NOVEMBER 2017

VOL. 13 ISSUE X 

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY NOVEMBER 2017 

$ 

3 

www.chaldeannews.com 

DEALING with DRUGS 

COMMUNITY MEMBERS 

SPEAK OUT ABOUT 

OVERDOSES 

INSIDE 

HUMAN SIDE OF DEPORTATION 

CHALDEANS MEET FIRST LADY 

THE BUSINESS OF POLITICS

® ROBERTOCOIN 

SYMPHONY COLLECTION 

32940 Middlebelt Road | Farmington Hills, MI 48334 | 248-JEWELER

CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2017 

THE CHALDEAN NEWS VOLUME 13 ISSUE X 

departments 

6 FROM THE EDITOR 

BY VANESSA DENHA GARMO 

Being a resource of information 

8 IN MY VIEW 

BY MICHAEL SARAFA 

It’s about TIME 

9 WHERE DO YOU STAND? 


Seminarian professor challenges 

Pope Francis 

10 GUEST COLUMNS 

BY ROCKY BAHOURA 

Physical therapy over drugs for pain relief 

BY ASHOURINA SLEWO 

The human side of deportation 

12 NOTEWORTHY 

16 IRAQ TODAY 

BY MIDDLE EAST ONLINE 

Iraqi Kurds postpone elections 

amid tensions with Baghdad 

18 CHAI TIME 

20 RELIGION 

22 OBITUARIES 

38 CHALDEAN ON THE STREET 

BY HALIM SHEENA 

How to combat the drug problem? 

40 DOC IS IN 

BY DR. TALIA KARMO 

Addiction: A hidden illness 

24 

on the cover 

24 DEALING WITH DRUGS 

BY WEAM NAMOU 

Community members speak out about overdoses 

25 ARMING THE COMMUNITY 

WITH RESOURCES 

BY WEAM NAMOU 

features 

26 THE BUSINESS OF POLITICS 


Chaldean Chamber luncheon focused on current 

political climate in the United States 

28 EVANGELIZING THE FAITH 

BY VANESSA DENHA-GARMO 

ECRC evolves its ministry to meet 

the needs of the community 

30 LEARNING AND LOVE 

THROUGH B.E.A.M. 

BY LISA CIPRIANO 

32 COMING TO AMERICA 

BY EDWARD VINCENT 

Sharing John’s Five Year Diary Box 

34 THE POWER OF STORYTELLING 

BY STEPHEN JONES 

36 UNDER GOD’S WINGS 

TO FOCUS ON TEEN ISSUES, 

OPIOID CRISIS 

BY CRYSTAL KASSAB JABIRO 

42 CLASSIFIED LISTINGS 

44 KIDS CORNER 

Happy Turkey Day! 

45 EVENTS 

Taking a Stride for Seminarians 

Celebrating Ten Years 

NOVEMBER 2017 CHALDEAN NEWS 5

from the EDITOR 

PUBLISHED BY 

The Chaldean News, LLC 

Being a resource of information 

EDITORIAL 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

Vanessa Denha-Garmo 

MANAGING EDITORS 

Denha Media Group Writers 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Lisa Cipriano 

Ashourina Slewo 

Weam Namou 

Halim Sheena 

Talia Karmo 

Crystal Kassab Jabiro 

Edward Vincent 

Stephen Jones 

ART & PRODUCTION 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS 

Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

PHOTOGRAPHERS 

David Reed 


Razik Tomina 

Christen Jamoua 

OPERATIONS 

Interlink Media 

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS 

Martin Manna 

CLASSIFIEDS 


SALES 


SALES REPRESENTATIVES 


Christen Jamoua 

Sana Navarrette 

MANAGERS 


Martin Manna 

Michael Sarafa 

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $25 PER YEAR 

THE CHALDEAN NEWS 

30095 NORTHWESTERN HWY, SUITE 101 

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334 

WWW.CHALDEANNEWS.COM 

PHONE: (248) 851-8600 

Publication: The Chaldean News (P-6); 

Published monthly; Issue Date: November 2017 

Subscriptions: 12 months, $25. Publication Address: 

30850 Telegraph Road, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, 

Michigan 48025; Application to Mail at Periodicals 

Postage Rates is Pending at Farmington Hills Post 

Office Postmaster: Send address changes to 

“The Chaldean News 30095 Northwestern Hwy., 

Suite 101, Farmington Hills, MI 48334” 

It has to be one of a parent’s 

worst nightmare — 

your child is addicted to 

drugs. As a parent, guiding 

your children is a top priority 

— or at least it should 

be — but we are all bound 

to make mistakes and we 

certainly don’t have all the 

answers. 

When I hear about a kid 

straying, I have often asked 

the question: Where were 

the parents? I guess it is 

a natural instinct. However, when 

you do some research, you will often 

find out that the parents were right 

there every step trying to get their 

child the help they needed. 

The reality is that the world we 

live in can be a very scary place. 

When I was growing up, it was 

much easier for my parents to protect 

us from the outside world but 

today, the outside world is just a 

keyboard or a Smartphone away. 

The outside world is in the hands of 

our children. 

Years ago, while working fulltime 

at WJR, I did a week-long series 

on heroin addiction as it was becoming 

an epidemic in the region. 

Here we are again — about 20 years 

later — and drugs are still at the 

forefront. 

One statistic I learned while producing 

that series really alarmed me 

— less than one percent of people 

who try to kick the heroin addiction 

are successful — the rest will most 

likely die from it. 

That reality has become a very 

VANESSA 

DENHA-GARMO 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

CO-PUBLISHER 

serious one for the Chaldean 

community. We have 

had reported overdoses recently 

and we are still not 

certain how many of our 

own people are addicted to 

some kind of drug. 

We are reporting on 

this issue once again. It 

has been almost two years 

since we featured a story on 

heroin and we are brining 

you not just a cover story 

on the drug problem but an 

issue heavily focused on it. 

We have several pieces including 

a two-part cover story written by 

Weam Namou on the drug update 

and how it is affecting the Chaldean 

community. We believe it is imperative 

that we share this information 

with you — our readers — and the 

community at large. We have to 

unite as a community to combat this 

very serious problem. We are losing 

lives — our children — to this dark 

world of drugs. 

We encourage parents and family 

members to put stigmas and pride 

aside and do what you can to get the 

addicts help. We also ask that others 

who love to gossip to find ways to be 

an advocate and not adversary. You 

know the old saying, ‘those who live 

in glass house…?’ Heed that and 

stop throwing stones. We cannot 

judge families when they are facing 

traumatic and often life-threatening 

challenges. We are called as Christians, 

which we are, to help our suffering 

brothers and sisters. 

Drugs don’t discriminate by financial 

status, age, gender or education. 

No one is immune to the 

societal pressures. All of our children 

are vulnerable. We hope you 

use these stories in this issue as a resource 

to educate and to help. 

It’s also a time to give thanks. I 

am grateful for those families who 

were willing to share their stories 

with us and our writers who sought 

out the answers they needed to craft 

these articles. We will continue to 

follow this story and the resources 

available to help families and we 

will report on it not only on these 

pages but on our website and our social 

media platforms. 

We will continue emailing our 

weekly newsletter as well. We are 

here to keep you abreast of all the 

news in the community and bring 

you tools you need to solve problems. 

The Chaldean News is not 

just a news source but a resource of 

information that we can share on a 

daily basis. Stay connected with us 

and we will keep you connected to 

all the news and information you 

need. 

Alaha Imid Koullen 

(God Be With Us All) 


vdenha@chaldeannews.com 

Follow her on Twitter @vanessadenha 

Follow Chaldean News on Twitter @ 

chaldeannews 

New York Life Congratulates Gabriel H. Sinawi CLU®, ChFC® 

for 40 Years of Service 

Going green? 

Visit chaldeannews.com! 

Individual Life Insurance, IRAs, SEPs and 529 Plans, * Annuities, * Mutual 

Funds * , Health Insurance, ** Medicare Supplemental Insurance ** 

ContACt: 

Gabriel H. Sinawi CLU®, ChFC® 

Licensed Insurance Agent 

New York Life Insurance Company 

EMAIL: gsinawi@ft.newyorklife.com 

PHonE: 248-357-8971 

FAx: 248-352-9680 

AddRESS: 4000 Town Center, Suite 1300 

Southfield MI 48075 

* Issued by new York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (A delaware Corporation). # Securities offered 

through nYLIFE Securities LLC (member FInRA/SIPC). ** Products available through one or more carriers not affiliated 

with new York Life, dependent on carrier authorization and product availability in your state or locality. 

6 CHALDEAN NEWS NOVEMBER 2017


in my VIEW 

It’s about TIME 

As far back as I can 

remember, Time 

Magazine came 

to our house addressed 

to my dad once a week. 

That had to be the mid 

1970’s. It was coming to 

the house for years before 

then. When I moved to 

Philadelphia for graduate 

school, I got my own 

subscription. That was 

1991. It’s been with me 

ever since. Lansing, East Lansing, 

Farmington Hills, Detroit, Novi and 

back to Farmington Hills. Twentysix 

years in all, not including my 

childhood when I had dibs on it after 

my dad. 

A couple of weeks ago, I received 

the issue below with addition of the 

wrap announcing that “This could 

be your LAST ISSUE.” I had been 

ignoring successive renewal mailings 

for months. Why? I barely pick my 

Time Magazine up anymore. By the 

time I get the weekly publication, 

several news cycles have already 

come and gone. The Time writers 

are sprinkled throughout cable news 

television. They blog. They tweet. 

By the time they type their last letter 

for each week’s Time Magazine, their 

analysis is already outdated. 

The news cycle has been evolving 

for years, even decades. But social 

media has completely upended 

the way most Americans get their 

information. The dawn of the Trump 

era and his presidential Tweets have 

accelerated this trend in ways we 

could not have imagined. Trump’s 

tweets have the ability to change 

MICHAEL G. 

SARAFA 

SPECIAL TO THE 

CHALDEAN NEWS 

the topic of discussion in a 

matter of minutes. This is 

not just going around the 

traditional media. That’s 

been going on for decades. 

Even President Reagan 

reduced news conferences 

and preferred direct addresses 

to the American 

people. 

What Trump is doing 

is controlling the news cycle. 

He has accomplished 

this by successfully expanding the 

bounds of what is considered news 

worthy. He has made the outrageous, 

normal; the politically incorrect, 

acceptable; the obscene, unremarkable. 

Trump has achieved what 

former U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick 

Moynihan once ominously warned 

about: the notion of “defining deviancy 

down.” As standards and expectations 

fall, this new, lower level 

eventually becomes normal. 

Hence, while social media has exploded 

and redefined the way news 

is gathered, and disseminated, so too 

has public discourse declined. In the 

process, the traditional news outlets 

have been devastated. Combine these 

facts with the decline of print media, 

and my history with Time Magazine, 

regrettably, is near the end. 

While all good things do often 

come to an end, this situation 

presents a conundrum. How does 

one gather information on current 

events in this day and age? There 

is no one answer and no good answer. 

One could take the Trump 

approach which simply makes the 

news his enemy; unless of course its 

good news for him, in which case, 

it’s okay. In other words, just make 

the news yourself, the way you want 

it to be. 

Another idea is to just forget 

about it. Life is busy enough without 

the news. One could confine news 

content to life and death matters 

only. These days that might include 

the weather or threats from North 

Korea. I think this option seems to 

be in vogue. Today, nobody talks 

about the news much for fear of offending 

people and, frankly, because 

it is perceived not to matter. Being 

informed is less important than we 

were probably taught. There are 

forces larger than the idea of the 

informed citizen that will fix things 

eventually. 

I hope this is not the case. But 

as I contemplate letting my Time 

Magazine subscription expire for the 

first time in a quarter century, I keep 

wondering if it’s about Time? 

Michael Sarafa is Co-publisher of the 

Chaldean News. 

Grow your business, join the 

Chaldean Chamber today! 

Contact Sana Navarrette at snavarrette@chaldeanchamber.com 

or 248-996-8340 to become a member 

CHALDEAN 

AMERICAN 

CHAMBER OF 

COMMERCE 

Follow the Chamber on social media: 

GET INVOLVED. GET CONNECTED. GET BUSINESS.

where do you STAND? 

Seminarian professor challenges Pope Francis 


Here comes a document signed 

by more than 70 priests, 

scholars, and church opinion 

leaders once again challenging 

7 “heretical propositions” put forth 

by Pope Francis in Amoris Laetitia 

(The Joy of Love), his apostolic exhortation. 

The letter challenging the 

Pope is more significant for who did 

not sign it, which is nobody from the 

entire College of Cardinals and say 

but for one Bishop, currently suspended 

for his own unorthodoxies. 

Amongst their reprisals is that 

“The Joy of Love” contains propositions 

which contradict truths that 

are divinely revealed…” The authors 

are still bent about the notion of divorced 

people receiving Holy Communion 

because they are still living 

in a state of sin. But let’s leave that 

alone for now. 

One signatory to this letter is 

notable for his geography. Right on 

Chicago Boulevard in Detroit works 

Dr. Phillip Blosser, Professor of Philosophy 

at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. 

His job: to train and educate 

the seminarians. Blosser told the 

Free Press that he loves Pope Francis 

but that the he would “like to see 

greater clarity and consistency in his 

teaching.” The nerve. 

The Free Press quoted other experts 

that called these signatories 

“the extreme fringe” and “the usual 

suspects of really far right types who 

have been upset not only with this 

pope but others in recent years.” 

Pope Francis will continue to rebuff 

and ignore these challenges to his 

papacy by what he calls the “doctors 

of the law” more worried about rules 

than the ability to discern the manifestation 

of Jesus’ love in daily life. 

But never mind all this. There’s 

a bigger problem. The Sacred Heart 

Seminary doesn’t just educate seminarians 

for the Archdiocese of Detroit. 

That is also where Chaldean 

Diocese priest candidates get their 

training. Why is this our business? 

Twice a year all the Chaldean 

Churches take a collection to support 

the education of the Chaldean 

seminary students. Their tuition is 

expensive. There is a Seminarian 

fund created by former Bishop Ibrahim 

Ibrahim just for this purpose. 

Many of us have donated to it over 

the years. There are other major fund 

raising events held throughout the 

years for this important and worthwhile 

cause. 

I’m sure Professor Blosser must 

be a fine individual. But do we really 

want someone considered on the 

“fringe” of the Catholic Church to 

be teaching our future priests? Do we 

want the dollars we donate to support 

our seminarians’ education to go 

towards the salary of someone who 

accuses Pope Francis of heresy? 

I would think not, but, where do 

you stand? 

HOURS: 

MON – FRI 8AM-6PM 

SAT 9AM-4PM

GUEST columns 

Physical therapy over drugs for pain relief 

ROCKY 

BAHOURA PT, DPT 


CHALDEAN NEWS 

No one wants to live 

in pain and turning 

to pain medication 

seems to be their only option, 

but opioid addiction 

is very common in today’s 

society and can be extremely 

dangerous. During 

the past 15 to 20 years, the 

amount of opioid prescription 

drugs continues to increase. 

These drugs such as Vicodin 

and Oxycontin can 

be very harmful if not used appropriately. 

Addiction to prescription 

opioids can eventually lead to heroin 

addiction and even death. 

