JULY 2025

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY VOL. 22 ISSUE VI JULY 2025

Century

Celebration

PETER ESSA

TURNS 100

Featuring:

California Chamber

Mass for Commerce

Auto Industry Outlook

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METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY | JULY 2025 | VOL. 22 ISSUE VI

ON THE COVER

14 Celebrating a Century

War Hero Peter Essa Turns 100

By Crystal Kassab Jabiro

FEATURES

18 Nations React to

US Strike on Iran

Update from Associated Press

20 From Discovery to Legacy

Dr. Ali Eli and the Chaldean Revival

By Weam Namou

22 The Bishop of Union

Mar Bawai Soro


14

26 Leverage to Launch

Chaldean Chamber Heads to California


DEPARTMENTS

6 From the Editor

Witnesses to Evolution

By Sarah Kittle

8 Guest Column

Politics of Scapegoating

N. Peter Antone

32 Sports

Sister Act: Alana and Lexa Hindo

By Steve Stein

34 Culture & History

Jewish Shrines in Iraq

By Dr. Adhid Miri

28 The Ongoing Sheetz Saga

By CN Staff

30 The Great Commission

Mass for Commerce and UTG

By Sarah Kittle

10 Foundation Update

Bishop Visit, Little Scholars Graduation,

Paul Mitchell and Henry Ford Health

38 Religion

A Tale of Two Priests

By Michael Antoon

12 Noteworthy

Kyle Mona, Kurdistan Partnership,

Community Excellence in West Bloomfield,

Jason Abro

16 Iraq Today

Life of Bishop Thabet

By Hanan Qia

17 Life of Bishop Thabet

Arabic Translation

By Ghazwan Alyass

40 Economics & Enterprise

The Road Ahead

By Paul Natinsky

42 Arts & Entertainment

Ancients Roots, Modern Vision

By Jenna Abroo

44 In Memoriam

46 Event

CCF West Grand Opening

22


PUBLISHED BY

Chaldean News, LLC

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EDITORIAL

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Sarah Kittle

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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Ghazwan Alyass

N. Peter Antone

Michael Antoon

Crystal Kassab Jabiro

Sarah Kittle

Dr. Adhid Miri

Weam Namou

Paul Natinsky

Hanan Qia

Steve Stein

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FROM THE EDITOR

Witnesses to Evolution

As we continue to witness the evolution

of our world—politically, socially, and

culturally—the articles in this issue offer

a glimpse into the lives and experiences of those

who have shaped our past, as well as those who

are forging the future.

In a guest column, N. Peter Antone explores the

ways in which politics has become a convenient

scapegoat for broader societal issues, offering

a timely reflection on how we engage with and

address the challenges of our times. It’s a thoughtprovoking

read that underscores the need

for a more nuanced conversation on the

issues facing us today.

On a brighter note, we celebrate the

remarkable life of Peter Essa, a Chaldean

American WWII veteran who has reached

the remarkable milestone of 100 years. His

story is one of heroism and an unshakeable

commitment to his country and community.

In a similar vein, we bring you a profile

of Bishop Soro, whose work to unite the

Eastern and Chaldean Church has garnered widespread

respect. His efforts to bridge divides, foster understanding,

and strengthen ties within the faith community are inspiring,

even in times of division.

On the horizon, we bring you news about the potential

opening of a new Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce

in California, which promises to further strengthen the ties

between our communities and amplify the voice of the

Chaldean American community in general.

In Detroit, the 32nd Mass for Commerce in October stands

as a beacon of collaboration and hope for the local economy.

Meanwhile, we profile Bishop Thabet, who recently passed,

offering a tribute to his legacy and his tireless dedication to

the Chaldean community.

We also bring you an AP article that takes a global

perspective on the Middle East situation, offering insights into

how the world views the ongoing challenges in the region.

SARAH KITTLE

EDITOR

IN CHIEF

On the local front, we look at the auto industry

in Michigan, with an in-depth outlook that explores

the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for

one of the state’s key economic drivers.

In sports, we celebrate the achievements of

Bloomfield Academy of the Sacred Heart’s tennis

champion Alana Hindo and her sister, Marian High

School tennis champion Lexa Hindo, whose dedication

and hard work have earned them a well-deserved

place in the spotlight.

We also look back to the grand opening of CCF

N. Peter Antone explores how politics has

become a convenient scapegoat for broader

societal issues, offering a timely reflection

on how we engage with and address the

challenges of our times.

West, a new chapter for our community that promises to bring

fresh opportunities for connection, education, and growth. The

opening marks an exciting new phase in our collective journey.

Finally, we include a powerful article by Dr. Adhid Miri

about Jewish holy shrines in Iraq—an exploration of the shared

history and enduring connection between our communities. In

a world often defined by division, this article is a reminder of

the rich, intertwined history that binds us all together.

As you read through these pages, we hope you are reminded

of the combined attributes that define our community—

whether through the arts, faith, or everyday acts of courage.

This issue is a testament to the people and stories that shape

our lives, and we are honored to bring them to you.

Sarah Kittle

Editor in Chief

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6 CHALDEAN NEWS JULY 2025

PUBLISHER'S CIRCLE

Join the

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As the publication of record for Michigan’s

Chaldean community, the mission of the

Chaldean News is to preserve and archive

Chaldean heritage and history, and to tell the

ongoing story of Chaldean contributions to the

communities in which we live and work — in Michigan

and around the world.

In the past five years, the Chaldean News has

substantially increased its readership and social media

following, introduced new digital and website content, and

expanded storytelling with the help of small grant funding.

With the generous help of individuals and organizations,

together, we can ensure that this vital resource continues

to educate and connect the community, while evolving to

meet the needs of future generations.

We truly appreciate your support of our efforts to expand

and strengthen our coverage of the Chaldean community,

both locally and globally. We are excited about the

opportunities ahead, and your support will be essential

in helping us grow our digital presence, preserve our

cultural heritage, and tell even more compelling stories

about the Chaldean community.

You can take part in helping to preserve your

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ensure that the Chaldean News remains a

vital resource for generations to come.

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To learn more, visit chaldeannews.com

or contact us at 248-851-8600

Let’s grow the circle.


GUEST COLUMN

The Politics of

Scapegoating

How blame distracts from

solutions in American life

BY N. PETER ANTONE

Throughout history, leaders

have often turned to a familiar

tactic during times of political

tension: the scapegoat. By channeling

public frustration toward a specific

group or class, politicians can deflect

attention from complex problems

and avoid offering real solutions. This

pattern continues in modern American

politics across the ideological

spectrum. Whether it’s blaming the

wealthy “1%” for economic inequality

or blaming immigrants—both legal

and undocumented—for social

and economic decline, the strategy

remains the same: find a convenient

target and mobilize public resentment.

Among many progressive

politicians, particularly within the

Democratic Party, a recurring message

suggests that the well-being of the

wealthiest Americans—often defined

as the top 1%—is directly connected

to the hardships faced by the working

and middle class. Campaigns

frequently emphasize that the rich are

not “paying their fair share,” implying

they should contribute more than

what the law currently requires. The

underlying message is clear: the poor

struggle because the rich succeed.

This narrative is politically

effective but lacks economic rigor.

Studies by nonpartisan organizations

such as the Tax Policy Center and the

Congressional Budget Office show

that high-income earners already pay

a significant share of federal income

taxes. In 2023, for example, the top

1% of earners paid about 42% of all

federal income taxes, while the bottom

50% paid less than 3%.

