FEBRUARY 2017

VOL. 13 ISSUE I
METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY FEBRUARY 2017
$
3
www.chaldeannews.com
THE FOUR SEASONS
OF WEDDINGS
THE BEST TIME TO GET MARRIED
INSIDE
COUPLES’ CLASSES
NATURALLY PLANNING
YOU’RE INVITED

2 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 3

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CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2017
THE CHALDEAN NEWS VOLUME 13 ISSUE I
19
PHOTO BY WILSON SARKIS
wedding guide
20 THE FOUR SEASONS
OF WEDDINGS…
BY VANESSA DENHA GARMO
The best time to get married
26 BEFORE “I DO”
BY KRIS HARRIS
Learning how to find the right spouse
28 YOU’RE INVITED
BY VANESSA DENHA GARMO
Finding the best wedding invitation
30 LOVE SWEET LOVE
BY MONIQUE MANSOUR
Wedding desserts for
every season of marriage
32 MEMORY LANE
Old wedding photos
departments
6 FROM THE EDITOR
BY VANESSA DENHA GARMO
A timeless wedding
8 IN MY VIEW
BY MICHAEL SARAFA
Cardinal Burke wasting the Pope’s
and everybody else’s time
10 NOTEWORTHY
11 IRAQ TODAY
Iraqi forces expect a tougher
fight in Mosul’s west
12 CHAI TIME
14 RELIGION
15 OBITUARIES
42 ECONOMICS AND ENTERPRISE
BY LISA CIPRIANO
Something borrowed, something
blue, something bling
34 COUPLES’ CLASSES
BY WEAM NAMOU
Learning how to be married
36 CHALDEAN ON THE STREET
BY HALIM SHEENA
How to overcome what went
wrong on your wedding day
38 NATURALLY PLANNING
BY PAUL NATINSKY
Catholic church’s teachings on NFP
feature
40 BUSTING THE BUBBLE
BY MIKE SARAFA
Trump targets greed and priviledge
44 CLASSIFIED LISTINGS
20

from the EDITOR
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A Timeless Wedding
VANESSA
DENHA-GARMO
EDITOR IN CHIEF
CO-PUBLISHER
When I got engaged, I knew I wanted a
fall wedding – in the month of September
preferably. It was a good thing
I booked my wedding a year in advance because
there was a good chance I would have had to
wait longer.
At that time, it was a given I would have my
reception at Southfield Manor. We had one of
the last weddings held at our former club. It was
either being one of the last at Southfield Manor
or the first at Shenandoah Country Club. I didn’t
want a January/February wedding, so I decided
on the only Saturday left in September that year.
When I planned
it, I knew I wanted to
look back at my wedding
decades later
thinking I wouldn’t
have changed a thing.
It proved to be a
great decision. My
wedding day was a
beautiful fall day with
overcast skies, which
I later learned is the
best climate for photos
outside. The banquet
hall was adorned
with warm fall flowers.
My bridesmaids
walked down the
aisle in deep red
dresses that were in line with the season.
When planning this issue, I wanted to know what it
is like to have a wedding at any time of the year. It is
becoming more difficult to get your ideal wedding date
with so many venues booked more than a year in advance.
We bring you four stories in one for this month’s cover
story. It is our annual wedding guide and we wanted to
highlight seasonal weddings. In this cover story, we share
the wedding days of four couples in the four seasons the
State of Michigan offers.
I am grateful to the wedding planners, couples, photographers
and all the vendors who participated
in our stories. Some I had to nag more than others,
but I did get the information we needed to
craft our wedding issue.
We are delivering a several-page spread all
about weddings and marriage. We hope this not
only helps you plan your day, but your life together
as husband and wife. We are fortunate to
have so many experts in this arena to talk with
and quote for our stories. And, nothing makes
this issue more complete than photos captured
by talented photographers. I am grateful to all for
sharing photos with us.
If I were to get married today, I don’t know if
I would do it any differently other than using a different
videographer.
I wanted my wedding to be timeless and nearly 13 years
later, I can say it was and I hope will be 13 years from now.
If I have any advice, from my own experience, it is
to choose vendors who know Chaldean weddings. Our
weddings are much different than a wedding from another
culture. Vendors who know our culture and traditions,
will know how to plan your day accordingly and will know
how to capture your day.
There are so many hours that go into planning the day
that flies by. You want it to be memorable, personable,
and identifiable as a wedding reflective of you as a couple.
I recently found the CD we played for our wedding
song. Even though it is from an unknown artist, it is still
reflective of my husband and I and our life together. I
wouldn’t change it.
At the end of the day, your wedding should be a mirror
image of your love and life as a couple – it should be
timeless.
Alaha Imid Koullen
(God Be With Us All)
Vanessa Denha-Garmo
vanessa@denhamedia.com
Follow her on Twitter @vanessadenha
Follow Chaldean News on Twitter @chaldeannews
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FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 7

in my VIEW
Cardinal Burke wasting the Pope’s
and everybody else’s time
As far as Vatican controversies
go, there
are two brewing at
the moment and American
Cardinal Raymond Burke
is in the middle of both
of them. He served as the
Archbishop of St. Louis,
from 2003 to 2008, before
being appointed to a couple
of prestigious posts in the
Vatican by Pope Benedict.
He also has a title called the
MICHAEL G.
SARAFA
SPECIAL TO THE
CHALDEAN NEWS
patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta,
which I’ll come back to.
In the last couple of years, Pope Francis moved
him out of influential positions as a member of the
Congregation for Divine Worship and earlier from
the Congregation for Bishops, which holds sway
over the appointment of new Bishops. Burke was
reappointed to the Congregation for the Causes of
Saints, where his extreme orthodoxy and traditionalism
will be less of a nuisance to Pope Francis.
Controversy One: The Old and the Restless
Burke, 68 led three other Cardinals (combined average
age of 83) in drafting a letter (dubia) to Pope
Francis complaining about the ambiguity and incoherence
of the Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love),
the document that resulted from the two Synods
on the Family. Dubia is a Latin word for “doubts.”
The divisions created are complicated and involve
modern attitudes towards marriage in the
context of church sacraments and pastoral obligations.
But one core controversy is this: Can remarried
Catholics, who have not received an annulment,
receive communion if they are technically
living in “sin?” According to the dubia, the four
Cardinals say this issue is black and white based on
prior teachings and moral history and the answer
is “no.” According to Pope Francis and to Amoris
Laetitia, the answer requires discernment on a case
by case basis so that those who are wounded can be
accompanied on their path by a pastor who attends
to his flock in the place where they are as opposed
to using only moralism and rigid legality.
I’ve written on this before that it’s hard for me
to believe that if Jesus showed up today, this particular
problem would be on the top of his mind. But
this dubia letter, initially a private communication,
has exposed a deep rift in the Church and the existence
of a small, but emboldened, opposition group
to the Pope. When Francis essentially ignored
the letter, the Cardinals made it public. When
it became clear that he was not going to respond,
Burke, seemingly on his own, threatened a “formal
correction.” This arcane term of art from canon
law has not been used in centuries and refers to the
Cardinal’s ability to correct a grave error or heresy
by the Pope. Burke isolated himself further, even
from his fellow Cardinal doubters, by going that
far. For Francis’ part, he is not being petty by not
responding. He simply disagrees with the premise
that the Amoris Laetitia changes prior teachings.
Burke is so sure of himself here that when asked
if he was concerned about losing the Pope’s favor
(this has already happened by the way) he said he
was more concerned about the Last Judgment.
If you’re divorced and remarried and active
in Church, God bless you. I don’t think anyone,
other these octogenarians in Rome with too much
time on their hands, really cares.
Controversy two: Dumb and Dumber
It gets better. The Sovereign Military Order of
Malta is more than 1000 years old and exists to defend
the faith and help the poor. They do a great
deal of good around the world. It is the off shoot
of the Knights Hospitaller from the 11th century
that use to provide medical care for Pilgrims to the
Holy Land. Cardinal Burke is their patron. This
controversy is rooted in byzantine questions of
hierarchy and governance questions between the
Vatican and independent Catholic organizations.
The Order of Malta has formal diplomatic ties with
more than 100 countries and has its own stamps
and passports.
Here is what happened. The Grand Master
(Festing) fired the Grand Chancellor (Boeselager).
Why? He was overseeing a program in Myamar
that, amongst other forms of help for sex slaves,
involved distributing condoms.
Now lest you think that Boeselager supported
the program, he did not. He had already ended
two similar programs, in other places, but somehow
ending the program in Myamar would end a slew of
other medical services to the poor. We are not talking
about condom distribution at Catholic schools
in Bloomfield Hills or the suburbs of Paris. This
was being done in one of the most depraved places
on earth where human rights violations and sexual
abuses run rampant.
Apparently, just as in any good bureaucracy,
there are rules and Order of Malta officials cannot
just be “sacked.” But one way around the rules is to
seek the permission of the Vatican, which was Cardinal
Burke, and Grand Master Festing did. The
problem was that the Vatican’s direction was to
pursue “dialogue.” Instead, with Burke present, the
Order dumped Boesalager anyway. In response, the
Pope commissioned a five-member panel to investigate
the matter, which the Order and Burke have
rejected, and say they will not cooperate with it.
Set aside the stupidity of a Catholic Church
that will not distribute condoms to protect against
HIV and sex slave pregnancy’s in Africa, these guys
are consuming themselves about the job status of
someone overseeing this program from a different
continent. Dumb and dumber.
In the process, they continue to throw up these
absurd challenges to the Pope’s authority and Francis’
overriding emphasis on mercy and discernment
over legalism and rigidity. The main cheerleader
for the anti-Francis crowd is Cardinal Raymond
Burke. Burke is the guy that said Catholic Churches
should deny then U.S. Senator John Kerry Holy
Communion. He also resigned from a Catholic
hospital board because pro-choice singer Cheryl
Crow was invited to sing at a charity concert for
the hospital. He ranted about Notre Dame University
granting President Obama an honorary degree
calling it “the greatest scandal.”
This guy apparently cannot distinguish between
the assertion of Catholic morality and teachings,
versus common sense and decency. He is prone
to extreme formality, traditionalism and regality.
Some of his vestments have trains longer than a
royal bride and his dress otherwise suggests he may
have spent too much time in his mother’s closet
when he was growing up.
It would be good if he would go away. But short
of that, as a Catholic prelate, he should try to stay
focused on the core of the Gospel message of love
and mercy. Burke needs to get out of the Pope’s face
and let him do the job that God has called him to
do, and that his fellow Cardinal Electors chose him
to do. At a minimum, he should stop wasting Francis’
and everyone else’s time with nonsensical issues that
are a distraction to the core mission of our faith.
As this article was going to print, it was being reported
that Grand Master Festing offered his resignation to
Pope Francis and that it was accepted. He will be replaced
by a papal appointment to be announced. The
dispute splits clearly down the line between the progressive
and more conservative forces within the Roman
Catholic Church with Festings resignation being a victory
not only for the progressives but for papal authority
over the Order.
8 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