In response to a growing opioid 

addiction, the CDC released opioid 

prescription guidelines. The 

guidelines recognize that prescription 

opioids are appropriate in certain 

cases, including cancer treatment, 

palliative care, and 

also in certain acute care 

situations. 

An alternative to opioid 

prescription drugs that 

is recommended is physical 

therapy. Physical therapists 

can treat pain 

through movement 

and this will help 

patients to improve 

or maintain their 

mobility and quality 

of life. Exercise 

can help treat patients with 

low back pain, hip osteoarthritis, 

knee osteoarthritis, 

fibromyalgia, shoulder osteoarthritis, 

neck pain, and many more conditions 

causing pain. A physical 

therapist can create an appropriate 

exercise program to help many conditions 

causing pain. 

The longer the patient deals 

with pain the greater the likeliness 

of addiction to prescription opioids. 

Physical therapist treat many 

patients post operation such as a 

total knee, total hip, total shoulder, 

back and neck surgery and it is 

recommend that the patient limit 

the amount of prescription opioid 

use. Physical therapist can also 

use therapeutic modalities to treat 

pain. Cold packs, hot packs, and 

the use of electrical stimulation 

can help with pain reduction. Exercise 

can help reduce pain through 

the replacement of endorphins. 

Given the evidence of potential 

for serious harm from opioid addiction, 

patient education and discussion 

before starting opioid therapy 

are critical. Physical therapists can 

play a valuable role in the patient 

These drugs such as Vicodin and Oxycontin can be 

very harmful if not used appropriately. Addiction to 

prescription opioids can eventually lead to heroin 

addiction and even death. 

education process, including setting 

a recovery treatment plan with 

or without opioids. 

Rocky Bahoura PT, DPT is with 

Premier Therapy Centers in West 

Bloomfield and Commerce. 

Progress 

Progress 

is 

is 

never 

never 

Progress is never 

backing 

backing 

down. 

down. 

backing Introducing the all-new Audi down. 

S5 Coupe. 

Introducing the all-new Audi S5 Coupe. 

Audi of Rochester Hills 45441 Dequindre Rd Rochester Hills Mi, 48307 248-997-7400 

Audi of Rochester Hills 45441 Dequindre Rd Rochester Hills Mi, 48307 248-997-7400 

“Audi,” all of model Rochester names, and the four Hills rings 45441 logo are registered Dequindre trademarks of Rd Audi Rochester AG. ©2017 Audi of Hills America, Mi, Inc. 48307 248-997-7400 

“Audi,” all model names, and the four rings logo are registered trademarks of Audi AG. ©2017 Audi of America, Inc. 

Introducing the all-new Audi S5 Coupe. 

10 CHALDEAN “Audi,” all NEWS model names, NOVEMBER and the 2017 four rings logo are registered trademarks of Audi AG. ©2017 Audi of America, Inc.

The human side of 

deportation 


There are few moments that 

will stay with me for the rest 

of my life and watching my 

father get zip tied and tossed into 

a car by Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement (ICE) agents is at the 

top of my list. There’s nothing quite 

like hearing my father, a man who 

has seen many horrors in his 51 

years of life, cry out to me, begging 

me to not forget him. 

Since June 11, the politics of the 

ICE sweeps have run rampant. The 

phrase “the law is the law” is thrown 

around as if it were the answer to everything. 

Oddly enough, I like the 

intricacy of politics, but the mass detainment 

of more than 100 Iraqis has 

been enough to make me nauseous 

at the black and white thought processes 

of some. These detainees have 

committed crimes, but they have 

also served their time accordingly. 

I want to share the human side 

of these potential deportations. 

We’ve heard all the politics and 

immigration jargon, it’s now time 

to see the detainees and their families 

as humans. 

My mother and father ran away 

from Iraq after they married in 1992 

and for almost eight months, stayed 

in a Turkish refugee camp where 

they waited to finally be allowed 

entry to the United States. In June 

of 1993, my parents entered the 

U.S. legally and became permanent 

residents. With their first child born 

exactly six months later, my father 

knew that going to school was not a 

reality for him or my mother. They 

worked and supported what would 

eventually become a family of six. 

As a result, obtaining his citizenship 

found a permanent residency at the 

bottom of his list of things to worry 

about. 

My parents shed their former 

life like a second skin in that Turkish 

refugee camp. They were proud 

Americans and nothing would 

change that. They still rooted for 

Iraq’s soccer team and wistfully 

spoke of the shawarma sandwiches 

bought on street corners, but they 

never once felt the pull to return to 

a land destroyed by endless terror. 

Since my father was picked up, I 

find myself overwhelmed by my responsibilities, 

his responsibilities and 

the responsibility to save his life. I 

work to pay my bills, my mother’s bills, 

his bills, and the added financial burden 

of having a father facing deportation. 

I would have never thought that 

speaking to my father on the phone or 

paying for food would become such a 

financial burden. 

Since June 11, my mom, sister 

and I have gone without, so that we 

could ensure my father and brothers 

didn’t have to worry about food, 

shelter, etc. The financial burden is 

almost worse than the thought that 

my father, a father, brother, uncle 

and U.S. Army veteran, will be sent 

back to a war zone where he will 

face persecution. It’s ironic, really, 

to think that immigrants can voluntarily 

enlist to fight for this country, 

but cannot become citizens of this 

country for the mere fact that they 

are enlisting. 

As the child of immigrants, I 

have always had more responsibilities 

than other people my age; I came 

to terms with that long ago when I 

was calling DTE Energy about an 

issue with our bill at the ripe age of 

8. Never in my life, however, did I 

think I would be fighting tooth and 

nail to save my father’s life. I would 

take filling out papers and translating 

over this fight any day. 

Countless organizations have 

helped me in the fight, from CODE 

Legal Aid to the Chaldean Community 

Foundation, and I don’t know 

what I have done in my life to come 

across these amazing people, but I am 

thankful. At the end of the night, 

though, when I’m left with just my 

thoughts, I think of the odds. I think 

of the exuberant man that is sitting 

in Northeast Ohio Correctional Facility 

and how he has fought to become 

a better person. The man that 

was so proud to be an American, he 

enlisted in the armed forces even 

with the nightmares he still experienced 

from his time in the Republican 

Guard. 

I think of how I don’t want to fail 

him. He has so much faith in me and 

my abilities, but with each day that I 

don’t have good news to give him, I 

find myself panicking at the thought 

of letting him and my family down. 

It’s been on a constant loop and 

it’s a fact we can’t escape, these detainees 

have previously committed 

crimes and have received final orders 

of deportation. However, what is not 

so prominently stated is that these 

detainees have served their time and 

have made the necessary changes to 

once again become productive members 

of the community. They’re not 

running around committing crimes; 

it’s hard to commit crimes when you 

regularly check in with ICE. There 

is no value in this prolonged detainment 

and certainly not in deporting 

these men and women. 


noteworthy 

Steve Acho, Author 

Steve Acho has made great 

strides as both a musician and 

now author. Acho wrote a technology 

driven book titled, “Why 

Technology Recruiting is Broken 

and What To Do About It.” 

Steve Acho Acho’s book is one of many toprated 

books on Amazon. Most 

recently, Acho has reached a 

major milestone in his music career as his music 

has been downloaded and streamed more than 10 

million times. Acho has performed across the U.S. 

and the world as an independent musician, including 

national TV and radio appearances in the U.S. 

and Japan. Acho has also performed with celebrities 

and has sung the national anthem for Detroit 

sports teams. 

University of Detroit Students Volunteer 

Roughly 950 of University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy’s young men provided much-needed 

services to nine agencies throughout the city of Detroit. From site beautification to providing meals for 

the less-fortunate. The school has this event every year where they split up the kids and tackle clean up at 

various Detroit locations. These boys were at Historic Fort Wayne in Detroit. It was the Academy (7th and 

8th grade) and Freshman. They cleaned bushes and trees along the river. 

Family Feud Time 

On March 26, 2017, Theresa Sitto and her children, 

Jacinta, Brent, Olivia, and Spencer appeared on Family 

Feud. This began with an audition at Cobo in Detroit 

then a second audition in Atlanta, where they 

were chosen to appear. The episode filmed for more 

than an hour. “It was an overall amazing and fun family 

experience; the Family Feud production staff were 

wonderful and very professional and impressive. All 

details were handled with precision and the entire 

crew was welcoming and kind. Steve Harvey told 

stories and had everyone laughing. He even did the 

halhole during the segment, and although that part 

didn’t air, it was a lot of fun,” said Theresa. 

UHC Baby 

Shower 

On October 4, 2017, 

UnitedHealthcare Community 

Plan hosted a 

Community Baby Shower 

and partnered with 

United Community Family Services/CALC, and St. 

John Providence Ascension Health System. This was 

their third annual successful event with more than 

100 expectant and new moms in attendance. This 

collaboration provided a unique opportunity to work 

jointly to educate new and expectant mothers with 

valuable health information exclusively presented in 

Arabic to promote healthy living and healthier communities. 

The event was once again a great success, 

with excellent turnout and lively participation. 

Building Bridges 

On Wednesday, October 4, 

members of the Chaldean community 

came together with 

members of the Jewish community 

for the Chaldean/Jewish 

Building Bridges event. This 

event was hosted at the Shenandoah 

Country Club, where 

event goers were given a tour of 

the Chaldean Cultural Museum. 

The Building Bridges event was 

sponsored by the Chaldean News 

and the Detroit Jewish News. 


The Bodyguard 

Due to media: 10/16/2017 

Publication: Chaldean News 

Run date: November, December, 

January 

Size: 1/3 page 

4.375 in. w. x 8 in. h. 

Proof 2: 10/16/17; 4:09PM 

For: Nederlander Detroit 

(Fisher Theatre & others) 

Agency: SMZ advertising 

Design: Frank Bach, 

Bach & Associates; Phone 313-822-4303, 

frank@frankbach.com 

“★★★★ THE HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN” 

—Sunday Mirror 

20% off 

souperbowlrestaurants.com 

Starring 

DEBORAH COX 

Deborah Cox is not scheduled to perform at the Sat. matinee & Sun. evening performances 

Fisher Theatre • January 16–28 

BroadwayInDetroit.com, 

ticketmaster.com, 800-982-2787, box office 313-872-1000. 

Groups (10+): Groups@BroadwayInDetroit.com or 313-871-1132. 

7:30PM Jan. 21. 

© The Bodyguard (UK) Ltd. Designed by Dewynters 

HOURS: 

Effective November 1, 2017 

Mon - Fri: 11 am – 9 pm 

Saturday: 11 am to – pm 

Sunday: Closed 

Tell them you saw it 

in the Chaldean News! 

Expires 1/31/2018 

* Not valid with 

another coupon 

32407 Northwestern Hwy 

Farmington Hills 

248-702-6723 

souperbowlrestaurants.com 


noteworthy 

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WHITE HOUSE. 

First Lady Visits Orchard 

Lake Middle School 

Melody Arabo, Lead Ambassador Teacher 

Fellow for the US Department of Education, 

and Crystal Jabiro, English and Social Studies 

teacher at Orchard Lake Middle School 

in West Bloomfield, coordinated efforts to 

show First Lady Melania Trump and Secretary 

of Education Betsy DeVos the Orchard Lake 

Middle School’s anti-bullying initiatives, like 

No One Eats Alone. The First Lady and Secretary 

kicked off the “Week of Inclusion,” part of 

National Bullying Prevention Month, by visiting 

during lunch and participating in a lesson 

about inclusion during “Viking Huddle,” an 

advisory class. 

Now accepting Holiday Orders! 

We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover, 

American Express and EBT Cards 

32906 Middlebelt Rd (at 14 Mile), Farmington Hills | 248-855-0007 

Hours: Mon – Sat 8:30-8:30, Sun 8:30-7pm | www.JohnnyPomodoros.com 

TUESDAY’S SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT 10% (excludes beer, wine, Lotto, sale items, garden center and special orders) 


“A spectacular show for the entire family.”—Dallas Press 

Trade-In Sale 

One Week Only! 

Sale ends November 19th 

Trade in your old out-dated 

coat for a stylish new fur! 

, 

181 S. Old Woodward Ave. 

Birmingham, MI 48009 

Phone: (248) 642-1690 

CeresnieandOffenfurs.com 

Fisher Theatre • December 12–17 

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

BroadwayInDetroit.com, 313-872-1000. Groups (12+): 

Groups@BroadwayInDetroit.com or 313-871-1132. 

Hours: MON-FRI 10-6, THUR 10-7, 

SAT 10-5, SUN 1-5 

(Thur/Sun hours start Nov.9th) 

Parking: Free parking at store front; 

additional free parking behind the store. 

n? 

Pain? 

Pain? 

Pain? 

Don’t Have 

You Don’t Have 

You Don’t Have 

to You Live Don’t with Have it! 

to Live with it! 

ve with it! 

to Live with it! 

Ask us about 

Interventional Regenerative Medicine 

tional Regenerative You won’t Ask be us disappointed 

about Medicine 

Interventional Regenerative 

Ask 

Medicine 

us about 

u won’t be disappointed 

You won’t be disappointed 

The Knee Institute 248-862-2551 

You won’t be 6016 disappointed 

W Maple Road, Suite 705 

The Knee Institute 

Interventional Regenerative Medicine 

ee Institute 

Ask us about 

Call for a 

FREE 

consultation 

248-862-2551 

West Bloomfield 

Michigan’s Only Accredited Facility 6016 W Maple Road, Suite 705 


Return to Freedom 

Michigan’s Freedom Only from Accredited Pain. Facility Freedom to 

West 

Move. 

Bloomfield 

Freedom to Live. 

The Knee Return Institute 

to Freedom 

Only Accredited 

Freedom 

Facility 

from Pain. Freedom to Move. Freedom to Live. 

www.thekneeinstitutes.com 

6016 W Maple Road, Suite 705 



Return to Freedom 

m from Pain. Freedom to Move. Freedom to Live. 

248-862-2551 

6016 W Maple Road, Suite 705 



IRAQ today 

Iraqi Kurds postpone elections 

amid tensions with Baghdad 

Simultaneous legislative, presidential elections due for November 1 

postponed by 8 months amid tensions over disputed territory with Baghdad. 

ARBIL 

Parliament in Iraq’s autonomous 

Kurdish region decided Tuesday 

to hold legislative elections 

in eight months after they were delayed 

amid tensions with the central 

government in Baghdad over disputed 

territories. 

Regional legislative and presidential 

elections had both been due on 

November 1 but were delayed after 

Baghdad seized a swathe of territory 

from Kurdish forces following an independence 

vote. 

There was no immediate word on 

a new date for a presidential election 

“The Kurdistan parliament decided... 

to postpone the parliamentary 

elections in the autonomous region 

by eight months,” Islamic Union of 

Kurdistan parliamentarian Bahzad 

Zebari said. 

Farsat Sofi of the Kurdistan Democratic 

Party (KDP) of long-time 

Kurdish leader Massud Barzani said 

parliament would choose the date for 

legislative and presidential elections. 

The elections were originally set 

for just over a month after a September 

25 referendum in the Kurdish areas 

which resulted in a massive “yes” 

for independence. 

The referendum, set in motion 

by Barzani, was strongly opposed by 

Baghdad. 

Iraqi forces last week swept into 

the oil-rich Kirkuk province in the 

north, restoring it and Kurdish-held 

parts of Nineveh and Diyala provinces 

to central government control. 