By placing blame on successful

individuals or businesses, politicians

can deflect from the more complicated

and politically risky work of fixing

underperforming public schools and

addressing the obstacles preventing

individuals from advancing, such as

broken families, drug dependency,

living in a high-crime area, and lack of

self-discipline or self-reliance, among

other factors. In this narrative, the rich

become the villains, and the deeper

roots of poverty are pushed aside.

On the right, Republicans

have also mastered the use of

scapegoating. Chief among their

targets are immigrants—especially

undocumented ones—who are often

portrayed as job stealers, criminals,

and burdens on the American

welfare system. Calls for large-scale

deportations are typically driven less

by nuanced policy and more by the

emotional appeal of restoring control

and security to everyday Americans.

Yet studies from institutions such

as the Brookings Institution, the

Cato Institute, and the U.S. Chamber

of Commerce tell a different story.

Immigrants, regardless of legal

status, are net contributors to the

economy. They fill essential roles in

agriculture, construction, health care

and technology, supporting industries

that often struggle to find workers,

especially in low-population or highdemand

areas. Crime rates among

immigrants are consistently lower

than those of native-born citizens, and

undocumented immigrants—far from

abusing welfare—are largely excluded

from receiving federal benefits.

The Republican strategy is

politically effective. By offering a

simple explanation—“They are illegals

taking your jobs,” —public discourse

shifts away from pursuing meaningful

immigration reform and toward a

narrative of victimhood and invasion.

POLITICS OF SCAPEGOATING

continued on page 43


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FOUNDATION UPDATE

Bishop Basilio Yaldo pictured with CCF President Martin Manna, Carolin Hormis and Tom Kyriakoza.

A Distinguished Visit

Polished with Potential

The 2025 Cosmetology Mentorship Program, presented in

partnership with Alline Salon Group, officially launched June 11

with great success. Nearly 30 aspiring cosmetologists took part

in two full-day sessions designed to introduce the foundational

concepts of the beauty industry.

Participants explored a range of topics, including color theory,

color techniques, face makeup, and makeup application. The

sessions, led by experienced industry professionals, provided

hands-on learning opportunities that brought classroom

concepts to life.

In addition to technical training, attendees learned about

educational pathways offered by Paul Mitchell Schools.

Representatives were on-site to answer questions and provide

insights into career opportunities available through the program.

As part of the mentorship, two participants will be awarded

scholarships to attend Paul Mitchell Schools, giving them the

chance to pursue their passion and begin their journey toward

becoming licensed professional cosmetologists.

On June 3, the Chaldean Community Foundation had the honor of welcoming His Excellency Bishop

Basilio Yaldo from Iraq for a special visit.

During his tour of the facility, Bishop Yaldo met with staff and participants from the Foundation’s

Breaking Barriers and Little Scholars programs, gaining a firsthand look at the mission-driven work

taking place each day. Spending time with program participants was a highlight of the tour for both

the bishop and the students.

His visit coincided with the CCF West Grand Opening, which took place the following day.

Bishop Yaldo also shared remarks about the ongoing challenges facing Chaldean Christians in

Iraq. He expressed admiration for the Foundation’s continued efforts, noting the significant growth

in its programming and the meaningful impact it has on both the local community and the global

Chaldean diaspora.

Students participated in hair styling techniques under the

watch of professional cosmetologists.

Don’t Skip a Beat

On June 16, the Chaldean Community Foundation welcomed Dr.

Fadi Al-Qas Hanna, an interventional cardiologist at Henry Ford

Health, for an informative presentation on high blood pressure,

cholesterol, and heart palpitations.

Attendees also received free blood pressure checks provided

by pharmacists from Henry Ford Health Pharmacy Advantage

and enjoyed a heart-healthy lunch featuring fresh fruits and

vegetables.

We are grateful to Dr. Hanna and Henry Ford Health for

sharing their expertise and helping our community take

meaningful steps toward better health.

Participants of the Little Scholars program at graduation.

Graduating in Style

The school year has officially come to a close, and we couldn’t be prouder of our Little Scholars. This

summer, 28 students graduated from the program and will begin kindergarten in the fall. We are incredibly

proud of all they have accomplished and look forward to seeing what the future holds for them.

We also celebrated 56 Little Scholars who will return in the fall to enter pre-kindergarten. Both

the graduation and moving-up ceremonies were joyful, heartfelt events filled with friends, family,

and proud smiles all around. It was truly a grand celebration.

We wish all our Little Scholars a safe, happy, and adventurous summer ahead.

To learn more about the Little Scholars program, contact Rachel Hall at rachel.hall@

chaldeanfoundation.org or call (586) 722-7253.

Henry Ford Health staff at the CCF for the Heart Health Town Hall.


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NOTEWORTHY

Chaldean

Community

Members Honored

in West Bloomfield

Bringing Home Automation Home

Kyle Mona, a Kettering University Electrical Engineering

student, is redefining the future of smart homes

through his innovative approach to home automation.

Inspired by his family’s hands-on experiences,

particularly time spent with his grandfather and father

in an auto repair shop, Kyle developed a passion for

electronics and automation. This interest led him to

create a comprehensive home automation system that

integrates lighting, thermostats, cameras, surround

sound, alarms, and sprinklers, all managed via a local

virtual machine. His meticulous setup includes over

3,000 feet of Cat 6 wiring and more than 100 hardwired

light switches, ensuring robust internet coverage

throughout the house.

Kyle’s dedication to problem-solving is evident

in his persistence when faced with challenges, such

In an interview with

Kurdistan24, Martin

Manna, President of

the Chaldean American

Chamber of Commerce,

praised Kurdistan

Region Prime Minister

Masrour Barzani’s visit to

Washington as a diplomatic

success that effectively

emphasized shared U.S.-Kurdistan interests like

energy freedom, religious liberty, and economic

cooperation. Manna highlighted Kurdistan’s role as

a safe haven for Christians and called for structural

reforms to promote economic opportunities,

religious freedom, and political inclusion to

as resolving time synchronization errors between

his camera server and computer. Currently, he is

applying his skills during a Co-op term at LightGuide

Systems in Wixom, Michigan, where he contributed

to the installation of a TrainAR Workstation in

Kettering University’s Industry 4.0 Manufacturing

Lab. Looking ahead, Kyle plans to expand his home

automation system outdoors, enhance security with

motion-sensing floodlights, and integrate the alarm

system to trigger flashing lights throughout the house.

He also envisions turning his passion into a business,

collaborating with his brother to combine their

expertise in home automation and cybersecurity.

Kyle’s advice to fellow students is clear: “Don’t hold

yourself back. Even if you’re unsure at first, once you

start with the right tools, you’ll find you can do it.”

Preserving Iraq’s Christian Heritage

Through U.S.-Kurdistan Cooperation

encourage Christians to

remain in their homeland.

He emphasized Kurdistan’s

superior advocacy for

minorities compared to

Baghdad and stressed the

importance of security,

cultural preservation,

and resolving disputed

territories. Manna also

noted the significant contributions of the Chaldean-

American community in the U.S., particularly in

Michigan. He encouraged continued engagement

between Kurdistan and the U.S., affirming the

Chamber’s commitment to supporting the Christian

community’s future in Iraq.

Some members of the Chaldean

community will be recognized

with Community Excellence

Awards at the 17th Annual Key

to the Township Awards, taking

place July 30 at Wabeek Country

Club in West Bloomfield.

Joe Barbat, founder, chairman

and CEO of Prime Concepts

Detroit, will be honored as

Business Person of the Year

and Eava Sokana, a marketing

strategist, content creator and

brand builder, will be recognized

as Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

More information is available

at westbloomfieldchamber.com.

