APRIL 2017

VOL. 13 ISSUE III 

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY APRIL 2017 

$ 

3 

www.chaldeannews.com 

BEHIND THE 

MOSQUE 

STERLING HEIGHTS 

CONTROVERSY 

PROMPTS 

CONVERSATIONS 

ABOUT CHALDEANS 

AND MUSLIMS 

CO-EXISTING IN 

THE UNITED STATES 

INSIDE 

GETTING DOWN IN D’TOWN 

RESCINDING THE ‘HALF-MILE RULE’ 

INDUSTRY IMPRINT 

PRSRT STD 

US POSTAGE 

PAID 

PERMIT NO. 179 

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI

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2 CHALDEAN NEWS APRIL 2017

APRIL 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 3


CONTENTS APRIL 2017 

THE CHALDEAN NEWS VOLUME 13 ISSUE III 

on the cover 

26 BEHIND THE MOSQUE 

BY VANESSA DENHA GARMO 

Sterling Heights controversy prompts conversations about 

Chaldeans and Muslims co-existing in the United States 

departments 

6 FROM THE EDITOR 


A Land of the Free… 

7 YOUR LETTERS 

8 IN MY VIEW 

BY MICHAEL SARAFA 

Michigan Governor’s race taking shape 

9 WHERE DO YOU STAND 

BY MICHAEL SARAFA 

The rule of law does not know religion 

12 NOTEWORTHY 

14 CHAI TIME 

16 RELIGION 

17 OBITUARIES 

34 CHALDEANS ON THE STREET 

BY HALIM SHEENA 

What does Easter mean to you? 

36 ART AND ENTERTAINMENT 

BY LISA CIPRIANO 

Back in time with d’town rewind 

38 DOCTOR IS IN 

40 CLASSIFIED LISTING 

42 KIDS CORNER 

20 

features 

20 CHRISTIAN LOVE 

BY WEAM NAMOU 

Bishop Basilio Yaldo leads the way with a patch of peace 

22 LIBERATING TELKAIF 

BY WEAM NAMOU 

Chaldean Diocese serving the community and 

reconstructing the village 

24 SEX SLAVE MARKET 

BY WEAM NAMOU 

Local event honors award-winning poet 

28 HEALING WITH OTHERS 

BY KRIS HARRIS 

Grieving with Hope and Faith group supports those in need 

29 RESCINDING THE RULE 


AFPD challenges Liquor Control effort 

to end ‘half-mile’ requirement 

30 BRINGING PEACE 

BY AVERY MCGOWAN 

Shlama Foundation was born out of the ISIS invasion 

32 INDUSTRY IMPRINT 


An outlook on successful women in the community 


from the EDITOR 

PUBLISHED BY 

The Chaldean News, LLC 

EDITORIAL 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

Vanessa Denha-Garmo 

MANAGING EDITORS 

Denha Media Group 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Halim Sheena 

Weam Namou 

Lisa Cipriano 

Avery McGowan 

Kris Harris 

ART & PRODUCTION 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS 

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PHOTOGRAPHERS 

Halim Sheena 

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OPERATIONS 

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DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS 

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CLASSIFIEDS 

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SALES REPRESENTATIVES 


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MANAGERS 


Martin Manna 

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PHONE: (248) 996-8360 

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

monthly; Issue Date: APRIL 2017 Subscriptions: 

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Send address changes to “The Chaldean News 30850 

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A Land of the Free… 

While in college, 

I hung out with 

a girl from my 

neighborhood who was 

getting an undergraduate 

degree from Wayne State 

University. We often drove 

to classes together in the 

summer and even took a 

couple of psychology classes 

together. She was Muslim 

and I, of course, am Catholic. 

Religion was never an 

issue. We rarely discussed it. 

She asked questions on occasion and 

offered very little information about 

her religion. 

We were friends around the same 

age facing very similar issues- school, 

work, friend drama and dating dilemmas. 

Her brother, too, was my friend. 

He was afraid of flying and he once 

asked me for a Rosary to take on the 

plane having heard from many of his 

Catholic friends the significance of 

the prayer. He had no idea how to 

pray it, but was impressed with the 

faith of others. He believed it would 

bring him peace on the plane, so I 

gave him one. 

There was a big group of us who 

used to hang out — Chaldeans, Muslims, 

Indians, and Christians from 

other ethnicities. Our backgrounds 

were never an issue. We were all just 

college kids, studying, working and 

having a fun. 

We exemplified living in the land 

of the free. 

Growing up, I heard stories about 

the discrimination against Christians 

in Iraq, but never at the level we 

have experienced in recent years. The 

VANESSA 

DENHA-GARMO 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

CO-PUBLISHER 

emotions are intense both 

here and in Iraq. The fear 

created by the persecutions 

have become a real factor in 

the Sterling Heights mosque 

story that has developed 

over the last two years. We 

wanted to cover this story 

from that perspective, addressing 

questions many 

people are thinking about, 

but don’t want to answer. 

You have read, watched 

and heard the news in local 

media, but there are underlying and 

deeply rooted concerns that have not 

been discussed. We wanted to share 

that angle of the story. Our cover 

piece this month is a report on the 

Sterling Heights mosque. 

I would love to go back to that 

care-fee time in college when being 

friends with someone was based 

on your commonalities and loyalties 

and not religion or race. There are 

such strong beliefs on both sides of 

the issue — can Christians and Muslims 

co-exist in the United States? 

I believe so. 

Yet, when you engage in this discussion 

with some people, they get 

enraged. It’s the same divisiveness 

you often seen between the Trump 

supporters and anti-Trump team. 

There is no middle ground anymore. 

The reality is, we need to figure 

out how to be respectful, peaceful and 

accepting, regardless of our differences. 

I know, it’s easier said than done. 

You can’t find peace with someone 

who wants to kill you because of your 

faith. Those are extremists. There is 

no negotiating with them. As Fr. Boji 

appropriately noted in this month’s 

cover story, Christians should be 

awarded the same freedom of religion 

in Iraq, as they are here in America. 

But for the point of this editor’s 

note, I am not talking about the extremists. 

Have I come across hateful people 

over the years? Absolutely. I 

have worked with non-Christians 

including some Muslims who made a 

concerted effort to hide their disdain 

for Christians but truly struggled. 

I have also worked with proclaimed 

Christians who were hateful, 

deceptive, and undermined me 

every chance they got. I also have 

had friends, colleagues and clients 

of the Muslim faith who have been 

kind, respectful and peaceful. 

There are truly good and bad in 

all groups. 

These issues are about what is at 

the core of a human being. What 

lives in your soul and proceeds from 

your heart. 

The Sterling Heights issue serves 

as an example of what lies at the 

heart. We need to solve problems 

through communication, mutual respect 

and finding common ground. 

You can’t shout and spit at people 

any more than you can strong arm 

someone into what you want. 

That is a lose/lose for everyone. 

There are valid concerns with 

the actual structure and location of 

the building. However, the tensions 

between the religions and persecutions 

in Iraq have bled through and 

the real conversations that need to 

be had, are now muted. 

EDITOR continued on page 9 

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your LETTERS 

We protect your 

Home, Auto, Business 

and your Loved ones. 

Younger Views 

Reading the statements of some of 

our youth in your March 2017 edition 

about President Trump executive 

order filled me with pride for 

how mature and wise their analysis 

was. Yes; we all want to be safe from 

terrorism, want our families back 

home to live, work and pray in peace 

without fear, and want to avoid those 

who do not share the American values 

from arriving here. But, we need 

to reach those goals in an intelligent 

manner, without creating new enemies, 

without giving ammunition 

to ISIS to recruit more, and without 

staining our traditional values of 

compassion and liberty. I felt some of 

our youth’s statements are more eloquent 

than some of those uttered by 

our President himself. 

– N. Peter Antone 

Created Equal 

Timothy McVeigh was not a Muslim. 

Remember. Remember Orlando? 

Remember Columbine? 

Remember Sandy Hook? All Terrorist 

acts committed on U.S. soil 

by home born citizens. By referencing 

the often stated Judeo-Christian 

values that Americans live by you 

negate the many Asian religions 

who also share common American 

values. I agree that Iraqi Christians 

have and are continuing to suffer. 

So are the Syrian Christians. So are 

the Kurdish Christians living in Iraq 

and Afghanistan. So are the many 

innocent Muslims in the Middle 

East and throughout the world who 

are being blamed and victimized for 

the actions of a radicalized terrorist 

group known as ISIS. The Jewish 

community has been the victim of 

hate crime across the United States 

and throughout Europe, and the 

Palestinians, along with the Israelis, 

are also continuing to live with daily 

bombings and innocent deaths. 

You speak of fairness and equity but 

only for Iraqi Christians. Ethnocentrism.? 

So who should decide the 

value of one life over another. You. 

Me. God. 

– Rita Lossia (as posted on Facebook) 

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in my VIEW 

Michigan Governor’s race taking shape 

Although still more 

than a year away, 

the race to become 

the next Michigan Governor 

has begun. There are 

several overarching issues 

that will play into who will 

be the nominees of the two 

parties, and ultimately, who 

is elected. 

One issue is President 

Trump. I don’t know exactly 

how it will play out, 

but candidates from both parties will be 

forced to weigh in on his policies. They 

will be expected to pick sides on certain 

issues framed by Trump, and choose to 

either align or distance themselves from 

him and his administration. Where the 

Trump Administration stands in the 

coming months, remains to be seen. 

For now, the stock market is at a record 

high, job creation is robust and 

Trump’s Supreme Court nominee has 

been widely lauded. There appears to 

MICHAEL G. 

SARAFA 

SPECIAL TO THE 

CHALDEAN NEWS 

be a lot of turmoil in “Trump 

land” but it is mostly inside 

the beltway politics and not 

of a major concern to a majority 

of Americans. 

The second issue is 

Governor Snyder. Unfortunately, 

what looked to 

be an extremely successful 

reign as governor, with 

the opportunity to set a 

new modus operandi for 

the Office of Governor, has 

been upended by the Flint water crisis. 

Snyder has been largely sidelined 

as a political player, and his ability to 

influence the people’s choice for the 

next Governor will be limited. That 

big negative accrues mostly to his 

Lieutenant Governor, Brian Calley, 

who is well-liked and well respected. 

Known as a consensus builder and 

seeker, Michigan political watchers 

are not sure Calley is battle ready to 

lead a statewide ticket. 

On the Republican side, that 

leaves Attorney General Bill Schuette. 

Schuette, a career politician who has 

served in the state legislature and in 

Congress, comes across as mostly concerned 

about his next political office 

landing spot in the age of term limits. 

He has also been roundly criticized for 

what some have called “politicizing” 

the Flint water crisis. It’s too early to 

tell, but some legal experts have called 

some of the criminal charges he has 

filed against public sector employees involved 

with the Flint public health crisis 

“flimsy.” Even a Federal Judge accused 

him of “superficial posturing.” Whatever 

Schuette’s motives, it doesn’t appear 

he can turn his action on the Flint case 

into a positive and that’s probably the 

way it should be. While the residents 

of Flint deserve accountability and answers, 

political play will further roil the 

situation rather than help. 

On the Democratic side, former 

Democratic Senate Leader Gretchen 

Whitmer has already filed to run for 

Governor. Serving in the minority 

party throughout her legislative career, 

made it difficult for her to notch 

many legislative victories. While the 

memories of the Granholm years have 

largely faded (Granholm served during 

the last recession), the comparison of 

Whitmer to Granholm will not play 

favorably with Trump voters. It appears 

Whitmore hails from the Identity 

Politics wing of the Democratic Party 

of which this last national election was 

a resounding repudiation. Still, Whitmer 

should garner lots of traditional 

support and could be formidable in a 

primary and general election. 

The other Democrat making the 

rounds is Congressman Dan Kildee. 

Most of us would remember his father 

better, former Congressman Dale Kildee 

who was widely respected throughout 

his time in Congress, but was also a 

IN MY VIEW continued on page 9 


IN MY VIEW continued from page 8 

liberal firebrand on most issues. One 

generation later, Dan is cut from a more 

moderate cloth and has a better chance 

to appeal to the Democrats who voted 

for Trump in the presidential election. 

Kildee comes from the Flint area, which 

will give him the most natural perch 

from which to address that issue. He also 

comes across as a regular guy and has a 

decent handle of policy issues, at least 

at the federal level. Other Democrats 

include Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan 

and Westland Mayor William R. Wild. 

It’s too early to handicap these 

candidates and only one has formally 

made her intentions clear. Others 

could still emerge. With Trump in 

the White House and a wounded 

Governor Snyder, many are giving a 

leg up to whomever is the Democratic 

nominee. That may or may not be 

an accurate assessment. If we learned 

anything from the Trump election, 

things can change very quickly. 

EDITOR continued from page 6 

To speak truth takes bravery. 

Some people are trying to instill fear 

in others so they won’t talk. 

As the story explains, the issue 

isn’t over in Sterling Heights. We 

will continue to cover it as it unfolds. 

We must also look at this story beyond 

face value and delve deep into 

the root of the issue. Can all religions 

peacefully exist in the land of the free 

and the home of the brave? 

Alaha Imid Koullen 

(God Be With Us All) 


vanessa@denhamedia.com 

Follow her on Twitter @ 

vanessadenha 

Follow Chaldean News on 

Twitter @chaldeannews 


where do you STAND? 

The rule of law does not know religion 

BY MIKE SARAFA 

When ISIS soldiers attacked 

the Village of Telkaif, Iraq 

near Mosul a couple of 

years ago, they found a town where 

Christians and Muslims have lived 

side-by-side for generations. Although 

Telkaif was once an exclusively 

Christian enclave, it became 

very much a mixed city as the Christian 

exodus to the big cities and other 

countries, sped up over the last 40 

years. The Muslims in this town are 

primarily from the Sunni sect. 