The rapid Kurdish retreat triggered 

recriminations among Kurdish 

politicians and prompted the regional 

parliament to postpone both 

elections. 

“Parliament has decided to freeze 

the activities of the Kurdistan presidency,” 

Zebari said on Tuesday. 

This body includes Barzani, 

his vice-president Kosrat Rasul of 

KDP rival the Patriotic Union of 

Iraqi Kurdistan’s main opposition party called for Barzani to step down 

Kurdistan (PUK), and the head of 

the presidential cabinet, Fuad Hussein. 

Its freezing, and the fact that parliament 

did not extend its mandate 

again, represent a major blow to Barzani. 

On Sunday, Iraqi Kurdistan’s 

main opposition party called for Barzani 

to step down after the loss of 

Kurdish-controlled territory. 

Shoresh Haji of the Goran movement, 

which holds 24 out of 111 seats 

in the Iraqi Kurdish parliament, said 

both Barzani and Rasul should quit. 

“The Kurdistan region’s president 

and his deputy no longer have any legitimacy 

and should resign,” he said. 

Haji called for the creation of a 

“national salvation government” to 

prepare for dialogue with Baghdad 

and organize new elections. 

The mandate of Barzani, the 

first and only elected president of 

the autonomous Kurdish region, 

expired in 2013. 

It was extended for two years 

and then continued in the chaos 

that followed the Islamic State 

group’s sweeping offensive across 

Iraq in 2014. 

Under the autonomous region’s 

laws, it was Barzani who had set general 

elections for November 1. 

Tuesday’s vote now means that 

parliament will decide the new electoral 

calendar, several parliamentarians 

said. 

A month after scoring a major 

victory in the independence referendum, 

Barzani now finds himself 

increasingly isolated both at home 

and abroad. 

The United States, a key ally of 

both Baghdad and Kurdish forces in 

the battle against IS, opposed the 

non-binding referendum, as did nations 

including Iraq’s neighbors Iran 

and Turkey. 

Article courtesy of Middle East Online 


SOLD 

The sign 

you want 

The agent 

you need 

Join Michigan’s Largest 

real estate company 

Now hiring new & 

seasoned agents 

Real Estate Classes 

Day, Evening, & Saturday 

Classes Available 

$ 

99 

Dreaming about a new home? 

Name the place, we’ll find the space. 

Northwestern Hwy 

Franklin Rd 

29100 Northwestern Hwy 

Ste. 110 Southfield, MI 48034 

Twelve Mile Rd 

regularly $225 

offer expires 12/31/17 

Call Pat Phillips at 248.723.0055 

pphillips@realestateone.com 

www.patriciaphillips.realestateone.com 

CHALDEANNEWS.COM 

DIGITAL 

Increase your business’ 

online presence for as little as 

$ 

99 A WEEK 

★ 10,000 VISITORS A MONTH 

AND GROWING 

★ 24/7 ONLINE ADVERTISING FOR 

AS LITTLE AS $99 A WEEK 

★ GREAT FOR GETTING YOUR 

MESSAGE OUT IMMEDIATELY 

BANNER ADS LINK DIRECTLY 

TO YOUR WEBSITE 

For more information, 

please contact us at: 

office: (248) 996-8360 

fax: (248) 996-8342 

info@chaldeannews.com 

30850 TELEGRAPH ROAD, SUITE 220 

BINGHAM FARMS, MI 48025 

WWW.CHALDEANNEWS.COM 

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM 


CHAI time 

CHALDEANS CONNECTING 

COMMUNITY EVENTS IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT NOVEMBER 2017 

Thursday, November 2 

Charity: The Grosse Point War Memorial 

is hosting their first annual Art 

and Antiques show on November 2 

from 6:00 to 11:00 pm. The show will 

run through November 5, with a preview 

party and strolling dinner crafted 

by Chef Frank Turner on the first day. 

Tickets for the first day include general 

admission Friday through Sunday, 

dinner, cocktails, appetizers, and desserts 

raffle drawing. Tickets are $190. 

For more information and to purchase 

tickets contact Joyce Russell at (313) 

332-4075. 


Music: Joins us at Cranbrook House 

for The Keys of Cranbrook: A Dueling 

Piano Concert from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. 

Pierre Fracalanza will take to the Cranbrook 

House 1929 Steinway Concert 

Grand Model D piano accompanied 

by a Steinway Spirio player piano to 

delight guests with a varying selection 

of songs. The piano concert will 

cover nearly a century’s worth of music, 

complemented with a visual representation. 

Tickets can be purchased 

for $35 at http://https://housegardens. 

cranbrook.edu/events/2017-11/keyscranbrook-dueling-piano-concert. 

Friday, November 3 

Charity: Join more than 300 young 

professionals and philanthropic leaders 

from all around Detroit in the fight 

against cancer at the Skyline Soiree. 

The Skyline Soiree will be held at Waterview 

Loft at Port Detroit. Hosted by 

Lear and benefiting the American Cancer 

Society, the Skyline Soiree will offer 

food, beverages, entertainment and a 

silent auction to benefit the American 

Cancer Society. For more information 

about the Skyline Soiree or to purchase 

tickets, call 248-663-3401 or visit skylinesoireedetroit.com. 


Musical: For the 36th year in a row, the 

holiday classic, A Christmas Carol will 

be captivating audiences with the story 

of Scrooge and the ghosts that haunt 

him. A Christmas Carol will be running 

from November 10 through December 

24 at the Meadow Brook Theatre on 

Oakland University’s campus in Rochester, 

MI. Tickets range from $28 to 

$35. To purchase tickets, contact the 

box office at (248) 377-3300 or go online 

at www.ticketmaster.com. For more 

information visit www.mbtheatre.com. 

Wednesday, November 15 

Faith: Join us for Under God’s Wings 

on November 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 

pm. Under God’s Wings is a parent’s 

program presented by the St. Thomas 

Chaldean Church. Each month, parents 

gather to discuss a different topic. 

The purpose is to educate, inform and 

provide the resources needed to build 

stronger Catholic families. This month’s 

topic of discussion is drug awareness 

and prevention presented by Dr. Lindsay 

Najor. There will also be a personal 

testimony from a community member. 


Charity: In celebration of their 50th anniversary, 

the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation 

is hosting an Evening at the Movies 

at Emagine Theaters. The event will begin 

at 6:30 pm. The 2017 honoree will 

be Iris Yellen, for her many years of dedication 

to the Michigan chapter of the 

foundation. Ernesto Drelichman, M.D., 

colon and rectal surgeon, will be the 

2017 Rosenthal Award Winner. Sheldon 

Yellen, CEO of Belfor Holdings Inc., will 

serve as the event speaker. The event 

will feature a silent auction and strolling 

dinner. For more information, visit bit.ly/ 

EveningattheMovies or contact Kiel Porter 

at kporter@crohnscolitisfoundation. 

org or 248-737-0900 ext. 4. 


Social: Presented by the Ford Motor 

Company, Hob Nobble Gobble will be 

hosted at Ford Field from 6:30 to 10:30 

pm. Guests can enjoy a black-tie evening 

featuring a Carnival Midway with 

rides and games, cuisine and live entertainment 

from end zone to end zone 

for all ages. Attendees will enjoy special 

performances from headlining acts, the 

famous Parade of Stars featuring dancing 

elves and the sounds of the All City 

Marching Band and Santa Claus. Hob 

Nobble Gobble helps to raise funds for 

The Parade Company which produces 

America’s Thanksgiving Parade. Tickets 

are on sale now. For more information 

and to reserve your table for 2017, contact 

CarolAnn at cbarbb@theparade. 

org, (313) 432-7831. 

Saturday, November 18 

Charity: Join the Our Lady Star of the 

Sea Parish at 6:30 pm for an evening of 

beer and wine tasting, food sampling, 

and jazz. For five years, the parish has 

hosted this event, which offers attendees 

the opportunity to taste a variety of 

foods and desserts from local restaurants, 

clubs, caterers, and bakeries. 

Several select wines, both red and 

white, and a selection of beers will be 

available for tasting. Guests will be entertained 

by the Chris Codish Trio. A 

cash bar will be available for guests 21 

and over. Tickets are $35 in advance 

or $40 at the door. For online reservations, 

visit olsos.org. For more information, 

call 313-884-5554. 

Saturday, November 18 

Charity: Join us for the ninth annual 

Dancing with the Detroit Stars at the 

Townsend Hotel in Birmingham, hosted 

by South Oakland Shelter. Metro Detroiters 

will pair up with professional 

dancers from the Arthur Murray Dance 

Studio for a celebrity dance competition. 

This premier event is filled with 

dancing, music, a strolling dinner, 

cocktails, and a silent auction. The 

proceeds from the event benefit the 

homeless men, women, and children 

in our community who are served by 

South Oakland Shelter. Reserve your 

tickets or check out the online auction 

at my.southoaklandshelter.org/dancing 

or call Omari Taylor at 248-809-3773. 


Fundraiser: Join us for the third annual 

helpiraq.org fundraiser. The fundraiser 

will be taking place on Black Friday 

at the Shenandoah Country Club in 

West Bloomfield. Every month for the 

past 3 years, MERCI has been sending 

an average of $30,000 to Iraq to help 

makeshift clinics. Over 150,000 Christians 

and many other minorities were 

displaced from their homes, so they did 

not have access to any healthcare or 

their monthly medication. With the help 

of volunteer healthcare professionals 

here and Iraq who have stepped up 

and try to fill the void, these makeshift 

clinics are successfully providing care 

to our displaced Christians and those 

in need. 

One of our main fundraisers that 

contributes to the clinics is the Helpiraq 

Black Friday event. This event typically 

raises 20% to 30% of the funds 

needed for the year. The last 2 years 

this event has sold out with over 700. A 

table of 10 is $1,000 or $125 per ticket. 

Sponsorship opportunities include 

$2,500 for a table of 10, $1,000 for 4 

tickets, or $500 for 2 tickets. For more 

information call (248) 406-2052 or visit 

www.helpiraq.org 

Send items for Chai Time to 

info@chaldeannews.com. 

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. 


Please join us for our third annual 

ENTREPRENEUR 

FORUM 

Hear the stories and tips for success 

from our community’s brightest: 

JIMMY NAFSO 

CEO, FortisPay 

CHRISTINE PILIGIAN 

Chairman & President, 

Jonna Realty Ventures 

PATRICK TOMINA 

CFO, w3r Consulting 

KEVIN (KARAM) BAHNAM 

USA 2 GO, Franchisee 

for Tim Horton’s 

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14 

SHENANDOAH COUNTRY CLUB 

5600 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfi eld, MI 48323 

DOORS OPEN AT 5:30 

PROGRAM: 6:15-7:15 P.M. 

Open Bar + Light Appetizers 

Admission is free, but you must RSVP: 

christen@chaldeannews.com 

Moderated by 

VANESSA 

DENHA GARMO 

Co-Publisher & 

Editor-in-Chief, 

Chaldean News 

Founder, 

Denha Media 

Group 

SPONSORED BY: 

CHALDEAN 

AMERICAN 

CHAMBER OF 

COMMERCE 

Chaldean News: The voice of the community since 2003

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. Matthew Zetouna 

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; 8 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 

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 

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 Vicars: Fr. Anthony Kathawa 

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 

ST. JOSEPH CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

2442 E. Big Beaver Road, Troy, MI 48083; (248) 528-3676 

Administrator: Fr. Rudy Zoma 

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 

Pastor: Fr. Bashar Sitto 

Parochial Vicars: Fr. Jirgus Abrahim, Fr. Andrew Seba 

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 IMMACULATE 

24900 Middlebelt Road 

Farmington, MI 48336; (248) 615-2951 

NOVITIATE HOUSE 

31855 Allison Drive 

Farmington Hills, MI 48334; (248) 987-6731 

CONVENT 

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 

7000 Clements 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 

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 30095 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 101, Farmington Hills, MI 48334. 

_ 

Giving 

Thanks 

We are in the month where 

Americans celebrate 

Thanksgiving. Perhaps start each 

day this month reciting for all the 

people and things you are grateful. 

Below is a gratitude prayer. 

For Prayer of Gratitude 

for God’s Blessings 

O Lord and Vivifier, 

Your grace has achieved for us 

all that You had spoken 

and promised. 

Grant us access to the 

place of Your peace. 

For You are our Vivifier, 

You are our Consoler, 

You are our life Remedy, 

You are our Standard of Victory. 

Blessed are we, O Lord, 

because we have known You! 

Blessed are we, 

because we have believed in You! 


because we bear Your wounds 

and the sign of Your Blood on our 

countenances! 


because You are our great hope! 


because You are our God forever! 

Courtesy of Catholic.org 


“Having administrators that build a 

strong independent but foundation 

for this company, has made working in 

the office pleasant and gratifying.” 

– Melanie Abro, Noor Samona, Meiada Elias 

“After working with John Paul for over 

8 years, not only am I part of the team, 

but I am a part of their family.” 

– Jefferey Orow, PT, DPT 

JOIN OUR TEAM! 

WE ARE LOOKING 

TO HIRE: 

• Registered Nurses 

• Physical Therapists 

• Occupational Therapists 

• Speech Pathologist 

• Home Health Aides/CNAs 

Please email your resume to Lance Sitto 

at L.sitto@johnpaulhomecare.com 

* Chaldean/Arabic speaking preferred but not required 

* One of the highest paying agencies in the industry 

CALL US TOLL FREE: 

866.423.6552 

OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE: 

JOHNPAULHOMECARE.COM 

LET JPHC MEET ALL YOUR NEEDS 

30600 TELEGRAPH ROAD, SUITE 2370 BINGHAM FARMS, MI 48025 • PHONE: 248 731 7457 • FAX 248 731 7562 


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 

obituaries 

RECENTLY DECEASED COMMUNITY MEMBERS 

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 

to achieve their final wishes, 

and empower families to make 

thoroughly informed decisions. 

Faiza Y Seman 

Nov. 01, 1940 - 

July 16, 2017 

Roxey Kamil Lucia 

Dec. 7, 1950 - 

Sept. 23, 2017 

Samira Kaka-Amma 

Asmar 

Aug. 27, 1951 - 

Oct. 1, 2017 

Anistazia Gorial 

Shammami 

October 1, 1950 - 


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 

0% fi nancing Monument up to lots 5 years 

Low monthly payments available 

Programs 0% financing that support up families to 5 years in need 

Low monthly payments available 

Jwzef Zaia Kouza 

July 1, 1943 - 


Rabqa Yalda 

Gorgees 

March 16, 1939 - 


Saad Hanna Kejel 

July 1, 1949 - 


Betty Sorisho 

Jan. 10, 1937 - 


Many cemetery options available 

Subscribe today! 

Design: Frank Bach, 

ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION: Bach & Associates; $25 Phone 313-822-4303, 

frank@frankbach.com 

❏ 1 YEAR ❏ GIFT SUBSCRIPTION 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

NAME 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

ADDRESS 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

CITY / STATE / ZIP 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

E-MAIL 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

PHONE 

PLEASE MAIL THE FORM, WITH A CHECK PAYABLE TO: 

CHALDEAN NEWS, ATTN: SUBSCRIPTIONS 



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

The Color Purple 

Due to media: 9/16/17 

Publication: Chaldean News 

Run dates: Oct. 2017, Nov. 2017 

Size: 1/4 page 

4.375 in. w. x 5.875 in. h. 