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noteworthy
Fasting for Ba’utha
In the days of His Excellency Bishop Beth Garmey, a deadly plague broke out
in Nineveh and many other regions throughout the world. In desperation,
the town officials turned to the Church. After great meditation and prayer,
Bishop Beth Garmey heard the voice of an angel telling him to order all the
people of the village to fast, just as the people of the Bible had done in the
story of Jonah (Jonah1-4). In great haste the bishop told the people of the
city and the great fast began. After five days of fasting and prayer, the region
was completely cured of the plague and the Chaldean nation as we know it
was spared. After such a miraculous event Bishop Beth Garmey implored the
synod of bishops that this fast be repeated every single year in thanksgiving to
God. It has been observed ever since as Ba’utha d Ninwaye (Rogation of the
Ninevites). Ba’utha is fasted every year in repentance, exactly three weeks
before Lent, which is February 6, 7, and 8 this year.
Reverend Gerard Battersby
Archbishop Vigneron Ordains
Two Bishops for Detroit
On Wednesday, January 25, two priests were ordained bishops for the Catholic
Archdiocese of Detroit. The ordination ceremony was led by Detroit Archbishop
Allen H. Vigneron at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit.
The men ordained bishops are Reverend Gerard Battersby, who most recently
served as Vice Rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary and continues
to serve as pastor of St. Mary of Redford Parish in northwest Detroit, and Reverend
Robert Fisher, who serves as pastor of the National Shrine of the Little
Flower Basilica in Royal Oak. The men will be “auxiliary bishops” in the Catholic
church, meaning they will assist Archbishop Vigneron in shepherding the
six-county, 1.3-million member Archdiocese of Detroit.
The ordination ceremony included in a Catholic Mass, lasted approximately
three hours. The ceremony included a reading of the letter from Pope Francis
naming the two priests as bishops; an examination of the candidate; the laying on
of hands; the imposition of the Book of Gospels; the prayer of consecration; the
anointing of the bishops’ heads; the presentation of the Book of Gospels; and the
investiture with rings, mitres, and pastoral staffs. A reception followed at Sacred
Heart Major Seminary, 2701 Chicago Boulevard (at Linwood), Detroit.
Cry of Nineveh
Reverend Robert Fisher
Catholic speaker and author Joyce Coronel pens
a novel from real events happening in Iraq. It is
a compelling and gripping story that moves at a
fast pace. It is engaging and depicts reality and
true sufferings of the Iraqi Christians. It is a great
book club read and most certainly will prompt a
lively discussion.
Dental Duo
Husband and wife dentists Furat
and Mayce George opened a
new dental practice in Farmington
Hills called Enamel Dental
Studio. “This has been something
we have been waiting for,
for so long; we are thankful to
the Lord,” said Mayce who is a
general dentist providing care
to patients of all ages.
Furat is a Prosthodontist,
providing specialty care in implants,
and full-mouth rehabilitation.
The two are active
members in the Chaldean community
as volunteers of Mother
of God Church serving the
Arabic mass in the choir. They
are also active with ECRC
and with Helpiraq.org. Visit
www.enameldentalstudio.com.
People in the News
Corbin Yaldoo has joined the Bloomfield Hills.-based
Mid-America Real Estate – Michigan, Inc. brokerage
team. In his new position as Senior Sales Associate,
Yaldoo will be specializing in landlord representation
and placement of retailers in regional and neighborhood
shopping centers throughout the state of Michigan.
He will be actively working with clients ranging
from local private companies to institutional landlords
and REITS.
Creating a Classroom
TEACH helped fund a makeshift kindergarten
classroom for displaced students
in the village of Ankawa. Initially,
funds from TEACH were used
to get the program going. Since then,
money from other subgroups in Help
Iraq have been providing financial assistance.
“The kids are so happy to be
in school,” said Margaret Shamoun,
co-founder of TEACH.
10 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

IRAQ today
Iraqi Forces expect tougher
fight in Mosul’s west
BY SUSANNAH GEORGE
MOSUL, Iraq (AP) _ A crowd of
Iraqi officers looked out at the Tigris
River from a balcony of Mosul’s
Nineveh International hotel. Just
over three months ago, the men were
some 45 kilometers (28 miles) away
in a cluster of desert villages on the
edge of Nineveh plain.
“Our message to the rest of Mosul’s
residents is that victory is near,’’
said Lt. Gen. Abdul-Ghani al-Asadi,
on a celebratory tour after the city’s
east was declared largely liberated on
Wednesday.
The progress of Iraqi forces, halting
at first, sped up this month as they
closed in on the river that roughly divides
Mosul into eastern and western
halves. But that momentum is unlikely
to be sustained and the city’s western
half is poised to be a much tougher
fight for the already fatigued forces.
IS Defenses
When Sgt. Maj. Hussam Abdul-Latif
pushed into Andalus on the morning
of Jan. 16, he said the fight for
the small neighborhood about a kilometer
from the Tigris was nothing
like his earlier battles in Mosul. This
time, he said most IS fighters here
fled hours before his troops arrived.
Safwan Thanoon, an Andalus
resident, said dozens of fighters sped
off on motorcycles overnight.
“This morning, not a single man
was left, just those two corpses,’’ he
added, pointing to a mangled body
of an IS fighter in the street and another
inside the garden of a nearby
house.
“If they had stayed here it would
have made the battle very difficult,’’
said Abdul-Latif, the special forces
officer, explaining how when he first
breached Mosul, a handful of snipers
holed up within houses and using civilians
as shields would slow his convoy,
giving dozens of car bombs time to
target the stalled forces. The defensive
strategy inflicted high casualties and
forced long pauses between pushes.
“When we enter the other bank,
it will be like the operation beginning
all over again,’’ Abdul-Latif
said. He expects to face another
wave of well-planned defenses and
more heavily armed IS fighters.
“Complicated Environment’’
Mosul’s west is more densely populated
and home to the city’s oldest
neighborhoods. The United Nations
estimates some 750,000 people are
still in the city’s west, many of them
residents of outlying villages that IS
fighters led on forced marches up
the Tigris River valley as they lost
ground there.
Narrow, winding streets are also
expected to pose a particular problem
as Iraqi troops won’t be able to
largely fight from inside their vehicles
like they did in the city’s east.
“We don’t have a strategy yet
for these areas,’’ Maj. Gen. Sami
al-Arithi said, referring to the older
parts of Mosul. “For now our approach
will be to just surround them
and wait.’’
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Joseph
Martin, said Mosul’s older districts,
some with roads only wide enough
for foot traffic, make that part of the
city a more “complicated environment.’’
“West Mosul will be as tough as
east Mosul, and from our view even
tougher,’’ he said, in a phone interview
from the main coalition base in
Baghdad’s green zone.
Momentum
Retaking the Andalus neighborhood
came on the heels of a string of advances
in eastern Mosul. Within a
few days Iraqi troops retook the city’s
university, the Nineveh International
hotel and more than half dozen
eastern neighborhoods.
Maj. Gen. Joseph Martin, the
commander of coalition ground forces,
credited the swift progress with
greater coordination between Iraq’s
disparate security forces that allowed
Iraqi ground troops to push back IS
by launching coordinated attacks.
“They’re attacking the enemy
from multiple directions and the enemy
cannot react,’’ he said.
However, Iraqi ground forces
largely credit their victories to thinning
IS defenses and nighttime raids
across front lines aimed at taking out
key local militant leadership. Iraq’s
special forces first began carrying
out such raids in Fallujah with close
coalition support. In Mosul, as progress
stalled, coalition forces moved
Nineveh International hotel
deeper into the city in part to aid in
the nighttime operations, according
to an Iraqi officer who spoke on condition
of anonymity as he was not
authorized to brief the press.
After U.S.-led coalition airstrikes
partially destroyed all five bridges
spanning the Tigris, the number
of car bombs targeting the troops
decreased and they became less sophisticated.
Iraqi troops began seeing
fewer of the heavily armored car
bombs that coalition officials likened
to vehicles out of the Mad Max movie
franchise. IS fighters also began
running out of supplies.
As troops pushed closer to the
Tigris, special forces Lt. Gen. Abdul-
Wahab al-Saadi reported finding
fewer and fewer weapons stockpiles
left behind in the houses once used by
IS fighters as bases, suggesting fighters
were running low on munitions.
Humanitarian Concerns
But the cordon of Mosul’s east that
partially accelerated Iraqi gains there
also punished the civilian population
and threats of a prolonged siege of
the city’s west are already worrying
aid groups.
Mustafa Muahmmad’s brother is
stuck in western Mosul and every few
days he’s able to get a phone call or
text message from him. His brother
told him water and electricity are
intermittent and food prices have
soared as the wealthiest residents
stockpile everything they can.
“They are all just huddled in the
basement,’’ said Muhammad of his
brother and his young family.
“At the beginning (of the operation)
they were afraid for us,’’ he said,
“and now we are afraid for them.’’
Some aid groups have already
begun drafting contingency plans to
airdrop humanitarian supplies into
the city, according to a senior western
diplomat present at military planning
meetings. The diplomat did not have
clearance to brief the press and so
spoke on condition of anonymity.
Re-Burying Their Dead
Like many families who lost loved
ones during the Mosul operation, it
was too dangerous for Faris Danoon
to travel to his neighborhood’s graveyard
after a mortar attack killed his
son Younis
“All the roads were blocked,’’
he said, explaining he was forced to
bury the 10-year-old boy in a garden
beside his home. “His mother
can’t bear it, she is just crying all the
time,’’ he said.
As security improves in the city,
more and more families could be
seen exhuming relatives who they
had given makeshift burials amid
clashes and reburying them in proper
cemeteries.
The Nineveh governorate estimates
more than 5,000 civilians have
been killed and injured inside Mosul
since the operation to retake the city
began. Hospitals in neighboring Irbil
report treating 1,587 civilians,
according to data collected by the
United Nations. But that number
doesn’t include civilians who have
died inside Mosul or those injured
and treated within the city.
Iraqi troops have also experienced
similarly high casualty rates;
Irbil hospital officials and Iraqi medics
working inside Mosul estimate
that more than 1,600 Iraqi troops
have been injured or killed during
the Mosul operation. The number
excludes Kurdish forces known as
the peshmerga who participated in
the initial stages of the fight.
Special forces private Sahil Najim,
a 37 year-old from Wasit province in
southern Iraq, said in his company
alone, more than 30 men have been
killed in the last three months.
“This is our duty,’’ Najim said, “so
of course it is worth it. But we still
feel sorrow, how could you not?’’
FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 11

CHAI time
CHALDEANS CONNECTING
COMMUNITY EVENTS IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT FEBRUARY 2017
Wednesday, February 1
Theater: The Lion King is
showing at the Detroit Opera
House located at 1526
Broadway Detroit, Michigan.
The Lion King is a 1994
American animated epic musical
film, produced by Walt
Disney Feature Animation
and released by Walt Disney
Pictures. Visit detroitopera.
housedetroit.org
Wednesday, February 1
Faith: Fikra Wa Nagma with
Karam Bahnam (also write
this in Arabic if you can) at
ECRC. Starts at 7:00 p.m.
Thursdays, February 2, 9, 16, and 23
Faith: Theology with Hubert Sanders at
Holy Martyrs. Starts at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 3
Faith: Devotion to the Sacred Heart of
Jesus with Mass at ECRC. Holy Hour
start 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 4,
Festival: Berkley Winter Festival –
Berkley Winterfest from noon to 3
p.m.
Berkley Community Center Complex
(2400 Robina, Berkley, MI 48072, 248-
658-3470) Enjoy winter sports, indoor
and outdoor crafts, a snowman building
contest, carnival games, ice sculptures,
turkey bowling, a winter petting
farm, bonfires and more at the 2017
Berkley Winterfest. Presented by Berkley
Parks and Recreation.
Saturday, February 4
Festival: Milford Winter Festival – Milford
Township Community Snow Day
from 3 to 5 p.m. Downtown Milford at
Central Park
Enjoy hot chocolate, ice-skating, winter
kayak sledding and more (weather permitting).
Hosted by Milford Township.
Mondays, February 6, 13, 20, and 27
Faith: Apologetics & Theology with Jeff
Kassab at ECRC. Class starts at 7:00
p.m. and ends at 9:00 p.m.
Tuesdays, February 7, 14, 21, and 28
Faith: Bible Study (The Gospel of Matthew)
with His Excellence Bishop Francis.
Starts at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, February 10
Faith: Healing Service with Tom Naemi
at ECRC. Starts at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, February 10 –
Sunday, February 12
Festival: Utica Winter Festival – Utica
Ice Festival 2017
Downtown Utica. Enjoy ice sculptures,
food and drink specials, live entertainment,
carriage rides, open ice skating,
and… FIREWORKS at Utica Memorial
Park at 8:20p on Saturday evening.
Hours are 4p-9p on Friday, Saturday from
9a-5p, and Sunday from 8a-noon. For
more info, visit www.utica-events.com.
Sunday, February 12
Event: Whimsical Occasions in Plymouth
Live Fashion Shows & Prizes Every
15 Minutes!! Take pleasure in an afternoon
filled with wedding exhibits,
planning ideas, fashions and fun! Don’t
miss an opportunity to meet some of
the most sought after leading wedding
professionals and learn creative
ideas for your wedding! Many exhibitors
will be offering demonstrations,
samples and money-saving show
specials. I tis taking place at the Inn
at St. John’s located at 44045 Five
Mile Rd Plymouth, MI 48170. Visit
www.whimsicaloccasions.com
Friday, February 17
Faith: Alpha at Faith Night at the Club
at Shenandoah. The Alpha Course
provides the building blocks of the
Christian faith in a relaxed and judgement
free environment. Whether you
question the existence of God, are a
devout Catholic or find yourself somewhere
in the middle, the Alpha course
is for you. Starts at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 18
Festival: Clawson Winter Festival – Fire
and Spice 2017 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown Clawson. This annual event
features fire breathers and jugglers, in
addition to ice carvers creating custom
designs and a Kids Craft Tent! Don’t
forget to stay for the chili cook-off, the
proceeds of which are donated to local
charities. For more info, visit www.
cityofclawson.com.
Sunday, February 19
Festival: Southfield Winter Festival
– Southfield Winter Fest from 2 to
4:30 p.m.
Southfield Pavilion (26000 Evergreen
Rd, Southfield, MI)
Games, crafts, and inflatables fun. Refreshments
available for purchase. Tickets
are available at the P&R Info Desk.
For more information, contact Southfield
Parks & Recreation at 248-796-4620 or
visit www.cityofsouthfield.com.
Friday, Friday 24
Faith: Ignite the Spirit at different parishes.
Enjoy a night of Eucharistic Adoration,
meditation, and song. You are invited
to praise the Lord through his gift of
music and to grow in a deeper love and
intimacy with Him. Starts at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 25
Gala: The United Community Family
Services/ CALC is hosting its Annual
Gala at Shenandoah Country Club in
West Bloomfield. It takes place at 7
p.m. Since 1961, the Chaldean American
Ladies of Charity (CALC) has continually
assisted the needy families of
the metro Detroit area. The CALC is
a nonprofit charitable organization that
operates with over 98% of donations
going directly to the less fortunate. Visit
calconline.org
Sunday, February 26
Show: Brides-to-Be Show is taking
place in Southgate at the Holiday Inn
located on Northline Rd. It’s about planning
the perfect day. They are hosting
hundreds of vendors with opportunities
to talk to wedding experts one-on-one.
Visit bridestobe.us
Wednesday, March 1
Event: The Chaldean American
Chamber of Commerce presents Industry
Outlook: Women Leaders in
the Chaldean Community. The event
will be held at The Bird & The Bread,
located at 210 S Old Woodward Ave,
Birmingham, MI 48009, from 6:00
p.m - 8:00 p.m. The program will be
moderated by Vanessa Denha Garmo
and begins at 6:30 p.m. Appetizers,
wine and beer are included. Guest
speakers include Dr. Marisa Abbo
from Covenant Community Care, Renee
Lossia-Acho from KW Domain
Luxury Homes International, Oakland
County Circuit Court Judge Hala Jarbou,
and Christine Jonna Piligian from
Jonna Realty Ventures, Inc. This is a
free event for members only. Please
RSVP to Mary Kirma by Thursday,
February 23rd at 248-996-8340 or
mkirma@chaldeanchamber.com.
Gaven LaKritz
Travel Specialist
Office: 248-406-4777
Mobile: 248-535-4884
32985 Hamilton CT. Suite #132
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
gaven.lakritz@cruiseplanners.com
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12 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 13