What happened next is what was 

happening all around Iraq at that 

time. For the Christian population 

it was convert to Islam, leave, or die. 

The response for most families was to 

leave. That tragic saga has been well 

documented in the Chaldean News 

and other places. ISIS soldiers absconded 

the one Chaldean Church 

in the town and converted it to their 

headquarters. They removed the 

crucifixes and all other Christian 

symbols and hoisted and ISIS flag on 

the roof. 

This behavior was not a shock to 

anyone familiar with the methodologies 

and tactics of this terrorist organization. 

But what happened next 

was a surprise to many—and a huge 

disappointment. The now abandoned 

homes of the Christians who 

fled, were ransacked and looted. Personal 

property was stolen and some 

domiciles were simply taken over. 

This occurred not at the hands of 

ISIS soldiers, but of the Sunni Muslim 

community in Telkaif who had 

been neighbors to these people for 

decades. 

Fast forward to Sterling Heights, 

Michigan today. After a proposal for 

a mosque was shot down by city officials 

a year ago, they recently were 

forced by a federal government lawsuit 

to allow the mosque to be built. 

This Muslim group happens to be 

Shiite, which is beside the point. 

We live in the most pluralistic society 

in the history of the world. Our 

country was founded on several core 

principles that starts with all men 

(people) being created equal and includes 

freedom of the press and freedom 

of religion. It is difficult to put 

oneself in the shoes of our Christian 

brothers and sisters whose lives have 

been upended by the turmoil in Iraq 

and other places. But it is not difficult 

to understand how they feel. 

Still, Sterling Heights is a legal 

entity formed under the laws of the 

State of Michigan, one of the 50 great 

united states in America. There, like 

everywhere across the U.S., people 

are afforded the full rights and protections 

and advantages under the 

U.S. Constitution. This includes the 

right to worship in your choice of 

house of worship, subject to zoning 

laws and other reasonable state and 

local statutes. 

This is a tough pill to swallow 

for the recent Iraqi Christian immigrants 

who have suffered and lost 

much. These losses include attacks 

on their religion, on their dignity, 

on their wives and daughters and on 

their own unalienable rights. In Iraq, 

these things are not protected very 

well, especially for Christians. 

These people have come to the 

United States for a better life for 

themselves and their families. On 

balance, that will be achieved. But 

these rights are not exclusive to any 

one race, community or religion. We 

live in a society governed by the rule 

of law. Now is the time to respect 

that rule of law for all, and to begin 

to develop ways that can heal the 

very real wounds between these two 

sets of Iraqi immigrants with different 

religions. 

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BOND PROPOSAL 

WITH REDUCTION IN CURRENT TAX RATE 

On May 2 nd , West Bloomfield School District residents will vote on 

a school bond proposal. If voters approve the bond proposal, 

the current tax rate will be reduced by one-half mill. 

What will the bond do? 

The bond will provide funding to right-size, re-imagine, renovate and 

refresh the school district. If approved by voters, the bond proposal will 

positively impact every WBSD student, school and school facility and 

it will position the school district to serve current and future generations. 

Why is the bond proposal necessary? 

To ensure that our facilities operate efficiently and that they match 

current and projected student enrollment. 

More than 100 bond proposal projects fall into eight basic categories: 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

Consolidation of Abbott and Orchard Lake Middle Schools into a new 21st Century middle school. 

Transform outdated spaces at WBHS to better accommodate STEAM, Fine Arts, CTE, Health & Wellness, and Athletics. 

Add an auxiliary gym to WBHS, remodel fine arts facilities, the auditorium, the pool area, and bathrooms. 

Redesign elementary iCenters, common areas, and classrooms to create flexible learning spaces for student instruction. 

Continue enhancements that improve student safety and school security. 

Continue upgrading and replacing instructional technology. 

Close the Administration and Community Services building and relocate Central Office to an existing school. 

Replace school buses as they reach the end of their useful life. 

A complete list of all projects in the bond 

proposal appears on the district website at 

www.wbsd.org/bond 

Questions or need more information? 

Go to www.wbsd.org/bond 

Contact Supt. Gerald Hill at 248-865-6485 or gerald.hill@wbsd.org 

Go to www.wbsd.org and click on Talk to us, 24/7/365 


noteworthy 

Expanding its Range 

T-Mobile, located at 7675 Wayne 

Rd, is their second location in the 

city of Westland. Because of Westland 

growth, T-Mobile chose to open 

another store within the Shop and 

Dine District. Wireless Vision/T-Mobile 

has more than 24 stores in Michigan, 

and 270 nationwide. T- Mobile 

will employ more than 10 employees 

within both Westland stores. The 

store manager is Farideh Girgis, who 

has been a Westland resident her entire 

life. 

A Warm 

Welcome 

Archbishop Vigneron 

has appointed 

Monsignor Timothy 

D. Hogan to become 

the next pastor of St. 

Fabian Parish, effective July 1, 2017. 

Msgr. Hogan has wide range of skills 

and experiences, having served 

as a chaplain to the U.S. Navy 

Reserve, a ministry during which he 

was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, 

Europe and Japan. He also has 

served as regional moderator 

for the Northeast Region of the 

Archdiocese of Detroit and on the 

Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council. 

His last pastorate prior to becoming 

Vicar for Clergy was at Holy 

Family Parish in Novi. He is very 

involved and active as a chaplain 

with the Knights of Columbus, 

and was ordained a priest for the 

Archdiocese of Detroit in December 

1982. He has been saying Mass 

each Wednesday morning at 8:30 

am at St. Fabian for the past several 

months, and has gotten familiar 

with the parish in this way. 

Prayer for Business 

Owners 

In recent weeks, the Chaldean seminarians 

having been going door-todoor 

evangelizing the faith to Chaldean 

business owners. Every week 

they have spent about two hours 

going around Detroit and walking 

into various liquor and grocery stores 

around the seminary. They walk 

in, introduce themselves, hand the 

owner a rosary, ask them if they need 

any prayers, encourage them to go 

to Mass and challenge them to grow 

deeper in their faith. “Many hearts 

Communicating Careers 

A group of leaders in their respective industries shared their 

stories with Middle School Students from Orchard Lake 

Middle School in West Bloomfield at the 28th Annual Career 

Day Event. Simon Jonna is a national market leader in 

net-leased retail and shopping centers within the investment 

brokerage industry. Mike Palmer is the owner of Premier 

Pet Supply in Beverly Hills, which has been a staple 

in the community since 1992. Jay Dallo is a lawyer who 

started his own law practice in 2009 shortly after he passed 

the bar exam. He is also a martial arts instructor with a 

martial arts school, Dallo Martial Arts in Southfield. As a 

lawyer, his main practice areas are criminal justice defense 

and immigration. Vanessa Denha Garmo spoke as the Copublisher 

and Editor in Chief of the Chaldean News. She 

is also the founder of Denha Media Group where she serves 

her clients as a communications strategist. Judge Diane 

Dickow D›Agostini has served as District Judge for more 

have been open and there have 

been great faith discussions,” said 

Perrin Attisha, seminarian. “In our 

encounters and experiences, many 

have asked how they can come and 

see the seminary so we came up with 

the idea to have a mass and gathering 

at the seminary for all Chaldean 

business owners.” 

The First Annual Mass for Chaldean 

Business Owners will take place 

at Sacred Heart Major Seminary with 

a gathering to follow on April 18. 

The Art of a Photo 

Matthew Piziali, a student at U of D High School won two gold medals, a 

silver medal and an honorable mention for this photograph. He won a gold 

medal for the photo and for his entire portfolio. The photo of his grandfather, 

Sam Yono, was taken for Piziali’s AP Art class as part of the Scholastic Art 

Competition. The gold medal photographs will be sent in for judging on the 

National Level and if he wins anything at that level, he goes to Carnegie Hall 

in NY to receive his award and scholarships. 

Congratulations 

Derek Dickow has been selected 

as a member of the 2017 Oakland 

County Executive’s Elite 40 Under 

40 class, one of 40 individuals. L. 

Brooks Patterson recognizes individuals 

for their innovation, talent and 

leadership. Nearly 400 applications 

and nominations were reviewed by 

an independent panel of judges, 

looking for the top 40 young professionals 

and thought leaders who live 

or work in Oakland County. 

Hello, hello, hello = goodbye 

On the bottom of the front page of the March 22, 2017 

Wall Street Journal was an article titled “Iraqis Don’t Know 

Why You Say Goodbye, They Say Hello.” We all have seen 

this and many of us do it. The article goes on to say that 

“hello (usually as a declining crescendo) has been entrenched 

in the parting Iraqi protocol for some time” but 

causes a great deal of confusion for visitors. The Journal 

quotes a couple of experts on how this developed. One 

theory is that Iraqi’ simply like to elaborate a lot and are 

verbally animated; yet another is that Iraqi’s are big on 

hospitality and that “hello, hello, hello” is “like they never 

want to say goodbye or like see you soon.” 

Another little tidbit from the same article—the source 

of the word “temmen” meaning rice? During World War 

1, the Iraqi’s from Basra would deliver rations of rice to the 

British troops marked RICE FOR TEN MEN. Somehow 

temmen became part of the vernacular. Hello hello, hello. 

than 11 years handling criminal, civil, landlord/tenant and 

traffic cases. She was appointed Chief Judge by the Michigan 

Supreme Court. Derek Dickow is the founder of the 

Metro-Detroit based PR and consulting firm, Steward Media. 

He is power-connector and leader in fundraising. Chantel 

Bahoura is an attorney at Garan Lucow Miller, PC 

in Detroit where she focuses on civil litigation, primarily 

personal injury defense. 


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(586)-468-1900 ext. 434 

Waypoints: 

4236.6069 N 08247.746W. 

•Weddings 

•Showers 

•Communions 

•Birthdays 

•Retirement 

•Funerals 

Call or email for pricing and tour information. 

586.421.5155 | 43843 Romeo Plank Road 

banquet@iacsonline.com | IACSweddingbanquets.com 

030917WG 


CHAI time 

CHALDEANS CONNECTING 

COMMUNITY EVENTS IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT APRIL 2017 

Saturday, April 1 

Festival: In Farmington Hills, it’s a 

wonderful celebration of the arts in our 

community! Interactive art and fun for 

families - see more than 200 pieces of 

artwork, hands-on activities for children, 

live entertainment and artist demonstrations. 

1-3 p.m. Art of the Matter - A free 

workshop and interactive forum including 

a panel discussion for middle and 

high school students to explore diverse, 

art-focused educational and career opportunities. 

Free 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 

248-473-1848, email shayman@fhgov. 

com, or visit www.farmingtonarts.org. 

Sunday, April 2 

Performance: It’s Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the 

Hat. At last, that fun-loving cat in the redand-white-hat 

is here! Experience all the 

wacky, zany joy that has made this one 

of the most treasured rhyming books of 

all time. Join us as the Dallas Children’s 

Theater presents this special theatrical 

event. Our 2016-2017 Family Theatre 

Series is sponsored by Lear Corporation. 

The event is from 4-6 p.m. Call 313- 

887-8500, email dasanm@musichall. 

org, or visit www.musichall.org/events/ 

Dr.-Seuss-Cat-in-the-Hat. 

Mondays, April 3, 10, 17, 24 

Class: Join Jeff Kassab for Theology 

101 at ECRC starting at 7:00 p.m. The 

class will meet you where you are in 

your faith. Whether you are a beginner, 

advanced in your faith, or if you simply 

just want to know what Catholicism is 

about, this class is for you. Jeff will 

cover basic doctrines of the faith such 

as God and creation, Jesus Christ 

his Humanity/divinity, the Holy Spirit, 

Mary the Mother of God, the Catholic 

Church, the Papacy, the Holy Eucharist, 

Death and Judgment, and Heaven 

and Hell. At the end of every class we 

will have Question & Answer session. 

Tuesdays, April 4, 11, 18, 25 

Performance Art: It’s Open Mic Night 

at Joey’s Comedy Shop in Plymouth. 

top by, “the world’s greatest open 

mic.” New comics are welcome, just 

call 734-261-0555 to sign up. $58- 

9:30 p.m. 

Tuesdays, April 4, 11, 18, 25 

Class: Join His Excellency Bishop 

Francis at ECRC for his Weekly Bible 

Study in English starting at 7:00 p.m. 

Wednesday, April 5 

Event: Fikra Wa Nagma at ECRC is 

a monthly Arabic Program with Karam 

Bahnam. The event is at 7:00 p.m. This 

program allows us to come together to 

give praise to God through live music 

and songs, as well as to meditate on 

one thought from many perspective 

with the goal of learning our faith and 

nourishing our souls. 

Thursdays, April 6, 13, 20, 27 

Event: Join us at Holy Martyrs Church for 

a Theology course with Hubert Sanders. 

Come early for Mass at 7:00 p.m. 

Friday, April 7 at 8 p.m., 

Saturday, April 8 at 3 & 8 p.m. and 

Sunday, April 9 at 3 p.m. 

Performance: Audition Awakening an 

ambitious dancer, a shy singer, a confident 

rapper. Three Detroit teens want 

nothing more than to perform at their 

high school talent show. As they each 

work to prepare their auditions, problems 

at home and school threaten to 

derail them from achieving their dreams. 