Joe Barbat

Eava Sokana

Commander

Abro Graduates

from FBI Academy

On June 5, 2025, Commander

Jason G. Abro of the Macomb

County Sheriff’s Office graduated

from the 294th session of the FBI

National Academy in Quantico,

Virginia. This elite program,

which selects fewer than 1 % of

law enforcement officers across

Jason G. Abro

the U.S., offers an intensive

10-week course focused on

advanced leadership, communication, and

physical fitness training.

The cohort for Session 294 — which

began around March 30, 2025 — consisted of

approximately 239 graduates drawn from 48

states, the District of Columbia, 14 countries, six

military organizations, and four federal civilian

agencies. Participants are typically highly

experienced, with an average of 20–21 years in

law enforcement, and many go on to serve in

executive-level roles in their agencies.

Commander Abro, who serves as third in

command at the Macomb County Sheriff’s

Office, expressed his honor at completing the

program and his eagerness to apply the insights

and training gained to further strengthen

leadership within his department and serve the

community.


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COVER STORY

Friends and family

gathered to celebrate

Peter Essa’s 100th

birthday in Northville

on June 8.

Celebrating a Century

Chaldean-American hero and family treasure Peter Essa turns 100

BY CRYSTAL KASSAB JABIRO

Private 1st Class Peter Essa

was among the brave soldiers

who stormed the beaches of

Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944,

under the command of General Dwight

D. Eisenhower. Their mission was to

liberate Western Europe from Nazi

control and establish a second front

against Germany.

Essa was shot in the ankle by a

wooden bullet during the invasion.

His sergeant carried him to safety,

then ran back into battle, where he

was killed just a few hours later.

Though D-Day marked a turning

point in World War II, the Allied

forces—American, Canadian, and

British troops—did not defeat Nazi

Germany until nearly a year later.

During that time, Essa underwent

several surgeries and was honorably

discharged shortly before the war’s

end.

He returned home to Detroit,

where he had been born and raised, to

reunite with his family.

Today, Essa holds a special place in

history as the only surviving Chaldean-

American World War II veteran.

On June 8, he celebrated his 100th

birthday. His strength and resilience

as a teenage soldier shaped him into

a devoted father, and his children say

they could not have asked for a better

man to raise them.

Paul, Essa’s eldest son, describes

his father as a quiet man who rarely

spoke about his time in the military.

When he did, his stories left a deep

impression.

“He said he was going to war to

die,” Paul recalled.

But thankfully, Essa came home.

As the only son among six sisters, he

opened a grocery store to help support

the family. He taught his children to

never ask others to do something they

wouldn’t do themselves and to always

treat people the way they would want

to be treated. Paul, now 65, still lives

by that motto.

Essa’s legacy made a profound

impact on his granddaughter

Angelina, 24, who developed a love of

history because of him.

“He’s like a walking encyclopedia,

and every history paper I wrote, I took

every opportunity to make it about

him,” she said. “I asked him about

the war, and the level of detail he was


Nonna Maria’s is a very well-known

and successful Italian restaurant.

A cozy place with delicious food,

located in a beautiful residential

area, near Walnut Lake.

Signage at the party informed what was happening in 1925, the year

Peter was born.

Eat to live and not live to eat

able to recall from his memory was

play-by-play, like a movie almost. His

stories never fail to send chills down

my spine, and I am so thankful to have

such an important piece of history in

my immediate family.”

Essa’s second son and namesake,

Peter, remembers his father sharing

how brutal it was to watch his friends

die in battle. Like his father, Peter,

62, became a grocer, and his fondest

memories are of working side by side

with him at Fiesta Market.

Peter’s daughter, Breanna, 20,

cherishes simple moments—like her

grandfather cutting up apples for her

in the middle of the night or teaching

her how to fish. He has a great sense of

humor, too.

“Every time we’d go to the cottage

with Nana and Baba, when we got

close to the ice cream place, I’d ask,

‘Are we there yet?’ and Baba would

say, ‘We already passed it!’”

George, Essa’s third son, now 60,

also worked with his father at the

family market. His favorite memories

are of family trips up north in the

fifth wheel and fishing with his dad.

He believes his father’s wartime

experience shaped him into a strongminded

man—and passed that

strength on to his children.

George’s son, Luke, 15, treasures

riding with Baba in his Ford

Thunderbird during the annual Dream

Cruise.

Joseph, Essa’s youngest son, 58,

agreed.

“They don’t make them like my dad

anymore,” he said. “He’s the best dad I

could ever ask for.”

Joseph fondly remembers visiting

Greenfield Village with his parents,

where his dad pointed out the old

Ford tractors he once worked on,

assembling carburetors at the Henry

Ford Trade School before being

drafted. Joseph also cherishes their

time together at the Dream Cruise over

the past 15 years, where his father

identifies the classic cars he once

owned.

Essa’s only daughter, Theresa

Jaafar, believes her father’s

experiences taught him to appreciate

life’s simplest moments.

“He never took anything for

granted,” she said. “I think that’s

why he was always so content with

The Oakland County Sheriff’s

Office presented Peter with

special recognition.

life. He taught me that tomorrow is

not promised.”

Theresa also has a lighthearted

memory of growing up as the only girl

among her brothers.

“When all of us kids were in trouble,

he would take us into the bedroom

and pull out the belt. We’d all panic,

and then he’d look at me and say,

‘You… you can leave!’”

Private 1st Class Peter Essa is a

proud Chaldean-American veteran

with a heart of gold.

“He is our hero,” Theresa said.

June 8 was not only Private Essa’s

100th birthday, but it was also his 67th

wedding anniversary. His wife, Samira,

feels thankful and blessed. “He is

my love and my life,” she shared.

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IRAQ TODAY

The funeral Mass for Bishop Thabet was celebrated on Thursday, June 19, 2025.

The Righteous Shepherd

Who Left Us in Silence

The life of the late Bishop Mar Paulus Thabet Mako

BY HANAN QIA

On the morning of Tuesday, June

18, 2025, sorrow swept over the

town of Alqosh and touched

every Chaldean household in Iraq and

the diaspora. The faithful mourned the

passing of His Excellency Bishop Mar

Paulus Thabet Habib Mako, shepherd

of the Chaldean Diocese of Alqosh,

who died at the age of 49. He devoted

his life to his faith and the Church,

walking alongside his people through

both hardship and peace.

From Karmles to the Priesthood

Mar Paulus Thabet was born in the

town of Karmles in 1976, into the

venerable Kdo family, which had

settled there in 1830. He completed

his primary and secondary education

locally before earning a bachelor’s

degree in earth sciences. Soon after, he

answered the call to priesthood.

In 2002, he joined the Shimon Al-

Safa Seminary in Baghdad to begin

his formation. In 2005, he was sent to

Rome, where he earned a bachelor’s

degree in theology and later a master’s

degree in patristics.

A Priest in Times of Trial

He was ordained a priest on July 25,

2008, at the Church of Mar Adi in

Karmles by the late Patriarch Mar

Emmanuel Delly. He served in his

hometown until the summer of 2014,

when ISIS swept through the Nineveh

Plains, forcing tens of thousands of

Christians to flee.

In that moment of crisis, Father

Thabet relocated with his displaced

flock to Ainkawa, Erbil, on August

7, 2014. There, he provided pastoral

and spiritual care to the families from

Nineveh and Mosul who had lost

everything. His steadfast presence

was a source of comfort and strength,

remaining with the community

until they could return home after

liberation.