Proof: 3 

For: Nederlander Detroit 

(Fisher Theatre & others) 

Agency: SMZ advertising 

“A MIRACLE on Broadway.” 

—The New York Times 

Fisher Theatre • Nov. 7–12 

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

Info: BroadwayInDetroit.com, 313-872-1000. Groups (12+): 

Groups@BroadwayInDetroit.com or 313-871-1132. 8PM 11/10. 

Cynthia Erivo & the cast of The Color Purple on Broadway. Photos by Matthew Murphy, 2016 


In Loving Memory Of 

FRANCIS ADIL DADO 

(August 1, 1985 – September 16, 2017) 

It was the morning of September 

16th 2017 that our Lord took our 

beloved son, brother, uncle and 

friend Francis Dado by the hand and 

welcomed him through the gates 

of heaven and into the company of 

Saints. A place where tears, pain 

and suffering cease to exist and only 

great joy, abundant life and peaceful 

rest remains. 

Francis aka (Frank the Tank) will 

be missed and spoke of by many for 

years to come. We will never know 

why someone so bright and happy 

is no longer here with us, but death 

should not be a reason to be sad but 

a celebration of a wonderful life so 

well lived. 

Frank was always the center of attention 

no matter where or what the 

occasion, the life of every gathering, 

wedding, outing, or even just at work 

and home. From his dancing, silly 

jokes, strong bear hugs he owned a 

piece of everyone's heart in the family. 

Lasting memories about the 

times enjoyed with Frank will remain 

in us forever. Activities such as 

fishing, camping and sports are just 

a few to name. In general Frank was a 

tremendous athlete. He spent much 

time at the gym with his brother Ed 

and his cousins Chris and Justin. A 

true gentlemen that would give the 

very shirt off his back for anyone he 

loved. He had such admiration for 

the women and children in his family, 

but above all Frank was a genuine 

momma’s boy who loved her cooking, 

cleaning and even took a good 

whopping from time to time. 

I want you all to understand 

what kind of man Frank was. In 

order to do that I have to take you 

back some years ago. Frank was the 

victim of a senseless robbery late 

one night on his way home and it 

left him shot multiple times. While 

in the hospital he called his brother 

Salah, and scared outta his wits, 

his brother rushed to the hospital 

to find Frank sitting upright wide 

awake in bed. Tears in his eyes and 

an IV hanging from him, Frank said 

with strong faith in his tone, “Don’t 

cry. Only one man can take my life 

in this world and that is the Lord 

and when he comes I have no choice 

but to leave you all, brother.” 

Now, that time has come and we 

will be reunited with you once again 

someday. 

Rest in Peace dear Francis Dado. 

Love, 

Dad, Mom, Ban, Salah, 

Danny, and Eddi 

And all the families and 

friends he is survived by!

Dealing with drugs 

Community members speak out about overdoses 

BY WEAM NAMOU 

The small tight-knit Chaldean 

community prides itself on 

having strong family values 

and a solid Christian faith. So, when 

negative outside influences of modern-day 

society such as drugs sneaks 

its way into their homes, they are 

baffled on what to do. Most prefer 

hiding the issue to avoid shame and 

embarrassment. They don’t want to 

be judged, talked about, and looked 

down upon. Some end up facing 

their worst nightmare – the loss of a 

loved one. 

Nearly two years after our 2015 

cover story on heroin addiction, drug 

overdoses continue to plague the 

community and Peter’s Angels is still 

on a mission to fight this epidemic. 

After struggling for about ten years 

with addiction, Peter Alraihani lost 

his life at 27-years-old to an overdose 

on August 11, 2014. His aunt Iman 

Numan will never forget the day she 

received a call from her brother telling 

her of the horrific news. 

“It was raining very hard,” she 

said. “I felt the angels crying for him.” 

On the day of his funeral, Numan 

approached Peter’s older sister, 

Angie Toma, to find a way to help 

others in similar situations. This had 

already crossed Toma’s mind so she 

thought it was a great idea. Together, 

they founded Peter’s Angels, a 501 

(C3) nonprofit organization. 

“I didn’t want my brother’s death 

to go in vain,” said Toma. “He always 

wanted something in our community 

that addresses this problem. He 

said, ‘Why do I have to always go to 

American church and other centers 

for that?’” 

Ten years his senior, Toma said 

she practically raised her brother 

Peter, who was the youngest of three 

children. She learned about his addiction 

about two years into it. It 

was sad and painful to watch him go 

through the ups and downs because, 

she said, “He’s not that type of person. 

He was such a good boy growing 

up.” 

Peter was also smart, having 

received the highest MEAP Test 

score in the city of Southfield. His 

siblings are both well-educated; his 

brother has a master’s in computer 

science and his sister graduated from 

the University of Michigan – Dearborn 

with a degree in administration 

healthcare. 

“My brother wasn’t a street kid or 

a punk,” Toma said. “He was a good 

person and my parents are great. This 

isn’t about social class or whether 

you’re a good person or not. It could 

happen to anyone.” 

Similar words were echoed by 

George Abro who lost his nephew 

Brandon Kallabat, 26, to a drug overdose 

in September of 2017. Abro 

said that no one is immune from this 

issue, that the richest and smartest 

people could fall prey to it. 

“My nephew was a bright kid with 

good grades who came out of school 

with honors,” he said. “There’s nothing 

his parents wouldn’t have done 

for him.” 

The educational and social backgrounds 

of those affected by the drug 

epidemic has parents even more baffled. 

If providing love, support and 

financial security for their children 

can’t guarantee they will stay off of 

this deadly path, what will? 

Some have suggested that parents 

use extreme old-fashioned measures 

such as locking the addict in a room, 

even beating them if necessary, to 

get them to quit. Abro said, “Being 

locked up or beat up will only make 

individuals worse. They will come 

out of it angry.” 

He reminds people that laws 

don’t allow parents to control their 

children beyond 18 years of age. 

“My nephew was a grown adult 

making his own choices,” he said. 

“People are quick to blame the parents, 

but how do you know what the 

parents went through?” 

One mother whose son is currently 

struggling with drug addiction said 

that she refuses leaving her home 

for fear that her son would overdose 

while she’s out. She devotes all her 

time watching over him. Toma said 

that was the situation for her mother 

too. 

“My mother would not go to 

work, would stay home and just 

wait,” she said. “There was constant 

fear – every day not knowing if that’s 

the day that would be his last.” 

Abro believes that a suitable 

long-term rehab, proper counseling, 

and the right amount of cooperation 

from the individual could help an addict 

recover. 

“It’s a myth to think that if you’ve 

gone too far, you can’t clean up,” 

he said. “But it’ll have to be a longterm 

process. Short-term fix doesn’t 

work.” 

“No one is ever straight,” said 

Toma. Her brother, similarly to 

Abro’s nephew, would go clean for 

years and then fall back again. 

Neither families know exactly 

how their loved ones got into drugs, 

whether it was through friends or by 

prescribed drugs, but they believe 

that the best defense to prevention 


Arming the community with resources 

BY WEAM NAMOU 

and recovery is education and awareness 

about medicine and addiction. 

Father Brian addressed this issue 

during a Sunday mass at St. Joseph 

Chaldean Church. He said that millions 

of Americans suffer from pain 

every day, that people are in so much 

pain, they feel their only option is a 

pill. “They try to hide the pain rather 

than reach out,” he said. 

“People shouldn’t be afraid or 

ashamed to come forward,” said 

Toma. “It’s the parents’ job to know 

about this and catch it early. It’s not 

easy when you catch them late.” 

“Families sheltering their children 

or loved ones are not doing 

them any service,” said Abro. “These 

individuals are lost and if they don’t 

find something greater than themselves 

to occupy them, they’ll continue 

what they’re doing.” 

Abro said that this especially hits 

children who want to fit in. Drug use 

is glamorized through social media 

and rap songs. When something is 

taboo, it becomes exciting and kids 

want to do it. 

“That was the case when alcohol 

was prohibited,” he said. 

He feels his job is not finished. 

He and his brother will continue to 

work on finding steps to build education 

and awareness because the last 

thing he wants is for this issue to just 

go away. “That’s when we’ve failed,” 

he said. 

While he does recognize and criticize 

the Chaldeans who are poisoning 

their own community by selling 

drugs, much of his concern is about 

doctors who easily prescribe drugs to 

their patients. 

“It’s a quick fix and the doctors 

are getting compensated for it,” he 

said. “All these pills are just masking 

the pain.” 

Aside from education and awareness, 

Peter’s aunt advised people to 

turn to God to strengthen their faith. 

That was Father Brian’s message for 

his congregation. He first noted that 

there are no pills for a broken heart, 

for bullying at school, or for being 

abused by a spouse. Pain is something 

we all endure, that it hits everyone 

and doesn’t discriminate. Sometimes 

it leads to despair, to giving up. 

He then encouraged people to 

turn to Jesus rather than a pill for 

help, saying, “When you turn to Jesus 

for help, He’ll say ‘thank you.’ He 

won’t turn you away, but you have to 

invite Him. He might use a doctor, 

priest, or counselor to help you.” 

Within one month, three people from the Chaldean 

American community lost their lives to 

drug overdose. In response, Peter’s Angels 

hosted a Resource Fair on Sunday, September 24 at St. 

Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church in Troy. Named after 

Peter Alraihani, who lost his life at 27-years-old to an 

overdose in 2014, Peter’s Angels was formed by his aunt 

Iman Numan and sister Angie Toma. They wanted to 

raise awareness of the drug epidemic within the Chaldean 

community and to provide prevention through 

education and awareness. 

“This isn’t isolated to the Chaldean community, it’s 

a national crisis,” said Michael Patton, Chief of Police 

of the West Bloomfield Police Department. “More than 

50,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2015, the 

highest number ever, and they haven’t calculated the 

numbers for 2016.” 

According to 2015 data from the Michigan Department 

of Health and Human Services, there were 1,275 

deaths from an overdose of opioids, including heroin, in 

Michigan alone. That number exceeded the 840 deaths 

from traffic crashes and the 1,164 from gun deaths. 

“We have a culture that depends on prescription 

drugs for pain management,” said Patton. “If not used 

correctly or if used for too long, powerful legal drugs prescribed 

by a doctor can create an addiction.” 

Once the patient no longer has the prescribed medication, 

they move on to street drugs such as heroin, meth, 

crack, cocaine, and synthetic molly. Dealers meanwhile 

are diluting heroin with fentanyl, which is stronger and 

cheaper than heroin. 

“A lot of drugs out there are being abused, including 

marijuana,” said Patton. “There’s no regulations or quality 

control so you don’t know what’s going into your body.” 

Some police departments across the country, including 

West Bloomfield, carry NARCAN, a nasal spray 

that’s highly successful in reversing the overdose. They 

use it if they arrive to the scene before the paramedics. 

Critics have said that this drug is enabling, but Patton 

says, “Look, we’re in the life saving business.” 

NARCAN can be prescribed to and administered by 

a caregiver of someone who is addicted. 

“There has to be a balancing act between caring for 

pain and not getting addicted,” said Patton. 

The best way to address this epidemic is through 

education and prevention. Yet since this issue is so entrenched 

in the notion of taboo, many Chaldean individuals 

and families try to hide the drug addiction and 

deal with it themselves. People fear that if others find 

out, they will talk about and look down upon them. 

“Unfortunately, this stops people from getting the 

proper and necessary help that they need and take the 

right steps,” said Janice Kizy from Hope in Counseling, 

adding, “You can’t force anyone to get help. A good way 

to get help is to get help yourself to learn about the resources 

and options out there.” 

Wendy Love of Families Against Narcotics (FAN) 

has observed that the Italian and Chaldean culture have 

a lot of pride and it is hard to break that pride when it 

comes to this subject. 

“It’s really a medical issue,” said Love. “We get people 

of every background sitting together and figuring out 

how to work on this together.” 

FAN was born out of a town hall meeting held in 

2007 as a result of two teen heroin overdoses just weeks 

apart in the small, middle-class suburban community of 

Fraser, Michigan. One of their programs is Hope Not 

Handcuffs where an individual with any drug addiction 

can come to any of the designated agencies, such as a 

police station, and ask for help. An “angel” will then be 

called to them. 

“The “angel” will do everything in their power to get 

them into rehab,” she said. “Once we get them in there, 

we’ll do everything we can to get them to stay in recovery.” 

Feinberg Addiction Services also participated at the 

Source Fair. They have professionals who are not only 

very knowledgeable and skilled in the field of addiction, 

but they have walked the path themselves. Through their 

own recovery, they are able to support their clients and 

their families by providing them with hope and the tools 

to help them heal. For instance, Jeff Rosenberg is a recovering 

addict who is happy to use his skill to help others. 

“This is where my passion and love is,” Rosenberg 

said. “To have a job trying to help people just like me.” 

The government also recently got involved in this 

issue. On October 12, Wayne County and Oakland 

County announced that they’re suing about a dozen drug 

manufacturers and distributors for deceptive marketing 

and sales of opioids (in 2011 alone, pharmaceutical 

companies generated $11 billion just from opioid sales). 

They’re welcoming Macomb County to join, as well as 

asking patients and doctors to come forward. 

“My brother would be so proud of all the people that 

came out to the Source Fair,” said Angie Toma. 

If you are in need of help or are a family member or 

friend is seeking help, call Peter’s Angels 24-Hour Hotline 

at (833) ANGEL-4U [ (833) 264-3548 ] - where 

someone will always answer to help you or your loved 

one find help. 

If you suspect a loved one is in trouble, seek help immediately. 

Look for the following warning signs and possible 

symptoms of opiate abuse (information made available 

by FAN). 

Warning Signs of Abuse 

• Missing money and valuables 

• Missing spoons (used to heat heroin) 

• Arrests for theft 

• Finding needles or orange caps, burnt bottle caps, 

small plastic bags or foil 

• Constantly asking for money 

Possible Symptoms of Opiate Abuse 

• Behavior changes: loss of interest in activities they 

once enjoyed including sports, school, friends, or family 

• Physical changes: no longer cares about appearance 

• Constricted pupils 

Drowsy or nodding out even in mid-sentence 

• Disorientation 

• Irresponsibility at work or school 

• Lying, manipulating and stealing 

• Wearing long shirts and pants, even during warm weather 

• Increased sleeping 

• Slurred speech 

• Needle track marks on arms or legs 

• Weight loss and/or loss of appetite 

• Constant runny nose 

• Dark, hollow or sunken eyes 


The business of politics 

Chaldean Chamber luncheon focused on current political climate in the United States 


It’s the annual business luncheon 

but the focus this year was on the 

business of politics. On Friday, 

October 20, the Chaldean American 

Chamber of Commerce hosted their 

12th annual business luncheon at 

Sound Board in MotorCity Casino 

Hotel. Moderated by Fox 2 News legal 

analyst, Charlie Langton, guests 

were able to enjoy their lunch as they 

listened to congressional representatives 

discuss pertinent topics and answer 

relevant questions. 

Congressional representatives on 

the panel included U.S. Representative, 

Michael Bishop, former Senator 

Sander Levin, and U.S. Representative, 

John Moolenaar. The first topic 

of discussion was the community 

members that are currently detained 

and at-risk of being deported. 

Former Senator Levin, who has 

been working alongside the Chaldean 

Community Foundation in the 

fight to release the detained community 

members at-risk of deportation, 

expressed his support of the community 

as he has worked in and for the 

community for many years. 