Will these young artists overcome their 

challenges in time for their auditions, 

or will the barriers they face stand in 

the way of their success? Directed by 

Amy Thomas and Megan Wright Adults: 

$12 Students, seniors, active military, 

and veterans: Cost is $8 $8-$12. Call 

313.967.0599, email info@matrixtheatre.org, 

or visit www.matrixtheatre.org/ 

school-of-theatre-productions 

Sunday, April 9 

Performance art, Musical, Live/Concert: 

Peter and the Wolf will be a fun 

live performance of Prokofiev’s masterpiece. 

There will be pre-show activities 

from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Concert 

begins at 4:00p.m. Cost is $15 Venue 

is the Michigan Theater locates at 603 

E. Liberty Downtown Ann Arbor. Call 

(734) 668-8480. 

Tuesday, April 11 

Event: The Art of an Interview: WHAT’S 

YOUR STORY? Do you know how to 

get an interview and how to be interviewed? 

You have to first know your 

story before you learn how to tell it! 

Vanessa Denha Garmo, founder 

of Denha Media Group is hosting a 

complimentary Media Training Seminar 

open to Livonia Chamber of Commerce 

members and non-members 

interested in learning about the Livonia 

Chamber. This training session will 

give participants an overview on how to 

identify stories and how to tell them. It 

will take place at the Livonia Chamber 

office from 9:30 to 11 a.m. 

RSVP by emailing to info@denhamedia.com 

Subject Line Media Training. 

Wednesday, April 12 

Class: Formation Class at ECRC is a 

program for certification and formation 

of Catechism & Communion teachers 

in the Chaldean diocese of St. Thomas 

the Apostle in Detroit, MI. Class begins 

at 6:00 p.m. The catechists view DVDs, 

completes companion booklets, and participate 

in a small group setting with a 

facilitator. ECRC has certified 6 Master 

Catechists that are contracted to teach & 

facilitate each session. This video-assisted 

process of formation is used by many 

diocesans across the nation including 

the Archdiocese of Detroit for parish catechists, 

Catholic school teachers, and 

facilitators of adult faith formation. 


Event: A Prayer for Business Owners. 

In recent weeks, the Chaldean seminarians 

having been going door-to-door 

evangelizing the faith to Chaldean business 

owners. Every week they have 

spent about two hours going around 

Detroit and walking into various liquor 

and grocery stores around the seminary. 

They walk in, introduce themselves, 

hand the owner a rosary, ask them if they 

need any prayers, encourage them to 

go to Mass and challenge them to grow 

deeper in their faith. “In our encounters 

and experiences, many have asked how 

they can come and see the seminary 

so we came up with the idea to have a 

mass and gathering at the seminary for 

all Chaldean business owners,” said 

Perrin Attisha, seminarian. 

The First Annual Mass for Chaldean 

Business Owners will take place at Sacred 

Heart Major Seminary at 7 p.m. 

with a gathering to follow. Those interested 

in attending are asked to RSVP to 

chaldeanseminariansdetroit@gmail.com 


Class: Formation Class at Holy Martyrs 

is a program for certification and 

formation of Catechism & Communion 

teachers in the Chaldean diocese of 

St. Thomas the Apostle in Detroit, MI. 

Class begins at 6:00 p.m. The catechists 

view DVDs, completes companion 

booklets, and participate in a 

small group setting with a facilitator. 

This video-assisted process of formation 

is used by many diocesans across 

the nation including the Archdiocese 

of Detroit for parish catechists, Catholic 

school teachers, and facilitators of 

adult faith formation. 

Friday, April 21 

Dinner Event: 40th Annual Celebrity 

Chefs Dinner. Join Community Living 

Centers at the Detroit Athletic Club 

for its milestone 40th Annual Celebrity 

Chefs Dinner at 6:00 p.m. Fifteen top 

chefs from metro Detroit will prepare 

and serve a five-course meal while 

guests and sponsors enjoy entertainment, 

a silent auction, and raffle. CLC 

serves metro Detroit adults and children 

with developmental disabilities. Event 

being held at the Detroit Athletic Club. 

Saturday, April 22 

Conference: Surviving the Social Jungle 

(501c3) is a conference that takes 

a fresh approach to managing unfriendly 

peer behavior and preventing bullying, 

with specialized tracks for kids, adults 

and professional educators. At the conference, 

kids will learn practical skills 

and strategies for dealing with mean 

behavior before it turns into a bullying 

situation, and the “do’s and don’ts” of 

being a friendly classmate and standing 

up for themselves. Also, the kids’ tracks 

are engaging stations in which the kids 

learn the lessons. They will participate 

in fun activities like Verbal Judo, Judo 

Moves, Mindfulness, a photo booth and 

games. Adults including, parents, teachers, 

school administrators, and camp 

counselors will learn the latest research 

on social rejection, practical advice on 

how to recognize and help kids manage 

mean behavior and bullying in school, 

extracurricular activities, as well as techniques 

to empower students and advice 

on how to best intervene when needed. 

Seaholm High School, located at 2436 

West Lincoln Birmingham, MI. Visit 

www.survivingthesocialjungle.com 

Monday, April 24 

Performance Art: Homemade Stories 

Live are held on the Last Monday of 

every month, 7 p.m. at Cliff’s Bell in Detroit 

located at 2030 Park Ave. 

Homemade Stories Live is a storytelling 

show where top local and national 

storytellers share entertaining stories all 

themed around good music. PLUS an 

open mic where brave audience members 

can take the stage to share a slice 

of their own lives. Come be a part of 

this storytelling experience. Each show 

features 2 guest storytellers and 3 open 

mic storytellers where names will be 

drawn for audience members to share 

a 3-minute story. (18+) $15 ADV - $20 

DOS http://www.shannoncason.com/ 

Friday, April 28 

Event: The Chaldean Chamber is nearing 

a sell out for the Chamber’s Annual 

Awards Dinner. Join more than 900 

dignitaries, community leaders and 

business people on Friday, April 28 

at Shenandoah Country Club in West 

Bloomfield beginning at 6:00pm. Reserve 

your seat today by contacting 

Mary at 248-996-8340 or mkirma@ 

chaldeanchamber.com. 

Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. 

Guided Tours: They are free factory 

tours at Morley Candy/Sanders located 

on Hall Road. Visit us for a free factory 

tour today. Your experience begins with 

a video sharing the story of chocolate 

and how Sanders and Morley Candy 

Makers got their start in Detroit. Next 

you’ll watch our expert candy makers 

create luscious treats like Sea Salt 

Caramels and Honeycomb Chips as 

you make your way down our 180 foot 

observation walkway. Then indulge in a 

free sample before visiting our unique 

candy and gift shop. Tours are from 

9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Visit www.sanderscandy.com/factory-tours-a/250.htm, 

or call (586) 468-4300. 


PRESENTS 

CHALDEAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 

14TH ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER 

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017 

6:00 PM - 11:00 PM 

SHENANDOAH COUNTRY CLUB 

5600 WALNUT LAKE ROAD, WEST BLOOMFIELD, MICHIGAN 48323 

HONORING 

Humanitarian of the Year 

St. John Providence 

Business Person of the Year 

Victor Saroki 

President of Saroki Architecture 

Special Tribute 

Almanhal Al Safi 

Consulate General of the Republic of Iraq in Detroit 

SPECIAL GUESTS 

Ambassador Fareed Yasseen, Embassy of the 

Republic of Iraq along with several other local, 

national and international dignitaries. 

Victor Saroki 

Almanhal Al Safi 

HONORARY CHAIR 

William R. Wild 

Mayor of Westland, 2017 SEMCOG Regional 

Ambassador, US Conference of Mayors Michigan 

Ambassador and Board of Directors for the Michigan 

Municipal Risk Authority 

EVENT TICKETS 

$175 per person 

$1,500 for a table of 10 

Several sponsorship opportunities 

DINNER COMMITTEE CHAIRS 

Dr. Nahid Elyas 

St. John Providence 

Paul Jonna 

The Taubman Company 

Mark Sarafa 

Pop Daddy Popcorn 

HOST COMMITTEE 

Jason Abro 

Ian Bolton 

Eman Jajonie-Daman 

Matt Loria 

Vanessa Mona 

SPONSORED BY 

For sponsorship information contact Mary at 248-996-8340 or mkirma@chaldeanchamber.com

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 OUR 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. 

Thursdays: 5:30 Adoration and 6:30 Mass 

First Friday of the month: 6:30 p.m. Adoration, Confession and Mass 

Bible Study in Arabic: Wednesdays 7 p.m. 

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 

_ 

_ 

Easter 

Easter commemorates the resurrection 

of Jesus Christ. It is the 

most important Christian festival, 

and the one celebrated with the 

greatest joy. Without Easter there 

would be no Christianity. Without 

Jesus’ suffering, his execution 

and subsequent resurrection there 

would be no Christianity, for however 

terrible the suffering was, it 

was part of God’s plan for the salvation 

of humankind. 

Easter marks the end of Lent, 

a period of fasting and penitence 

in preparation for Easter. 

The week before Easter, 

known as Holy Week, is very 

special in the Christian tradition. 

The Sunday before Easter is 

Palm Sunday and the last three 

days before Easter are Maundy 

Thursday or Holy Thursday, 

Good Friday and Holy Saturday 

(sometimes referred to as Silent 

Saturday). Palm Sunday, Maundy 

Thursday and Good Friday 

respectively commemorate Jesus’ 

entry in Jerusalem, the Last 

Supper and the Crucifixion. 

Easter Sunday 

Morning Prayer 

O Lord, 

Risen, alive and full of grace. 

You paid such a price that we may 

live in freedom today. 

We worship your holy name and 

give thanks for your redeeming 

grace. 

Heavenly Father, 

May we drink in your tender love 

so that we can pour this love out 

to others. 

Come reign in our hearts, minds 

and spirits. 

Holy Spirit, 

We welcome you to blow through 

our every word, action and 

thought. 

Come transform us on the inside so 

that each day we become more like 

our risen Lord. 

Amen. 


obituaries 

Sami Iskander Marouf 

Sami Iskander Marouf, 

11/1/43-3/6/17. 

Son of the late Iskander 

Marouf and 

Ghazala Farida Marouf. 

He was a man 

of great character, 

integrity and selflessness. 

His love 

for his wife, children, brothers and 

sisters, and friends was always felt. 

He loved and took great pride 

in watching his grandchildren grow 

up. He was there for every step of 

the way, at every milestone and the 

love his grandkids had for him was so 

beautiful to watch. He loved his family 

and friends more than anything. 

He was always there for anyone who 

needed help or just a listening ear. 

He will be missed by all who 

knew and loved him. His smile was 

infectious and he lit up a room when 

Afifa “Mama Afifa” Arabo 

he walked in. He was a great man 

whose love of life will always be remembered. 

The heavens have gained a great 

man in so many ways, but his loss will 

felt for an eternity. We know he will 

be watching over us and protecting 

us, even from above. He will forever 

be our angel. He is survived by his 

wife Balsam Esshaki Marouf and his 

three daughters, Yasmeen Marouf, 

Samia Ruddy, and Nadia Vassanji. 

Brother of Saad Marouf, Salam Marouf, 

Suad Salmo, Samira Saffo, Suham 

Salmo, and the late Bernadette 

Bahoura. His Grandchildren, London 

Ruddy, Dylan Ruddy, and Mila 

Vassanji. Rest in peace Jiddou, we 

love you. “And I heard a voice from 

heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed 

are the dead who die in the Lord 

from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says 

the Spirit, “that they may rest from 

their labors, for their deeds follow 

them!” Revelation 14:13 

Afifa “Mama Afifa” 

Arabo (maiden 

name, Talia) was 

born on March 

17th, 1927, died on 

March 10th, 2017, 

a week shy of almost 

90 years. She 

was born in Baghdad, 

Iraq where she was a talented 

dressmaker having sewed her own 

wedding dress and has sewed dresses 

modeled in magazines. She was close 

to all her nieces and nephews, particularly 

her recently deceased sister, 

Salima Talia who lived in Windsor, 

Canada, and spoke with her every 

day until the time of her death. Mama 

Afifa is survived by her loving husband 

Jamil Arabo, having been married 

for 58 years, her children Janan 

(Salam) Arabo, Ban (Wissam) Kassab, 

Salwan (Nadia) Arabo, Wujdan 

(Bassam) Shamoon, Nashwan (Patricia) 

Arabo, and 15 grandchildren. 

Mama Afifa was loved dearly by all 

those who came across her path with 

her loving and passionate presence 

and sincere smile. She is greatly loved 

and missed by her family and friends. 

CRUISE PLANNERS TRAVEL 

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 

Let us help you plan and book 

your next dream vacation! 

• Incredible Cruises 

• All Inclusive Resorts 

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Don’t Miss The Boat! 

A MI N I S T RY OF THE A R C H D I O C E S E OF DE T R O I T 

HOLY SEPULCHRE 

CATHOLIC CEMETERY 

Living Our Mission 

We are a Church-owned non-profit 

organization founded from faith. 

Dedicated to providing education, 

support and resources during life’s 

most difficult moments. We make 

every effort to enable individuals 

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and empower families to make 

thoroughly informed decisions. 

A complete resource for all your cemetery services. 

A complete resource for all your cemetery services. 

What makes us different: 

Start your planning discussion today! 

All grounds are consecrated 

What We offer we Monument have to offer: lots 

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PHONE: 248-996-8360 FAX: 248-996-8342 


obituaries 

RECENTLY DECEASED COMMUNITY MEMBERS 

Julit Betrus 

Daoud 

July 1, 1928 - 

March 6, 2017 

Sliwa Jajo 

Kaskorkis 

Nov. 11, 1929 - 


Zuhair Sleewa 

Kas-Shamoon 

Oct. 5, 1937 - 


Mathew Mark 

Kesto 

Jan. 3, 1992 - 


Suham Slewa 

Yono 

March 12, 1961 - 


Hayat Shallal 

Akkam 

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2 

1 

3 

christian love 

Bishop Basilio Yaldo leads the way with a path of peace 

BY WEAM NAMOU 

Only 1 percent of Iraq’s Christian population 

remains in the homeland. For that 

reason, says Bishop Basil Yaldo, the presence 

of that 1 percent is very important, adding, 

“That one percent is showing the other 99 percent 

what Christianity really is.” 