From Auxiliary Bishop to Diocesan

Bishop

In August 2021, the Chaldean Synod

elected him auxiliary bishop of the

Alqosh Diocese. His appointment was

announced on August 14, and he was

consecrated as bishop on October

22, 2021, by His Beatitude Cardinal

Louis Raphael Sako. On November 28,

2022, he was officially installed as the

diocesan bishop of Alqosh in a large

ceremony attended by many of the

faithful from the Nineveh Plains.

A Faithful Shepherd and Guardian

of Identity

From the start of his episcopal

ministry, Mar Paulus was deeply

committed to preserving Chaldean

identity. He zealously guarded the

authenticity of the Chaldean rite,

language, chants and traditions, and

he actively supported initiatives to

preserve the Church’s cultural heritage

in Alqosh.

He was a familiar presence at

festivals and religious processions,

where his leadership and resonant

voice left a lasting impact on his

people, who loved him dearly.

A Fatherly Presence in the Diaspora

Mar Paulus visited the Chaldean

Community Foundation in the United

States several times during his

ministry, meeting with members of the

diaspora, listening to their concerns,


TIMELINE

Bishop Paul Thabet Habib

Yousif Al Mekko

1976 Born in Karamles on February 14

1976 Baptized March 26 at Mar Addi Church

2002 Joined Shimon Al-Safa Seminary in Baghdad

2005 Sent to Rome to study theology and patristics

2008 Ordained priest on July 25 in Mosul

2011 Served at Mar Addi in Karamles

2014 Served the displaced/relief for Chaldean refugees in Erbil

2017 Worked on rebuilding Karamles

2021 Appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Alqosh on August 14

2021 Ordained Coadjutor Bishop of Alqosh on October 22

2022 Succeeded Bishop of Alqosh on October 8

2022 Officially installed as Bishop of Alqosh in ceremony on November 28

2024 Visted the Chaldean Community Foundation in Michigan

2025 Died in Alqosh on June 18

الراعي الصالح الذي غادرنا بصمت

سرية املطران الراحل مار بولس ثابت املكو

٢٠٢٥-١٩٧٦ †

حنّان قيّا

يف صباح الثالثاء،‏ الثامن عرش من حزيران

2025، خيّم الحزن عىل بلدة ألقوش،‏ وامتدّ‏

إىل كل بيت كلداين يف العراق واملهجر،‏ بعد أن

أعلن عن وفاة سيادة املطران مار بولس ثابت

حبيب املكو،‏ راعي أبرشية ألقوش الكلدانية،‏

عن عمر ناهز 49 عامًا،‏ قضاه يف خدمة اإلميان

والكنيسة،‏ ورافق فيه شعبه يف الرساء والرضاء.‏

من كرمليس إىل الكهنوت

وُلد مار بولس ثابت يف بلدة كرمليس عام

1976، من عائلة ‏“كدو”‏ الكرمليسية العريقة،‏

التي استقرّت يف البلدة منذ عام 1830. أكمل

دراسته االبتدائية والثانوية يف مسقط رأسه،‏

ثم حصل عىل بكالوريوس يف علوم األرض،‏ قبل

أن يُلبي دعوة الرب إىل الكهنوت.‏

يف عام 2002، التحق مبعهد شمعون

الصفا الكهنويت يف بغداد،‏ حيث بدأ مسريته

التكوينية.‏ ويف عام 2005، أُوفد إىل روما

ملواصلة دراسته،‏ فحصل عىل بكالوريوس

يف الالهوت،‏ ثم عىل ماجستري يف علم آباء

الكنيسة.‏

حضور أبوي يف املهجر

زار سيادته مؤسسة الجالية الكلدانية يف

الواليات املتحدة أكرث من مرة خالل خدمته،‏

حيث التقى بأبناء املهجر،‏ واستمع لهم

ورافقهم روحيًا.‏ وكان يحمل همّ‏ الوطن

والكنيسة يف قلبه،‏ ويؤمن أن الرشاكة بني

الداخل واملهجر هي امتداد واحد لجسد

املسيح.‏

وداعٌ‏ مهيب وصدى واسع

يف الخميس 19 حزيران 2025، أُقيم قداس

الجنازة يف كنيسة ألقوش عند الساعة 11

صباحًا،‏ ترأسه غبطة البطريرك الكاردينال

لويس روفائيل ساكو،‏ رئيس الكنيسة الكلدانية

الكاثوليكية.‏ وبعده نُقل جثامنه إىل كرمليس،‏

حيث وُري الرثى يف متام الساعة الرابعة عرصًا،‏

Bishop Thabet visited the CCF in June of 2024. He is pictured here

with CCF staff in the Wireless Vision auditorium.

and offering spiritual guidance. He

carried the homeland and the Church

close to his heart, firmly believing that

the connection between the homeland

and diaspora formed one united body

in Christ.

A Solemn Farewell and Widespread

Condolences

The funeral Mass was celebrated on

Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 11 a.m. at

Alqosh Church, led by His Beatitude

Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch

of the Chaldean Catholic Church. Later

that afternoon, the bishop’s body was

laid to rest in Karmles at 4 p.m., in the

presence of hundreds from Karmles,

Alqosh and the Nineveh Plains.

Churches and Christian

communities across Iraq mourned

his loss, as people from various Iraqi

backgrounds attended the funeral and

offered their condolences, reflecting

the widespread love and respect he

had earned.

An Everlasting Legacy

With his passing, the Chaldean Church

has lost a shepherd, father, brother

and a steady voice of faithfulness, but

his spiritual legacy will continue to

bear fruit in Alqosh and throughout

the Nineveh Plains.

You have left us on earth, yet

you remain in our liturgies, in our

processions, and in the language of

our prayers.

Grant him eternal rest, O Lord, and

let perpetual light shine upon him.

May his memory be eternal.