“Facing persecution, a huge number 

of people from all around the 

world came to this country for a better 

opportunity,” said Levin. “There 

are some in this country who are 

turning their backs on that, though 

and we need to stand together to 

make sure that never fails.” 

In addition to discussing those 

at-risk of deportation and immigration, 

Langton prompted a discussion 

on the topic of healthcare and 

taxes. When asked about President 

Trump’s plans for healthcare reform 

and his progress thus far, Moolenaar 

stated that “It remains to be seen 

what happens, it is still very early. 

Some parts of Obamacare are popular 

with younger people, up to age 

26, but most of us would like to see 

more patient centered approach that 

drives down costs in the healthcare 

system because Obamacare didn’t do 

anything to drive down costs.” 

While Moolenaar believed more 

time to be the answer, Representative 

Bishop believed the discussion 

of healthcare needs to include more 

than just the lawmakers. “I think 

insurance companies have, in many 

cases, gotten a pass on a lot of these 

discussions and I think they need 

to be a part of the discussion,” said 

Bishop. “The problem that we have 

in this country is the cost. It’s not 

who’s going to pay for it, we all know 

that it’s easier to look to the government 

or the American families and 

say ‘you pay for it’. We control the 

costs and a part of that discussion 

has to come from the medical community.” 

Following Langton’s questions, 

event goers were given the opportunity 

to ask their own questions. 

While some people asked questions 

that served as follow-ups to the 

answers and comments of the congressional 

members, what seemed to 

dominate the conversation was the 

issue of bipartisanship and divisiveness 

in the current political climate, 

some even going as far as asking why 

the Democrats hate the president 

and persist in “tearing him down.” 

The variety of congressional representatives 

allowed for a better understanding 

of both sides in today’s 

politics. 

“It was great having a variety of 

congressional members present at 

the event discussing how to bring 

civility back into government,” said 

Martin Manna, Chaldean American 

Chamber of Commerce president. 

“I am thankful for the friendships 

we have forged with these specific 

congressional members as they have 

helped us with issues important to 

the community, specifically those atrisk 

of deportation.” 


Insurance doesn’t 

have to be a hassle 

JD Insurance Agency, LLC professional insurance services 

in metro Detroit and throughout Michigan and Ohio. 

We specialize in providing commercial insurance services for your 

Michigan and Ohio needs. JD Insurance Agency, LLC is a trusted leader 

among other Michigan insurance agencies, providing 

quality protection, superior customer service, and the 

lowest insurance rates with coverages tailored to your 

specific needs. We specialize in commercial insurance 

for your business, and we represent only the highest 

rated insurance companies in the nation. This enables 

our expert agents to effectively compare rates 

and coverage to ensure our clients receive the 

quality protection and premium they deserve. 

President, Insurance Specialist 

Here’s how we can help you… 

General liability 

Property 

Worker’s Compensation 

Umbrella Coverage 

Commercial Auto 

Liquor Liability 

Bonds 

Financial Strategies 

Life Insurance 

Secure Your Future 

248.606.4991 

CELL 586-655-5566 

www.jdiallc.com 

49136 VAN DYKE AVE. • SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI 48317

Evangelizing the faith 

ECRC evolves its ministry to meet the needs of the community 

BY VANESSA DENHA GARMO 

As they approach the 16-year 

anniversary of their inception, 

the Eastern Catholic 

Re-Evangelization Center (ECRC) 

is launching a new marriage retreat. 

“It has been in the works for 

years,” said Patrice Abona, executive 

director. “We evaluated existing 

retreats and a team of people led by 

Pelar and Laura Esshaki who wrote 

this retreat from scratch.” 

The retreat is designed for couples 

at all stages of their marriage 

and is being held November 

17 – 19 at St. Paul of the Cross 

Passionist Retreat and Conference 

Center. 

It’s just one of the newest 

ECRC programs to date. 

“This retreat is for all couples 

and is not an indicator of a troublesome 

marriage,” said Abona. 

“In fact, it’s the opposite. A 

couple that dedicates time and 

effort into their relationship will 

see positive results.” 

“We’ve purposely focused 

the content of this retreat 

on areas that effect all marriages,” 

said Pelar Esshaki. “We will 

cover topics like conflict resolution, 

intimacy, common issues and communication. 

We’ll look at these not 

only as practical topics to apply to 

your marriage, but also look at these 

through the lens of our Catholic 

faith for hopefully a refreshing – and 

time-tested perspective. These are 

areas that all married couples know 

are important, but may not have the 

knowledge, discipline or time to incorporate 

into their daily lives.” 

ECRC is encouraging couples to 

get away and spend time together. 

“The retreat will give couples a lot 

of time for one-on-one communication 

and fellowship as well as time 

for prayer to focus on the, sometimes 

neglected, third person in their marriage: 

God,” said Abona. “We get 

caught up with our work, kids and 

sometimes couples don’t have time 

to spend alone. It is a weekend away 

and it’s about marriage enrichment 

and about our faith.” 

While the ECRC team wants to 

bring couples closer to God, they 

have also placed a major focus on 

giving couples that attend this retreat 

time to be together as husband 

and wife. “Just some good old-fashioned 

couple time, with no distractions 

of everyday life, a time for them 

to focus on their relationship,” said 

Esshaki. “Sometimes Laura and I 

find that our marriage doesn’t need 

another book or technique. While 

those things have helped us along 

the way, sometimes all we need to 

get back on track is a ‘date night’, 

so we’ve developed this retreat with 

that in mind and have been sure to 

incorporate that personal couple 

time as a major element to this retreat.” 

Pelar and his wife long prayed 

about how the Lord best wants them 

to serve the church, and they both 

felt led to a marriage ministry. “Laura 

and I have participated in many 

‘Marriage Enrichment’ programs and 

retreats over the years with mixed results 

in terms of their impact on our 

marriage,” said Esshaki. “When we 

couldn’t find something that was a total 

positive experience for us, we decided 

we would take a shot at coming 

up with our own, starting with writing 

this retreat. We took the best of all 

the retreats and programs we’ve been 

a part of and put our own touch in a 

few areas.” 

The hope for the retreat is that 

couples will gain a better understanding 

for God’s plan in their marriage. 

“Too many couples, including 

Laura and I, get married without 

knowing the truth about Gods blueprint 

for marriage and the blessings 

that come along with this amazing 

sacrament,” said Esshaki. “If this retreat 

helps to introduce these themes 

or help couples gain a better understanding 

of this, their marriage bond 

will strengthen. Laura and I believe 

there is no more impactful input into 

a person’s happiness than the quality 

of their relationships and 

for married people there is 

no more prominent relationship 

than with their spouse. 

So, in that way we hope this 

retreat will positively impact 

the quality of life for these 

married couples in a tremendous 

way. Also, we know that 

the church goes as the family 

goes, and that in today’s culture 

there is a full-blown war 

on the family. In that sense 

we hope this retreat helps 

fight against that trend and 

strengthens our Chaldean 

Church and Community.” 

ECRC has evolved over the years 

having gone from parish-based activities 

to a ministry that serves the entire 

Chaldean Diocese. “As the needs 

changed in the diocese, so have our 

services,” said Abona. “Thank God we 

have so many new priests and seminarians 

and so the parishes are vibrant 

with activity. ECRC strives to fill the 

needs within the entire diocese.” 

ECRC has started formation programs 

for Catechists and will continue 

to offer such spiritual and Catechists 

formation classes as well as retreats 

for teens and adults. “Our formation 

classes for Catechism is a six-session 

certification program commissioned 

by the Diocese,” said Abona. 

If someone cannot get away for 

an over-night or weekend retreat, 

ECRC offers day retreats such as 

their annual Advent Retreat, which 

is on December 9 this year and features 

Sr. Ann Shields and a Lent retreat 

leading up to Easter Sunday. 

“There is also a growing need for 

conferences” said Abona. “We have 

our signature conference Awake My 

Soul, which was held this past summer 

and we were also able to host our 

annual Gather and Give Fundraiser, 

which featured a video on the fruits 

of ECRC.” 

ECRC launched the media division 

of the ministry a few years ago 

and has since produced hundreds of 

episodes on faith-based programs. 

All of them can be seen on the You- 

Tube Channel Mar Toma Productions. 

They also share them on their 

social media platforms under ECRC 

and Mar Toma. 

New this year is Fikra Nagma 

hosted by Karam Bahnam, which is 

an Arabic program held on the first 

Wednesday of every month at ECRC. 

It is based on a meditative thought 

and musical melody. It is also a Mar 

Toma Productions Show, which airs 

on Catholic Channels around the 

globe and on YouTube. 

Tom Naemi who hosts the Show 

“Freedom Behind Bars” also facilitates 

healing service on the second 

Friday of each moth at ECRC. He 

sometimes is accompanied with a 

priest who celebrates mass and offers 

confession. 

One of ECRC’s newer programs 

which is widely attended is “Ignite 

the Spirit,” which is a praise and 

worship program held at a different 

church each month. Mother of God 

is hosting “Ignite the Spirit” on November 

24 and St. Thomas will host 

the group on December 29. 

There is Tuesday bible study with 

Bishop Francis and Jeff Kassab as 

well as theology classes with Hubert 

Saunders. 

“ECRC is located in Bloomfield, 

but it is not about the building,” said 

Abona. “ECRC is about the programs, 

the ministry and the people we serve. 

We are an evangelization ministry designed 

to serve the entire diocese.” 

You can find out about all the 

ECRC programs at www.ecrc.us or 

follow them on Facebook and Instagram. 


WWW.ORCHARDMALLWB.COM 

$5.00 

per 

person 

S 

Breakfast with 

SANTA 

Saturday, December 9th 

10:00am 

GREATER WEST BLOOMFIELD 

COMMUNITY COALITION 

FIND 

ORCHARD MALL 


Learning and love through B.E.A.M. 

BY LISA CIPRIANO 

Gabrail Youhana came to the 

U.S. in 2008 like many others 

to escape the religious 

persecution of Christians in his native 

country Iraq. He had more than 

the usual challenges of learning the 

language and culture of his new 

home. Youhana has the additional 

struggle of being completely blind. 

That might seem like an overwhelming 

number of obstacles to 

overcome, if it were not for a special 

program offered by the Chaldean 

Community Foundation. Thanks to 

the B.E.A.M. project, Youhana found 

learning and the love of his life. 

B.E.A.M. stands for braille, ESL 

(English as a second language), acculturation, 

and mobility. They are four 

very important focuses to help bring 

blind and legally blind immigrants 

and refugees out of the darkness of a 

new, unfamiliar country into the light 

of a more independent life. 

It’s collaboration among the 

Chaldean Community Foundation, 

Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, 

Macomb Literacy Partners and St. 

Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church. 

B.E.A.M. participants learn to 

speak English, read through braille 

and learn to be more independent 

through classes once a week. 

The project is part of the CCF’s 

Breaking Barriers Program and exists 

because of the hard work and dedication 

of Susan Kattula, behavioral 

health manager for the Chaldean 

Community Foundation. 

The project came to life in 2014 

when Sue Kattula set out to help 16 

blind refugees. “I went on home visits 

and assessed the needs of every 

single one of them. I found that they 

all wanted the same things. They 

needed to learn English. They needed 

to learn Braille because many of 

them lived in apartment complexes 

and they got confused using the elevators. 

They needed to be more 

mobile and use a white cane so as not 

to always need to rely on somebody 

sighted to get around,” explained 

Kattula. 

Youhana had similar needs when 

he enrolled in the program shortly 

after arriving in the U.S. Aside from 

not being able to see his new surroundings, 

he couldn’t understand 

anything that what was being said on 

the TV news and radio. “After that, I 

said to myself, that I have to learn it. 

I have to learn everything,” said Youhana. 

“I also can’t see the words and 

the spelling of the words. So it makes 

it even harder,” Youhana added. 

Youhana went looking for a 

school to accommodate his special 

needs with no luck, until someone 

told him about the B.E.A.M. project. 

“So, I went there to learn the language, 

the technology on the laptop 

and iPhone apps that talk to me and 

help me, the braille and the things 

to help with mobility like the white 

cane that I never knew about,” he 

explained. 

Recently, Kattula was able to secure 

a $25,000 scholarship grant to 

get the vital technology that comes 

with iPhone and iPad into the hands 

of 15 of her students. They benefit 

enormously from the helpful applications 

that are available to assist the 

blind with everyday life things that 

the sighted often take for granted. 

“There are apps that can read money. 

They can see if it’s a five-dollar bill or 

a 20-dollar bill. There is even an app 

that can tell them what color pants 

they are wearing,” said Kattula. 

Aside from the unique technology 

services that the B.E.A.M. project 

has developed, Kattula is able to 

provide other services by creating 

partnerships with other state and local 

social service agencies such as the 

Bureau of Services for Blind Persons 

and Macomb Literacy Partners. “MLP 

provides two tutors weekly for three 

hours each to teach one-on-one English 

as a second language course as 

well as group courses,” said Kattula. 

In fact, many of the lessons are 

interdependent. “For instance, a student 

must be able to learn English in 

order to learn Braille,” Kattula explained. 

Blind students also are not 

able to take a written literacy test to 

assess what levels they are at. “That’s 

where we needed Macomb Literacy 

Partners to come in and work with 

the student’s and teach ESL in a different 

way so that they could build 

up their language skills and participate 

in a publicly funded ESL program,” 

Kattula concluded. 

Volunteers, mostly from local 

churches, are also essential to keep 

the program running successfully. 

“We have a few volunteers that come 

in on a regular basis. They are assigned 

certain students to work with; 

they help them with interpretation. 

They also help them navigate around 

so that they will be safe in their environment. 

Kattula prefers that volunteers 

commit long-term in order to 

develop a relationship with students 

and keep up with each person’s goals. 

The project even has a dedicated bus 

driver to make sure that students, 

who don’t have someone to transport 

them, are safely transported to the 

B.E.A.M. program’s Sterling Heights 

location. 

A total of 38 blind and legally 

blind students have benefitted from 

the B.E.A.M. program since its inception. 

Thirteen of them are constant 

students. “It all depends on 

each student’s individual needs and 

goals at the time. We have three 

students who are working towards 

achieving their American citizenship. 

So, they are coming in to be tutored 

for instance, on the civics portion 

of the test,” Kattula explained. 

“It changed everything,” said 

Youhana. 

The B.E.A.M. project quite literally 

did change everything for Youhana. 

It’s where he found his lifelong 

soulmate in another one of the project’s 

students by the name of Noora 

who also came to the US from Iraq 

for the same reasons as Youhana. 

Noora and Gabrail Youhana in the BEAM class and on their wedding day. 

The two participated in the program 

at the same time and on the same 

schedule. Noora would take a taxi 

from Novi as Youhana was being 

brought in from Shelby Township. 

On most days, they would arrive early 

and chat with one other to pass the 

time. They developed and friendship 

and a romance soon followed. Noora 

became Mrs. Gabrail Youhana in 

September of 2015. Their daughter, 

Pearla was born on August of 2017. 

“You don’t have to have sight to 

love each other because the heart is 

love,” concluded Youhana. 

The Chaldean Community Foundations’ 

B.E.A.M. project /Breaking 

Barriers program is seeking dedicated, 

long term volunteers. If you or 

someone you know is interested in 

volunteering or donating, go online 

to: http://www.chaldeanfoundation. 

org/beam/ and click the ‘Help Us 

Grow’ option. 