In an effort to display the positive side of Iraq, 

to instill hope and happiness into his people and to 

spread the message of Christians’ peaceful and loving 

ways, Bishop Yaldo has taken a very active and 

lively role in the Chaldean Diocese in Iraq. This 

role includes taking large tour groups to Babylon 

and Najaf. 

“Why don’t we show the world the good face of 

Iraq?” he asks. “Why do we always show the dark 

face? Despite terrorism, there’s still love and compassion 

here.” 

The author of numerous articles and 15 books, 

most recently Peace, Bishop Yaldo was born in 

Telkaif on May 23, 1970 and entered the Patriarch 

Seminary at Dora, Baghdad in 1994. Two years later, 

he was sent to Rome to complete his theological 

studies at the Urban College (Propaganda Fide) 

where he received a bachelor’s degree in Theology. 

On November 23, 2002, he was ordained a priest 

by Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim. 

Over the years, he taught at Babel College, 

was the personal secretary to Patriarch Emanuel 

III Delly, and received a Ph.D. in theology from 

Urbaniana University in Rome. After being kidnapped 

for three days, he was transferred in 2007 to 

St. George Chaldean Catholic Church in Shelby 

Township, Michigan. In February 2015, he was ordained 

a bishop and assigned to serve in Baghdad. 

“My family is all in Michigan,” he said. “Some 

people asked me, ‘How are you going to leave everyone 

and go to Iraq?’ I replied, ‘When I went 

into the seminary, I didn’t ask where I was going to 

serve. I will serve wherever they send me. I’m very 

happy with my stay in Iraq.’” 

He feels needed in Iraq where the Chaldean 

Diocese provides humanitarian services not only 

to Christians, but anyone in need. 

“We serve everyone without saying this person 

is this or that,” he said. “We’ve gone into the worst 

of places to help Muslims living in tents. This is 

done for humanitarian purposes and also to show 

them who we are as Christians.” 

Knowing the hardships his people have endured, 

he creates fun activities to lessen their sadness, 

help them forget their troubles, and make 

them feel loved and that someone cares. Nearly 

700 Christians accompanied him to Babylon to see 

historical sites such as the Ishtar Gate and the Lion 

of Babylon statue. He said this was the first time 

the people of Babylon saw this many Christians in 

their city. 

“The trip was intended to make our people 


4 

6 

5 

7 

8 

9 

10 

happy, but it was also a message for the Muslim 

people,” he said. “That we are the natives of this 

land, of Babylon. They were happy to see us there, 

to witness our peaceful ways and our love for Iraq.” 

Journalists and major media outlets flocked 

around them to cover the event. 

“The few Christians left here are the salt that 

makes the taste in the food,” he said. “This is the 

flavor of Christianity.” 

Their trip to Najaf, a Shia city, was also a pleasant 

experience. 

“This town, in the 5th century, was all Christian,” 

said the Bishop. “There used to be 33 

churches and convents.” 

Excavation in 2008 showed that Najaf is one of 

the oldest Christian cities in the world. Story has 

it that King Al-Numan ibn al-Mundhir converted 

to Christianity and built a convent there for his 

daughter who became a nun. 

Bishop Yaldo’s positive activities are endless. 

On New Year’s Eve, he walked with a large crowd 

down Mansour Street and went to Al-Zarwa Park, 

where the tallest Christmas tree stood, donated 

by a Muslim businessman. In January, he marched 

with other Christians to celebrate the liberation of 

Telkaif, where a cross was placed over the church 

dome. In February, the church hosted a Valentine’s 

Day Party, which had a famous Muslim musician 

and 450 Muslim and Christian guests attended. 

“When I see children in other countries laugh 

and play, I cry for the children of Iraq,” he said. “Why 

don’t they have the same opportunities as other children? 

They still lack electricity and other services. 

When it rains, their homes are sunk in mud.” 

In March, the Bishop went to Egypt for the 

Al-Azhar Conference on Freedom and Citizenship: 

Diversity and Complementarity. Some 260 

religious, academic, and political leaders from 60 

Arab and Muslim countries attended, in an effort 

to combat extremist ideologies and emphasize 

the exceptional importance of Islamic-Christian 

relations. There, he met with the Coptic Pope 

Tawadros II and with the Egyptian president Abdel 

Fattah Al-Sisi. Later that month, youths from 

the Shia city of Najaf, wearing their headscarves, 

attended the Stations of the Cross devotion at St. 

George Church in Baghdad. 

“Tension does not serve us,” he said. “At the end 

of the day, we’re all humans. God is Love. Nothing 

will be left but love. All the violence and terrorism 

will be gone. Our mission is to show people that we 

are loving and peaceful.” 

1. Bishop Yaldo’s visit to Babylon city 

2. Bishop Yaldo’s visit to Najaf city 

3. Bishop Yaldo serving mass with Pope John Pall II 

4. Trip to Babylon city 

5. Visit to Babylon city 

6. Trip to Babylon with 700 people 

7. Bishop Yaldo meets Pope John Paul II 

8. Bishop Yaldo meets Pope Benedict XVI 

9. Bishop Yaldo meets Pope Francis 

10. Visit to Najaf city 

11. Trip to Najaf city 

11 


liberating telkaif 

Chaldean Diocese serving the community 

and reconstructing the village 

BY WEAM NAMOU 

Clockwise from top right: Patriarch Louis Raphael I 

Sako and Bishop Basilo Yaldo visit Telkief following the 

city’s liberation from ISIS. Flags and crosses are being 

restored to churches and buildings. 

A 

week after the liberation of Telkaif, on 

January 26, 2017, Patriarch Louis Raphael 

I Sako and Bishop Basilo Yaldo visited the 

town to have a close look at its current situation. 

They were accompanied by a large crowd that included 

Christian families who requested for the 

Chaldean Diocese to help provide services to the 

town, as well as reconstruct the church, houses, 

and administration destroyed by the Islamic State. 

Even though the streets were mainly rubble, the 

families were overjoyed to set foot on their ancestral 

land where they had lived before ISIL forced them 

out in 2014. They were also happy to witness the 

Chaldean Patriarch re-open Sacred Heart Chaldean 

Church. ISIL had changed the name of this church 

to “Abu Talha Al-Ansari” and had used it as a military 

base to train the Caliphate’s children. 

The highlight of the day was when, to the 

sound of bells ringing, a young man named Sufian 

Jarbo held a large cross and led the group toward 

the church. They ascended the steps, reached the 

church dome, and standing at the very top of the 

church, Jarbo raised the Chaldean flag and placed 

the cross over the dome. The crowd clapped and 

cheered with women making the traditional Middle 

Eastern mirth and throwing small wrapped 

candy into the air. 

For Jarbo, this day signified bringing back part 

of the Chaldean peoples’ dignity. “What they did 

to our cemeteries is a big insult to us,” he said. 

It was an emotional day for everyone there, but 

after they returned to their temporary homes in 

neighboring villages, Jarbo and others want to know, 

what’s next? “Liberation is not just about placing a 

flag and cross over the church,” Jarbo said. 

Jarbo claims that, two days after the church 

opened, the main road that connects Telkaif to 

Alquosh, was closed off. “The church is open, but 

empty,” said Jarbo. “The gravesites are still closed 

with dogs digging up the bones of the deceased and 

eating them.” 

Jarbo was saddened to see his family’s two 

homes in Telkaif pillaged and abandoned. One 

was burnt. Same with their business, a gas station, 

it too has been destroyed. Others, including his 

friend Bashar Kisto were just as disheartened at the 

sight of Telkaif’s deteriorated state. Kisto wrote a 

poem expressing his sorrow and frustration at the 

fact that, although Telkaif is now labeled liberated, 

its gates remain locked to its original people, that 

the “The Great Wall of China is open but the wall 

of Telkaif is shut tight.” 

“Our homes are in disarray, their doors still unhinged,” 

Kisto said. “The cats, dogs, and mice go 

between the windows’ shattered glass.” 

While the people of Telkaif are eager to return 

and rebuild their town, where Christians lived for 

thousands of years, they can’t do so quite yet. “The 

problem is that families are afraid to return,” said 

Bishop Yaldo, “because the majority of the residents 

in Telkaif are now Muslims, and some were 

loyal to the Islamic State.” 

The Bishop added that the Chaldean Diocese 

has begun the renovation of the Christian towns 

and villages, starting with the more stable areas 

such as Tesqopa and Baqofa, because of their proximity 

to Alquosh and the presence of services. 

As for Telkaif, they are waiting for the liberation 

of Mosul in its entirety so they can rebuild the 

church and appoint a permanent priest. Only then 

can they encourage families to return. “Without 

the liberation of Mosul, the dangers of the Islamic 

State will continue to threaten the families because 

Mosul is near Telkaif,” the Bishop said. 

Jarbo says that the Christian Iraqis want pressure 

placed on the Iraqi government to force anyone 

who formerly sympathized with the Islamic 

State to leave Telkaif. “If we return, we would 

need protection by an international force and an 

administrative unit,” Jarbo said. “We also have to 

have constitutional rights. Otherwise, Telkaif was 

liberated without actually being liberated.” 

Although the Christians, who have taken shelter 

in Alquosh and other areas that offered them 

safety, will not be able to celebrate this Easter in 

Telkaif, the ultimate goal is for them to return to 

the Nineveh Plains. 


WE’RE 

MOVING! 

OUR NEW ADDRESS IS: 

30095 NORTHWESTERN HIGHWAY, SUITE 101 

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334 

www.chaldeannews.com

sex slave market 

Local event honors award-winning poet 

BY WEAM NAMOU 

As a tribute to Baghdad booksellers, 

the Mesopotamian 

Forum for Arts and Culture 

hosted an event Friday, February 

24 at Ryan Palace, entitled Al 

Mutanabbi Street Starts Here. This 

ongoing yearly project was started in 

2014 by several nationwide nonprofit 

organizations. Over the years, the 

event has drawn hundreds of artists, 

writers, and poets who pay individual 

tribute in memory of the victims of 

the car-bombing in the terrorist attack 

against the literary district of 

Mutanabbi Street in 2007. 

The event honored award-winning 

poet Dunya Mikhail, who recently 

published her fourth book, 

The Sex Slave Market. The book 

is about a Yazidi beekeeper, Abd- 

Allah, who helped rescue women 

captured by the Islamic State. This is 

Mikhail’s first nonfiction book. The 

idea for the story came to her while 

she was teaching an Arabic class at 

Oakland University, where she is a 

lecturer. 

“The day the Arabic letter ‘nun’ 

came up, I remembered seeing it 

written on peoples’ doors where they 

had lived more than 1400 years ago 

and where they had to leave their 

houses within 24-hours,” she said. “I 

wondered whether I should tell the 

students about this letter or not.” 

For Mikhail, this letter brought 

forth images of the Islamic State destroying 

the land of her Chaldean 

ancestors, important historical monuments, 

and even the graves. 

“I felt I wanted to do more about 

this subject,” she said. 

She considered doing a long 

poem but when she saw the Yazidi 

women and their families flee from 

the Islamic State as if it was “The day 

of resurrection,” she suddenly wanted 

to speak to someone Yazidi. She 

contacted a friend and eventually attained 

a list of phone numbers. The 

first number she called, she received 

no answer. The second number she 

called, someone answered in Kurdish 

and then the line got disconnected. 

The third number she called, a man 

Above: Baha Al Yaqoubi presents 

a portrait to Dunya Mikhail. 

Right: Abd-Allah with orphan 

children he’s adopted 

answered in Arabic. Mikhail 

asked to talk to Nadia. He 

said, “She’s not here, but you 

can call her later.” 

When Mikhail got a hold 

of her, the man she had talked 

to, translated Nadia’s story. 

Through the conversation, 

Nadia told Mikhail, “Abd- 

Allah rescued me.” 

“Who’s Abd-Allah?” Mikhail 

asked. 

“The man you’re speaking to,” 

she said, triggering Mikhail’s journalism 

background. She became curious 

to learn more about this man and discovered 

that Abd-Allah, a beekeeper 

by trade, had lost 56 people to the Islamic 

State. In an attempt to rescue 

his own niece, he ended up rescuing 

a number of women who were Yazidi, 

Christian, and even Muslim. When 

she first spoke to him two years ago, 

he had saved 70 women. Now, the 

number is 312. 

“Every time I save a woman, I 

save a sister,” he told Mikhail. 

For a year, they talked on the 

phone, and with each call, the line 

would cut off 10 to 20 times. 

“With every phone ring coming 

through, I knew it was a woman 

seeking help,” said Mikhail. 

His phone rings nonstop, even 

during sleeping hours. Someone once 

asked him, “Why don’t you turn off 

your phone so you can sleep?” 

“How can I sleep if I turn off my 

phone?” he responded. 

Mikhail ended up going to Iraq in 

the summer and met Abd-Allah in 

person. She learned that not only did 

he save women, but he also adopted 

a number of children whose parents 

were killed by the Islamic State. 

“I wondered, how did this man go 

from looking after beehives to rescuing 

women?” she said. 

He told her that, looking back, 

the foundational skills as a beekeeper 

helped him with his new work which 

he’d never imagined he’d be doing. 