كاهن يف زمن املحنة

نال السيامة الكهنوتية يف 25 متوز 2008 يف

كنيسة مار أدي – كرمليس،‏ عىل يد مثلث

الرحمة البطريرك مار عامنوئيل ديل.‏ خدم

يف بلدته حتى صيف عام 2014، حني اجتاح

تنظيم داعش اإلرهايب مناطق سهل نينوى،‏

فاضطر عرشات اآلالف من املسيحيني إىل

النزوح.‏

حينها،‏ مل يرتدد الخورأسقف ثابت حبيب،‏

بل انتقل مع أبناء شعبه إىل عنكاوا – أربيل،‏

وبدأ منذ 7 آب 2014 بخدمة النازحني من سهل

نينوى واملوصل،‏ روحيًا وإنسانيًا.‏ وكان وجوده

بجانبهم مصدر عزاء وقوة،‏ فبقي يخدمهم حتى

العودة إىل كرمليس بعد التحرير.‏

من األسقفية إىل املطرانية

يف آب 2021، اختاره السينودس الكلداين

أسقفًا معاونًا ألبرشية ألقوش،‏ وأُعلن عن

ذلك يف 14 آب.‏ نال السيامة األسقفية يف 22

ترشين األول 2021 عىل يد غبطة البطريرك

الكاردينال لويس روفائيل ساكو.‏ ثم يف 28

ترشين الثاين 2022، تم تنصيبه مطرانًا أصيالً‏

ألبرشية ألقوش،‏ وسط حضور شعبي كبري.‏

راعٍ‏ أمني وحارس للهوية

منذ لحظة تسلمه املطرانية،‏ حمل املطران

الراحل همَّ‏ الهوية الكلدانية،‏ وكان من أشدّ‏

الغيورين عىل الطقس الكلداين األصيل،‏ وعىل

لغة الكنيسة وتراثها وتراتيلها ومواسمها.‏ وكان

له دور مبارش يف رعاية املبادرات الهادفة

لحفظ الرتاث الكنيس والشعبي يف ألقوش.‏

شارك املؤمنني يف مهرجانات األعياد

واملواكب الكنسية،‏ وكان حضوره مؤثرًا وصوته

مألوفًا يف الرتاتيل واملناسبات،‏ ما جعله محبوبًا

من أبناء األبرشية بكل أطيافهم.‏

بحضور املئات من أبناء كرمليس وألقوش

وسهل نينوى.‏

نعت الكنائس واملسيحيون العراقيون

جميعًا املطران الراحل،‏ وشارك يف تقديم

العزاء مؤمنون من مختلف املكونات العراقية،‏

يف صورة تعرّبّ‏ عن املحبة واملكانة التي احتلها

املطران يف القلوب.‏

إرث باقٍ‏ إىل األبد

برحيله،‏ فقدت الكنيسة الكلدانية راعيًا وأبًا

وأخًا وصوتًا هادئًا للثبات،‏ لكنها كسبت إرثًا

روحيًا وراعويًا سيبقى يثمر يف ألقوش وسهل

نينوى.‏

غادرتنا عىل األرض…‏ لكنك باقٍ‏ يف

قداديسنا،‏ يف مواكبنا،‏ ويف لغة صالتنا.‏

الراحة األبدية أعطه يا رب،‏ والنور الدائم

فليرشق له.‏

ليكن ذكره مؤبداً.‏


FEATURE

Nations react to US strikes on Iran

with many calling for diplomacy

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Several close U.S. allies urged a return to the

negotiating table following American strikes

on Iran that fueled fears of a wider conflict,

while noting the threat posed by Tehran’s nuclear

program. Some countries and groups in the region,

including those that support Iran, condemned the

move while also urging de-escalation.

U.S. President Donald Trump described the

damage as “monumental” after the U.S. hit three

Iranian nuclear sites, though the U.S. assessment

was unfinished.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the U.S.

had “crossed a very big red line,” the time for diplomacy

was over and Iran had the right to defend itself.

Here is a look at the global reaction:

United Nations

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said he was

“gravely alarmed” by the use of force by the United

States.

“There is a growing risk that this conflict could

rapidly get out of control — with catastrophic

consequences for civilians, the region, and the

world,” he said in a statement on the social media

platform X. “I call on Member States to de-escalate.”

“There is no military solution. The only path

forward is diplomacy.”

United Kingdom

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned of

escalation beyond the Middle East as he called for

all sides to negotiate a diplomatic end to the crisis,

saying stability was the priority in the volatile region.

The U.K., along with the European Union, France

and Germany, tried unsuccessfully to broker a

diplomatic solution in Geneva last week with Iran.

Starmer said Iran’s nuclear program posed a

grave threat to global security.

“Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear

weapon and the U.S. has taken action to alleviate

that threat,” Starmer said.

Russia

Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as deputy head of

President Vladimir Putin’s Security Council, said

several countries were prepared to supply Tehran

with nuclear weapons.

He didn’t specify which countries, but said the

U.S. attack caused minimal damage and would not

stop Tehran from pursuing nuclear weapons.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it “strongly

condemned” the airstrikes and called them a “a gross

violation of international law, the U.N. Charter, and

U.N. Security Council resolutions.”

A child carries a sign as demonstrators rally

outside the White House, on June 22, 2025.

Iraq

The Iraqi government condemned the U.S. strikes,

saying the military escalation created a grave threat

to peace and security in the Middle East. It said it

poses serious risks to regional stability and called for

diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis.

“The continuation of such attacks risks dangerous

escalation with consequences that extend beyond the

borders of any single state, threatening the security

of the entire region and the world,” government

spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said in the statement.

Egypt

President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi warned of “grave

repercussions” for expanding the Middle East conflict

and urged a return to negotiations.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, which previously condemned Israel’s

strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and military

leaders, expressed “deep concern” about the U.S.

airstrikes, but stopped short of condemning them.

“The Kingdom underscores the need to exert

all possible efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate

tensions, and avoid further escalation,” the Foreign

Ministry said in a statement.

Qatar

Qatar, which is home to the largest U.S. military

base in the Middle East, said it “regrets” escalating

tensions in the Israel-Iran war.

Its Foreign Ministry in a statement urged all parties

to show restraint and “avoid escalation, which the

peoples of the region, burdened by conflicts and their

tragic humanitarian repercussions, cannot tolerate.”

Qatar has served as a key mediator in the Israel-

Hamas war.

PHOTO BY JOSE LUIS MAGANA/ AP

Lebanon

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the U.S.

bombing could lead to a regional conflict that no

country could bear and called for negotiations.

“Lebanon, its leadership, parties, and people, are

aware today, more than ever before, that it has paid a

heavy price for the wars that erupted on its land and

in the region,” Aoun said in a statement on X. “It is

unwilling to pay more.”

China

China condemned U.S. strikes on Iran, calling them

a serious violation of international law that further

inflamed tensions in the Middle East. In a statement, the

Chinese Foreign Ministry urged all parties — especially

Israel — to implement a cease-fire and begin dialogue.

“China is willing to work with the international

community to pool efforts together and uphold

justice, and contribute to the work for restoring peace

and stability in the Middle East,” the ministry said.

European Union

The European Union’s top diplomat said Iran must

not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, but she

urged those involved in the conflict to show restraint.

“I urge all sides to step back, return to the

negotiating table and prevent further escalation,”

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a post on

social media.

Australia

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia’s

government endorsed the U.S. strikes.

“We support action to prevent Iran getting a

nuclear weapon and that is what this is,” she said.

Her remarks to Channel Nine news Monday were

firmer than an official statement supplied Sunday

by her government immediately after the strikes that

stopped short of backing them.

“Ultimately we want to see de-escalation and

diplomacy,” Wong said.

She would not say whether Australian satellite

communications or signals intelligence were

employed by the United States. Both countries

are members of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing

partnership. But Wong said the U.S. had been clear

that “this was a unilateral strike.”

The Vatican

Pope Leo XIV made a strong appeal for peace during

his Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s square, calling

for international diplomacy to “silence the weapons.”

After an open reference to the “alarming”

situation in Iran, the first American pontiff stressed

that “today more than ever, humanity cries out and

invokes peace and it is a cry that demands reason

and must not be stifled.”

Pope Leo urged every member of the international

community to take up their moral responsibility

to “stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an

irreparable abyss.”


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Chaldean Community Foundation | 3601 15 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48310


FEATURE

Dr. Ali Eli delivers a speech, translated into six languages and broadcast on 400 television stations, during the His Holiness Pope Francis visit.

From Discovery to Legacy

Dr. Ali Eli and the Chaldean revival in Iraq

BY WEAM NAMOU

Dr. Ali Eli, a university

professor with a Ph.D. in

accounting, is a well-known

figure in Nasiriyah, his birthplace

and the historic city of Ur—the

ancient homeland of the Chaldeans.

His Facebook page proudly displays

images of the Chaldean flag and Pope

Francis, reflecting the deep Chaldean

heritage he uncovered later in life.

For Dr. Eli, the question of his

identity began more than 25 years ago

when he started to wonder about his

roots. “Where do I come from? What are

my origins? Why do I feel a cultural and

linguistic connection that is different

from those around me?” he asked.

These questions sparked a yearlong

journey in search of answers,

leading him to explore historical

texts, genealogical records, and even

genetic studies.

“Knowledge builds advanced

societies by replacing myths with

facts,” he said.

As he investigated further, Dr. Eli

noticed distinct linguistic patterns

in his family, along with names and

traditions that set them apart from

the wider community. His research

ultimately confirmed that he was of

Chaldean descent, tracing his lineage

back to the ancient civilization that

once flourished in Mesopotamia—a

discovery that transformed his life.