eligion
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
Bishop: Francis Kalabat
Retired Bishop: Ibrahim N. Ibrahim
HOLY CROSS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
32500 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334; (248) 626-5055
Rector: Msgr. Zouhair Toma Kejbou
Mass Schedule: Weekdays, noon in Chaldean; Saturdays, 4:30 p.m. in
English; Sundays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean and Arabic, noon in English, 6 p.m.,
in Arabic
HOLY MARTYRS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
43700 Merrill, Sterling Heights, MI 48312; (586) 803-3114
Rector: Fr. Manuel Boji
Parochial Vicar: Fr. Andrew Seba
Bible Study: Mondays, 7 p.m. in Chaldean; Thursdays, 8 p.m. Seed of Faith
in English;
Saturdays, 7 p.m. Witness to Faith in Arabic
Youth Groups: Wednesdays, 7 p.m. for High Schoolers
Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 9 a.m. in Chaldean; Saturdays, 5 p.m. in English;
Sundays: 9 a.m. in Chaldean and Arabic, 10:30 a.m. in English, Morning
Prayer at noon, High Mass at 12:30 p.m. in Chaldean; 6 p.m. in English
MAR ADDAI CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
24010 Coolidge Highway, Oak Park, MI 48237; (248) 547-4648
Pastor: Fr. Stephen Kallabat
Retired Priest: Fr. Suleiman Denha
Adoration: Last Friday of the month, 4 p.m. Adoration; 5 p.m. Stations of the
Cross; 6 p.m. Mass; Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Bible Study: Fridays, 8-10 p.m. in Arabic and Chaldean
Youth Groups: Thursdays, 7:30-9 p.m. Jesus Christ University High School
and College Mass Schedule: Weekdays, noon; Sundays, 10 a.m. in
Chaldean and Arabic, 12:30 p.m. High Mass in Chaldean
MOTHER OF GOD CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
25585 Berg Road, Southfield, MI 48034; (248) 356-0565
Administrator: Fr. Pierre Konja
Retired Priest: Fr. Emanuel Rayes
Bible Study: Mondays, 7-9 p.m. in English; Wednesdays, 7 p.m. for college
students in English
Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m.; Tuesdays, 8:45 p.m. in English;
Saturdays, 4 p.m. in English; Sundays: 8:30 a.m. in Arabic, 10 a.m. in
English, noon in Chaldean, 7 p.m. in English
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
11200 12 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48093; (586) 804-2114
Pastor: Fr. Fadi Philip
Parochial Vicar: Hermiz Haddad
Bible Study: Thursday, 8 p.m. for ages 18-45; Friday, 8 p.m. in Arabic.
Teens 4 Mary Youth Group: Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Confession: 1 hour before mass or by appointment.
Adoration: Thursday, 5-7 p.m. Chapel open 24/7 for adoration.
Mass Schedule: Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. in Chaldean; Thursday, 1 p.m.
in English and 7 p.m. in Chaldean; Friday 7 p.m. in Chaldean; Sunday, 10
a.m. in Arabic and 12:30 p.m. in Chaldean.
SACRED HEART CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
30590 Dequindre Road, Warren, MI 48092; (586) 393-5809
Pastor: Fr. Sameem Belius
Mass Schedule: Sundays, 10 a.m. in Arabic, 12:30 p.m. in Chaldean
ST. GEORGE CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
45700 Dequindre Road, Shelby Township, MI 48317; (586) 254-7221
Pastor: Fr. Wisam Matti
Parochial Vicar: Fr. Matthew Zetouna
Youth Groups: Disciples for Christ for teen boys, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.; Circle of
Friends for teen girls; Thursdays, 6 p.m.; Bible Study for college students,
Wednesdays 8 p.m.
Bible Study: Wednesdays, 8 p.m. in English; Fridays, 8 p.m. in Arabic
Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean; Wednesdays, 7 p.m.
Adoration; 8-10 p.m. Confession; Saturdays, 6:30 p.m. in English (school year);
6:30 p.m. in Chaldean (summer); Sunday: 8:30 a.m. in Chaldean, 10 a.m. in
Arabic, 11:30 a.m. in English, 1:15 p.m. in Chaldean; 7:30 p.m. in English
Submission Guidelines The Chaldean News welcomes submissions
of obituaries. They should include the deceased’s name, date of birth
and death, and names of immediate survivors. Please also include some
details about the person’s life including career and hobbies. Due to space
constraints, obituaries can not exceed 300 words. We reserve the right
to edit those that are longer. Send pictures as a high-resolution jpeg
attachment. E-mail obits to info@chaldeannews.com, or through the mail at
30850 Telegraph Road, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, MI 48025.
ST. JOSEPH CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
2442 E. Big Beaver Road, Troy, MI 48083; (248) 528-3676
Pastor: Fr. Rudy Zoma
Parochial Vicar: Fr. Bryan Kassa
Bible Study: Mondays, 7 p.m. in Arabic; Tuesdays, 7 p.m. in English;
Thursdays, 7 p.m. Chaldeans Loving Christ Youth Group for High Schoolers
Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean except Wednesdays, 10
a.m. in Arabic
Saturdays, 6 p.m. in English and Chaldean; Sundays, 9 a.m. in Arabic, 10:30
a.m. in English, noon in Chaldean, 2 p.m. in Chaldean and Arabic, 7 p.m.
in Chaldean
Baptisms: 3 p.m. on Sundays.
ST. PAUL CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
5150 E. Maple Avenue, Grand Blanc, MI 48439; (810) 820-8439
Pastor: Fr. Ayad Hanna
Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 6 p.m.; Sundays, 12:30 p.m.
ST. THOMAS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
6900 Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322; (248) 788-2460
Administrator: Fr. Bashar Sitto
Parochial Vicars: Fr. Jirgus Abrahim, Fr. Anthony Kathawa
Retired Priest: Fr. Emanuel Rayes
Bible Study: Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. in Arabic
Youth Groups: Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. Girls Challenge Club for Middle
Schoolers; Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Chaldeans Loving Christ for High
Schoolers; Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. Boys Conquest Club for Middle Schoolers
Other: First Thursday and Friday of each month, 10 a.m. Holy Hour; 11
a.m. Mass in Chaldean; Wednesdays from midnight to Thursdays midnight,
adoration in the Baptismal Room; Saturdays 3 p.m. Night Vespers (Ramsha)
in Chaldean
Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean; Saturdays, 5 p.m. in
English;
Sundays, 9 a.m. in English, 10:30 a.m. in English, 12:30 p.m. in Chaldean,
2 p.m. in Arabic; 6 p.m.
Grotto is open for Adoration 24/7 for prayer and reflection
CHALDEAN SISTERS/DAUGHTERS OF MARY OOUR LADY OF THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ORDER
Superior: Benynia Shikwana
5159 Corners Drive
West Bloomfield, MI 48322; (248) 615-2951
CHALDEAN SISTERS/DAUGHTERS OF MARY HOUSE OF FORMATION
24900 Middlebelt Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48336; (248) 987-6731
ST. GEORGE CONVENT
Superior: Mubaraka Garmo
43261 Chardennay
Sterling Heights, MI 48314; (586) 203-8846
EASTERN CATHOLIC RE-EVANGELIZATION CENTER (ECRC)
4875 Maple Road, Bloomfield Township, MI 48301; (248) 538-9903
Director: Patrice Abona
Daily Mass: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.
First Friday of the month: 6:30 p.m. Adoration, Confession and Mass
Bible Study in English: Tuesdays 7 p.m.
ST. GEORGE SHRINE AT CAMP CHALDEAN
1391 Kellogg Road, Brighton, MI 48114; (888) 822-2267
Campgrounds Manager: Sami Herfy
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: Sundays, 9 a.m. in Assyrian; noon in Assyrian and English
ST. TOMA SYRIAC CATHOLIC CHURCH
25600 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48335; (248) 478-0835
Pastor: Fr. Toma Behnama
Fr. Safaa Habash
Mass Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 6 p.m.; Sunday 12 p.m. All
in Syriac, Arabic and English
CHRIST THE KING SYRIAC CATHOLIC CHURCH
2300 John R, Troy, MI 48083; (248) 818-2886
_
_
Ba’utha –
The Supplication
of the Ninevites
special mini-season is the three
A day emulation of the Supplication
of the Ninevites, remembering
the preaching of Jonah to the city of
Nineveh. This penetential celebration
was added to the calendar in the
6th Century AD following an epidemic
which ended after a period of
penance and prayer.
This year, Ba’utha will be celebrated
on February 6th, 7th and 8th.
The Pleading of Ba’utha
In pain and tears and fervent prayer,
we cry to you, good Lord above!
Be our healer and our wise guide: deep
are our wounds; bitter our pain.
We have no right to plead to you: our
faults abound, our malice soars.
The sea and land, and all therein have
quaked and raged due to our sin.
In our own time, as Scripture says, the
end of days has come upon us.
In mercy, save us from distress, for
height and depth have been confused.
O Good Shepherd, come tend your
flock, for whose sake you endured the
cross.
Make peace for us in Church and
world, that we may live a tranquil life.
May we be yours, as is your will:
Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost.
From age to age, amen, amen.
Nonetha d-Ba’utha
b-hash-sha w-dim’e wib-nonetha, k-
qarukh illukh Mara tawa.
hwy lan hakkym m-basmana d-mer-e
hash-shan w’siqlih kewan.
d-leban kene tad mar-dha-lukh ‘awlan
‘shin-leh wzid-lay gnahan.
w-yama w-yawsha wkul biryatha zi’lay
sh-ghish-lay ‘al by-sha-than.
bzaw-nan kmil-lah haya kthyw-ta dhartheh
d-‘alma ‘illan mte-la.
b-rah-mukh mkha-lis-lan m-balaye
dim-bul-bil-lay rawma w-‘umqa.
Ra’ya Tawa, mar`y l-`irwukh mbeyd
talibay hash-sha t`in-nukh.
wmat-wy l-kul-lan b-‘edta w-‘alma d-
khay-ukh ‘umran bshe-na-yutha.
w-hawukh diy-yukh mikh ‘ij-bonukh
Baba wBrona wRuha d-Qudh-sha
l-‘alam ‘almyn, amen w-amen.
14 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