Mikhail also met with some of the 

women who Abd-Allah rescued, like 

Tarween, sold at a low price because 

she was mute and, therefore, considered 

handicap. Tarween described 

the awful conditions she lived under, 

where everyone including the 

kidnappers’ wives wore black, and 

how she was raped, beaten and sold 

ten times. In her book, Mikhail also 

includes accounts of how the men – 

fathers, brothers, husbands – of these 

women were victimized as a result of 

the Islamic State’s cruelty. 

During the event, three literary 

critics discussed Mikhail’s book. Dr. 

Aziz Al-Tamimi felt that Mikhail 

leaped over her poetry and, using 

multi-genre – narrative, reportage, 

and storytelling – did a fantastic job 

in describing the atrocities happening 

in Mesopotamia. 

Hatam Al-Sager, an author 

and award-winning literary critic 

who wrote an essay about The Sex 

Slave Market in Al-Hayat newspaper, 

joined the event through a live 

video. He said, “Dunya pours 

her heart, blood, sadness, and 

compassion into these stories.” 

Ala Faik noted how the 

author, through beautiful and 

humanitarian language, tells 

the story of a beekeeper that 

feels he needs to protect and 

take care of women, treating 

them like queens. 

“The Islamic State is the 

bees and the honey is the 

women who are taken away in 

horrific ways,” said Faik. “The 

beekeeper is trying to collect 

the honey for the welfare of 

the country.” 

He used this as a metaphor, that 

bees sting and can hurt people. They 

stung the sweetness of Iraq. After 

the lecture, activist Kamal Al-Saedi 

stood and asked, “Who are the bees?” 

Another audience member responded, 

“The Saudis.” 

Mikhail reminded everyone that 

she wrote the book as a literary project, 

not a political statement. 

As with Mikhail’s other three 

books, this book was first published 

in Arabic for the Middle East market 

and next year will be published 

by her New York publisher, New 

Directions. 


CHALDEAN 

AMERICAN 

CHAMBER OF 

COMMERCE 

14th Annual 

Golf Outing 

Thursday, June 22, 2017 

Shenandoah Country Club 

About the event 

Join us for a day of fun – rain or shine – for a great cause. The 

Chaldean Community Foundation’s annual golf outing raises 

much-needed funds for a variety of much-needed programs 

and services. The Foundation assists more than 20,000 

people each year with access to health care, career services, 

transportation, English learning and meeting basic necessities. 

100% of all donations are used for these primary services. 

At the event, enjoy: 

• 18 Holes of Golf 

• Lunch 

• Cocktails 

• Dinner 

• Door Prizes 

• Hole-in-One Car Giveaways 

• Fun Promotions and Product Trials 

• LIVE Auction 

For sponsorship information contact Mary at 248-996-8340 or mary.kirma@chaldeanfoundation.org 

SPONSORED BY

ehind the mosque 

The Sterling Heights Controversy prompts the conversations about 

Chaldeans and Muslims co-existing in the United States 


The residents in Sterling 

Heights opposing the mosque 

being built come from diverse 

backgrounds and all are not Chaldeans. 

However, the story that has 

garnered media attention for nearly 

two years has prompted the discussion 

about Chaldeans and Muslims 

co-existing in the United States. 

Many of the residents in Sterling 

Heights are new Americans who 

have recently resettled from Iraq 

after escaping persecution as Christians. 

Some may view this as the 

reason many oppose the building of 

a mosque in the city. 

“There are some deep wounds 

that have to be healed and it will 

take time,” said Martin Manna, 

president of the Chaldean Community 

Foundation. “For many of them, 

whenever a new mosque was built in 

Iraq, it meant displacement, demographic 

shifts and often discrimination 

against Christians. Given the 

history, it is highly insensitive to 

build in this neighborhood.” 

The violence against Christians 

and other minorities committed by 

ISIS and other radical Islamic groups 

continue. “However, I am hopeful 

the building of a mosque will lead to 

broader discussions about inclusiveness 

here in America,” said Manna. 

“We are working to schedule meetings 

with the Arab and Muslim leaders 

to continue the dialogue and begin 

the process of healing.” 

Long-time Sterling Heights resident 

Youel Isho noted that for the 

Christians who immigrated to the 

United States decades ago, it was 

easier for them to assimilate compared 

to the recent arrivals who 

came under refugee status and left 

Iraq because of religious persecution. 

“For the people who have had 

dealt with religious persecution in recent 

years, it does affect their mental 

status,” said Isho, from the Assyrian 

Universal Alliance. “They think the 

same violence and attacks that happened 

in their homeland will happen 

here, but for people who settled in 

the United States 30 or 40 years ago, 

they understand the freedom of religion 

here in this country.” 

Like many people who opposed 

the mosque, Isho doesn’t site religion. 

“For me, this issue is about the 

mosque being in the wrong location. 

There are already three mosques in 

Sterling Heights. This particular one 

is in the center of a neighborhood 

surrounded by Christians. It is a residential 

area. The opposition is about 

the location.” 

Many who oppose the structure 

have been vocal about their reasons. 

“The building itself does not make 

sense for the location,” said Amira 

Bajoka business owner in Sterling 

Heights and community activist. 

“It is too big for the area. It is in the 

middle of neighborhood. There is no 

room for parking. This is a logistical 

issue.” 

Bajoka has spoken several times 

in the city at public meetings. “This 

mosque is just 70-feet from homes,” 

said Bajoka. “There will be cars in 

and out for Ramadan for example. 

They will use it as a school and funeral 

home and for kids’ activities. 

The noise will be unbearable.” 

In terms of needing a fourth 

mosque, not all agree it’s an issue. “It 

is not up to me to decide that question,” 

said Nasser Beydoun, chairman 

of the Arab American Civil Rights 

League. “The Muslim community in 

Sterling Heights, which many have 

lived in the area before the influx of 

the Chaldean community, decided 

to expand an existing mosque in the 

area and that is their right.” 

It’s a proposed 20,000-square-foot 

facility. Sterling Heights City Council 

voted unanimously to approve 

building a mosque after a heated 

meeting in February. The proposal, 

which involves the land at 15 Mile 

and Mound, was rejected in 2015 but 

two federal lawsuits against the city 

have forced the council to reconsider. 

The city has also agreed to settle 

those lawsuits, saying it will keep 

Sterling Heights out of costly litigation. 

Jazmine Early, who also opposes 

the mosque, is originally from Columbia 

and is an architect by trade. 

“I saw the plans, and they do not 

fit the area,” she said. “The building 

itself is too big. Something that 

was not mentioned to the planning 

commission was the basement. This 

is not the right area to build such a 

building of its magnitude — in the 

middle of a residential area.” 

Early is not only an architect, 

but she is a Sterling Heights resident 

running for city council and has 

been very vocal about her opinions. 

“When you are designing, you have 

to take into consideration every aspect 

including the physical aspect, 

the social aspect and the zoning aspect,” 

she said. “Everything has to 

work before you design a project. 

This is not the place for this structure.” 

The city council decision followed 

months of emotional protests 

and commentary in and outside of 

City Hall. “I think it is ignorance and 

lack of leadership in the Chaldean 

community,” said Beydoun. “The 

Chaldean Church’s silence on the 

matter speaks volumes. If the Chaldean 

community wanted to build 

a church for their community in a 

Muslim area, as an Arab/American 

community leader, I would be the 

first to support it. If you fan the fire 

of hate, it will consume you.” 


Fr. Maneul Boji, Vicar General, 

first spoke about this issue publicly 

on the Chaldean Voice. “I discussed 

this issue when they first didn’t approve 

the mosque and I addressed it 

when they did this last time and I 

had the same thing to say,” explained 

Fr. Boji. “We must address our differences 

in a civilized manner. We cannot 

allow our emotions to control us. 

Our religion is built on acceptance of 

others. God created us to respect our 

brothers and sisters. And, whether 

you are Christian, Muslim or Jewish, 

we are called to live in peace, love 

and to have respect for each other.” 

Fr. Boji also met with some Muslim 

leaders who are involved with 

the mosque project. “I explained 

that I don’t think handling this in 

the court was the right thing to do, 

is not the right way to ease the coexistence 

of people from different 

religious backgrounds.” 

The meeting last month was 

designed to help resolve the differences. 

“I explained that there should 

be mutual respect for each other and 

not this coercive approach. That will 

create animosity and ill feeling of the 

many Christians from the Middle 

East who recently fled persecution 

led by extreme Muslims.” 

The question becomes can Chaldeans 

and Muslims co-exist peacefully 

in the United States? “We 

have always co-existed,” said Bajoka. 

“Some of my closest friends in Iraq 

are Muslim. In the 70s and 80s before 

we opened many of our own restaurants 

and stores, we shopped at their 

businesses in Dearborn. Yes, we can 

co-exist but there are deep wounds 

and some fears that exist because of 

the on-going persecution.” 

“In the business arena, there is a 

great working relationship between 

our communities,” said Beydoun. “I 

think that the communities must 

learn to co-exist as other communities 

do in the US. We need to put 

the past and what happened in Iraq 

behind us and work to build a better 

future not only here in the US, but 

help build a message of co-existence 

and harmony in the Middle East.” 

There is a historical relationship 

between Christians and Muslims in 

the Middle East, specifically in Iraq. 

“I am a strong proponent for a vibrant 

and thriving Christian community 

in the Middle East,” said Beydoun. 

“We should not let the current upheaval 

destroy the diversity that has 

existed for a thousand years.” 

Citing religious freedom in the 

United States as a great privilege, Fr. 

Boji noted it is not a freedom given 

to Christians in other countries. “In 

America, we can co-exist peacefully 

and we should live in peace with each 

other. As Christians, we are called 

to accept all people and to call for 

a mutual respect among all of them. 

Yes, we can co-exist and should with 

peace and respect. However, the 

same religious freedoms given to us 

in the United States should also be 

given in the Middle East. An adult 

should be able to choose his religion 

and practice it freely.” 

The story is not over. Last month, 

Sterling Heights residents sued 

the city to stop the construction of 

the mosque. The American Freedom 

Law Center (AFLC) filed a 

civil rights lawsuit against Sterling 

Heights and its Mayor Michael C. 

Taylor, alleging violations of federal 

and state law. The lawsuit was filed 

on behalf of seven residents of the 

City who oppose the construction of 

a mosque. 

The City decided not to defend 

against the claims made by the 

American Islamic Community Center 

(AICC) in its lawsuit filed against 

the city in 2016, but instead to enter 

into a Consent Judgment that 

granted AICC permission to build 

the mosque even though doing so 

violated the City’s zoning ordinance. 

The Consent Judgment agreement 

was made during a council 

meeting in February. During this 

meeting, the City Mayor engaged 

in conduct that AFLC alleges in its 

lawsuit violated the U.S. Constitution 

and Michigan Open Meetings 

Act. Meanwhile, on March 10, the 

district court judge presiding over 

the AICC’s federal lawsuit signed 

the Consent Judgment and closed 

the case. 

By doing so, the judge authorized 

the City to violate its zoning ordinance 

by allowing the construction 

of the mosque, according to the report. 

The AFLC’s lawsuit alleges 

that this was improper and is asking 

in its lawsuit that the court declare 

the Consent Judgement in valid and 

unenforceable. 

“The City’s decision to enter into 

the Consent Judgement was a fait accompli,” 

said Robert Muise, AFLC 

co-founder and senior counsel. “The 

City Council meeting was a complete 

sham. Indeed, this meeting 

was not an example of democracy in 

action; it was an example of naked 

abuse of government power.” 

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healing with others 

Grieving with Hope and Faith group supports those in need 


Experiencing the loss of a loved 

one, whether family or friend, 

is never easy and the grieving 

process can be difficult. Feeling you 

have no one to talk to, can make it 

even more difficult. However, you 

don’t have to go through the process 

alone; there is help in the community. 

Formed on August 20th 2016, 

the Grieving with Hope and Faith 

group has been providing support to 

those in need. 

The group came together when 

John Mansour approached Sr. Christine 

Foumia and Fr. Pierre Konja, 

to start a group to provide spiritual 

support and professional guidance 

to those who are going through the 

grieving process. “Fr. Pierre and I 

agreed that there was a need, but we 

weren’t sure how to make it come 

about,” said Sr. Foumia. “I was torn 

because I wanted to start something, 

but didn’t know what to do. John 

came into the picture and we were 

talking about and he said, ‘you know 

what, we just have to start by picking 

a date, and we’ll see how it works 

out.’” 

The group’s first meeting was very 

open and without structure. “Fr. 

Pierre had his bible and said, ‘okay, 

let’s just start like this, everyone is 

going to introduce themselves, tell 

everyone your loss, and your background,’” 

explained Sr. Foumia. 

“There were about 20 people there. 

Everyone shared their story and they 

saw that they were on the same page. 

They saw that they could relate to 

one another.” 

The group’s mission is to trust 

in the Holy Spirit for guidance and 

to build life-long friendships and 

a strong support system. It seeks 

to find avenues to transform grief 

through prayer, learning from others 

and yourself, and through glorifying 

God. 

The group meets every second 

Friday of the month at the Chaldean 

Sisters/Daughters of Mary House of 

Formation on Middlebelt Road in 

Farmington Hills. The meetings are 

two-hours long and start at 7:00 p.m. 

Grieving with Hope and Faith 

helps all grievers from those who are 

struggling with a recent loss, to those 

who have not properly mourned the 

loss of someone in their past. “It’s an 

open-door policy,” said Mansour, a 

founding member who lost two children 

in 2013. “I would say the majority 

of our members are those that 

have suffered a recent loss, but there 

are members who have had losses 15, 

20 years ago that may not have had 

help at that time, or a group like this 

to turn to, that realize there’s still a 

need.” 