But for Dr. Eli, this was more than

just a personal revelation. He saw his

heritage as a responsibility—a mission

to preserve and promote the Chaldean

identity in a modern world where

ancient cultures risk being forgotten.

“I wanted to use this information

to benefit my community and ensure

accuracy in everything I share,” he said.

In time, he became known as Dr.

Ali Eli, the Chaldean.

The Work

Dr. Eli’s passion for heritage led him

to establish cultural organizations

and events in Nasiriyah, where he

works to celebrate the city’s historic

and spiritual significance. Among his

many achievements:

Founding Shabab Al-Kaldan

(Chaldean Youth): A group dedicated

to engaging young people in cultural,

educational, and community-building

activities, with a focus on celebrating

Chaldean traditions and proudly

promoting the Chaldean flag.

Empowering Women: Recognizing

the vital role of women in preserving

cultural identity, Dr. Eli established

Nisa’ Al-Kaldan (Chaldean Women),

a group that amplifies the voices

of Chaldean women and honors

important figures such as martyr Laila

Khoma and Archbishop Faraj Rahho.

Promoting Peace and Art:

Through initiatives like children’s art

workshops and theatrical productions,

Dr. Eli fosters a spirit of love, peace,

and cultural pride in the younger

generation.

“These children grew into the next

generation of Chaldean youth and

women leaders,” he said. “Over time,

we expanded our efforts, forming

cultural, environmental, and interfaith

dialogue groups.”

His organizations also produced

theatrical works to spread messages

of love and peace, including Jesus: A

Message of Love and Peace and Jonah

in Kalhu. During difficult periods,

such as the rise of ISIS, they created

productions symbolizing unity and

resilience, like the play Nun.

“One of our proudest moments was

when I addressed Pope Francis during

his visit, declaring my pride in being

Chaldean,” he said.


The Challenges

Reviving a minority culture in a diverse

yet conflict-laden region like Iraq has

not been without its challenges. Dr.

Eli encountered resistance from some

who struggled to distinguish between

Chaldean identity as an ethnic heritage

and Christianity as a religion. Despite

this, his resilience and unwavering

belief in the value of Chaldean culture

have earned him widespread respect.

“Even when we faced misunderstanding,

opposition, or indifference,”

he said, “we pressed on with

determination, strength, and faith.

Preserving our heritage is preserving

the soul of Iraq itself.”

His ultimate goal is to ensure that

future generations of Chaldeans grow

up with a strong sense of identity and

pride in their heritage.

In collaboration with his son, Dr.

Mohammed Ali—a Chaldean civil

society activist and expert in minority

rights—Dr. Eli has expanded his efforts

to connect with the global community.

Dr. Mohammed holds a Ph.D. in

English Language and Translation

from Kent State University and works

through the International Language

Institute to translate cultural and

historical materials into English for

international audiences.

Together, they document Chaldean

history and culture, capturing

photographic scenes from within

Iraq, while hosting Iraqi and foreign

pilgrims for academic and cultural

exchanges with universities across

Iraq, the Arab world, and beyond.

“As a result of our work, over a

thousand Iraqis have discovered their

Chaldean roots,” Dr. Eli said.

Reconnection

Dr. Eli’s story is one of discovery, resilience,

and hope. Through his tireless

efforts, he has not only uncovered

2017 visit of the Vatican delegation, accompanied by more than 25 priests and media representatives. This visit took

place near the house of Father Abraham, and sometime later, the delegation returned to hold a Mass in the same

location where His Holiness Pope Francis celebrated during his visit to Ur of the Chaldeans.

his own roots but has also helped an

entire community reconnect with its

identity. From facilitating Pope Francis’s

historic visit to Nasiriyah in 2021,

to playing a leading role in establishing

the Chaldean Catholic diocese in

the region, to inspiring the next generation

of Chaldeans, he has shown

that preserving one’s heritage is a profound

act of love and service.

At the heart of Dr. Eli’s mission is

building stronger ties between Chaldeans

in Iraq and those in the diaspora.

“To ensure the survival of the Chaldean’s

unique identity,” he explained, “it’s important

that Chaldeans in Iraq collaborate

with the diaspora, particularly in the

United States.”

His words underscore the critical

importance of unity and shared responsibility

in preserving Chaldean cultural

heritage across generations and borders.

This vision comes to life through

the many initiatives and events led by

Dr. Eli and his organizations, all focused

on bringing people together and

celebrating their shared identity. Most

recently, they participated in the “Evening

of the Holy Light” event at the

Church of the Virgin Mary of the Syriac

Orthodox in Basra.

Representing the Chaldean gatherings

in Ur of the Chaldeans, Nasiriyah,

Dr. Eli presented symbolic gifts to the

attendees, including Basra’s Deputy

Governor Maher Al-Amri. The gifts—a

bouquet of flowers and a model of the

great Chaldean ziggurat—served as

powerful symbols of the community’s

cultural and historical pride.

The occasion not only reflected the

spirit of unity and devotion but also

reinforced the enduring legacy of the

Chaldean heritage.

Dr. Ali Eli’s lifelong journey to uncover

and preserve his Chaldean heritage

serves as an inspiring reminder

that cultural identity is not just about

the past—it is about building bridges to

the future. Through education, advocacy,

and community engagement, Dr.

Eli has empowered a new generation

to embrace their history with pride and

purpose. His work stands as a testament

to the resilience of the Chaldean people

and the power of one individual’s commitment

to make a lasting impact.


FEATURE

Left:

Mar Bawai Soro

in California.

The Bishop of Union

Mar Bawai Soro’s journey home

to the Catholic Church


There have long been stories—almost

mythological in nature—

about the Assyrian Church of

the East and the Chaldean Catholic

Church uniting as one. A romanticized

vision of ecclesial reunion, born

centuries ago in Mesopotamia, found

its way to America in the 1970s. For

some, that vision eventually became a

shattered dream—a bubble burst after

years of hopeful anticipation.

At the center of this narrative was

Mar (Bishop) Bawai Soro, an Assyrian

Church of the East bishop who was later

received into the Catholic Church.

He is also the co-author of The Chaldean

Catholic Church, part of Arcadia

Publishing’s “Images of America” series.

His Excellency was born in 1954 in

Kirkuk, Iraq, but was raised in Baghdad’s

predominantly Chaldean neighborhood

of Kharbanda. Although

his family belonged to the Assyrian

Church of the East, he attended St.

Joseph Chaldean Catholic School. He

later attended Sharkia High School, a

public institution, where he excelled

in English and mathematics. It was

during that period that he underwent

a major personal transformation,

largely due to ordinary yet profound

conversations with his father.

“My dad would talk to me about

life and faith, and he really kindled in

my heart a keen interest in the priesthood,”

said Bishop Soro, now 71.

“Both my parents and all my grandparents

were extremely decent people

and deeply religious. That’s what

made me fall in love with God.”

The 15 years of political upheaval

in Iraq from 1958 to 1973 led the Soro

family to believe the country would no

longer be hospitable to Christians.

“It has been the Christians’ story to

survive in our homeland for fourteen

centuries,” said Bishop Soro. “We

buy our comfort when we shut our

mouths.”

Ultimately, silence gave way to exile.

In 1973, he traveled to Lebanon while

awaiting a visa to Australia. But in 1974,

the Lebanese Civil War broke out. Two

years later, Bishop Soro was accepted

as a refugee to the United States. He

arrived in Chicago, Illinois, sponsored

by relatives. There, he enrolled at

Truman College, a community college

in the city, and studied humanities for

two years—a decision that deepened

his vocational calling.