Anyone who is interested in enrolling 

in the program should call the Chaldean 

Community Foundation’s Sterling 

Heights location at: (586) 722-7253. 


WE ARE ALL BORN TO SUCCEED. 

Sometimes all we have is the strength inside. The kind of strength that keeps you moving forward 

when you’d rather turn back. The strength to do the right thing when it’s easier to do nothing at all. 

To do good and then ask, “How can I do better?” The strength to never settle for the way things are, 

but to strive for the way things ought to be. And know that to get where you want to go, you might 

have to make your own path. At Wayne State University, we take that strength and make it stronger. 

Because being strong isn’t strong enough. You need to be Warrior Strong. 

WARRIOR STRONG 


Coming to America 

Sharing John’s Five Year Diary Box 

BY EDWARD VINCENT 

Everybody’s personal history is 

the thread that defines their 

life. Whether we review or 

look back into our own lives from 

time to time, our history is always 

present much like the rings of a tree 

represent its growth over the years. 

Moreover, our individual history is 

evolved from and inter woven with 

the history of our families - our parents, 

siblings, relatives, our community 

as a whole and our ancestors. 

In 2012, my eldest brother John 

passed away at the age of 81. The 

circumstances of his death were very 

difficult for the family. He lived with 

my mother who was 99 at the time. 

They were generally managing okay 

with the daily and regular visits and 

involvement of my sister, another 

brother and myself. Whenever my 

brother or myself stopped in each 

day, we would be sure to see our 

mother who was generally sitting 

in the living room watching the 

Catholic Network channel EWTN. 

John however might be in his room, 

maybe napping or otherwise there 

quietly. So, it was not unusual to 

not run into him on 

each daily visit. 

Then one day 

when I stopped by, 

my mother noted that 

she hadn’t seen John 

for the past day. As an 

alarm went off in my 

head, I tensely walked 

the several steps to 

the side of the house 

where his room was. I 

knocked and called out 

his name with no response. 

Slowly opening 

the door, I found him. 

John and I had not 

always communicated 

very well in recent years. As it was 

and unfortunately so, communication 

between myself and the rest of 

my family had been challenging at 

times over the years. Yet we all cared 

for each other and would do our best 

to help one another through difficulties. 

I have deep regret that I was 

not able to help John 

through the difficulties 

he faced near the end 

of his life. He apparently 

had some kind of 

medical issue and was 

planning to go to the 

hospital for some tests. 

What exactly those issues 

were, was not clear 

to any of us. 

As time passed and 

we continued to care 

for my mother, she 

eventually had to enter 

into a nursing home 

because of a stroke and need for 24- 

hour care. She passed in 2013. So, in 

the span of one and a half years we 

had the death of John and then my 

mother. Another brother, George 

had died 20 years earlier. My father 

had died some 45 years ago. It was after 

my mother’s death that we had to 

begin to sort through all the belongings 

of our lost family members that 

were part of our family home. 

John by far had amassed the most 

possessions of anyone else in the 

family. I was the one who took on 

the responsibility for going through 

all of his things- records, papers, 

books, electronic gadgets. We all 

took our time in sorting through 

our family home of nearly 50 years. 

I spent several months almost a year 

going through John’s things because 

I wanted to be careful and show respect 

to what he had left behind. In 

so doing I came upon a box that apparently 

once held a diary in it. The 

box was labeled as a Five-Year Diary. 

It did not contain a diary but rather 

some documents related to John’s 

immigration to America. 

Five years later after his death, I 

decided to write a story about John’s 

experience in coming to America 

on his own when he was only 16. 

There are many things I never fully 

understood about John and did not 

have a chance to ask him about. So, 

I could only tell the story with what 

anecdotes he had shared over the 

years, what others had said and by 

relying on the artifacts that he had 

left behind. 

I’ve woven a little story about 

John and my family in their immigration 

history. It is entitled John’s Five 

Year Diary Box. The Chaldean News 

will post it on their website as it is 

too long for the paper publication. I 

was asked to write something about 

it for this guest column. I hope this 

will suffice and you the reader will be 

interested in going online to read a 

little bit about my brother and family 

history. I hope too that you can 

maybe relate to it in some way with 

your own personal and family immigration 

history. 


FREE In-Home Estimates 

Full Remodeling Services Available 

LaFata Cabinets are manufactured 

right here in Southeast Michigan 

We offer full remodeling services in addition to 

providing beautiful hand crafted cabinetry for your 

home. Stop in one of our showrooms or give us a 

call to talk to a designer today! 

Shelby Township • West Bloomfield 

www.lafata.com • 1.800.LAFATA1 


The power of storytelling 

BY STEPHEN JONES 

Most think of Greece as a 

utopia in southeastern Europe. 

On the southern end 

of the Balkan Peninsula, it is the 

convergence point of Europe, Asia 

and Africa. Tens of millions of tourists 

visit Greece each year to bask in 

its beauty or trace the fingerprints of 

its rich history. Christina Salem, a 

senior at Oakland University studying 

journalism, was well aware of the 

splendor of Greece. However, when 

she visited the country for herself, 

she met some of its citizens and heard 

some of its untold stories. 

Salem was one of 12 students 

that went on a trip to Greece to 

cover its economic and refugee crisis. 

She spent a month learning about 

Greece’s difficulties and connecting 

with refugees of religious violence. 

She quickly realized that the camps 

in which those refugees were housed 

was very different from the wonderland 

that she’d heard about coming 

into the trip. 

“The living situations are terrible,” 

Salem said. “It’s filthy, it’s uncomfortable, 

they live in tin boxes 

basically the size of a parking space. 

It’s not like anything you would ever 

think of when you think of Greece. 

When you think of Greece, you 

think of paradise, but this was not 

paradise.” 

When Salem spoke to refugees, 

she heard the story of a more peaceful 

time that was driven off the rails 

by divisive religious tactics from terror 

organizations such as the Islamic 

State group. 

“The information that I gathered 

was that Muslims and Christians 

lived together like brothers and sisters 

before ISIS took over and created 

the division between them,” 

Salem explained. “They had a large 

force manipulating the population, 

and pinning one against the other, 

and that’s how the division was created.” 

Salem’s specific focus was the 

phenomenon of Christians hiding 

their faith within the refugee camps. 

As a member of the Chaldean community, 

this topic hit Salem very 

close to home. 

“I spent a month there gathering 

information on the Christian minority 

population within these refugee 

camps,” Salem said. “After venturing 

in and out of refugee camps for the 

first two weeks of July, it struck me 

that most of these people withheld 

their identity as an effort to protect 

themselves from an impending persecution 

from their fellow neighbors 

within these camps.” 

Salem describes the trip as a humbling 

and eye-opening experience. 

Although the trip was emotionally 

taxing because of the living conditions 

she witnessed in the camp, 

Salem was encouraged by the leadership 

in the camps and the dialogue 

that took place. 

“They had people in charge of 

them who were giving them an opportunity 

to express themselves in a 

way that doesn’t harm others,” Salem 

said. “It goes back to them just acknowledging 

that we’re all under one 

God, and that’s what they’re promoting, 

it’s the peace and the unity 

among different cultures.” 

Salem says the trip encouraged 

her to do everything in her power to 

promote unity. Salem believes the 

Greece trip made her a more complete 

person. 

“I was super inspired” Salem said. “I 

just felt like I was constantly shedding 

layers of myself onto the world until 

all I had was this raw form, and in that 

form I had to be the bravest version of 

myself, and that was hard. It really inspired 

me to conquer a lot fears that I 

had. I think I grew a lot from it.” 

Some of Salem’s goals for the future 

include pursuing other humanitarian 

efforts and having her own 

talk show to spotlight some of the 

world’s most challenging issues. 

Salem took a lot away from her 

trip across the world. She was able 

to develop personally and professionally. 

The study abroad program 

gave her an opportunity to research 

an issue, visit the location where the 

issue is taking place and have conversations 

with the individuals most 

effected. All of these things add up to 

an extremely valuable experience for 

an aspiring journalist. Upon returning 

home, she wrote a feature story 

for Oakland University’s OU Refugee 

Report website titled Hidden 

Christians. 

In her feature, Salem asks her audience 

to put themselves in the shoes 

of a refugee fleeing from persecution. 

Salem feels a deep sense of empathy 

for the people in the camps and 

wants to shed light on the issues they 

face. The trip caused Salem to view 

the world around her differently, 

and at the end of it one message was 

clearer than ever before. 

“It’s our differences that we 

should celebrate rather than having 

our differences divide us.” 


Rochester Hills 

Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram 

CHALDEAN COMMUNITY 

FOUNDATION 

Help Wanted! 

MIKE AKRAWI 

GUS ABDAL 

Taking Care of You 

is What We Do… 

We Are THAT DEALER. 

www.thatdealer.com 

Rochester Chrysler Jeep Dodge 

1301 S. Rochester Road • Rochester Hills 48307 

rochesterhillschryslerjeep.net 

888-435-3039 

Mon-Thurs:8:30 – 9 

Tues, Wed, Fri 8:30 – 6 

Sat 10 – 3:00 

Please consider hiring 

one of our many new 

Americans. 

More than 30,000 Chaldean refugees have 

migrated to Michigan since 2007. Many 

possess the skills and determination to work 

hard for you and your organization. 

The Chaldean Community Foundation 

(CCF) has a bank of resumes of candidates 

qualified to do a variety of jobs. To inquire 

about hiring a New American, call or email 

Elias at 586-722-7253 or elias.kattoula@ 

chaldeanfoundation.org. 

Subscribe today! 

ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION: $25 

❏ 1 YEAR 

❏ GIFT SUBSCRIPTION 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

NAME 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

ADDRESS 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

CITY / STATE / ZIP 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

E-MAIL 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

PHONE 

PLEASE MAIL THE FORM, WITH A CHECK PAYABLE TO: 

CHALDEAN NEWS, ATTN: SUBSCRIPTIONS 



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

Chaldean Community Foundation 

Sterling Heights Office 

3601 15 Mile Road 

Sterling Heights, MI 48310 

586-722-7253 

www.chaldeanfoundation.org 


Under God’s Wings to focus 

on teen issues, opioid crisis 

BY CRYSTAL KASSAB JABIRO 

Last year, youth leaders at St. Thomas Chaldean 

Catholic Church in West Bloomfield 

reached out to parents to get them more 

involved in their teenagers’ lives. They felt there 

needed to be more parent-child engagement to support 

the morals and values that should be at the 

heart of a faith-based family. 

Parents organized and did a trial run of a chastity 

and purity talk during girls CREW, a middle school 

church group, now known as J2S (Journey to Sainthood). 

They used a video by Jason Evert, an internationally 

known Catholic author and speaker and 

founder of the Chastity Project (chastityproject.com) 

to springboard the conversation. Based on the positive 

reactions, the idea of Under God’s Wings, a parent 

group, was born at St. Thomas. 

“We need to get together as parents and address 

these issues,” said Yasmeen Abbo, a program committee 

member. 

While sexuality may be an uncomfortable topicand 

the language even more distressing- children will 

benefit from these real, though maybe awkward, conversations 

with their parents. 

Abbo uses the Catholic website formed.org to 

learn valuable information and to teach it and discuss 

it with her kids. She is not relying on the ordinary 

school health class. 

“I’m not putting blinders on my eyes, but I will 

teach chastity and purity,” she insists. 

Under God’s Wings will be meeting monthly to 

address topics of concern to teens and children. The 

purpose is to educate, inform, and provide resources 

to help build stronger Catholic families. In October, 

they addressed internet safety. 

This month’s Under God’s Wings topic is drug 

awareness and prevention. The group of parent volunteers 

hope other moms and dads come together 

to learn the signs of abuse, to remain connected to 

their children in order to prevent addiction, and to 

get treatment for their children if necessary. Basically, 

they want parents to be “in the know.” 

“There is a need – especially for the parents of 

young children – to go back to the church and relearn 

the morals and values that were taught to us,” said 

Abbo. 

Often a taboo topic in the Chaldean community, 

Lindsay Najor Ph.D., wishes to shed light on the drug 

epidemic at the next Under God’s Wings meeting on 

Wednesday, November 15. She recently received her 

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Michigan 

School of Professional Psychology. She completed 

her dissertation on “The Parents’ Experience of their 

Child’s Opiate Addiction.” 

Najor, 32, stresses, “You have to talk to your kids 

about drugs.” 

Despite the increasing availability of medicinal 

marijuana in Michigan, it is still considered a gateway 

drug. According to Najor, all of her participants’ children 

started experimenting with marijuana before going 

to opiates. Marijuana can lead to prescription drug 

dependency like OxyContin and then to illegal drugs, 

like heroine. Illegal drug use tends to be contingent 

on parent-child relationships, not so much on peers. 

“You have to be interested in your kids,” Najor 

asserted. “You have to give them your attention and 

time, not material items.” 

Najor notes that the Chaldean community, like 

other collective cultures such as the Italians, are 

opening up to dealing with substance and drug abuse. 

Too often, these issues are kept as family secrets for 

fear of blame and embarrassment. 

“You don’t have to put your business out there, but 

a family cannot solve its child’s problems alone. Addicts 

need professional help,” said Najor. “And even 

then, they might not recover. It’s entirely up to the 

addict.” 

Only 20 percent of opiate addicts recover, she continued. 

The rest either do not recuperate or die. 

Parents need to recognize how much influence 

they have over their children’s decisions. This is not 

to condemn their parenting styles, but to acknowledge 

how they need to model appropriate behavior. 

For example, if a child is struggling with alcoholism, 

his or her parents and siblings should not drink nor 

should they have liquor in the house. 

As the guest lecturer at Under God’s Wings, Najor 

will teach parents to notice the signs of substance 

abuse, which include withdrawal from family and inconsistent 

weight gain and loss. She will also encourage 

parents of addicts to look into treatment centers to 

get their children the help they need. She believes it 

is important for parents to educate themselves before 

they attempt to educate their children. There will also 

be a personal testimony from a community member. 

“Your child is abusing drugs to cope with something,” 

she maintained. “You have to know what that 

is and get them help before it is too late.” 

5 Bits of Advice 

from Dr. Najor 

• Be involved in your child’s life and 

spend time with them every day. 

• Set clear expectations and enforce 

them daily. 

• Be a positive role model because 

children imitate their parents. 

• Help your children choose their 

friends wisely and feel comfortable in 

social situations. 

• Talk to them about drugs. Short conversations 

go a long way. Stay engaged! 

Gateway drug: a habit-forming substance 

(i.e. Alcohol and cigarettes) that may 

lead to the use of other more addictive 

substances in the future (i.e. Prescriptions 

drugs like Vicodin and cocaine). 

Fast Facts About 

Teens and Drug Use 

www.dosomething.org 

• More teens die from prescription 

drugs than heroine/cocaine combined. 

• One third of teenagers who live in 

states with medical marijuana laws get 

their pot from other people’s prescriptions. 

• By the 8th grade, 28 percent of adolescents 

have consumed alcohol, 15 

percent have smoked cigarettes, and 

16.5 percent have used marijuana. 

• About 50 percent of high school 

seniors do not think it’s harmful to try 

crack or cocaine once or twice and 40 

percent believe it’s not harmful to use 

heroin once or twice. 

