories. 

Now it’s time to choose the right swimsuit. First, you 

need to determine what part of your body is your biggest 

asset and what body part you would like to conceal the 

most (see box). This way you can highlight your best feature 

while drawing less attention to your “problem area.” 

Swim skirts are a necessity. They can even be a 

friend by hiding your problem areas. Best of all, you 

can even swim in them! 

Konnie Binno worked at Neiman Marcus as an assistant to the 

Chanel Ready-to-Wear specialist and was also the Ready-to-Wear 

Specialist for Yves Saint Laurent. She’s now a pharmaceutical 

health care representative but continues her love affair with fashion. 

SUITED TO A ‘T’ 

• Need a little extra on top for a fuller look? 

Choose a bikini top that is padded or has cups. A 

good seamstress can always add them. 

• Well endowed? Finding a swimsuit with adequate 

support can be challenging. Look for a suit 

with cups, or have a seamstress add them. 

• Pattern and color can make a huge difference. 

Stripes may be flattering for your best friend, but 

can really be uncomplimentary for your own 

shape. Stay away from bright colors or patterns 

that can draw attention to areas you’d rather hide. 

• Good news for those of us who have a tummy 

to conceal: One-piece suits becoming more stylish 

and sexy. 


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* Source: AC Nielsen Brand Awareness Study. ** Source: Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream 2006 In-Market Point-of-Sale Material Insight Study *** Source: AC Nielsen C-store, 12 wks ending 12/1/2007, Convenience Store $ Velocity Sales Basis 


classified listings 

HELP WANTED 

FULL TIME NANNY NEEDED 

Bloomfield Family with 2 Young Girls 

Full Time/Live in (Preferable) Nanny 

Weekends Arabic/English Speaking 

a Plus. Non Smoker/Reliable/ 

Experienced/Transportation a Plus. 

References and Background 

Checked. Please call 248-891-0278. 

HOUSES FOR SALE 

FARMINGTON HILLS $379,000 

Approx. 3000 sq.ft. , 4 bdrms, 

2 full + 2.5 baths. Master Ste., 

double jetted tub & vanity. Dream 

kitchen w/ island, large deck. 1st 

floor laundry. Fin. Basement. Call 

Nancy Mahlin 248-408-6745 Keller 

Williams 30500 Nw Hwy. 


ALL SPORTS UPPER LONG LAKE 

One time chance to live on this 

hidden gem of a lake. 3 bedroom, 

2.5 baths, walkout basement. 

Newly remodeled kitchen and 

baths, New appliances, bamboo 

wood floor, 2 car garage. Private, 

all sports lake, includes boat dock, 

and hoist. One of a kind location 

near Middlebelt and Square Lake 

Road. $2,750 per month for a one 

year term. Will also consider selling. 

Please call 248-535-0444 


BEAUTIFUL WB HOME 

Nearly 3,000 sq. ft. w/fin bsmnt, 

granite kitchen, private backyard & 

more. $325,000. Real Estate One, 

David Kaplan, 248-376-3300. 

Thousands view 

our classifieds 

each month! Call 

(248) 355-4850 

to reserve your 

spot for July! 

CLEANING SERVICE 

LYUDMYLA’S CLEANING 

SERVICE 

is hoping to clean your home. 

We have years of experience 

and excellent references. 

Call Lyuda 586-558-3825 

or 586-883-2452. 

PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS 

PROFESSIONALS 

ADVERTISE 

FOR AS LITTLE AS $ 75 

IN OUR NEW BUSINESS DIRECTORY SECTION! 

To place your ad, contact us today! 

THE 

CHALDEAN NEWS 

PHONE: 248-932-3100 OR FAX: 248-932-9161 

30095 Northwestern Highway, Suite 102 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 



PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS 

ADVERTISE 

FOR AS LITTLE AS $ 75 

IN OUR NEW BUSINESS DIRECTORY SECTION! 

To place your ad, contact us today! 

THE 

CHALDEAN NEWS 

PHONE: 248-932-3100 OR FAX: 248-932-9161 

30095 Northwestern Highway, Suite 102 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 



event 

1 2 3 

fashion at shenandoah 

PHOTOS BY DAVID REED 

7 8 

9 

Mothers and daughters 

from Mother of God 

Church converged on 

Shenandoah Country 

Club May 17 for a highspirited 

fashion show. 


4 5 6 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 15 

1-8. Models strut 

their stuff 

9. Eman Jajoni-Daman 

10. Janice and Holly 

Thomas Gallozi, 

Tamara and May Ishak 

11. Batol Daoud, Jessica 

and Bushra Kashat 

12. Mother of God’s 

Parish Council: Lamis 

Hamama, Steve Sitto, 

Raad Kashat, Iman 

Kas-Shamoun and 

Wally Yelda 

13. Sue and Sunam 

Medrek 

14. Davina Yatoma, 

Noor Toma and 

Michelle Alosachie 

15. Excited registrants

event 

1 

2 3 

4 5 6 

going once… 

PHOTOS BY NORA BAHROU DOWNS 

The 13th annual Our Lady of Refuge School Auction 

at Shenandoah Country Club on April 26 raised a 

record $107,000. More than 300 attendees bid on 

hundreds of donated items. Chaldeans make up some 

55 to 60 percent of the Orchard Lake school’s population. 

1. Event 

chairs Omar 

and Theresa 

Ammori and 

May and 

Bobby 

Hesano 

2. Ban Bach 

3. Mark 

Thuwaini 

4. Mark 

Kassa and 

Karen 

Newman 

5. Ghazi 

Chamma 

6. Luke 

Larson and 

Christopher 

Sesi 

7. Carol 

Lesnau 

7

JUNE 2008

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