“I wanted to pursue knowledge

and personal growth,” he reflected.

“The more I matured, the more my selfunderstanding

developed. I realized

that my happiness in life would only

be fulfilled through loving and serving

God above all else.”

He was mentored by Assyrian

priests in Chicago, who taught him

classical Aramaic and liturgical

practices, as the Assyrian Church of

the East—often historically referred

to as the “Nestorian” Church—lacked

formal seminary training for its clergy.

In 1982, he became the first

Assyrian priest in Canada, ministering

primarily in Toronto but also serving

communities in Montreal, Calgary,

Edmonton and Vancouver. Two

years later, at age 30, he was elected

bishop by the Assyrian Holy Synod

and assigned to San Jose, California,

where he served at Mar Yosip Assyrian

Cathedral for more than two decades.

According to Bishop Soro, it was in

the early 1980s that the late Assyrian

Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV recognized

the importance of ending the Assyrian

Church’s isolation from other Christian

traditions. Since its early existence

outside the Roman Empire, the Church

of the East had never been officially

aligned with Catholicism, Orthodoxy

or Protestantism. Yet the patriarch

had the vision and discernment to

move the Church closer to the other

apostolic traditions.

Bishop Soro, who shared this

ecumenical vision, was asked by

the Synod to become the catalyst for

dialogue and cooperation.

The Catholic Church was the first

to respond.

The Vatican offered Bishop Soro

two academic scholarships. The first,

from 1987 to 1991, allowed him to study

at the Catholic University of America

in Washington, D.C., where he earned

an accelerated undergraduate degree

in theology and a Master of Arts in

ecclesiology. The second, from 1996 to

2000, enabled him to pursue advanced

studies at the Pontifical University of

St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, where

he earned a licentiate and doctorate in

ecclesiology.


Throughout his academic pursuits,

Bishop Soro continued to administer

his diocese, participate in international

conferences, and represent the

Assyrian Church in key theological

dialogues—with the Catholic Church,

the Coptic Orthodox Church, and the

Syriac Orthodox Church.

He frequently traveled to Assyrian

dioceses in the Middle East, the

United States and Australia to offer

educational seminars, keeping clergy

and laity informed about the progress

of ecumenical efforts.

“The Assyrians were carefully

monitoring all parts of this ecumenical

journey, and their feelings were often a

‘mixed bag,’” the bishop said.

The Assyrian Church of the East

took pride in him as the first Assyrian

bishop to earn academic degrees

and to lead widespread dialogue and

consultations.

As his theological understanding

deepened, Bishop Soro reached a

decisive conclusion: “All the Apostolic

Churches legitimately stem from our

Lord, but the Catholic Church is the

fullest manifestation of the one Church

which Christ established on earth.”

He added, “Predictably, of all the

dialogues that the Assyrian Church

held during these years, the Catholic-

Assyrian was the most serious,

significant and promising. According

to Vatican insiders, this dialogue was

viewed as the most hopeful.”

In 1994, Saint Pope John Paul II

and Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV signed

the Common Christological Declaration,

affirming their shared faith in

Christ and addressing long-standing

theological misunderstandings, including

accusations of “Nestorianism.”

This milestone opened the door to the

possibility of full ecclesial communion.

It also sparked an internal dialogue

between Assyrians and Chaldeans.

Had the Assyrian Church of the East

entered into communion with Rome, it

could have paved the way for full unity

with the Chaldean Catholic Church.

By the dawn of the third millennium,

1.5 million Iraqi Christians might have

become one body—strengthening

Christian witness in a post-Saddam Iraq.

Unfortunately, the path proved

more complicated.

During multiple synodal encounters

in Chicago, Beirut and Baghdad,

SORO continued on page 24

Clockwise from top of page: Bishop Soro carries the Holy Cross for Saint Pope John Paul II during the

Way of the Cross, Rome, 2000. Soro in the 1970s, pictured on a postcard and with a group of scouts.

Bishop Soro with His Holiness, the late Pope Francis.


FEATURE

SORO continued from page 23

the two churches raised distinct concerns.

The Assyrian Church of the East insisted

that, following unification:

The Chaldean Church should no

longer adhere to papal primacy but

instead submit to the authority of a

patriarch elected by the united synod

of both churches.

All faithful of the united church

should adopt “Assyrian” as their

national identity.

The Chaldean Church, in contrast,

proposed:

Recognition of papal primacy as a

condition for unity.

Continued use of the term

“Chaldean” for those who preferred

it, with a combined name for the

united church possibly being “Chaldo-

Assyrian” or “Assyro-Chaldean.”

Liturgical reforms to bring the

faithful closer to the spirit and

meaning of divine worship and

sacramental life.

“Sadly, at this point,” said Bishop

Soro, “basic agreement between the

Assyrians and the Chaldeans seemed

like a proposition very far in the future.”

Historical and sociological tensions

played a vital role. For centuries,

the Assyrian Church’s ecclesiology

emphasized its independence from

Rome. Any talk of communion was

seen by many Assyrians as a loss of

identity. Meanwhile, the Chaldean

Church had been in communion with

Rome since the 16th century.

Bishop Soro explained why the

term “Chaldean” became associated

with the Catholic branch of the

Church of the East. “Because Mar

Youhanan Sulaqa, from the region

of Nineveh, was appointed patriarch

by Pope Julius III in 1553, his title

was ‘Patriarch of Mosul and Athur

(Assyria).’ Rome could not designate

his Catholic branch of the Church

of the East as ‘Nestorian Catholic’

because the term ‘Nestorian’ carried

heretical connotations.”

By 1565, Rome officially began

designating the Catholic branch as

“Chaldean,” based on three historical

considerations:

“Chaldean” was the name of the

last native empire in Mesopotamia

(626–539 BCE) before foreign powers

such as the Parthians, Muslim Arabs,

Mongols and Ottoman Turks ruled the

region for 2,500 years.

The name carried biblical prestige,

as Abraham was said to be from “Ur of

the Chaldees.”

The Gospel of Matthew mentions

the Magi who, led by a star, came from

the East—most likely Babylon—to

Bethlehem to worship the newborn

King of the Jews, Jesus, and offer him

gifts.

By the Jubilee Year of 2000,

differences between the Assyrian

and Chaldean churches remained

unresolved—largely due to

disagreements over papal primacy

and nomenclature. Bishop Soro’s

continued advocacy for full

communion with Rome and unity

with the Chaldeans eventually led the

Assyrian Church of the East to reject

his views and actions. In 2005, he was

condemned, suspended and laicized

by the Assyrian hierarchy. While

many saw his stance as a betrayal, he

retained a loyal following.

Bishop Soro, along with six priests

and more than 1,000 families, continued

their journey home to the Catholic

Church. By 2009, he had moved to San

Diego, where he was welcomed by the

late Bishop Sarhad Jammo and Bishop

Left: Mar Bawai Soro blesses a child

in 2005. Above: Bishop Soro served

as the third bishop of the Chaldean

Eparchy of Canada.

Ibrahim N. Ibrahim of Michigan.

“Bishops Jammo and Ibrahim

were open-minded and open-hearted,”

Bishop Soro said. “They canonically

received all my followers into

the Chaldean Church and helped me

continue serving them in California

and Chicago.”

In 2014, Pope Francis formally appointed

Bishop Soro to serve in San

Diego. Three years later, the pope

named him the third bishop of the

Chaldean Eparchy of Canada. Bishop

Soro served in Toronto until his retirement

in late 2021—completing a

full-circle journey that began with

his first priestly assignment nearly 40

years earlier. He then returned to San

Diego, where he recently co-authored

a book on the Chaldean Church with

his close friend Jacob Bacall.