obituaries
Hanni Edu Yousif Kada
Aug. 18, 1948 – Dec. 28, 2016
Hanni was a wellknown
man. His
presence and happiness
would light
up any room he
would enter. If
anyone knew him,
they knew that
Hanni put everyone
before himself, in any given
circumstance. He battled an illness
for over 2 decades yet managed to
Laila Talia Jamil
Nov. 15, 1937 – Dec. 29, 2016
still be the hardworking man that
he always was. He was a loving
son for 2 amazing parents, Elias
& Mary Kada, a selfless brother to
Samir, Hashim, Samira, Khalid,
Hana, and Adnan, an encouraging
and wholehearted Father to 7
children, Wasan, Wally, Waseem,
Sari, Wesam, Shems, and Jason,
Grandfather to 10 beautiful Grandchilden,
and last but not least, an
incredible and enamored Husband
to Faiza Kada. May he be in enteral
life with Jesus and an angel because
he was an angel on earth with
nothing but a heart of gold
Laila was the eldest
child of the late Regina
(Kinaia) and
Najib Talia. She
was loved by many
dear aunts, uncles
and cousins. She
graduated from the
University of Baghdad
and worked as the executive assistant
to the director of the Central
Bank of Iraq. Laila traveled throughout
the Middle East and Europe with
her friends. By all accounts, she was
the apple of her father’s eye. After his
death, the Talia family immigrated
to the U.S. where Laila met her husband,
Najib Jamil. Laila and Najib
were married in 1968, had 4 children
and relished their summer road trips
throughout the national parks. Laila
and Najib also enjoyed traveling and
playing con-can with friends and
family. They were together all the
time and their banter brought smiles
to everyone around them. Laila was
a very protective and loving mother
and grandmother. She enjoyed meeting
new people and struck up conversations
wherever she went. Laila was
a huge Detroit Red Wings fan and
loved watching hockey games with
her late mother, her brothers and of
course, Najib. She loved her in-laws
as her own family and welcomed many
brothers-in-law, sisters-in-laws, and
their children as they immigrated to
the U.S. Laila is survived by her most
loving husband of 48 years, Najib; 4
children: Deyar (Dave Sperry), Soamer
(Sahara Jabiro), Raneem (Rodney
Karromi) and Sid (Faith Karmo);
and 10 beautiful grandchildren: Taylor,
Anna, Luke, Jack, Chloe, Roman,
Jude, Julia, Lourdes, and Blaise. She
was immensely proud of her family
and would comment on how happy
she was that all her children married
wonderful people. Laila also leaves
behind 4 dear brothers: Shawqi, Lutfi,
Makram (Jane) and Moehanid; 2
sisters, including her sister and best
friend, Fawzia Saigh (Nedeem); and
many loving nieces and nephews.
Laila lived quietly and gently. She
touched people with her laughter,
kindness and zest for life. We will
miss her the rest of our days and pray
she rests in peace until our souls
meet again.
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Aida Yousif Mansour
April 17, 1938 - January 4, 2017
Aida Yousif Mansour,
78, was born
on Easter Sunday,
April 17, 1938. She
passed on January
4, 2017. She
is survived by her
beloved husband of
61 years, Mansour
E. Mansour, and was a loving mother
to five children, Nuha Hayoo (Wilson),
May Mansour, Nazar Mansour
(Nadia), Nabeel Mansour, and Souha
Maltese (Robert).
Born in Beirut, Lebanon, she was
married in October 1955 and moved
to Baghdad, Iraq. Then in 1973, the
entire family moved to Michigan.
Aida had a heart of gold and welcomed
all guests to her home with
open arms and plates full of food. She
was truly beautiful, inside and out,
and had a sense of style that could
rival the women on any red carpet.
She radiated poise and elegance.
Aida lit up any room she walked
in to, was always smiling, and always
having something nice to say
to everyone. She would make everyone
feel loved beyond measure and
was unbelievably compassionate.
Aida’s heart and generosity knew no
bounds. Moreover, she was a woman
of faith beyond all else. Always giving
to charitable causes and continuously
praying for her loved ones. She
would always say “you get back in
this life what you give.”
Aida was devoted to her family and
loved spending time with her children,
grandchildren and great-grand-son.
She enjoyed traveling, shopping, concerts,
and visiting with friends and relatives.
She was the epitome of fun. Most
of all, she felt whole when surrounded
by her family. She always continued to
bless our family with her patience, wisdom,
and unconditional love.
Aida will be missed by all that
knew and loved her. She will forever
live in our hearts and memories.
Therefore you too have grief now;
but I will see you again, and your heart
will rejoice, and no one will take your
joy away from you. John 16:22.
FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 15

obituaries
CHALDEAN COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION
RECENTLY DECEASED COMMUNITY MEMBERS
Help Wanted!
Please consider hiring
one of our many
new Americans.
Ouké Allos
Seman
Oct. 10, 1936 -
Dec. 2, 2016
Hitham Yacoub
Francis Abbo
Oct. 18, 1981 -
Dec. 23, 2016
Salim Paulos
Petrus
Dec. 10, 1932 -
Dec. 29, 2016
Sabah Hermez
Hakim
July 1, 1943 - Jan.
12, 2017
More than 30,000 Chaldean refugees have
migrated to Michigan since 2007. Many
possess the skills and determination to
work hard for you and your organization.
The Chaldean Community Foundation
(CCF) has a bank of resumes of candidates
qualified to do a variety of jobs.
To inquire about hiring a New American,
call or email Elias at 586-722-7253 or
elias.kattoula@chaldeanfoundation.org.
Zouhair Ayoub
Matty
March 1, 1954 -
Jan. 12, 2017
Fahmi Abid Elias
June 7, 1941 -
Jan. 15, 2017
Nidhal Yousif
June 12, 1973 -
Jan. 16, 2017
Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce
and Chaldean Community Foundation
30850 Telegraph Road, Suite 200
Bingham Farms, MI 48025
248-996-8340
www.chaldeanchamber.com
Chaldean Community Foundation
Sterling Heights Office
3601 15 Mile Road
Sterling Heights, MI 48310
586-722-7253
www.chaldeanfoundation.org
16 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

We protect your Home, Auto,
Business and your loved ones.
We protect your
Home, Auto, Business
and your Loved ones.
Al Jamoua
Retirement Planner
Personal and
Business IRA
248-816-2056 office | 248-224-3362 cell
al.jamoua@fbinsmi.com
2240 Livernois Rd., Troy
FarmBureauInsurance.com
FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 17

18 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

ANNUAL
PHOTO BY WILSON SARKIS
WEDDING GUIDE

ANNUAL WEDDING GUIDE
the four seasons
of weddings
The best time to get married
Today, there is no such thing as a wedding
season.
“It’s really all year round for our community,
especially during these last three to four
years,” said Lorraine Konja from Lorraine’s Event
Planning/Coordinating. “Some couples do prefer
certain months and seasons over others, but at the
same time a lot of them are not picky, because they
know they are so limited to dates.”
Limited in the sense that halls get booked
quickly, often with weddings and events scheduled
a year in advance.
With every season, there are pros and cons. “I
always remind my couples that during the fall and
winter season, it gets darker earlier so then they can
have an option on when they want to take their
outdoor pictures for that day,” said Konja. “Personally,
I love when the groom sees his bride for first
time at the church, walking down the aisle to him
but a lot of couples are more concerned about the
pictures for the day.”
A Winter Blast
When Chris and Vanessa Battah were planning
their magical day, the first storm of the season was
not part of the festivities. They married on December
11 last year.
“Weather is the uncontrollable force of nature
that has no empathy and can derail your dream
wedding at least for a moment,” said Andy Keina,
co-owner of Top that Table, wedding planners, designers
and coordinators. “If your wedding is held
in a season that can face extreme weather conditions,
it’s important to know what to do if weather
impedes your wedding plans. Worries about temperature,
rain, snow - everything about weather -
adds to the general level of stress involved in such
an event. Winter weddings can be magical and
romantic, but there are a few inevitable issues that
go hand-in-hand with weddings held during the
PHOTO BY SAM SARKIS
Vanessa Battah
darker months.”
The Battahs faced one of those inevitable issues
— a big snow storm — but Vanessa didn’t mind.
She wanted a winter wedding.
“I chose Christmas time because I think everyone
is just so humble and happy during that time,
even a blizzard couldn’t stop my happiness that
day,” said Vanessa. “I think Christmas decor is so
beautiful and warm.”
She also knew that she wanted to incorporate
her Catholic faith in her wedding day. “The two
of us couldn’t be one without Jesus,” said Vanessa.
“What better way to celebrate our marriage then
during the time our savior was born.”
If a couple chooses winter, there are some
things to keep in mind. “Invest in winter accessories;
it will be cold, said Keina. “Accessories will
be important to keep warm. You will need to plan
for extra travel time. Bad weather means bad traffic
so give extra time for travel to your ceremony no
matter how near or far you are going.”
Having extra accessories and other clothing
items is also important. “Don’t ruin your heels,”
said Keina. “Have a second wedding shoe for your
outdoor pics because you don’t want mud or snow
in your Jimmy Choo’s or Valentino’s. Indulge in
Beauty Prep. Chapped lips and dry skin are inevitable
with winter. Keep your lips, hands, and
face moisturized.”
A wedding is all about the timing. “It gets dark
much earlier in the winter so adjust your photo
schedule for more light,” noted Keina. “Taking
pictures before your ceremony is often a good option.”
You can have a lot of fun with a winter blast.
“Winter weddings tend to happen near or around
the holidays. You may want to embrace the season
by incorporating holiday themed favors,” said Lawrence
Yaldo, co-owner of Top that Table. “Vanessa
bought personalized ornaments for each family as
their place card to hang on their Christmas tree.”
As much as flowers and décor create themes in
a wedding, Vanessa said that “they weren’t important
to me or Chris. That’s where the ornaments
came in.”
Vanessa tied the Christmas season into her
wedding by handing out ornaments to each guest
with their family names on them. “Although it
was expensive, I knew I wanted everyone to go
20 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