• Teens who consistently learn about 

the risks of drugs from their parents are 

up to 50 percent less likely to use drugs 

than those who don’t. 

Under God’s Wings will be meeting on 

Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at St. 

Thomas in West Bloomfield. All parents 

and caring family figures are welcome. 

Questions or suggestions could be emailed to 

stthomasfamilieslovingchrist@gmail.com. 

Looking Ahead: 

How to Raise Strong Catholic 

Families in Today’s Culture 

Wednesday, December 15, 2017 

6:30-8:30 

Dr. Lindsay Najor can be reached at 

Dennis & Moye & Associates, 1750 

South Telegraph Road, Bloomfield 

Hills, MI 48302. She treats clients 

10 and older. You can call her at 

248.842.6499 or email her 

lindsayanajor@gmail.com. 


PRIVATE 

ROOM FOR 

10-150 

PEOPLE 

REAL ESTATE 

EXCLUSIVELY 

TAILORED 

TO YOUR 

COMMERCIAL 

NEEDS 

Private Banquet Rooms Available, 

Specializing In All Occasions: 

• Small Weddings 

• Rehearsal Dinners 

• Bridal & Baby Showers 

• Communions 

• Baptisms & More 

* MENTION THIS AD AND WE WILL WAIVE ROOM CHARGE 

586-625-6557 

lance.dallo@arterrarealty.com 

NOW HIRING! 

BiLingual Receptionist 

Warren, MI 

Great opportunity for a personable, customer service driven, 

detail oriented individual able to multi task in a fast paced, team 

driven office. Will greet and assist applicants, enter data, and 

maintain compliance. MS Word needed. Powerpoint and Excel 

helpful. Arabic/Chaldean $10 - $14/hour based on experience. 

Advancement available. 

Email: Loraha@personnel-unlimited.com 

Machine Operators 

Sterling Heights 

Great place to grow and learn. English not required. 

$9.50/hr 1st shift; $9.80 2nd and 3rd shifts — Temp to Hire 

Call: (586) 751-5608 ext. 142 

Line Cooks 

Locations throughout Metro Detroit 

Large restaurant organization 

$10-$12 on Days — Temp to Hire 

Call Doug: (810) 602-4767 

BUSINESS, HOME, AUTO 

& WORKERS COMP 

“I provide my clients with 

Service, Coverage, Value 

and MOST IMPORTANT the 

ability to speak to a human.” 

– Sumer Bashi 

MORE THAN 

THIRTY 

A-RATED 

CARRIERS 

TO CHOSE FROM 

Sumer Bashi 

Licensed Account Executive 

CELL (248) 514-8996 

DIRECT (248) 694-9009 

sbashi@agencyadvisors.com 


chaldean on the STREET 

How to combat the drug problem 

BY HALIM SHEENA 

In light of the recent tragedies that have plagued our community, we took to the street to ask about addiction. 

We asked community members, what do you think we, as a community, can do to combat this epidemic? 

In this day and age, there are many things that are 

broadcasted to everyone through social media, but the 

opioid epidemic seems to be brushed under the rug, 

and left to be dealt with alone. The process of healing 

an addiction is a long road to recovery, and that 

calls for us to help them as best as we can by getting 

educated on the subject and being a good support 

system. There is a group called Peter’s Angels that is 

completely dedicated to discussing recognizing addiction 

in loved ones, and the proper responses to help, 

both spirituality and physically. This group brings parents 

and loved ones together to shed light on a very 

dark place, and to stop the epidemic by HEALING it. 

Please get in touch with them on Facebook. 

– Angelica Paparizos, 21, Shelby Township 

I believe that our community can help this opioid 

epidemic by attacking it at the prescriber’s level. We 

have many medical professionals within the community, 

especially primary care docs, that can help by 

educating their patients about the addictiveness of 

these drugs and limiting their use on hospitalized patients. 

From working in both outpatient and inpatient 

settings, I have seen how these narcotics can be 

loosely given for pain and although there seems to be 

this culture of “pain seeking behavior” from patients, 

physicians need to hold themselves accountable 

for providing these highly addictive drugs and their 

consequences. 

– Dominick Alton, 24, West Bloomfield 

Strong support system: Those that suffer from these 

addictions are very much sick, and the rhetoric should 

be switched from victimizing them as “druggies” to 

actually treating them. Alongside this, referring them 

to necessary resources (psychiatrist, psychologists, 

rehab etc...) Education: the community should be cognizant 

of patterns of behavior/ risk factors that predict 

or lead to opioid addiction. It can only take something 

as simple as a Norco tablet after an innocent injury, to 

be a catalyst for a heroin addiction. 

– Matthew Allos, 23, Troy 

The opioid epidemic is a rising issue that needs our 

community’s attention. I think our community can help 

by educating themselves about addiction and refrain 

from pushing blame on others. Instead of shaming 

people who struggle with addictions, we should offer 

support to them and their families. If our community 

would stop stigmatizing drug abuse, people wouldn’t 

feel embarrassed to get the help they need and we 

could prevent the issue from getting bigger. 

– Gabriella Karmo, 23, West Bloomfield 

Opioid use has increased in popularity over the past 

few years due to their strong pain-relieving qualities. 

This being said, they have the potential to become addicting 

which makes them dangerous. There are alternatives 

in the drug industry with the same, if not more 

of a pain-relieving effect. I believe that health care providers 

in the community need to work together and 

begin prescribing alternative drugs that can have the 

same analgesic effects without the potential for addiction. 

– Rita Paulus, 23, Ann Arbor 

Unfortunately, many recent tragedies have shown us 

that we are not insulated from the problems of the 

general community. If you are concerned about yourself 

or a loved one, the best thing to do is seek for or 

offer help. There are many resources out there, but 

right now accepting that we are at risk is the most 

important next step. 

– Dr. Justin Bahoora, 30, Rochester Hills 


HAPPY HOUR 

Monday – Friday, 4pm-6pm 

half off margaritas 

Tuesdays 4-8 pm 

midday draft special 

Saturday any 12 oz. draft beers for $2.50 

HALF OFF 

Mimosas, Bloody Marys and Sangrias 

Every Sunday ‘til 3pm 

OUR PARTY ROOM 

Think of us for your next event! Sits up to 50 

people either cash bar or per person pricing 

FULL BAR 

Craft beers, cocktails, wines, 

adult infused shakes, full liquor list 

Book your 

next party, or 

graduation 

party and 

receive 

10% off 

HARRYBAHRI 

Co-FounderEmeraldHare 

harry@emeraldharecom 

– 

LEO’S 

CONEY ISLAND 

(586) 978-0080 

33577 Van Dyke avenue 

Sterling Heights, MI 48312 

ANNUAL MEETING AND BOARD ELECTIONS 

CHALDEAN 

AMERICAN 

CHAMBER OF 

COMMERCE 

Wednesday, 

November 8 

6 - 8 pm 

Meet Members. Select Our 

Board of Directors. Network. 

Hors d’oeuvres and Cocktails 

SHENANDOAH COUNTRY CLUB 

5600 WALNUT LAKE ROAD, WEST BLOOMFI ELD, MI 48323 

To register contact 248.851.1200 or info@chaldeanchamber.com 

GET INVOLVED. GET CONNECTED. GET BUSINESS.

DOCTOR is in 

Addiction: a hidden illness 

DR. TALIA 

KARMO 


CHALDEAN NEWS 

It is a fact that drug addiction 

is rampant and most 

pervasive among our society. 

For the first time, the 

United States Surgeon General, 

Dr. Vivek Murthy, identified 

an unprecedented epidemic 

of opioids/heroin as a 

major public health problem, 

calling for the need to do 

something to curb addiction 

epidemics. Moreover, this 

addiction epidemic is a reality 

in the often-hidden communities. 

The Chaldean community is 

not an exception. 

According to the National Institute 

on Drug Abuse, addiction is a 

chronic, often-relapsing brain disease 

that causes compulsive drug seeking 

and drug use. The brain changes 

that can occur over time challenges 

a user’s self-control, and creates an 

intense impulse to use more. 

It can be a real challenge at times 

to spot an addict. There are addicts 

who are barely functioning, and others 

that are highly functional. It has 

a lot to do with the personality type, 

family make-up, and familial stressors. 

Nevertheless, the list does not end 

here as the telltale signs of addiction 

depend heavily on the type of drug 

use and administration of the drug. 

There are various stages of addiction: 

Denial – Since functional addicts 

have avoided many of the negative 

consequences related to addiction, 

and since they can maintain some of 

the normalcy in their everyday life, 

they commonly deny that they have 

a problem. Additionally, their family 

and friends may deny the problem as 

well, either because they do not recognize 

it, or because they do not realize 

the severity of the situation. 

Uncharacteristic behavior – 

All addictions have consequences, 

whether to health, careers or relationships. 

Noticing these slips in 

normal behavior can be a tell-tale 

sign of addiction. 

Excuses – To continue the addiction, 

the functional addict must figure 

out how to hide his problem, which 

often means making excuses for unusual 

behavior. They may appear lazy, 

but in reality they are addicted. 

False appearance of normalcy – 

From the outside, most functional 

addicts look completely normal and 

healthy, but they have actually developed 

a complex double 

life that enables them to 

function in society while 

continuing to feed their addiction. 

As a community, we 

need to be aware of the overall 

signs of addiction and be 

looking out for neighbors, 

friends, and children. There 

are several signs that many 

addicts will display that can 

be easy to pick up on. Neglecting 

important responsibilities 

such as missing work, cutting 

classes, or not taking care of chores 

at home could be a sign of addiction. 

You can also expect an active addict 

to frequently break commitments, 

blow off dates, or always have an excuse 

for missing important events. 

People that are facing addiction 

may stop enjoying activities or hobbies 

they used to love. This could be due 

to distraction caused by drugs, or the 

depression, anxiety, and paranoia that 

often accompanies addiction. Those 

with addiction often fight with their 

friends, parents, and partners. They 

might even separate, break up, or be 

estranged from the people for whom 

they used to care about the most. 

An individual who gets behind 

on bills, always asks for money, and 

never has the cash for dinner could 

be addicted to drugs. After all, a 

drug addiction is expensive. Weight 

changes can also be indicative of 

an addiction, as rapidly losing or 

gaining weight could be a sign that 

someone is struggling. Addicts often 

would rather use than eat, and some 

drugs cause weight changes. 

When someone has an addiction, 

there may be an unusual odor on a 

person’s clothes or in their hair; you 

could be smelling drugs. An addict 

will also use tons of mouthwash, perfume, 

or body spray to conceal their 

habit. On the other hand, many addicts 

don’t take the time to properly 

care for themselves when they are 

focused on getting or using their drug 

of choice. For example, dirty teeth, 

clothing, and hair can be a sign of 

drug use. Plus, certain drugs can 

cause bad breath and hair loss, additional 

signs to watch for. 

Stumbling, tremors, or slurred 

speech indicate a possible addiction. 

When you notice impaired coordination, 

it is possible that the addict 


needs a fix, is high, or is coming off a 

hit. Unexpected mood changes from 

one day to the next or even from one 

moment to the next, could indicate 

that they are suffering from addiction. 

Be aware: addicts are excellent 

liars. Keeping secrets, hiding spending, 

activities, or friends could also 

be a sign of an addiction. Taking 

drugs can make people feel on top 

of the world, invincible, and capable 

of leaping tall buildings in a single 

bound. If you notice your loved one 

is taking more risks than usual, and 

you may be looking at a drug addict. 

Legal troubles can be a red flag for addiction. 

If one has citations or arrests 

for actions like disorderly conduct or 

stealing, it can indicate that a person 

may be suffering from addiction. 

If indeed you or a loved one has 

become addicted to drugs, then seeking 

help from a health professional will 

be a decision that can save a life. Do 

not wait to see if something happens, 

because that “something” can turn 

into a devastating life-changing event. 

Below are some possible specific 

signs of addiction found in addicts 

using marijuana, opioids (such as 

heroin or pain killers), opium, LSD, 

cocaine, and methamphetamines. 

Marijuana 

Shortly after smoking a joint, users 

may seem very relaxed, to the point 

of being sleepy. This drug can impair 

coordination, causing the user to walk 

and move in ways that appear awkward. 

A heightened craving for food 

is typical with marijuana use. Cognitive 

processes such as recalling past 

events, acquiring new knowledge, or 

responding to a problem are markedly 

limited under the influence of marijuana. 

Emotionally, they will experience 

little stress or anxiety during the 

high, which peaks after 15 minutes, 

then slowly fades over the course of 

several hours. Many of the stereotypes 

of pot users draw on this “laissez-faire” 

attitude the drug induces. Users may 

have dry, bloodshot eyes, prompting 

them to use eye-wetting drops frequently. 

Their clothes and body may 

emanate the scent of marijuana, an 

odor some describe as almost sweet. 

LSD 

Acid creates a sense of being disoriented 

by your surroundings, and these 

episodes can last up to 12 hours with 

one dose. With larger quantities, users 

experience hallucinations. These 

visualizations may prompt strange 

behaviors as the person attempts to 

respond or interact with what they 

think they’re seeing. Speech may be 

slurred, bordering on incoherent. The 

variance in emotions is a hallmark of 

LSD use. Unpredictable and erratic 

emotions cause extreme and frequent 

mood changes. Users may experience 

a disproportionate sense of panic. 

When combined with the other signs, 

sweaty hands and an increase in underarm 

perspiration are another clue 

that a person is using LSD. Pupils may 

appear larger than normal. 

Cocaine 

A person on cocaine will act as though 

they have little self-restraint, meaning 

they may engage in activities that they 

would normally find embarrassing, 

frightening, or stressful. Cocaine disrupts 

sleep, and frequent users can act 

violent. Whether snorted, injected, 

or smoked, cocaine imbues the user 

with energy, allowing them to stay active 

longer than normal. This means a 

coke user can stay up all night. Instead 

of acting sleepy, users act jittery and 

jumpy. The increased energy may speed 

up speech. It’s the promise of extreme 

happiness that attracts many first time 

users. However, this feeling is so brief 

it’s usually measured in minutes. The 

sense of joy is quickly replaced with 

depression or a very intense emotional 

low. Difficulty recalling memories and 

shifts in mood are common with cocaine 

use. This drug can create feelings 

of ambivalence toward people and activities 

that the user used to find engaging. 

A gaunt appearance marks a regular 

user who can’t keep on the pounds. 

In users who snort the drug, the nose 

bleeds frequently. The eyes may appear 

red with large pupils. 

Mushrooms 

Intense laughter typically begins 20- 

25 minutes after ingesting a mushroom. 

For about six hours, users may 

vomit, feel physically weak, and be 

uncoordinated in moving their body. 

Users may feel confused and uncertain 

about their surroundings. This may 

cause them to feel “spaced out.” In 

some cases, users have hallucinations 

and may be so mentally impaired that 

they can’t identify the hallucinations 

for what they are. Their eyes may be 

dilated and may not focus on what 

is in front of them. They may show 

physical signs of nausea. 

Methamphetamine (Meth) 

Methamphetamines are more common 

than people might think, and actually 

include commonly prescribed drugs 

such as Adderall and Ritalin. Meth addicts 

report being able to stay awake for 

days at a time. They may accomplish a 

large number of tasks in a short period 

Resources 

• National Institute of Drug Abuse (2016). Emerging Trends and Alerts. Retrieved 

from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/emerging-trends-alerts 

• The United States of America Department of Health and Human 

Services. (2016). Facing Addiction in America. The Surgeon General›s 

Report on Alcohol, Drugs, Health Substance Abuse, and Mental health 

Service Administration (SAMSHA). Retrieved from https://addiction. 

surgeongeneral.gov/surgeon-generals-report.pdf 

• SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year 

treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals 

and families facing mental health and/or substance use disorders. 