Over the last year, the group has 

grown from 10 families to nearly 30 

with no formal advertisement. “It 

has grown by word of mouth up to 

this point,” said Mansour. “The 

mindset was to first see the direction 

this initiative take us in. We wanted 

to make sure we were organized and 

that we had a good blueprint, to prepare 

ourselves to open up to the rest 

of the community.” 

A typical meeting begins with 

meeting as an entire group to share 

personal reflections since the last 

time they met, followed by small 

group breakout sessions, which allow 

member to discuss personal goals. 

Finally, the members come together 

again, as a whole, to develop future 

sessions to meet the member’s needs. 

The group often invites guest 

speakers, from various backgrounds, 

who offer different perspectives in 

the healing process. “The speaker 

selection is typically faith-based, like 

a priest, or professionally-based, like 

a counselor or social worker, that has 

a little more expertise with counseling 

those who have lost a loved one,” 

said Mansour. “It could also be individuals 

who have lost a family member, 

that have gone on to publish 

their own book and come to tell their 

story, how they’ve been able heal, 

and share their advice to the group.” 

For those who are interested in 

joining the group, but may not yet 

feel comfortable sharing their story, 

there isn’t any pressure to open up 

right away. “There’s no mandate to 

come into this group and have to 

say much,” Mansour said. “You can 

come and simply listen. We have all 

kinds of profiles in this group, so it’s a 

unique mix, and a great mix. There’s 

no pressure and no attendance, so 

people can come and go.” 

Healing from the loss of a loved 

is a journey that takes time and having 

support from others, can make 

the journey easier to travel. “When 

you find someone who can understand 

where you’re coming from, it 

strengthens you,” said Sr. Foumia. 

“You walk together in it.” 


escinding the rule 

AFPD challenges liquor control effort to end ‘half-mile’ requirement 


The Associated Food and Petroleum 

Dealers (AFPD) filed a 

lawsuit on Wednesday, March 

22nd, in the Court of Claims asserting 

that the Liquor Control Commission 

(LCC) violated the Administrative 

Procedures Act when it took only five 

weeks, from the time it submitted draft 

rules to the Office of Regulatory Reinvention 

rescinding the half-mile requirement, 

until filing the rule as complete 

with the Department of State. 

The LCC proposed to eliminate 

the half-mile rule, which has been 

around since 1979, that prohibits off 

premise retailers selling liquor from obtaining 

a permit to do so unless they are 

located at least a half-mile from a similarly 

permitted retailer, had prompted 

the lawsuit charging the action could 

decimate existing businesses. 

Usually, it takes many months, 

sometimes years, for a rule to move 

through the process, which generally 

involves a substantial public comment 

period. However, the MLCC 

did not want to hear from the general 

public, or even the licensees it 

governs, and wanted to rescind this 

almost 40-year-old rule under the 

darkness of night so it could take effect 

immediately. 

“The lawsuit explains that the 

mere rescinding of the rule does not 

violate the law,” said Auday Arabo, 

president and CEO of the AFPD. 

“The problem was the process the 

Liquor Control Commission used to 

expedite without proper notice or 

public hearings, which violated 

due process rights of all offpremise 

liquor license holders 

in the State of Michigan.” 

AFPD contends that this 

ruling has taken away any 

recourse licensees have regarding 

their concerns. “If we 

don’t fight this, it could result 

in the complete annihilation 

of the small liquor retailer,” 

said Arabo. “We don’t want 

a liquor store at every comer. 

There is great value to the 

public with this half-mile 

rule. All we are asking for 

is that the MLCC, which is a government 

agency, follow the process 

which they have been called to do 

since 1933. We are simply asking for 

a public hearing and transparency in 

government.” 

This case seeks a ruling that the 

MLCC and ORR must follow the 

notice, publication and public comment 

provisions of the (Administrative 

Procedures Act Section 41 and 

42) to properly rescind the rule. 

As explained in the suit, the halfmile 

rule provides current licensees 

security to operate under a strict 

regulatory scheme in a highly-regulated 

industry. The sudden and swift 

abolishment of this long-standing 

rule — accomplished in direct violation 

of the APA — now allows a new 

licensee to literally set up shop next 

door to an existing licensee. 

Since 1979, retailers have received 

the benefits and privileges 

of this rule, which prohibits the 

approval of a specially designated 

distributor license if an existing specially 

designated distributor license 

is located within 2,640 feet of the 

proposed site. This rule, enacted for 

almost 40 years, has offered licensed 

retailers of liquor, security from an 

already over-saturated market. The 

rule has protected communities from 

having four liquor retailers on every 

busy corner in the State of Michigan. 

“The commission is using a section 

of law allowing it to bypass the 

usual rule-making procedures by 

claiming it is rescinding a rule in 

conflict with existing law,” said 

Arabo. “The commission has no 

grounds to invoke this exception.” 

“Thousands of retailers who have 

invested their life savings into their 

businesses, and have lived and abided 

under (the half-mile rule), will 

risk losing their livelihood for which 

no amount of damages could compensate,” 

said Arabo. “Hundreds of 

new applicants will receive licenses 

and immediately jeopardize, annul 

and nullify the value and benefit that 

existing licensees have enjoyed.” 

“It is more of what you would see 

in a dictatorship than a democracy,” 

said Arabo. “We will fight this every 

step of the way. We will work with the 

legislature to address this blatant abuse 

of power by the MLCC. By rescinding 

a rule that has been around since 1979 

without public testimony and public 

scrutiny, demonstrates they have total 

abused their powers.” 


inging peace 

Shlama Foundation was born out of the ISIS invasion 

BY AVERY MCGOWAN 

Shlama, meaning peace in Aramaic, 

is just what Noor Matti 

and his five founding board 

members of the Shlama Foundation 

are hoping to bring back to Iraq. The 

fall of Mosul had just taken place, 

and an ultimatum was given to the 

residents. 

On July 18, 2014 the residents 

were given the options to convert to 

Islam, pay a jizya (non-Muslim tax), 

leave the city entirely, or die. Nearly 

everyone had evacuated Mosul before 

the day’s end. 

When the Nineveh Plains fell 

into the hands of ISIS, more than 

200,000 community members became 

displaced. It was clear that the 

needs of the displaced civilians were 

dire, and thus, the Shlama Foundation 

was born. 

Based in Erbil, Iraq, the goal of the 

foundation is to provide humanitarian 

aid to Christian families facing 

persecution, war and other life-threatening 

conditions in Iraq. Emergency 

response resources, medicine, housing 

and community development are just 

a few of the many aids that the foundation 

provides. Founder Noor Matti 

leads projects in Iraq, while board 

members Ranna Abro, Chris Sesi, 

Evette Shahara and John David coordinate 

efforts throughout the United 

States and Canada. 

John David, a Shlama Foundation 

board member from Michigan, said, 

“We wanted to create an organization 

that eliminated the distance between 

the homeland and the diaspora. It 

gives our people a feeling of connection 

back to our roots. Through the 

act of giving, we show them they 

are not alone.” Their efforts have 

brought hundreds of families back to 

their homelands and have given them 

a new sense of normalcy. 

Providing a better quality of life 

and a feeling of connection are two 

of the foundation’s strongest values. 

The foundation also prides itself on 

its donation transparency. The process 

is simple: every gift received is 

displayed on the foundation’s website 

through receipts, photos, videos, 

personal video mentions and public 

donation listings. “We knew that the 

key to successful humanitarian aid 

was transparency,” David said. “Donors 

will know exactly who they’re 

helping and how they’re helping.” 

Since 2014, the Shlama Foundation 

has raised more than $90,000 for the 

displaced Iraqi Christians. 

Recently, the foundation was able 

to build a youth community center in 

Alfaf, which is part of the historical 

Mar Matti Monastary. The community 

center serves four surrounding 

villages. They have also furnished 

schools, provided toys and learning 

materials and promote cultural preservation 

by supporting cultural projects 

in Iraq. 

“We’re trying to preserve our culture, 

our language and traditions that 

have thrived for thousands of years,” 

Above: School kids look at donated items 

Left: Opening boxes of donated items 

said David. “We’re a resilient people. 

We’ve survived through so much. 

Immigration is not a long-term solution; 

it is a short-term solution. We 

can not lose our generations.” 

Some goals that the foundation 

has for 2017 is to contribute infrastructure 

and economic sustainability 

to Iraq. Their long term vision 

is to provide schools, hospitals, and 

churches to the communities. The 

foundation is always seeking new 

donors and volunteers to help make 

these goals a reality. Patrons can sign 

up for newsletters, become monthly 

donors, and follow along with the 

foundation on social media. 

For more information on the Shlama 

foundation: visit shlama.org. 


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Vanessa Denha Garmo 

engages the audience to ask 

questions of the panel. 

industry imprint 

An outlook on successful women in the community 


Early last month, the Chaldean 

American Chamber of Commerce 

hosted an Industry Outlook 

event with four women making 

a mark in their respective fields. I 

had the pleasure of moderating the 

panel discussion. After a brief introduction, 

each woman had an opportunity 

to share her experiences. 

Sitting inside the banquet room 

of the Bird & the Basket restaurant 

in Birmingham, the panelist spoke 

to a crowd of more than 100 people. 

The restaurant on South Old Woodward 

is owned by Kristen Jonna who 

grew up in the Merchant of Vino 

businesses co-owned by her father 

John Jonna. She, too, has a success 

story as an owner of three restaurants 

and as a certified Somalia. 

Here we give you a brief synopsis 

of the panel discussion. 

Christine Jonna Piligian joined 

Jonna Construction Company in 

1972 and the again in 1981; early in 

her career, she saw an opportunity to 

expand the family business into real 

estate. Since the formation of Jonna 

Realty Ventures, Inc., the company 

has evolved into a full-service real 

estate development and property 

management company. 

“We were in real estate well before 

the curve,” said Piligian. “It was 

a dream of mine to see a building and 

say we could own it. It was conceptional 

at the time, but others were 

doing it and I figured we could do it 

too. That is how you learn. If you 

don’t have the confidence at first, 

you move forward anyway. I got involved 

in a business that Chaldean 

women just didn’t do at the time and 

that Chaldeans weren’t involved in.” 

Her relentless attitude kept her 

going. “Even today there are challenges 

that I don’t have the answers 

for at the moment but I know we will 

figure out,” she said. 

Marisa Abbo, D.O. received her 

Bachelors in Psychology from Wayne 

State University and her Masters in 

Social Work from the University of 

Michigan. She changed career path 

to pursue her childhood dream of 

becoming a doctor. Today, she works 

for a faith-based federally qualified 

health center in Royal Oak that cares 

for the uninsured and underinsured. 

“Our mission is on our wall and it 

is to show and share the love of God 

in seeing the Good News of Jesus 

Christ by providing affordable, quality 

and integrated care to those who 

need it most. As a doctor, I am in a 

unique position because I can pray 

with my patients and it is just awesome. 

I couldn’t imagine practicing 

medicine without faith,” said Abbo 

as the audience applauded. 

Not only does she pray with her 

patients, the office prays as a group 

before they start their day. “As a physician, 

I try to be the hands and feet 

of Christ in everything I do and that 

is to serve,” she said. “We can lose 

our joy in whatever we do if we forget 

that we are here to serve.” 

Renee Lossia Acho emerged 

quickly as an industry leader using 

her skillful, creative, and consultative 

approach to marketing and sales. 

Renee ranks in the top 1 percent of 

realtors nationally and was the 2015 

Entrepreneur of the Year for the 

Women’s Council of Realtors as well 

as being named a 2016 Esteemed 

Women of Michigan Honoree. 

She got into the business at one 

of the toughest times – in 2008 when 

the economy was tanking and others 

were leaving the real estate business 

to pursue other careers. “When 

you learn the business at the lowest 

point, it makes it that much better 

when the market improves,” she 

said. “The reality about the economy 

is that it fluctuates. The Real Estate 

market fluctuates the same way. Interest 

rates do affect the market because 

of the bond power.” 

She recommends that when you 

are looking for a specific area to live 

in, you don’t just need a realtor but 

one that truly knows the community 

in which you want to live. “Having 

specialist in those areas will benefit 

you.” 

She also gave an audience a tip. 

“Michigan is usually ahead of the national 

market,” said Acho. “Watch 

our economy first before you look to 

national trends.” 

Judge Hala Jarbou graduated from 

Wayne State University Law School 

and was appointed as an Oakland 

County Circuit Court Judge in October 

2015. She was assigned to the 

Civil/Criminal Division. Although 

well prepared for her appointed position, 

she did experience some surprises. 

“I was surprised to see how few 

attorneys actually make it to the 

court room,” she said. “You can assess 

quickly what attorneys have had 

trial experience and those who don’t. 

It was surprising to see the number 

of attorneys who don’t actually have 

trial experience.” 

Although everyone faces failures, 

the group of leading women offer a 

different perspective. 

“It’s not as much a failure as it is 

an opportunity,” said Acho. “You can 

look at something as a failure and let 

it take you down or you can learn 

from it and move on.” Acho once 

had a partner who she looked to as 

a mentor but overnight, as Acho explained, 

her mentor took thousands 

of dollars and her listings from her. 

“I could have looked at that situation 

as an opportunity to close the door 

and leave the business. In the Chaldean 

community, we are fortunate 

to surround ourselves with a strong 

support system so when life creates a 

failure, there are people around you 

who create opportunities and help 

you succeed. If you go into a career 

with an expectation of never falling 

down, then go home. Lighting strikes 

and that is the beauty of figuring out 

where you can go.” 