PHOTO BY IVAN GEORGE
home with something to represent
Christmas.”
The snow was not a surprise as
forecasters had been predicting several
inches of snow to flow down
throughout that day. “I woke up that
morning praying and laughing with
God that I knew this would happen
to us, but to just keep everyone safe,”
said Vanessa. “I accept whatever He
gives me.”
The only thing the snow did was
delay the night because of the slippery
roads. Only 15 people were a
no show.
“If you have a contingency plan,
you won’t have to stress in the days
leading up to the wedding,” said Keina.
“Think of your guests: Will they
have to walk along a snowy path to
get to the ceremony or reception. Be
flexible with timing of the day in case
there is a delay with guest arrival.”
Although the snow put a damper
on getting to the wedding, it didn’t
cloud celebrations. “Chris and I were
looking forward to traveling to St.
Lucia in the 90-degree weather while
all the Michiganders were freezing,”
said Vanessa with a chuckle. “It’s
just another fun reason to get married
in the winter, an excuse to be in
a warm climate for our anniversary
each year.”
Chris and Vanessa met about
three years before they married,
through mutual friends and family.
They didn’t initially hit it off but
eventually decided to date and then
fell in love. Chris proposed about a
year before they married. “I had no
clue,” said Vanessa. “He had picked
out my ring in early November of
2015 and took my parents out for
lunch about a month before he proposed
to ask for my parents blessing.
After our parents met in November,
Chris and I promised that we would
spend each Sunday attending mass
and then spend the rest of the day
with both of our families. I mainly
fell in love with him, because of his
love for Christ. It was very important
to me to find a man, who was faithful.”
Chris always knew Vanessa wanted
a Christmas wedding. “On the day
he proposed, we started off at mass,
and ironically both of our parents
had plans that day. So we started the
day with brunch at the same place
we had our first date,” said Vanessa.
“It was a very snowy day but
he insisted on going to Campus Martius.
We grabbed some coffee and
started walking towards the beautiful
Christmas tree. Chris knew how
much I wanted to be married around
Christmas time. He asked me to put
on a set of headphones connected to
his phone to watch a video he had
made for his nieces birthday. Turned
out to be a video with our wedding
song and memories of us together. He
then asked me to marry him at end.
I was full of emotions. I had no clue!
He even asked all of my brothers for
my hand.”
Springing into a Wedding
Shannon and Nick Hannawa didn’t
plan on a spring wedding, but it
turned out to be the best decision for
them. “Spring is one of Michigan’s
most beautiful seasons in my opinion,”
said Shannon. “May is a gorgeous
month where the flowers are
blooming and the weather isn’t hot,
but just warm in a relaxing way with
a slight calming breeze. Our guest
weren’t fanning themselves, instead
Shannon and Nick Hannawa
they were taking in the beautiful
Michigan day, dancing and enjoying
the zeffa.”
Nick pre-planned the date. “He
wanted to beat the busy summer
wedding season and he knew he
wanted Shenandoah,” said Dalia Attisha,
The Wedding Planner.
Nick’s mom helped plan the day.
“We had a wonderful zeffa at my inlaw’s
home,” said Shannon. “We had
more than hundred guests and because
the weather was great, we were
able to use the inside as well as the
outside of the home, which was like a
mini party before the reception.
Shannon credits the spring season
for her fabulous wedding day.
“The weather made things easier for
the photographers who don’t have
to deal with cold brides or sweaty
cranky grooms,” she said. “I was also
able to have more flexibility with my
dress; it offered me the opportunity
to pick a dress that was lighter and
allowed me to have an open back,
rather than having to plan for a colder
evening.”
Prior to meeting Shannon, Nick
attended law school with her brother.
They eventually met and dated
for three years. “Nick is always really
good about planning something fun
and unique for us to do,’ said Shannon.
“He had planned for us to attend
a wine tasting event which he
claimed was going to be hosted by
Hour Magazine, at a cute place in
Royal Oak called Michigan By The
Bottle.
Hour magazine is one of Nick’s
favorite publications and he enjoys
local events so nothing seemed unusual
to Shannon. “The scene at
the restaurant was what any person
would expect at an event, framed
issues of Hour displayed around the
restaurant and other random guest
posing with the magazine for a photographer,
Shannon noted. “Little did I
know at the time, the photographer
was Angela Jaboro, she actually approached
our table at one point and
asked if we would mind being in
some photos, of course Nick seemed
thrilled about the possibility of being
in the magazine and gladly posed for
the camera.”
Nick eventually asked the sommelier
for Champagne. “As she set
WEDDINGS continued on page 22
The need
to plan
You got engaged and
now there is so much to
do. Perhaps you are debating
whether or not to
hire a wedding planner.
We posed that question
to LawrenceYaldo and
Andy Keina from Top
that Table and they gave
us ten reasons why you
need one.
1. Minimizing the stress
and maximizing the fun.
2. Trouble shoots a
variety of things that
could go wrong: wardrobe
malfunction, cake
catastrophe, seating
issues, etc.
3. Helps negotiate pricing
and budget planning
4. Makes your vision
turn into a reality
5. Helps organize all the
details when planning a
destination wedding.
6. Manages times by
creating a schedule so
that no time is wasted.
7. Acts as a mediator
when dealing with family
expectations, shows
you the available options,
and can be relied
upon to give you expert
advice so you make an
informed decision.
8. Recommends solid,
reputable vendors to
serve every aspect of the
wedding.
9. Every bride and
groom wants something
“different” for their
wedding, so they can
design and create something
memorable.
10. Brings knowledge
and understanding.
Planners have been in
the industry for years
and are experts in
protocol, etiquette, and
everything it takes to
pull off an event of such
magnitude.
FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 21

ANNUAL WEDDING GUIDE
WEDDINGS continued from page 20
the bottle down, she said this is our special reserve
and rotated the bottle,” explained Shannon. “At
first glance, I read just my name, but then I saw
more clearly that it was an engraved picture of a
man on one knee and a women. I unknowingly
read out loud, ‘Shannon will you marry.’ I couldn’t
read any more, I was so surprised.”
She began to cry while the photographer captured
the moment. Nick’s sister took video and the
restaurant erupted in cheers. “Even more of a surprise
was the fact that Nick had hid this from my
parents and only asked for their blessing moments
before he proposed, while he claimed he was using
the restroom. He really did an amazing job making
all my dreams come true and I couldn’t be any happier
looking back,” said Shannon.
Their spring wedding was in the plans as Nick
had picked the date ahead of time.
When planning a spring wedding or one in a
particular season, there are certain things to keep
in mind. “Always keep holidays in mind, and the
calendar month,” said Atisha. “Spring time is during
Lent, Easter and First Communion season, so
it’s a very eventful time of the year for our church
along with our community.”
In the spring, there are some things you can
do that you can’t other times of the year. “Some
flowers are available during this season versus later
in the year like Peonies,” said Atisha. “Finding a
date at a highly desirable location during this time
of year is more challenging due to so many other
events. The weather is warmer so couples can
take outdoor photos and have more flexibility with
clothing. Many couples prefer to avoid the snow;
snow storms that can be possible during the late
fall and winter months.”
Despite the time of year, there are many common
mistakes couples make. “The biggest mistake
is comparing your wedding to other couples and
their weddings,” said Atisha. “Seeing photos on social
media like Pinterest and Instagram while day
dreaming about incorporating the idea/element
into their wedding and then finding out they can’t
afford it and possibly going over their budget to
portray an image to their guests and sometimes put
their fiancé’s in debt because they insist on having
certain elements at their wedding.”
Budgeting is key in all seasons, explains Atisha.
“So often couples book vendors based on weddings
they walked in, or their friend or cousin hired, without
thinking their budget through and then realizing
they can’t afford the venue or the photographer,”
she said. “Couples really need to think of their future
and not just live for the day. They have a full
road ahead of them and if they don’t build a solid
and stable financial foundation for their new journey,
they will surely create problems in their future.
If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.”
A Summer Sensation
Summer time is Melanie and Danny Shaman’s favorite
season of the year. “I couldn’t imagine our
wedding day without the sun, and considering
Michigan’s unpredictable weather, we knew that
the summer would be the best season of the year
to make our dream of a sunny wedding weather day
coming true,” said Melanie. “Aside from summer
being our favorite season of the year, a summer
wedding worked best around my school schedule.”
She is a full-time student studying physical
therapy. “A summer wedding enabled us to have
enough time to really enjoy our wedding and it was
also a great time to go away on our honeymoon to
Greece.”
They were married on Sunday, July 3 last year
on a holiday weekend. “I know that guests tend to
leave Sunday weddings earlier because they have
to wake up early for work the next day, but the
great part about getting married the day before the
PHOTO BY HADEER POLISS
Melanie and Danny Shaman
Fourth of July is that most guests did not have to
worry about waking up for work,” Melanie noted.
“Our guests were able to stay the entirety of our
wedding and truly enjoy themselves as they partied
the night away without worrying about an early
wakeup the next day.”
Traditionally, summer has been known to be the
peak of the wedding season. “Although wedding
season, especially in the Chaldean community, has
expanded into earlier and later months throughout
the past few years, summer still continues to be the
busiest time of the year for Chaldean weddings,”
said Suhair Kallabat of Eventfully Yours. “Couples
who want to marry in the summer must book far
in advance to get the date that they want, especially
if what they want is a weekend. I have a lot
of couples who are resorting to picking a weekday
wedding date because it is all they can get during
the summer season that they want.”
Couples planning a summer wedding must also
keep in mind that a summer wedding comes at premium.
Summer couples pay the full price for their
venue if marrying on the weekend, whereas that
rate is discounted a bit during the off season.
Proper attire in the summer must also be a serious
consideration. “It is imperative that everyone
is dressed appropriately for the ceremony, not only
at a summer wedding, but year round,” said Kallabat.
“With summer weddings, with the hotter
temperatures, the bride and guests seem to pick
‘hotter’ selections. These dresses maybe absolutely
stunning, but not exactly church appropriate.”
The Chaldean Diocese requires that the bridal
party and guests are covered properly for the
church service. Kallabat reminds all her couples of
this requirement. “Covering up for the ceremony
doesn’t have to mean your bridal style is lost,” she
said. “There’s a number of gorgeous pieces that can
be added to your dress that still maintain the style
of the dress while showing reverence in church.”
“I knew that I needed something that would be
weather appropriate for a summer wedding,” said
Melanie. “A significant part of our wedding day
was spent outside taking pictures, and in designing
my dress; I knew I wanted something that would
work with the hot summer weather.”
Melanie worked with a designer who created a
lace, strapless ball gown. “The gown was whimsical
and elegant, and I felt like royalty in it,” she said.
Summer is ideal because of the weather.
“Granted, we do live in Michigan, so even our
summer weather can be inconsistent and unpredictable,
but for the most part, summer is a couple’s
best bet if they want a sunny and warm wedding
day,” said Kallabat.
It’s also ideal for guests with out of state guests.
Traveling is easier. “Our décor was also inspired
by the summer,” said Melanie. “We choose to mix
lighter, summery colors in our flower color scheme.
WEDDINGS continued on page 24
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ANNUAL WEDDING GUIDE
WEDDINGS continued from page 22
We had a mix of whites, pinks, and greens combined
with ivory sequenced linens and mahogany
chairs for a fresh summer look.”
Danny and Melanie met at a gathering thrown
by one of our mutual friends. “One day, Danny suggested
that we take a step back in time and be kids
again for the night,” said Melanie. “We spent the
evening channeling our inner child, playing our
favorite childhood arcade games. It was a blast.”
After playing a bunch of fun arcade games,
they ended up in the photo booth. We made
different funny faces in the few shots, and then
Danny got on one knee and proposed. “I was
completely and utterly shocked. I was filled
with so much joy,” she said. “Once I was able
to finally collect myself and accept Danny’s proposal
with a YES, we walked out of the photo
booth to yet another surprise – our family and
close friends. Danny had arranged for them to
be there for our proposal to surprise me and help
celebrate with us.”
The biggest challenge is often planning the
actual wedding. Many couples like to incorporate
interests and their own identities and for
Melanie and Danny it was Game of Thrones.
“We decide to incorporate elements of the show
into our wedding in a cool way,” said Melanie.
“Our seating charts were not the typical seating
chart. Instead, we had two Game of Thrones
seating charts that Suhair helped us to create.”
The first seating chart, was titled “Brace Yourself,
Marriage is Coming,” and under that it said “You
Can Find Your Seat Here.” On each side, it listed
the names and the house each belonged to: Danny
House of Shaman for the groom, and Melanie
House of Toma for the bride. The next board, closer
to the reception entry way was identical, except that
it was titled, “Brace Yourself, Marriage is Here.”
“Guests LOVED our seating chart,” said Melanie.
“It was one of the most snapped elements of
our wedding.”
They incorporated more Game of Thrones elements
with life-size cherry blossom trees that sat
atop the tables. The final Game of Thrones element
was a string quartet that played during dinner.
“The string quartet played music from the
Game of Thrones soundtrack, beginning with the
theme song, and it was a hit,” said Melanie. “Our
guests loved their performance, and it added a special
vibe to the evening.”
Along with the planning, Kallabat said there is
one key element no couple should forget. “Sometimes
couples get so caught up in planning their wedding
that they forget that even more importantly,
they should be planning their marriage,” she said. “I
like to refocus my couples when I sense that they’ve
lost sight of the true meaning of their engagement.
As important as planning a wedding is, it is of the
utmost importance for couples to be preparing for
the sacrament that they are about to receive.”
Falling In Love
When June Abro was planning a couple’s wedding
in the fall, he knew they wanted that particular
PHOTO BY WILSON SARKIS
time of the year. “They figured it wasn’t going to
be too hot or too cold,” said June Abro of a June
Event. “They had a perfect day.”
They were looking for a Saturday in either September
and October. When they found the date
they wanted, they booked it right away. “It ended
up being Sweetest Day and they wanted for all of
their loved ones to share in their ‘sweetest day’
with them,” said Abro.
Weather is not the only thing to keep in mind
when planning a wedding, explained Abro. “Think
about holidays and if guests have to travel and the
wardrobe,” he said. “When planning a fall wedding,
keep in mind daylight savings and that your
clothes don’t clash with the time of the year. Certain
wardrobes go with certain seasons.”
The weather in the fall can be ideal as it was
for this particular couple. “Amidst the weather
changing, the colors are changing” said Abro. The
elegance of the outdoor pictures were beautiful. It
was a cool Autumn day for them.”
As much as some couples love the fall season,
it doesn’t limit the wedding planner. “We feel
that the season should not dictate what you want
to do,” said Abro. “It’s your wedding and you can
have the wedding of your dreams no matter the
month. The only thing that is crucial is the flowers
that are in season. However, if you have no limits
on your budget, you can have them any time of
year for the right price.”
The season should not deter you from your
dreams. “It’s your wedding; you can do whatever
you want as long as its styled right,” said Abro. “If
you love fall colors but are getting married in
spring, it can still be done as long as your ‘Color
Story’ is done well and your wedding planner designs
it just right.”
Regardless of the time of year, Abro encourages
couples to stay calm. “A mistake is when couples
tend to get stressed during the planning period,” he
said. “This is supposed to be a magical time - pick
and have faith in your vendors that at the end of
the day, they will throw you the wedding of your
dreams!”
24 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 25