Phone: 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) 

http://www.samhsa.gov/treatment/index.a 

https://www.recoverymonth.gov/organizations-programs/departmenthealth-human-services-samhsa-samhsas-treatment-locator-national 

Talia Karmo Al-Hamando, PhD. LLP LMSW is founder of Tri-County 

Counseling Services LLC in Madison Heights 

of time because they aren’t stopping to 

sleep. Agitation, paranoia, and a sense 

of being on high alert stem from meth 

use. Some people who use meth feel increased 

aggression and have hallucinations 

while taking the drug. A dramatic 

shift in the appearance of the skin from 

healthy to sagging and acne-prone is 

a strong indicator of using this drug. 

It’s hard to mistake the look of meth 

mouth—rotting teeth and infected 

gums. Meth transforms a vibrant looking 

person into a haggard shadow of the 

former self. Hair and weight loss often 

occur from meth use, which can suppress 

the appetite. 

Opium 

Opium use can cause excessive talking 

and is associated with irritability 

and anxiety. Individuals may become 

aggressive or hostile towards others, as 

there is a constant state of tiredness and 

exhaustion. Muscle spasms, headaches, 

nausea, vomiting, agitated and restless, 

and insomnia are also consequences of 

Opium use. People will often feel depressed 

or anxious, and frequently lie 

to cover up the use of opium. A high 

craving will lead to a constant desire 

to take more opium. Feeling paranoid 

or experiencing hallucinations is also 

a common experience. Physical signs 

may include the skin itching, and becoming 

sweaty, or pale. 

The signs of opium addiction are 

not limited to those mentioned above, 

and can depend on the severity of the 

addiction. Most signs might go unnoticed 

for a while because an addict can 

try and conceal their addictive problem. 

Also, these symptoms are not necessarily 

a fact that a person is addicted 

to opium. There may be other reasons 

for the changes a person is displaying. 

Opioids (Heroin & Pain Killers) 

Because this drug is connected to morphine, 

it tends to slow breathing and 

make the user sleepy. Near constant 

nodding off can be a problem for heroin 

users. The drug envelops users in 

a sense of relaxation. Mental activity 

of opioid users often declines, and is 

later replaced by lethargy and depression. 

Marks, or lines, from repeated 

injections appear on the arms of many 

heroin users. They may also care very 

little about keeping up good hygiene. 

Life Threatening Signs 

of Opioid Addiction 

The common signs of opioid addiction 

discussed above can be dangerous 

to you or your loved one’s overall 

health, and can have an impact 

on those around you, causing stress 

and worry. Other warning signs that 

are life threatening include stealing 

money or items from others to pay 

for more drugs, suicidal thoughts or 

actions, and taking lethal amounts 

of opioids. High doses of opioids can 

lead to an overdose which can cause 

one to become comatose, cause a 

stroke, heart attack, or even death. 

Those reaching a truly dangerous 

point in an opioid addiction may exaggerate 

pain symptoms or lie about 

injuries to receive more prescriptions, 

and request frequent refills for pain 

killers. Many people will see multiple 

doctors to increase their chances to 

have access to more prescriptions. 

They will often isolate themselves 

and burn through money rapidly, 

focusing more on getting and using 

their drug that engaging in previously 

enjoyed activities. Mood changes can 

also occur, ranging from rage and anger 

to anxiety and depression. 

Dangerous Overdose Signs 

Extremely dangerous physical signs 

of overdose include muscle weakness, 

slowed breathing or heartbeat, cold 

or clammy skin, profound drowsiness, 

loss of consciousness, coma, 

or death. If someone displays any of 

these signs, they should receive medical 

attention immediately. 

Dr. Talia Karmo is with Tri-County 

Counseling Services LLC in Madison 

Heights. (248) 298-1000. 


classified listings 

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

Attorneys and Counselors at Law 

HELP WANTED 

Seeking Chaldean Cultural Center 

Administrator. Collaborate closely 

with the Board of Directors and 

the Director of Development & 

Programming to refine, develop, 

and implement a comprehensive 

program for the CCC’s exhibitions, 

collections management, educational 

activities and community outreach. 

Minimum of 3 days a week at office 

(i.e. 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.), other times 

as needed. $18.00 per hour. Send 

resume to Judy Jonna at: 

judy.jonna18@gmail.com 

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE 

For sale in Sterling Heights, right 

next to the Chaldean Community 

Foundation, is a Palmer Wood North 

2 bedroom condo for $259,900. 

Situated in a gated community, this 

condo is 1800 square feet with 

a partially finished basement and 

comes with a one year warranty. 

For more information, contact Rose 

Mollicone at (586) 979-33176. 

Ronald G. Acho 

Norman E. Richards (Gene) 

ESTATE PLANNING AND ELDER LAW 

The Estate Planning and Elder Law Practice Group at CMDA 

offers a broad range of estate planning services. Each client is 

unique, and we take the time to understand their specific needs 

to create a plan that ensures assets accumulated during their 

lifetime are protected and distributed appropriately. 

• Wills and Trusts 

• Probate 

• Estate and Trusts 

Administration 

• Elder Law 

• Wealth Transfer Planning 

A TTORNEYS & C O UNSELORS AT LAW 

• Guardianships and 

Conservatorships 

• Succession Planning for 

Business Owners 

• Non-Profit and Tax-Exempt 

Organizations 

(734) 261-2400 • www.cmda-law.com • racho@cmda-law.com 

It’s a great time 

to purchase 

or refi nance 

your home. 

INTEREST RATES ARE 

AT AN ALL TIME LOW! 

Experience the difference with 

someone experienced. 

Always the lowest rates, 

best service and most trusted! 

CALL TODAY! 

248 593-9900 

Ext 222 

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 


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 

Palladium 

Financial GrouP, llc 

MOrTGaGE brOKEr NMLS 128686 

GabE GabriEl 

NMLS 128715 

30095 Northwestern Hwy, ste. 103 

Farmington Hills , Michigan 48334 

Office (248) 737-9500 

Direct (248) 939-1985 

Fax (248) 737-1868 

Email MortgageGabe@aol.com 

www.palladiumfinancialgroup.com 

www.fredlaverycompany.com 

Parking Lot Lighting 

Commercial & Industrial 

Installation & Service 

Tom Tamou 

Cell: (810) 560-9665 

Tamou’s 

Electrical Contractors 

COMPANY 

Generators for Large Facilities 

tamouselectric@sbcglobal.net 

Office/Fax (586) 803-9700 

“Serving our Community for over 29 yearS” 

Sammi A. Naoum 

Fred Lavery Company 

34602 Woodward Avenue 

Birmingham, MI 48009 

TEL 248-645-5930 

MOBILE 248-219-5525 

sammi.naoum@fredlaverycompany.com 

A U D I & P O R S C H E 

CHALDEAN 

AMERICAN 

CHAMBER OF 

COMMERCE 


FOUNDATION 

SANA NAVARRETTE 

DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 

HealtH Insurance 

& MedIcare specIalIst 

stephen M. George 

office 248-535-0444 

fax 248-633-2099 

stephengeorge1000@gmail.com 

Contact me for a free consultation 

on Health Care Reform, Medicare 

and Life Insurance 

Lakes Area Montessori 

For Toddler, Pre-School, Kindergarten, 

Elementary, Before & After Care 

Call to Schedule a Tour! 

Walled Lake, MI 

248-360-0500 

www.lakesareamontessori.com 

CHALDEAN 

AMERICAN 

CHAMBER OF 

COMMERCE 


FOUNDATION 

SANA NAVARRETTE 

MEMBERSHIP MANAGER 

30850 TELEGRAPH ROAD, SUITE 200 

BINGHAM FARMS, MI 48025 

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

FAX: (248) 996-8342 

snavarrette@chaldeanchamber.com 

www.chaldeanchamber.com 


Twitter: @ChaldeanChamber 

Instagram: @ChaldeanAmericanChamber 

30095 Northwestern Highway, Suite 101 

Farmington Hills, MI 48334 

CELL (248) 925-7773 

TEL (248) 851-1200 

FAX (248) 851-1348 

snavarrette@chaldeanchamber.com 

www.chaldeanchamber.com 


Twitter: @ChaldeanChamber 

Instagram: @ChaldeanAmericanChamber 

Advertise 

for As little As $ 85 

in our business directory section! 

to place your ad, contact us today! 

phone: 248-851-8600 fax: 248-851-1348 

30095 Northwestern Highway, Suite 101 

Farmington Hills, MI 48334

KIDS corner 

HAPPY TURKEY DAY! 

With school out for a few days and the adults busy getting 

Thanksgiving dinner together, boredom is bound to fall upon 

the kids. With some supplies and a little bit of imagination, that 

can be easily remedied, though. 

SUPPLIES NEEDED: 

Construction paper 

Glue 

Crayons, markers or colored pencils 

Scissors 

Only use scissors under adult supervision 

STEP 1: Firmly place your hand on a white piece of construction 

paper – make sure to place your hand palm down 

and spread your fingers apart. Using a black marker, trace 

your hand – starting at your wrist and ending on the other 

side of your wrist. 

STEP 2: Once you have traced your hand, draw a line 

from one end to the other to finish the body of the turkey. Also, 

draw a line at the end of each finger to create your turkey’s 

feathers. 

STEP 3: Don’t forget to give your turkey a face! On the 

thumb, draw an eye, and a beak! Now that your turkey has a 

face, you can give it a pair of legs! 

STEP 4: Before moving on to the fun part, on each finger, 

write one thing you are thankful for. It can be anything, your 

parents, your pets, the house you live in. Let the Thanksgiving 

spirit flow and write what you’re thankful for. 

STEP 5: We have finally reached the fun part! It’s time to 

color your turkey! Use your imagination for this part and have 

fun, coloring in the turkey and feathers. 

WORD SEARCH 

America Fall Freedom Holiday November Plymouth Stuffing 

Colony Family Gratitude Maize Pie Pumpkin Thanksgiving 

Cornucopia Feast Harvest Mayflower Pilgrims Squash Turkey 

S W F G G V N G Q I D F B R M U Z Y M Q S E A C T 

F M N E Z G N M U A S P R F A F S L A C U Y S C D 

C A I W A I Z I F R E B M E V O N I I T C F Z P Y 

S U C R F S T R H B J H M O E E E M Z C A F D S K 

S N D F G N T L A L H U U D H D O A E L K V U R E 

I G U U X L K K R H R D E F I L O F L W P Z B H V 

G T S K S F I J V F B X B H V M G M Q R I R Y H Z 

S M H Y K L Y P E T X Y O F C E C L C K G A Q M F 

R K P D R L V S S I G L N G E A K K B S N W A N V 

N I K P M U P T T K I N J O X W K Y Q T W Y K U T 

W T E R A W O P D D Z V F F L D K O H Y F E I P A 

T X R O J Q H L A N Y I Y U F O H V Z L F X N H K 

J E P C T B G Y H U K Z B Z I U C F O W X R A K U 

A I U V O Y O B O B T V G H N I H W O V J U O K B 

T U R K E Y M H F J A U R G Q J E T O C X T A T I 

A M E R I C A Q E Z N O E C W R J Q G A D Y G S S 

Z U G J W H F F A M U M L T O Q I C I P R P R K W 

M J V U S N L K Q F T O F Y L R Y A O K U K A H Y 

J C D A Y X F C S V P M E Z B S N N V B M J T T X 

B Y U X B T H A N K S G I V I N G U R E H B I U N 

C Q J Q R J R L D S S N T K D A H A C S Y R T O O 

S F K R O N Z S Q F H U K D B B H N Z O G Y U M A 

K O R G T Q G M P Z W O O P O E Z R M G P K D Y T 

W S J Y Z J V T I C G Q I L N G W F N Q L I E L I 

R Z M H X H S J P O A M K A L B G U L I X R A P K 


events 

Taking a Stride 

for Seminarians 

PHOTOS BY DAVID REED 

On September 24, the Alexander and Gabrielle Mansour Memorial Fund hosted their 

fourth annual Stride for Seminarians charity walk in memory of Alex and Gabby. Hosted 

at the Detroit Zoo, many showed up to support the memorial fund and participate in an 

array of activities, including crafts, face painting and rose petal intentions. Fr. Pierre and 

Fr. Andrew kicked off the event with a prayer. Eventgoers were able to enjoy the sight 

of the various animals and their habitats during their walk before settling under the zoo’s 

pavilion for Mass. Treats for the event were provided by Donut Bar and Party Café. 


events 

2 

4 6 

1 

3 

5 7 

8 

10 

12 

9 

11 

13 14 

15 16 17 18 19 

Celebrating 10 Years 

PHOTOS BY RAZIK TOMINA 

The Adopt a Refugee Family Program hosted an event on October 5 in celebration of their 

10 year anniversary. Since their inception, the Adopt a Refugee program has been able 

to send more than 10 million dollars to aid both individual refugees and refugee families, 

totaling more than 400,000 refugee families helped. Adopt a Refugee has been able to 

achieve this much success through a total volunteer effort. Many joined the celebrations 

hosted at the Shenandoah Country Club. Through this event, the Adopt a Refugee Family 

Program hoped to raise the funds required to help an additional 208 refugee families. 

1. Ban Zora, Kaitlin Senawi, Marcine Karmo 

2. Nancy Mezy, Sandy Sesi, Karl Sinawi 

3. Lutfi Talia, Najib Jamil 

4. Summer Asmar Vought, Marah Karana 

5. Emil Abona, Patrice Abona. 

6. Izdihar Yono, Neran Karmo, Angie Abdal 

7. Vito Gioia, Jerry Flannery 

8. Elham Roumayah, Father Jirji Abrahim, 

Wally Roumayah 

9. Amor Karana, Justin Hanna 

10. Sr. Beninia Shikwana, Sr. Therese Shikwana, 

Pia Jajo 

11. Balsam Sadik, Nadine George, Summer 

Asmar Vought, Sarmed Taila, Jumhoria Kaskorkis 

12. Sued Bitti, galia Thomes, 

Father Andrew Seba, Eli Thomes 

13. Fr. Pierre Konja, Deacon Fadie Gorgies, 

Fr. Andrew Seba, Marcus Shammami 

14. Ihab Albanna 

15. Fr. Fadi Habib 

16. Basil Bacall 

17. Deacon Fadie Gorgies 

18. Zuhair Nagara 

19. Monsignor Zuhair Kejbou, Fr. Andrew Seba 


A CELEBRATION OF 

giving 

&gratitude 

We each have countless 

reasons to be thankful. 

And as we all extend a 

hand in the spirit of giving 

and gratitude to our 

neighbors at home 

and around the world, 

we at Kroger are reminded 

how joyful we are to serve 

this special community 

every day of the year. 

So on behalf of Kroger 

and all our associates, 

we wish your family a 

warm and blessed day 

of giving and thanks. 

©2017 The Kroger Co.

14505 Michigan Ave Dearborn MI, 48126 (313) 846-1122 

SEE WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING

NOVEMBER 2017

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?