Piligian added to the conversation 

as she addressed perceived failures 

many women face. “When you 

are at the office, you think you should 

be home with the children and when 

you are at home with the children, 

you think you should be at the office,” 

she said, describing the scenario. “I 

used to think that every day I failed. I 

didn’t finish what I needed to at work 

and I didn’t do all the things I want to 

do for my family. So, every day I felt 

like I failed. There is that constant 

conflict between the two.” 

Now that she has raised her kids 

and can look back at her life and 

career she offers advice to other 

women. “That so-called failure, you 

will realize will become your success. 

You can raise good kids and have a 

healthy family and run a successful 

business.” 


From a loud applause to a short silence 

from the panelist, Piligian ended 

her comments that led me into my 

next question: Is it harder for Chaldean 

women to succeed in business 

given the culture of the community 

and impact on the family? 

“It has been a transition” said 

Piligian. “When I first started in 

the business, it was really hard. My 

dad used to say go home. You are 

ultimately going to get married,” 

recalled Piligian. “He would say, 

‘don’t get too educated. No one 

will want to marry you.’ It was hard 

because the perception was that 

this was not what you are supposed 

to be doing. As the years went by, 

you realize you, too, have gifts, different 

from men. Sometimes you 

become better because it wasn’t 

always accepted by the community 

Regardless of the community, you 

have to decide you are going to succeed, 

no one will dictate that to you.” 

As leaders in their fields, each 

woman has her own definition of it. 

“It starts with character,” said Jarbou. 

“It is by doing and not telling. 

You don’t call yourself a leader, you 

need to act like one. It is your morals 

and values that truly define your 

leadership.” 

“You are a leader to only those 

who want to follow you,” said Acho. 

“If people are drawn to you by who 

you are and they respect you, then 

you are leading. Perhaps you are 

someone others admire. I think we 

all have leaders in our lives. Leaders 

carry themselves in a way that draws 

people to follow.” 

“Humility is important for a leader,” 

said Abbo. “Just when you think 

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More than 30,000 Chaldean refugees have 

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Audience members asking questions. 

Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce 

and Chaldean Community Foundation 

30850 Telegraph Road, Suite 200 

Bingham Farms, MI 48025 

248-996-8340 

www.chaldeanchamber.com 

for you to be in the business. You 

tend to work harder. It is much 

better today.” 

There are still some barriers women 

face, but Piligian believes they 

will eventually disappear. 

“In any ethnic community, there 

is that perception about women,” said 

Jarbou. “It is true in every profession 

because everyone pretty much started 

out in what was once a male-dominated 

profession. Instead of having a 

chip on your shoulder, you accept it 

and set out to prove yourself.” 

When Jarbou was in school, she 

was among two Chaldeans in Law. 

“Now, I think everyone I talk to is 

becoming a lawyer or doctor in our 

community. Seriously, whatever it is 

you strive for, you need to set out to 

be the best you can be in your field. 

you got it down, you realize you still 

need to learn. It keeps you level 

headed, if you are humble. A good 

leader treats their team members 

as if they are integral to everything 

they are doing. And, you guide them 

along the way.” 

“A leader gives people confidence,” 

said Piligian. “Leaders are 

people others believe in. You can’t 

lead if your team doesn’t think you 

can resolve problems. Leaders have 

to have faith in themselves that they 

can lead and have faith in the ultimate 

outcome.” 

The panel discussion ended with 

audience questions and the request 

by many, to invite younger generations, 

who need mentors, to another 

event such as this industry outlook. 

Stay tuned. 

Chaldean Community Foundation 

Sterling Heights Office 

3601 15 Mile Road 

Sterling Heights, MI 48310 

586-722-7253 

www.chaldeanfoundation.org 


chaldean on the STREET 

“What does Easter mean to you?” 

As the Lenten season prepares us for the Easter celebration, we reflect and sacrifice, which is why we asked 

members of the community what they feel is the true meaning of Easter. 

BY HALIM SHEENA 

Alyssa Rasho, 21, Shelby Township: 

Easter Sunday means a lot to me. It’s celebrating the 

resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter to me means going 

to church, spending time with my family, coloring 

Easter eggs and just being thankful for everything 

and everyone around me. It has been celebrated for 

centuries and I look forward to the joy Easter Sunday 

brings me every year! 

Brenda Bakkal, 20, West Bloomfield: 

To me, Easter is beyond candy or a bunny; it is the 

celebration of Christ’s victory over death. If Jesus 

had merely died without rising on the third day, He 

would be just another man and Christianity would 

cease to exist. The resurrection gave undeniable 

proof that He is really the Son of God and that He 

had conquered death once and for all. There is no 

meaning to Easter without the resurrection! 

Jonathon Azer, 18, Farmington Hills: 

Easter is the time where we celebrate the resurrection 

of our Lord Jesus Christ and to remember his pain and 

suffering for us, but to also to take that and rejoice in it. 

It reminds me to be thankful for the gift of life everyday 

and to show my brothers and sisters the love and 

mercy of God the father. What did we do to deserve 

such reward? Nothing, that’s what makes it so great. 

Mark Zakar, 28, Troy: 

Easter is a time that God reminds His people of Hope! 

Hope that the TRUTH of a Loving God decided to 

become one of us to be born of a Virgin, experience 

suffering, tears humiliation and even death! Easter is the 

reality of that man Jesus Christ RESURRECTING from 

the dead and leaving us an empty tomb to smile upon! If 

one decides to follow Jesus all the way to the Cross on 

Good Friday, they will also follow Jesus to the Resurrection 

that is promised to all those who carry and embrace 

the Cross of Christ! Happy Easter and enjoy the pacha! 

Donovan Khamoro, 21, West Bloomfield: 

It’s a time of celebration and gratitude for our savior 

Jesus Christ. As tradition and glory to his praise, we 

try to emulate his suffering during the lent season by 

giving up things most dear and fond to our hearts, 

adding to our prayer regiment, and practicing alms 

giving Our souls are pardoned through his sacrifice 

and it allows us to give thanks to him by being with 

friends and family. Easter to me means that I have 

been blessed with a chance to improve my faith and 

person in the image granted by God. 

Hillary Adam, 23, Washington Township: 

Easter, with bunnies, baby chicks, and eggs amidst 

the resurrection of Jesus Christ - what do they have 

to do with each other? It’s the most important and 

oldest festival of the Christian Church, celebrating 

the resurrection of Jesus Christ and held between 

March 21 and April 25, on the first Sunday after the 

first full moon . Since Easter represents the fulfillment 

of God’s promises to mankind, it is the most important 

holiday on the Christian calendar.. Not only that, you 

can finally have what was given up for lent!!! Enjoy!!!! 


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ARTS & entertainment 

Back in time with d’town rewind 

BY LISA CIPRIANO 

Start with the Motown years, add some Mariah 

Carey, a dash of Whitney Houston and 

a helping of Elton John, mix it up and you 

have D’Town Rewind. 

D’Town Rewind is a self-described, “charismatic 

and energetic 80’s and Motown cover band” that 

will take you back to a time when life seemed more 

simple and fun. It consists of two professionally 

trained musicians: singer and dancer, Jenelle Faranso 

and keyboardist and producer, Omar Binno. 

The D in D’Town stands for Detroit (of course) 

and that’s where the band’s founder Binno was born, 

during the era of the timeless tunes that he now 

plays. He started playing music at just 5-years-old. 

“I started out on one of those little electric pianos 

that you could get for like $50 at K-Mart,” 

Binno explained. “I was able to hear songs on 

commercials, Christmas songs and simple songs 

from school, and play the melody.” 

Born blind, his natural talent surprised his parents. 

However, they eventually decided to enroll 

him in formal piano lessons, where teachers discovered 

Binno had what is considered a rare ability 

— perfect pitch. It’s described as the ability to 

hear, instantly recognize, and recreate the pitch of 

any note. 

His skill impressed, and sometimes concerned, 

his friends. “They were in awe,” said Binno. “I could 

identify the tones of the numbers that people were 

pressing on the phone. My friends started becoming 

more cautious when they typed in their voicemail 

passwords, because I could recognize the numbers.” 

Jenelle Faranso, his musical partner and vocalist, 

also discovered her talent at a young age. She started 

singing, dancing and entertaining the family as a 

toddler. “Since I can remember, I’ve always had this 

in my blood and part of my soul,” 

Faranso said. “I was the entertainer 

of the family. It was my thing. I’ve 

always been very passionate when it 

comes to music.” 

So much so that Souriya Denha, 

Faranso’s grandmother, immediately 

recognized her talent and encouraged Faranso’s 

mother to enroll her in voice lessons at the age of 

six. Tap, jazz and ballet lessons soon followed. Not 

long after that, Souriya suggested that Faranso get 

involved in professional plays where she would 

discover her love of musicals. At the young age of 

11, she sang at her first wedding ceremony. In her 

early 20’s, Faranso auditioned for and was accepted 

to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy 

(AMDA) located in Broadway, New York. It was a 

decision her late father Robert encouraged. 

Musical powerhouses Faranso and Binno connected 

about 13 years ago and they both credit 

the Chaldean News. In one of the very first issues, 

Binno wrote an article about Middle Eastern 

music that struck a chord with Faranso. “I was so 

moved and inspired by his article that I thought, I 

have to get ahold of this guy,” said Faranso. 

She knew right away that they were kindred 

spirits when it came to their passion and love of 

music. “He was somebody in the Chaldean community 

that I could connect with,” Faranso added. 

She called the Chaldean News, got his number, 

and contacted Binno immediately. The two 

teamed-up and began writing and composing together. 

Eventually, they started performing at wedding 

ceremonies, receptions 

and other events prior to Faranso 

going away to attend the 

AMDA. While Faranso was 

away, Binno continued on 

with his with original work 

and performed live with various 

other musicians before taking a hiatus. 

Their mutual love of Motown and 70’s, 80s pop 

music eventually brought Binno and Faransco back 

together for good in 2016. For a while, Binno had the 

idea to perform his beloved 70’s and 80s music mixed 

with current hits. In order to attract an even larger 

audience, he thought it would also be a good idea to 

include dinner music from artists like Sinatra. 

He knew of just the perfect singer, dancer and 

all-around performer to fulfill his vision — Jenelle 

Faranso. And, that’s when D’Town Rewind was 

born. “The name of the band is really catchy,” explained 

Binno. “A lot of people like it.” 

Their first gig as D’Town Rewind was at this 

year’s Chaldean American Ladies of Charity event 

and it was a smash hit. The onstage fun and nostalgia 

of D’Town Rewind is so contagious that future 

shows are often booked by word-of-mouth. “We’ve 

gotten a couple of shows from people who have 

previously seen us and they know that we’re very 

good,” said Binno. “Our friends have also been 

promoting us. They know what we’re capable of.” 

Like just about everything these days, D’Town 

Rewind is customizable. “We start as a two-piece 

band, but we can provide more musicians depending 

on the type of event and the client’s requests,” 

added Binno. 

And the rest is history in the making. 

For more information on how you can get down 

with D’Town Rewind for your event, go to: 

https://www.facebook.com/dtownrewind/ 


Design: Fr 

Bach & As 

frank@fra 

THE TONY ® –WINNING BROADWAY PHENOMENON 

“Eye-opening, life-affirming and unmissable.”—Time Magazine 

Curious I 

Due to m 

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Size: Hal 

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For: Ned 

(Fisher T 

Agency: 

Fisher Theatre • May 2–14 

ticketmaster.com, 800-982-2787 & box office. 

Info: BroadwayInDetroit.com, 313-872-1000. Groups (10+): Groups@BroadwayInDetroit.com or 313-871-1132. 7:30PM May 7. 

PHOTO OF LUKE TREADAWAY BY HUGO GLENDINNING 

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DOCTOR is in 

Understanding and managing everyday stress 

DR. IMAD MANSOOR 

Chronic stress can be a catalyst 

for depression, anxiety 

and mood disorders—all 

of which are ranked number one 

among the top five national health 

conditions contributing to poor 

health in nearly every county of every 

state in the U.S. Though often 

unpleasant, stress is a signal to the 

brain and body that helps identify 

physiological and psychological issues. 

In order to effectively manage 

stress, it’s important to understand 

what causes it, common symptoms 

and the lifestyle changes required to 

reduce the risk of more serious, longterm 

conditions down the road. 

What is Stress? 

Stress occurs when there is a perceived 

threat in the environment. It 

is often referred to as the “fight or 

flight” response, meaning the body 

prepares to flee from the threat or 

shifts all energy towards facing it. 

Stressors, or the stimulus that causes 

stress, can be any big or small life 

change such as the birth of a child, 

loss of employment or illness. 

Positive Stress: Stress is considered 

beneficial when it provides 

a burst of energy that can heighten 

awareness, lock memories and be a 

motivator to accomplish tasks more 

efficiently. 

Negative Stress: This form of 

stress is usually long-lasting, less 

manageable and decreases performance. 

Signs of negative stress include 

appetite changes, dizziness, 

changes in sleeping patterns, fatigue, 

headache, lack of energy, nervousness 

and/or upset stomach. 

Understanding the Risk 

Negative stress can lead to other 

more serious, long-term issues for 

a variety of reasons. It is best to 

seek help when the symptoms of 

stress persistently interfere with 

day-to-day life or lead to dangerous 

thoughts and behaviors. Some of 

the risks of untreated chronic stress 

include: 

• Depression/Anxiety 

• Diabetes 

• Gastrointestinal Issues 

• Heart Disease 

• Obesity 

Tips to Reduce Stress 

Balanced Meals: Preparing healthy 

meals throughout the day boosts 

mental power and can combat feelings 

of anxiety and stress at home 

and work. Be sure to incorporate 

foods rich with antioxidants and 

vitamins to naturally reduce stress. 