ANNUAL WEDDING GUIDE
before
“i do”
Learning how to find
the right spouse
BY KRIS HARRIS
Making the decision to enter into the Holy
Sacrament of Marriage is one of those
life-changing moments. However, finding
or thinking you’ve found the right spouse, is
sometimes the most difficult step to take. Even
when you think you may have found him or her,
there is a crucial element, sometimes overlooked
or taken for granted —how well do you know your
future spouse and are you certain he or she is the
right person for you?
Patrice Abona was nearly 30 years old when
she married her husband Emil. “Life was good
but you when you are not married at a certain
age, you get a lot of pressure from the outside
world,” Abona said. “Internally too; we all have
a desire to be with someone.”
Abona talked about finding the right spouse in
an episode of the Mar Toma Productions Invitation
to Sisterhood. During the same show, Fr. Pierre Konja,
administrator at Mother of God Church in Southfield,
reminded viewers that couples are not always in
the sample place, in terms of their spirituality, which
can raise some questions. “Is this somebody that’s
closer to Christ or someone that can get me closer to
Christ?” asked Fr. Pierre. “If not, is it someone that I
can marry and would be good, but not super holy by
praying the rosary every single night, but would challenge
me to be a better person?”
Finding the right spouse is not always easy,
but keeping an open mind can help when looking
for the right person. “You can meet a really great
church-goer and faithful person, but he is really
boring or he never wants to talk,” said Fr. Pierre.
“But then you can meet someone who is really outgoing
and you’re best of friends, but his faith isn’t as
strong as you’d like it to be. So you can’t put things
in boxes. You have to make decisions on your own,
as far as whom I want to spend the rest of my life
with and will this person lead me closer to God in
the relationship.”
Timing is everything. “Amil and I talk about if
we had met three years earlier would we have been
ready for each other,” said Abona. “Praying for the
right spouse is good. I also learned that praying for
him even when I didn’t know him was important.”
“God’s time is not always our time,” chimed in
May Seman, co-host of the episode.
Being realistic and honest with yourself is also
PHOTO BY IVAN GEORGE
Vallen and Selwan
important. “I always tell my kids that whatever
your list is of what that person needs to have, you
must have those things to,” said Seman. “Don’t
have high expectation of someone but you lack
those things yourself.”
When couples feel they might be ready for marriage,
Fr. Pierre believes it’s important that couples
first have an open and honest relationship. “Usually,
I meet with couples that are pretty close to marriage,
within a year of the ceremony,” said Fr. Pierre. “By
this time, you should know everything about this
person. Baggage, dating history, family struggles, and
what has formed him to the person he is today. The
good, the bad and the ugly, so we can put it out there
and they can know who each other really are, and
still say, ‘I love you and I still want to be your spouse.’”
Couples, who feel they are ready for marriage,
need to keep in mind that just because you want
to get married doesn’t mean that you automatically
receive the church’s blessing. “There has been a
few times where I’ve really put my pen down, while
filling out the file and said, ‘I really suggest you
don’t get married in the time frame you’re wanting
to,’” said Fr. Pierre. “They should be excited because
they’re going to the church to make it official
and legitimatize it, but they’re angry and upset and
it made me wonder why they were there.”
The church only wants to see healthy and
happy relationships develop and grow over time,
which is why they are there to help with the process.
“We want couples to live happy, fruitful,
Christ-centered lives, so we want to guide them to
it,” Fr. Pierre explained. “Marriage has its struggles;
it‘s reality and it needs to be looked at as real.
When people just take a step back and realize what
marriage is, and why is it important, I think the
process can be more fluid.”
Fr. Pierre reminds couples that marriage is more
than just spending the rest of your life with someone
else. “This is a vocation from God that’s been
elevated to a Sacrament and that’s supposed to lead
you closer to Him, to gain you salvation,” he said.
“We want couples to have found a spouse that at
least can help with that or is on the same page with
that. When that is understood, it becomes much
easier to enter into marriage.”
26 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

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FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 27

ANNUAL WEDDING GUIDE
you’re invited
Finding the best wedding invitation
BY VANESSA DENHA GARMO
The wedding invitation could be the first glimpse into what a couple’s
wedding will be like.
“The invitation can really set the tone of a wedding, so it should
be something that reflects a couple’s taste, style and budget,” said Dalia Atisha,
The Event Planner.
“Once you design your invitation, guests may have an idea of the type
of wedding you are planning,” said Yvonne Abbo, Yvonne’s Invitations,
“whether it is classic elegance or classic contemporary for instance.”
Budgeting for the invitation is important. “It’s very exciting planning a
wedding and most couples will start a board on Pinterest ‘Wedding of My
Dreams,’ said Abbo. “You need to first figure out the guest list and how many
invites you might need. Divide your guest list by 2 and then add 25 percent
to your list; you will get a more accurate head count.”
Re-ordering invitations after an initial order can get pricey. “It is also important
to remember postage price when choosing your invite,” said Abbo. “Also,
make sure that you have a sample of how an invite is assembled and then go to
the post office to figure out how much each one will cost to mail out.”
Most couples gravitate towards timeless colors such as crème, white, gold and
silver invitations. “However, there are some couples that really want to showcase
their wedding style,” said Atisha. “If a couple is having a winter wedding,
they can reflect their wedding style with a winter wonderland invitation.”
“A snowflake is winter’s butterfly – a winter wonderland theme is so enchanting,”
said Abbo. “There are many lavish colors that work in the winter.
Winter white is also very popular for paper color and also for accent colors.”
The spring and summer seasons inspire their own colorful theme. “If a couple
is having a spring/summer wedding they can reflect their wedding style with a
floral invitation or vibrant colored paper and ink colors,” said Atisha.
“If we didn’t have winter, we couldn’t love our spring and summer season so
much,” said Abbo. “Foil wedding invitations are very popular this year and can
be used for any season. Vintage elegance is definitely present with pearls and
laser-cut lace accenting the wording on the card.”
For the fall, “a couple could reflect their wedding style with brunt orange,
red and golden tones even somehow incorporating leaves,” said Atisha. “Couples
can really bring out the seasonal theme of their wedding with embellishments
such as gem stones, handmade flowers, and ribbons. They can also do
embossed stamping for example of leaves and snowflakes — the possibilities
are endless.”
Many couples fall in love with the fall season. “Brides love the idea of
a rustic theme with tree branches and burlap invitations,” said Abbo. “Use
some rhinestones and bows to add an elegant touch.”
Ordering the invitation is part of the wedding planning. “Create an excel
sheet of your guest list,” said Abbo. “This will help keep you organized.”
“A couple should allow at least four months before the wedding to order
invitations to have enough time to get them and package them up to send
out,” said Atisha. “Couples should be sure to proof their invitation and
have a few other people read it to make sure it doesn’t need to be modified
or have any mistakes.”
Abbo also recommends working with a seasoned wedding planner.
“They help with seating of guest for instance,” she said. “I recommend personalized
cocktail napkins, as well; they offer a nice touch and can complement
the invitation.”
Like Abbo, Atisha loves to get crafty. “We do seating charts, place
cards, entrance table set up/design, programs, menu cards, tables numbers,
pretty much everything that is part of the wedding theme and décor,”
said Atisha.
28 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

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312.337.6300
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MARCH 30 – APRIL 1, 2017

ANNUAL WEDDING GUIDE
1
love sweet love
Wedding desserts for every season of marriage
BY MONIQUE MANSOUR
After the question has been
popped and the wedding
planning begins,
another question soon arises:
what type of sweets should a
couple have at their wedding?
Luckily, Michigan
brides and grooms have a
plethora of options.
Whether lovebirds are
looking for something more
traditional or something a bit different,
there are pastry, donut, and
chocolate shops in Metro Detroit offer a personalized
approach for each and every couple…no
matter the wedding theme or season.
Jonathan Elias of The Pastry Guru in Troy
caters to creating decadent and delicious masterpieces
for couples on their special day. This
is something he feels he was born to do. “When
people use to ask me what I wanted to be when
I grew up, I always said, ‘an artist’ and as I grew
older, I discovered my love for the culinary arts,”
explained Elias. “Then I realized I could pair my
love of food with my artistic talent and turn it
into a career.”
His work to personalize wedding sweets goes
well beyond creating masterful cakes. “I can offer
Chocolates by Renee
individual desserts to each guest rather
than a slice of wedding cake,” Elias
said. “Recently, at a fall wedding,
guests were treated to an individual
warm spiced caramel apple
bread pudding with a scoop of
ice cream.” Another way of
involving sweets in a wedding
is to create a dessert station,
such as a crepe station.
“Stations are a fun way to give
guests a dessert and an experience
at the same time,” said Elias.
At consultation meetings, Elias advises couples
to come prepared. “Couples should have a general
idea or concept of what the cake theme or style
should be,” said Elias. “Bringing photos of the
dress, invitation, color swatches, and floral plans
are all great forms of inspiration when designing
a couple’s dream cake.” According to Elias,
a wedding theme is of utmost importance. “In my
opinion, couples should try to express themselves
through their wedding. The wedding should be a
reflection of the love the couple has for one another.”
To learn more about Elias’ custom wedding creations,
visit thepastryguru.com.
3
If a couple is looking for wedding sweets with a
flair that still matches the theme and season of
their wedding, donuts may be just the dessert to
turn to. Chris and Serena Denha of Donut Bar +
Coffee in Southfield cater to making personalized
gourmet donuts. “We have a huge arsenal of donuts
that contain nothing but high-end ingredients,”
said Chris. “From fresh fruit to chocolate ganache
to homemade whipped cream, everything is of the
finest quality.” Couples should note that donuts
could make for a unique display at their wedding.
“We’ve done donut towers, walls, customized letters,
and even champagne spouts with chocolate
milk to pair with donuts,” explained Chris.
Something many couples mull over is how soon
they should begin to think about their wedding
sweets. “The more time we have to plan for the
wedding the easier it makes our job,” said Chris.
Though a donut is often synonymous with fall,
30 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

2
1. Pastry Guru
2. Donut Bar
3. Chocolates
by Renee
4. Donut Bar
4
Donut Bar + Coffee caters to weddings
year-round. “Donuts are not
seasonal,” Chris said. “They’re a
good choice all year because we offer
seasonal-flavored donuts. Michigan
is known for its cherries in the summer
and its apples in the winter, so
we have different donuts for every
time of year.” When it comes to taste
testing, Chris stresses the importance
of couples taking part in this early
on. “We like for couples to assist us
in choosing the donut flavors. If the
bride likes chocolate, she gets chocolate.
Happy wife, happy life.”
For more information on Donut Bar
+ Coffee, visit donutbardetroit.com.
Chocolates by Renee in Northville
has been in business for
more than 25 years. “We are
a family business and care about the
needs of our customers,” said owner
Stephanie Acho. “We use only the
finest, rich chocolate and we know
just how important the big day is for
a couple, so we’re always honored to
be a part of it.” For couples with allergies,
chocolate may be the ideal
choice. “We cater to couples with allergies,
such as peanut, gluten, dairy,
among others. We make a note to let
the staff know, so that we can create
delicious, personalized treats to their
satisfaction,” said Acho. Chocolates
by Renee has a wide variety of chocolates
available that can be used as
party favors or centerpieces. Couples
can pick chocolates that may be similar
to their theme, color scheme, or
by what they feel exemplifies their
relationship. “We even do chocolate
logos with the bride’s and groom’s
initials, as well as gourmet chocolate
boxes tied with satin ribbon,” explained
Acho.
When it comes to matching the
sweets with the theme or season of a
wedding, Acho is the expert. “Our
chocolate is seasonal, so what we may
offer in the summer may not be present
for a winter wedding,” said Acho.
As the saying goes, love is sweet, and
a couple’s wedding desserts could be
the best way to reflect the feeling.
To see the ways in which Chocolates by
Renee can provide for your wedding,
visit chocolatesbyrenee.com.
Call 248-996-8360 to advertise!
FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 31

ANNUAL WEDDING GUIDE
memory
lane
Walking down memory
lane with old photos. Many
couples credit their longevity
to sound advice they received
in wedding classes.
Some couples were
married before classes were
available, but still had
marriages that followed the
philosophies and lessons
learned in today’s classes.
George Saliba and Courjia Hanna Chammas on January 5,
1955 in Beirut, Lebanon.
Salem Kanna and Madiha Kanna on September 11, 1970
in Baghdad, Iraq.
Michael & Dora Abbo on October 23, 1966 in
San Diego, California.
Assad and Ibtisam Haddo on February 8th, 1987.
Frank & Mary Thomas on August 5, 1962 at Mother of God
Church on Hamilton in Detroit.

FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 33

ANNUAL WEDDING GUIDE
couples’ classes
Learning how to be married
BY WEAM NAMOU
More than four hundred
Chaldean weddings are
performed each year. Marriage
is honored and affirmed among
Christians and throughout the Bible.
However, while most Christians seek
to uphold the seriousness of wedding
vows, the great changes in traditional
roles of men and women along
with the increase and acceptance of
divorce in Western culture, has made
it difficult for some couples to save
their marriage.
In order to help new couples start
off in the right direction, the church
has, for more than a decade, offered
pre-marriage classes. It was about two
years ago when the classes at Mother
of God Church were changed to suit
the needs of a new generation and
current circumstances.
“My husband and I attended the
old program and that was really the
motivation for us wanting to change
the program,” said Kristen Ayar, who
along with others was involved in
this process. “It wasn’t what it should
or could be for our community. The
new classes are more practical.”
Ayar and her husband Arvin,
married for 4 ½ years, are presenters
at the new classes which are taught
by couples and were developed
through research and surveys.
The classes incorporate six topics
over a six hour period. The topics
include:
Roles and Backgrounds, which
raises questions such as who are you as
an individual and what is your background?
What do you expect of the
roles of a husband, wife, and parent?
“Here, we talk about our parents’
different relationships and how that
shaped and molded us,” said Ayar.
“Your background is carried into your
relationship.”
We talk about our
parents’ different
relationships and
how that shaped and
molded us.”
– KRISTEN AYAR
Communication, which teaches
how to communicate effectively with
your spouse and resolve conflicts in a
calm and loving way.
“Conflict is inevitable in a marriage,”
said Fr. Pierre Konja, administrator
for Mother of God. “But how
you solve it is crucial to healing and
forming a strong marriage.”
Finances, which is taught by a
couple who have seven kids and
who give advice through example as
they share their own life experience
in dealing with money and children
and the role that God, mercy, and
love plays in this area of their life.
Intimacy, sex, and family planning.
“This topic is especially important
in a sexually broken world
where promiscuity and pornography
are glorified,” said Fr. Pierre.
Other topics that are covered include
abuse and in-laws and, oftentimes,
the topics overlap.
However, a class or program alone
will not safeguard a healthy marriage,
because there is no perfect program
that exists anywhere. Ultimately, it’s
the couple’s desire that will make or
break their wedding vows.
“Couples have to have the desire
to be sacrificial and reflect the love
of God in their marriage, to be strong
through difficulties and wise and mature
about whom to enter marriage
with,” said Fr. Pierre.
Since marriage and family is the
foundation of the church, of Christianity,
efforts have also been made to
strengthen already married couples.
The Eastern Catholic Re-Evangelization
Center (ECRC) provides a
marriage program called The Choice
Wine: 7 Steps to a Superabundant
Marriage. Whether a couple is engaged
or has been married for 50
years, this 9-weeks program is intended
to teach couples how to “divorce-proof
their marriages.”
Steve Bollman, founder of this
program, is a Catholic minister.
With an educational background in
Chemical Engineering, he integrates
teachings of faith with the findings of
modern science. The program’s seven
simple steps, he says, will “Stretch
your mind through science. It will
test your faith, and it will challenge
you to live your high calling.”
Ayar and her husband also participate
in The Choice Wine program
and she says that this has strengthened
their marriage.
“It was like date-night with my
husband and other couples who want
their relationships to grow with God
and each other,” she said.
This program has been held at
Mother of God Church and St. Thomas
Church, but ECRC is trying to
make it available to other parishes so
everyone can enjoy it. A couple’s retreat,
which ECRC hosted previously
at Camp Chaldean, is something they
plan to repeat in the near future.
“Couples retreats are not to fix anything
necessarily, but to strengthen a
couple’s relationship,” said Fr. Pierre.
There are pre-marriage classes
that are required by the Diocese to
attend before a couple marries and
there are other marriage classes available,
but not obligatory. While the
marriage classes are highly encouraged
by the community, and there
is a strong desire for them, Fr. Pierre
says that realistically most people are
too busy to commit to them.
“We get caught up with finances
and the kids and the marriage itself
becomes taken for granted,”
he said. “Be intentional about your
marriage. Go out on date nights
once a week, on a vacation by yourself.
Seek marriage counseling even
if your marriage is fine – do it just
to make your marriage better. Marriage
is work. Anything worth having
is difficult.”
The message that Steve Bollman
tells people is that “Jesus does not
want your marriage to be enough. He
wants it to be superabundant.”
JOIN OUR GROWING TEAM.
The Chaldean News is looking for motivated
candidates to fill full-time salaried sales
positions. Qualified candidates should email
a resume to info@chaldeannews.com.
34 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

REVIEW YOUR TAX ASSESSMENTS
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Notice: Prevent Home Foreclosure. The Wayne County Treasurer’s Office 2017
show cause hearings are scheduled this January for all Wayne County property
owners who have been notified of a pending foreclosure.
If you have received a show cause notice but are enrolled in a payment plan and
have missed two or less payments, are current on your taxes, and will have your
2016 taxes paid by March 1, 2017, you do not have to attend.
For all others notified, you should plan to attend on the date and time provided in
your notice. If you need more information, call 313-224-5990.
The show cause hearings will be held at the Wayne County Treasurer's Office,
8th Floor, at 400 Monroe in downtown Detroit.
The Wayne County Treasurer’s Office 2017
show cause hearings will be held
January 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24 and 25.
For more information, call 313-224-5990
or email us at info@waynecounty.com
Eric R. Sabree
Wayne County Treasurer
www.treasurer.waynecounty.com
(313) 224-5950
FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 35

chaldean on the STREET
How did you overcome the thing that
went wrong on your wedding day?
BY HALEM SHEENA
February is the time we shine the spotlight on Weddings. Couples shared
their stories on how they dealt with the unexpected on their special day.
Brigit Samona, 32, Commerce:
Just hours before my wedding, I was zipping my
dress and the zipper popped right off into my hand. I
would’ve freaked out, but luckily for me, my amazingly
talented Maid of Honor/Sister put her talent of sewing
to good use, and sewed my dress shut. Luckily for
me, the rest of the night went smoothly and my dress
stayed together!
Martina Konja, 27, West Bloomfield:
I walked into the reception hall and everything looked
amazing. However, something was off. We had wanted
a floating glass with flowers under the cake, but
this addition was nowhere to be found. I was so upbeat
and happy about the day, that I just went on with
the night because I knew we’d be the only ones that
knew it was missing. Your guest have no idea what
your vision was, they just see what is done. All and all,
everything looked great!
Summer Yaldo Nagarah, 32, Troy:
You want everything to be perfect on one of the most
important days of your life; however, there are things
you just can’t control. Nothing major went wrong on
our wedding day, but we had a few complications
with running late and forgetting a few minor things at
home. My butterfly releasing did not go as planned.
I’ve been in many weddings and coordinated plenty,
so to every bride and groom I will say, enjoy the day
and don’t stress the small things because it’s about
the love that you two are sharing and celebrating with
one another and everyone that is attending.
Shavon Manni, 36, Troy:
I walked into our hall and realized that the cake on
the table was one that I had never seen before. I may
have been frustrated at that moment, but after looking
over at my new husband and all our loved ones, it was
in that moment I realized it is not worth sweating the
small stuff. Not one person in that room was going to
remember my cake, nor did they even notice it.
Rita Zoma, 28, West Bloomfield:
In the moment I did get disappointed, because I had
high expectations after so many months of planning.
But, I got over it because I realized it was so minor
compared to the bigger picture which was that I just
married my best friend and we were starting a new
exciting chapter in our lives. The small issues don’t
matter anymore.
Robert Semaan, 31, Sterling Heights:
There wasn’t one specific thing that went wrong, but
the stress and anticipation makes you feel like everything
is going wrong. I kept thinking that these small
things did not matter and just went into the day with
an open mind. In the end, it was all in my head and
everything went great!
36 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

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FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 37

naturally planning
Catholic Church’s Teachings on NFP
BY PAUL NATINSKY
Natural Family Planning
(NFP) is not what it used
to be and for many, that is
a good thing.
Gone are the low success rates of
the “rhythm method” and the guessing
game couples played when trying
to naturally control the growth of
their families.
“The rhythm method is a very
old method and I would frown at
anybody teaching it today, because
it’s not very effective,” said Fanar
Kashat, who has been teaching NFP
for 14 years. “I joke when I teach
my classes that I am a product of the
rhythm method. It’s not very effective;
it’s about 70-80 percent.”
Kashat currently teaches premarital
couples classes at Mother of
God Chaldean Catholic Church in
Southfield. “Newer methods rely on
women charting biological indicators
daily and have success rates close
to 100 percent,” she said. The two
most popular charting methods include
the Billings Ovulation Method
and the Symptothermal Method. In
both cases, the key indicator is cervical
mucus. Women learn to monitor
the consistency and color of the mucus
to distinguish fertile days in their
cycles from those that are not.
“If someone wants to have more
than one data point, they may like
the Symptothermal Method more.
If somebody says well, ‘I don’t want
to take my temperature every morning,
I want something that’s simple,’
they might like the Billings method
more,” said Kashat.
The Symptothermal Method requires
daily body temperature checks
and factors in a number of other
indicators including cervical position,
mid-cycle cramping and mood,
according to the Christian Family
Planning website.
“If you don’t look at the cervical
mucus, you can throw any method out
the window,” said Kashat. Indeed, just
using temperature without looking at
cervical mucus brings the success rate
down from the high 90s to 70 or 80
percent, according the same website.
While there are health advantages
to refraining from hormone-based
birth control pills and surgical procedures,
for Catholic couples the main
appeal of NFP is that it is consistent
with the church’s teachings.
“In the ‘60s, there was a church
document published by Pope Paul
VI, called Humanae Vitae. The document
laid out the church’s teachings
on life issues and contraceptives,”
said Fr. Pierre Konja of Mother of
God Church. “It was very prophetic
in its teachings against contraceptives
and the church has been under
criticism since then.”
The church is consistently against
contraceptive use of any sort. These
are viewed as interruptive methods.
These include, oral contraceptives,
hormonal IVs, condoms, vasectomies,
tied tubes, and other things
of that sort that are directly against,
“openness to life,” said Fr. Pierre.
“The procreative aspect of sex is
not divorced from the unity aspect,”
said Fr. Matthew Zetouna of St.
George Chaldean Catholic Church
in Shelby Township. “What I mean
by that is sex is supposed to have two
elements always present: a unitive element,
bringing two together in love
and freedom; and then also it is, by
nature, procreative. So, to divorce
one of those factors from the nature
of sex is to not give the act itself it’s
sacred due.”
For priests and teachers, working
with young couples on this topic, it
can be challenging and refreshing.
“It’s not an easy topic to teach,” said
Dr. Silvana Younan, an internist who
has been teaching NFP at St. Thomas
Chaldean Catholic Church in West
Bloomfield for the past year. “I feel
sometimes these couples find this to
be intrusive. When we present these
classes, we tell them from the medical
aspect what we’re there to teach
them. I also try to help them from the
moral aspect why our faith wants us to
follow natural family planning.”
A major concern among couples
is the effectiveness of NFP. “You had
these methods like the rhythm method
that are out there and are natural,
but are not effective,” said Kashat.
“So, it jades the reputation for NFP.”
The other concern is the work involved.
“We live in an instant gratification
society,” said Kashat. “NFP is
work. You don’t just take a pill, or put
a condom on and move on with your
life. It takes work to take the class,
to learn how to chart, and to be disciplined
at following it.”
Fr. Pierre added that, “the Western
world is very much accustomed
to have a selfish lifestyle, one, maybe
two children maximum and then you
get so overburdened with stress. People
from big families learn to sacrifice,
how to love, and that the world
doesn’t revolve around them. They
are better parents because of some of
these qualities.”
However, Fr. Matthew reports
that couples are more enthusiastic
about NFP. “There are a lot of Catholics,
especially Chaldeans, nowadays
that are hearing about NFP and they
are saying to themselves, okay, this is
what the church says, I’m going to do
it,” he said. “They are very comfortable
talking about it, and I’m happy
about that because in the Chaldean
community it’s, taboo to talk about
sex and issues related to sex.”
Those involved in teaching NFP
agree that there is a fine line between
acceptable uses of NFP, and using the
technique as a de facto form of birth
control. Financial hardship, medical
considerations and even finishing
graduate school were cited as possible
legitimate reasons to delay family
growth.
It seems the motive for using NFP
is at least as subject to forethought as
employing it. In many cases, teachers
and priests challenge parishioners
to consider their decision prayerfully
and ensure that they are not putting
off having more children for selfish
reasons.
“The majority of practicing Catholics
disagree with the church on this
teaching,” said Fr. Pierre. “They either
disagree with it verbally or they
disagree with it in practice.”
He continued to say that he
The church is consistently against contraceptive use of any sort.
These are viewed as interruptive methods. These include, oral
contraceptives, hormonal IVs, condoms, vasectomies, tied tubes, and
other things of that sort that are directly against, “openness to life.”
– FR. PIERRE KONJA
would challenge his parishioners to
understand that church teachings
are supportive of their happiness and
reflective of their relationship with
God and not arbitrary or archaic.
Classes are generally available at
Catholic churches, though they vary
in length, content, and whether they
are a required part of a pre-marital
curriculum.
Online resources on natural
family planning include:
http://www.woomb.org
a website centered on the
Billings Ovulation Method
http://www.christianfamilyplanning.org/symptothermal.php
a website containing detailed
information on the Symptothermal
Method
“Green Sex”
a presentation by Jason Evert
on the virtues of NFP
38 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

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FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 39

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The stock market adjusts itself
after big waves of high and
low. Football coaches adjust
their play calling at halftime. Interest
rates adjust to economic indicators
and money supply. Standardized
tests are revised to manage competitive
levels amongst students. What
happens when you don’t make adjustments?
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Mediocrity breeds contempt and
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Beginning with the inaugural address
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the political paradigm.
But for too many of our citizens,
a different reality exists:
Mothers and children trapped
in poverty in our inner cities;
rusted-out factories scattered like
tombstones across the landscape
of our nation; an education system,
flush with cash, but which
leaves our young and beautiful
students deprived of knowledge;
and the crime and gangs and
drugs that have stolen too many
lives and robbed our country of
so much unrealized potential.
This American carnage stops
right here and stops right now.
– President Trump’s
Inaugural Address,
January 20, 2017
This description of America will
sound foreign to many. But Trump
was not talking to me or most of you
reading this article right now. As
Nolan Finley aptly pointed out in
his Detroit News column, “Trump
delivered an inauguration speech to
the bars, barns and bowling alleys of
America…” Nor was he talking to
political insiders, establishment bureaucrats,
liberal elites or traditional
conservatives. On the contrary,
those groups were his foils. His speech
was devoid of all the pleasantries,
courtesies and sweeping oratory that
these groups have come to expect.
He only briefly acknowledged the
four past presidents in his company.
He did not pay respect to the ailing
George H. W. Bush who was not
there. He did not seek a unity moment
by embracing Hillary Clinton,
or even shaking her hand. He did
not seize the historic opportunity to
gather the former presidents together
for tea or lunch at the White House.
That is not Donald Trump. He
doesn’t serve up pageantry. He
serves up red meat to red meat eaters.
Herein lies the adjustment, the shift.
The bubble has burst on Obamacare,
the Dodd/Frank legislation, illegal
immigration and free trade. Out are
the LBGT movement, Planned Parenthood
and Black Lives Matter. In
are the National Rifle Association,
the American worker and conservative
federal judges. Out are the
political and media elite. In are the
American people.
Trump did not use his inaugural
address to pivot to normalcy. He used
it to shake the establishment. In
that regard, the speech was as radical
as it was ungracious. In his farewell
speech to the nation, Dwight
D. Eisenhower warned of the Military
Industrial Complex. Trump’s
election was not a response to that.
This complex has been contained,
even if barely. Trump’s election was
a response to the political establishment/media-elite/Wall
Street axis
that has come to represent American
power and privilege. This is the
biggest bubble out there and Trump
seems determined to bust it.
And that is exactly what those in
the “bars, barns and bowling alleys of
American” are looking for.
40 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

Circus 1903
Due to media: 1/16/2017
Publication: Chaldean News
Run dates: February 2017, March
2017
Size: 1/4 page;
4.375 in. w. x 5.875 in. h.
Proof: 1/12/17; 7:31PM
,
For: Nederlander Detroit
(Fisher Theatre & others)
Agency: SMZ advertising
Design: Frank Bach,
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frank@frankbach.com
Photos: Amy Guip
MARCH 21-26
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ticketmaster.com, 800-982-2787 & box office.
Info: BroadwayInDetroit.com, 313-872-1000.
Groups (10+): Groups@BroadwayInDetroit.com or 313-871-1132.
8PM March 23.
Fisher Theatre • March 14–19
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Info: BroadwayInDetroit.com, 313-872-1000.
Groups (10+): Groups@BroadwayInDetroit.com
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FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 41

ECONOMICS and enterprise
Something borrowed, something blue, something bling
BY LISA CIPRIANO
As the old tradition goes, a
bride will need something
old, something new, something
borrowed and something blue
as she walks down the aisle on her
big day. Now, thanks to one crafty
entrepreneur, a bride can have something
bling that includes all of these
things and more.
Rita’s Bejeweled Bridal Bouquets
are also something forever. They are
beautiful, blinged-out bridal bouquets
that are customized by and
for the bride and can be adored as a
forever reminder of that special day.
Any newlywed bride knows the sad
feeling when her once beautiful bridal
bouquet of fresh flowers wilts away
only to be eventually tossed in the
trash or pressed as a brown memory
of its former glory.
Rita Salem-Pappadakis from Farmington
Hills offers brides a forever alternative
— a big bridal bouquet that
can include family keepsakes and can
be handed down for generations. “I can
create anything the bride can dream-up
from simple and elegant, to completely
blinged-out or something in between,”
she said. “I use an array of different
materials, all types of flowers, silk, satin
fabric, drapery pieces or anything else
the bride might have in mind,” added
Salem-Pappadakis. The bouquets are
customized right down to their handles
and they stay exactly the way they were
on the couple’s special day.
The idea for Rita’s Bejeweled
Bridal Bouquets was conceived when
Salem-Pappadakis’ cousin asked for
help choosing her bridal bouquets
and centerpieces. “We were looking
at fresh flower bouquets to order online
and I realized that can I make
these for her,” said Salem-Pappadakis.
Her cousin gave her the job and
she immediately went to work creating
her bouquet, her bridesmaid’s
bouquets and the bridal table centerpiece
with fresh flowers. “They were
gorgeous. She absolutely loved them
and so did everyone else,” Salem-
Pappadakis added.
Those online searches for ideas
got her creative juices flowing and
gave Salem-Pappadakis more inspiration
for future projects that were
a little bit different than traditional
fresh flower bouquets and centerpieces.
“As I was searching for designs
1. Rita Salem-Pappadakis
holding one of her pieces
2. A bejeweled bouquet
3. Embellished pieces
4. A bejeweled bouquet
to make her bouquet, I was coming
across all of these other ideas that
were bejeweled bouquets,” she said.
Ideas for those blinged-out bouquet
creations that she saw online,
danced around in her head
for months. “I kept thinking about
them, day after day, until I finally said
to myself that I can do this.” Salem-
Pappadakis added. So in February
of 2016, she decided to order lots of
brooches, headpieces, draping necklaces
(anything that sparkled) and all
of the other items needed to make a
bouquet such as fabric, flowers, foam
balls, handles, ribbon and off she
went. “It was a lot of fun learning
to make them and each piece turned
out better than the first,” continued
Salem-Pappadakis. And, as they say,
the rest is history.
She now creates her blingedout,
beautiful, one-of-a-kind, bridal
works of art for brides at a dedicated
workspace in her home. She’s already
done three weddings in less than one
year with at least one more on the
horizon.
Salem-Pappadakis is always looking
for items to make her wedding
creations even more unique. “I love
to look for older pieces and antique
pieces,” she explained. “Whatever
catches my eye. I look everywhere.”
Rita’s Bejeweled Bridal Bouquets
can include anything the bride wants
such as a grandmother’s antique
broach, the promise ring that came
before the engagement ring or that
something special made especially for
the bride by her groom to be. She can
add a family rosary, a special photo or
even an engraved piece with the couple’s
wedding date and their names on
it. “Whatever the bride has in mind, I
can certainly incorporate it with the
piece,” Salem-Pappadakis said.
The cost of Rita’s Bridal Bouquets
can be just as customized as the bouquets
themselves. They start in the
$250 to $300 range, but the sky’s the
limit depending on how elaborate the
bride wants the piece. “It all depends
on the material, how fully loaded
they want it, how big they want it
and the type of handle they choose,”
she explained. “It totally varies.”
Salem-Pappadakis also makes coordinating
groom’s and groomsmen’s
corsages, bridesmaid’s bouquets,
mothers and fathers of the bride and
groom corsages and the even the table
centerpieces just as eye-catching
and unique as the bride’s customized,
forever bouquet.
More information on Rita’s Bejeweled
Bridal Bouquets can be found at:
www.Facebook.com/
RitasBejeweledBridalBouquets
www.Instagram.com/
RitasBejeweledBridalBouquet/
42 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

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FEBRUARY 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 43

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44 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2017

PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS
Experience • • Knowledge • • • Personal • Service
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Street Address
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“Serving our Community for over 29 yearS”
CHALDEAN
AMERICAN
CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE
CHALDEAN COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION
SANA NAVARRETTE
MEMBERSHIP MANAGER
CHALDEAN
AMERICAN
CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE
CHALDEAN COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION
30850 TELEGRAPH ROAD, SUITE 200
BINGHAM FARMS, MI 48025
TEL: (248) 996-8340 CELL: (248) 925-7773
FAX: (248) 996-8342
snavarrette@chaldeanchamber.com
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SANA NAVARRETTE
MEMBERSHIP MANAGER
30850 TELEGRAPH ROAD, SUITE 200
BINGHAM FARMS, MI 48025
TEL: (248) 996-8340 CELL: (248) 925-7773
FAX: (248) 996-8342
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www.chaldeanfoundation.org
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Tell them you saw it in the Chaldean News!

CHALDEAN
AMERICAN
CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE
More than 950 members, representing 3,500 businesses and individuals
JOIN THE CHALDEAN CHAMBER TODAY AND
ATTEND THESE FABULOUS EVENTS
march 1
march 8
march 30
april 28
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March 30: Quarterly Networking Meeting, 6-8pm,
Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital
April 28: Annual Awards Gala, 6-11pm,
Shenandoah Country Club
GET INVOLVED. GET CONNECTED. GET BUSINESS.
CONTACT SANA NAVARRETTE AT SNAVARRETTE@CHALDEANCHAMBER.COM
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