Some of these include: 

• Avocado 

• Blueberries 

• Crisp Vegetables 

(celery, carrots, peppers, etc.) 

• Dark Chocolate 

• Milk 

• Nuts and Seeds 

• Oatmeal 

• Salmon 

• Spinach 

• Sweet Potatoes 

Regular, Moderate Exercise: Sedentariness 

for long periods of time has 

been linked to higher levels of anxiety. 

Dedicating at least 30 minutes a 

day to some form of physical activity 

can boost self-confidence, lower 

blood pressure and improve sleep. 

Exercise releases serotonin, a moodstabilizing 

hormone, and allows the 

body and mind to destress. 

Routine Rest: The chemicals 

in the brain that lead to 

deep sleep are the same 

that control the production 

of stress hormones, 

which is exactly why 

insufficient rest and increased 

stress go hand in 

hand. Setting an alarm to start a bedtime 

routine each night can allow 

time to step away from screens and 

get ready for sleep to ensure seven to 

eight hours of shut-eye, which can 

reduce daytime agitation. 

Time Management: Managing 

commitments, avoiding procrastination 

and categorizing tasks effectively 

reduces stress. Whether it’s 

prioritizing a to-do list and setting 

quantifiable goals to achieve each 

April is 

National Stress 

Awareness Month 

task or setting a time log to record 

how much time is spent on daily activities 

and modifying it based on the 

results, there are a variety of tactics 

to manage time efficiently. 

Positive Psychology: Training 

the brain to practice positive thinking 

can be difficult, especially 

in situations of 

stress. However, being 

cognizant of negative 

thoughts and actively replacing 

them with more 

positive thoughts can 

modify the habit over time. 

Dr. Imad Mansoor is an internist 

and Blue Cross Blue Shield of 

Michigan provider. For more health 

and stress management tips, visit 

AHealthierMichigan.org. 


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. 


classified listings 

Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho, P.L.C. 

Attorneys and Counselors at Law 

BUSINESSES FOR SALE 

HELP WANTED 

For assistance with any 

Business or Real Estate 

matter, please contact: 

(734) 261-2400 

SHOPPING CENTER FOR SALE 

25,000 SQUARE FEET 

on 4+ acres next to McDonalds in St. 

Joseph County. Asking $249,000. L/C 

Available. Contact Wally, 248-930-9112. 

BP 6-PUMP GAS STATION FOR SALE 

Liquor, beer, wine, and DNR 

licensing, hot foods (including pizza), 

and lotto. Brand new pumps installed 

by BP. Excellent condition. Asking 

975k. Contact Actavia 586-337-6800 

CHAUFFEURS & BUS 

DRIVERS NEEDED 

Metro Cars, Detroit’s premier 

transportation company has 

immediate openings for full-time 

& part-time Employee Bus Drivers 

and Independent Contractor 

Luxury Sedan Drivers. 

Interested candidates should apply 

online at metrocars.com/drive.html 

or call 800-456-1701 and ask to 

speak with an Owner Operator. 

Ronald G. Acho 

racho@cmda-law.com 

A TTORNEYS & C O UNSELORS AT LAW 

Brandan A. Hallaq 

bhallaq@cmda-law.com 

BUSINESS LAw SPECIALISTS 

40 ATTORNEYS 

CMDA is a premier AV® rated law firm with 40 attorneys and four office 

locations throughout Michigan. Attorneys in the Firm’s Business and 

Real Estate practice groups provide high-quality representation in the 

following areas: 

• Business Transactions 

• Business Contracts 

• Start-Up Businesses 

• Commercial Real Estate 

Development 

• Commercial Leases 

• Mortgages 

• Loans 

• Real Estate Law 

• Zoning 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Employment Agreements 

• Shareholder/Partner 

Relations 

• Business Succession 

Planning 

• Non-Profit and Tax 

Exempt Organizations 

33900 Schoolcraft Road • Livonia, Michigan 48150 • www.cmda-law.com 

Content Creators & Communication Strategists 

Our team will create your communication 

strategy; we will clearly and concisely pen 

your message for your various platforms. 

• Websites 

• Newsletters and Publications 

• Blogs 

• Op-eds 

• Press Releases and Advisories 

• Social Media Sites 

• Speeches, talking points or 

brief remarks for events 

• Presentations and reports for 

sales people, experts and CEOs 

• Brochures, programs, marketing 

and public relations material 

• Multi-media production such as 

marketing videos, commercial scripts, 

podcasts, on-hold messages and voice-overs 

As an award-winning 

journalist for both 

broadcast and print, 

founder of Denha Media 

Group, Vanessa Denha 

Garmo has an adaptable 

writing style and has 

trained members of her 

team on various writing 

techniques. 

“You have to know how 

to tell your story if you 

want others to care 

about your story and if 

you want the media to 

cover your story.” 

— Vanessa Denha Garmo 

FREE 30-MINUTE MEDIA MAKE-OVER 

Vanessa Denha-Garmo is offering a free 30-minute consultation for any subscriber to the 

Chaldean News. It’s a Media Make-over, customized to provide feedback on a wide-range 

of areas including your company’s website, blogs, newsletters, as well as how to get an 

interview and how to be interviewed. Denha Media Group specializes in content creation 

and content marketing. To set up a meeting, please contact Vanessa at 248-702-8687 or 

send an email to: vanessa@denhamedia.com 

info@denhamedia.com 248.702.8687 

It’s a great time 

to purchase 

or refi nance 

your home. 

INTEREST RATES ARE 

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Experience the difference with 

someone experienced. 

Always the lowest rates, 

best service and most trusted! 

Sally Denha LaFave 

Mortgage Lender 

NMLS ID 140725 

Offi ce: 248 593-9900 Ext 222 

Cell: 248 752-1722 

Email: slafave@yorkloan.com 

Serving the Chaldean Community Since 1990 

CALL TODAY! 

248 593-9900 

Ext 222 


PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS 

Experience • • Knowledge • • • Personal • Service 

Top TOP TOP 1% TOP 1% OF of 1% OF REALTORS RealToRs OF REALTORS 

in oakland IN OAKLAND IN IN OAKLAND CounTy 

COUNTY COUNTY 2016 1993 1993 – 1993 2015 – 2015 – 2015 

2015 2015 2016 REAL 2015 REAL Real ESTATE REAL esTaTe ESTATE 

ALL ALL STAR all ALL STAR sTaR -STAR - –- 

HOUR HOUR HouR HOUR MEDIA MEDIA media MEDIA 

Proudly Proudly Proudly serving serving Birmingham, 

serving Birmingham, 

Bloomfield, Bloomfield, Farmington Farmington Hills, Hills, Hills, 

Each Each office Each office is office independently 

is is independently 

West West Bloomfield, West Bloomfield, the Lakes the the Lakes Lakes 

Brian s. yaldoo 

Owned Owned and Owned and Operated and Operated Brian Brian Brian S. S. Yaldoo S. Yaldoo and and surrounding and surrounding areas. areas. areas. 

Associated Broker 

Associated Associated Broker Broker Broker 

Office Office Office (248) (248)737-6800 Office (248)737-6800 • Mobile • Mobile • (248)752-4010 

(248)752-4010 752-4010 

Email: brianyaldoo@remax.net Toll Toll Free Toll Free (866) Free (866) 762-3960 Websites: (866) 762-3960 www.brianyaldoo.com 

Email: Email: brianyaldoo@remax.com Email: Websites: Websites: www.brianyaldoo.com 

www.BuyingOrSellingRealEstate.com 

www.BuyingOrSellingRealEstate.com 

Gabe Gabriel 

Associate Broker, 

Certified ABR, SFR 

30095 Northwestern Hwy, ste. 103 

Farmington Hills , Michigan 48334 

Office (248) 626-4500 

Direct (248) 939-1985 

Fax (248) 737-1868 

Email MortgageGabe@aol.com 

Lakes Area Montessori 

For Toddler, Pre-School, Kindergarten, 

Elementary, Before & After Care 

Walled Lake, MI 

Open House: 

April 11, 2017, 9:30 AM-1:30 PM 

248-360-0500 

www.lakesareamontessori.com 

RW INTERNATIONAL 

WWW.RWGLASSDOORS.COM 

Walk-in Cooler Glass Doors 

Innovative Technology & Design 

Energy Efficient Refrigeration Products 

21445 Hoover Rd. Warren, MI 48089 

Phone: 586.920.2796 

Fax: 586.920.2796 

sales@rwglassdoors.com 

BMW of Rochester Hills 

Sammi A. Naoum 

Client Advisor 

Street Address 

45550 Dequindre Road 

Shelby Township, MI 48317 

Telephone: (248) 237-3832 

Mobile: ( 248) 219-5525 

Fax: (248) 997-7766 

Email: sammi.naoum@bmwofrochesterhills.com 

Website: www.bmwofrochesterhills.com 

Tamou’s 

Electrical Contractors 

Parking Lot Lighting 

Commercial & Industrial 

Installation & Service 

Tom Tamou 

Cell: (810) 560-9665 

Generators for Large Facilities 

tamouselectric@sbcglobal.net 

Office/Fax (586) 803-9700 

“Serving our Community for over 29 yearS” 

CHALDEAN 

AMERICAN 

CHAMBER OF 

COMMERCE 


FOUNDATION 

Tony Markoz 

markoz_group@yahoo.com 

248-GOT-HOME 

700 East Big Beaver Rd. #E, Troy, MI 48083 

CHALDEAN 

AMERICAN 

CHAMBER OF 

COMMERCE 


FOUNDATION 

SANA NAVARRETTE 

MEMBERSHIP MANAGER 



TEL: (248) 996-8340 CELL: (248) 925-7773 

FAX: (248) 996-8342 

snavarrette@chaldeanchamber.com 



Twitter: @ChaldeanChamber 

Instagram: @ChaldeanAmericanChamber 

SANA NAVARRETTE 

MEMBERSHIP MANAGER 

Tell them you saw it in the 

Chaldean News! 



TEL: (248) 996-8340 CELL: (248) 925-7773 

FAX: (248) 996-8342 

snavarrette@chaldeanchamber.com 



Twitter: @ChaldeanChamber 

Instagram: @ChaldeanAmericanChamber

KIDS corner 

MAKE YOUR OWN EGG COLORING 

MATERIALS 

Water 

White Vinegar 

Food Coloring 

White Eggs 

HINTS FOR COLORING EASTER EGG 

Always let hard boiled eggs cool before starting 

any of the craft techniques. 

For multi-color eggs, start in the lightest color first. 

Be sure the children let the eggs dry before putting 

the egg in a 2nd color. 

Hard boil the eggs and let cool. 

For each color, measure 1/2 cup water into separate 

bowls add 1 tbsp vinegar to each bowl. 

Mix in the food coloring until you get the shade you 

want. 

Put the cooled eggs in the coloring dye until they are 

the color the children want (a few minutes). You may 

need to roll the eggs to make sure they color evenly. 

Jesus 

Christian 

Lent 

Fasting 

Holy 

WORD SEARCH 

Cross 

Crown 

Mass 

Good Friday 

Passion 

Tomb 

Resurrection 

Lamb 

Spring 

Flowers 

Eggs 

Chicks 

Basket 

Chocolate 

Bunny 

IDEAS FOR FANCY EGGS 

Use a white crayon to make a design on the egg 

before you start dyeing. The dye won’t color that 

section of the Easter Eggs. 

Use masking tape to block off sections you want to 

be a specific color. 

Use rubber bands to create a pattern on the egg. 

Some color will seep under the band, but it won’t be 

the as dark as the area around it. Let the egg dry, 

then put the bands on in a different pattern and dye a 

second color. 

Use stickers to keep the egg shell from absorbing 

color in some spots. Remove some stickers and then 

move on to the next color. 

Create a marble or tie-dyed effect by using small 

pieces of cheese cloth or cotton. Cut a piece 6-8 

inches square. Put the fabric in the dye, them move 

it to a disposable tray or dish. Crumple or bunch up 

the cloth. Gently place the egg on the cloth. The 

crumpled ridges is where the dye will transfer to the 

egg. You can place a second crumpled cloth on the 

top of the egg. Let dry. Repeat 2-3 times until the 

whole egg is covered. 

G Y F F B P V U J D G P X I N J D J N J 

W N K Y M O Q U X X Z A X J O B L B E C 

E R I Y K Y M R E Z R S P J I A Z A M H 

G T V R I W F T O A I S D H T K T O M B 

G T E O P L U G D S I I B T C C Y G J B 

S V I L O S S V P M R O C M E Y Z V D L 

B E W W N N K X N I G N R D R F L A N N 

M J E L E P C A D F Z I O B R F V A S L 

O R N J C Z I K H Y A O W Y U L T N E L 

S X G X A T H V Q L G S N S S G F I B G 

G L S U S N C J S L Q W T C E A Z Y S T 

H T H I C H O C O L A T E I R G I S H V 

L V R S Z X T O G G O L Q D N F B S G X 

W H J E S U S E X H F C R O V G H A H M 

C Z G H H P R O Y H W T J B Q Y A M I G 

Q S R I D C V B S E E G U C Y T L L V O 

D Q M B J U O P X K I N A D R K N O I S 

V J Z N D F A W S I N E C J B O P G H T 

R U W U I Q F A I Y E W E Q Z S S E F P 

Y A D I R F B T N Z D B B F B Q X S L O 


Spring 

is Coming 

You 

Are 

Ready?

CHALDEAN OWNED AND OPERATED 

BUICK GMC DEALERSHIP 

BAS ROBIN 

TANYA ROBIN

APRIL 2017

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