“Ultimately, my experience in

life taught me that, in order to be a

good Christian, one must never make

Christianity about themselves,”

Bishop Soro said. “It must always be

about God and His providence in our

lives. If we do this, we become icons

reflecting the image of Christ to the

world.”


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FEATURE

More than 30 people attended a meeting in El Cajon about establishing a California chapter of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce.

Leverage to Launch

Chaldean Chamber heads to California


On the evening of June 9, the

second floor of the Crystal

Ballroom in El Cajon, Calif.,

buzzed with conversation about

establishing a Chaldean American

Chamber of Commerce (CACC)

modeled after Michigan’s successful

2003 organization.

Arkan Somo, interim organizer

of the emerging San Diego chapter,

asked the roughly 30 attendees if they

had heard of the CACC. Only a few

raised their hands. Somo explained

the vision: replicating the metro

Detroit model. Already, 38 founding

members had committed $10,000

each to support the launch. He then

introduced El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells,

who has served since 2013.

In an enthusiastic address, the

mayor admitted he hadn’t known

about Chaldeans until moving to the

area. He emphasized that El Cajon

is now home to the third-largest

Chaldean community in the world.

“When you open your chamber, the

city of El Cajon will do everything it

can to help you.”

Martin Manna, president and CEO

of the Michigan-based CACC, followed

with a listening session highlighting

the organization’s growth and

successes—including the Chaldean

Community Foundation, household

surveys, business networking, political

advocacy and support for Chaldeans in

Iraq. He acknowledged past missteps

but stressed that lessons learned in

Michigan could benefit San Diego.

“There has to be a will and willingness

to believe in it,” Manna said. “We’re

trying to grow our influence more than

anything else. How can we connect

our community and our influence in

Washington, D.C.? And if we don’t

preserve our culture, who will?”

During the Q&A, the audience was

engaged and supportive. Toward the

end, a man asked, “I’ve been here 48

years. How can you help us until we

stand on our own two feet?” Manna

replied immediately: “Whatever it

takes.”

The idea for a California chapter

emerged when Somo visited Detroit

last year. He and Manna spent over

three hours discussing the potential.

United, their communities could be

even more powerful. After Manna

pitched the concept to the Chamber’s

board, they approved a licensing

agreement, provided all requirements

are met. “The CACC has spent more

than two decades building our

brand,” Manna said. “The right group

to manage the new affiliate must be

identified—one that will protect our

image as a national organization.”

During his California visit, Manna

met with Bishop Emanuel Shaleta,

who pledged full support for the new

affiliate. Somo had previously attended

the CACC’s annual dinner and the

grand opening of its community

center in Michigan, where he was

inspired by the unity, leadership and

impact he witnessed. “We are one of

the most entrepreneurial communities

in California, yet we haven’t had a

formal, unified voice to advocate for

our interests, support our growth or

elevate our cultural identity,” Somo

said. “The Chamber in Michigan has

shown us what’s possible when we

organize with purpose. There’s no

reason we can’t replicate—and even

expand on—that success here. We

have the numbers, the energy and,

most importantly, the heart.”

Somo emphasized he has no

interest in serving as executive director

of the San Diego chapter and wouldn’t


accept the role if offered. He believes

California’s young talent will groom its

own “Martin Manna.”

Manna echoed the optimism but

cautioned that much needs to be

worked out. “The Michigan Chamber

is extremely busy right now,” he

said. “The California chapter must be

carefully rolled out.” He referred to

a past incident when an illegitimate

California CACC misused the logo and

falsely claimed affiliation, prompting

legal action to stop them.

By the end of the meeting in

California, Somo had secured a few

more seed-money commitments. The

moment was especially meaningful

to him, having spent decades in

San Diego’s Chaldean business

community—from co-founding and

serving as the first president and CEO

of the Chaldean American Grocers

Association (CAGA) in 1995, which

later evolved into the Neighborhood

Market Association (NMA), to now

helping bring this movement full circle

in California.

Ricky Haisha of Jamul also felt a

full-circle moment. More than 50 years

ago, his father, the late Habib Haisha,

helped purchase the land for St.

Peter’s Chaldean Catholic Cathedral,

the first Chaldean church in California.

Following in his father’s footsteps,

Haisha committed to the seed money

and became a founding member of the

new Chamber.

He described the experience as

both historic and deeply rewarding.

Haisha, 58, is president of Haisha

Insurance Services, Inc. in La Mesa

and currently serves as president

of the California Agents and Health

Insurance Professionals – San Diego

Chapter. He believes the new Chamber

will amplify the community’s voice

and strengthen its presence in

California’s diverse economy.

“It’s a testament to the enduring

legacy of Chaldeans who have

worked tirelessly to build a better

future,” Haisha said. “This will serve

as a catalyst for economic growth,

collaboration, and cultural pride for

years to come.”

Steve Mattia, 38, of El Cajon, was

energized by the Chamber’s potential.

Deeply involved in the community,

Mattia has served with the NMA, on

the parish council, and as the Grand

Knight of the Knights of Columbus. He

is also an active member of the La Mesa

Chamber of Commerce. Having grown

up in the liquor store business, Mattia

now works as a business transactional

attorney with expertise in compliance

and licensing.

He plans to sign his firm, Mattia &

Yousif Law, up for membership in the

California Chamber.

Mattia said he was especially

moved by Manna’s honesty in sharing

the Chamber’s early missteps,

believing that if San Diego can

replicate the model, the Chamber will

become a powerful force for the local

Chaldean community.

“Right now, the only body we

have that is consistent and unifying

is the Church,” Mattia said. “I think

more young people should get

involved. They’re not just interested

in business—they’re also interested in

preserving our culture, and I give our

priests credit for encouraging that.”

Afaf Konja of El Cajon was the

only woman in attendance. She leads

two nonprofits in San Diego that help

new immigrants and English language

learners achieve self-sufficiency

through education and connection.

Konja, a former United Nations

resident correspondent and

geopolitical journalist, also served as

spokesperson and lead media adviser

for UN President John W. Ashe. After

reaching the height of her career, she

returned to California to be with her

family.

She was inspired by the Chamber’s

vision but wished more women had

been present at the meeting.

“Women can build beautiful

families and beautiful communities,”

Konja said. “I want them to have

the confidence to know their voices

matter—especially for causes they

believe in.”

As interim organizer, Somo is

committed to ensuring the Chamber’s

strong launch. He believes the best is

yet to come as California and Michigan

work hand in hand to uplift and unite

the Chaldean community across the

nation.

“We’re not reinventing the wheel,”

Somo said. “This is just the beginning.

What we’re building is more than

an organization, it’s a movement.

A space where Chaldeans can grow

economically, preserve our culture,

and lead with pride.”

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FEATURE

The Ongoing

Sheetz Saga

For years, the Chaldean News has been covering the

gas station wars—with the Pennsylvania-based Sheetz

Corporation planning to open 50-60 (down from nearly 100)

stores in metro Detroit, and existing gas station retailers opposing

their plans. A recent article in support of Sheetz’ development calls

the opposition “illegitimate” and accuses various principalities of

government overreach.

Nasir Siddiqui, President of the Metro Detroit Petroleum Alliance

(MDPA), has issues with such reporting, especially considering some

discoveries regarding Sheetz putting city commission members

on their payroll and hiring legal, architectural, engineering and

other consultants across the region with ties to municipal decision

makers in the cities where developments are being proposed.

It’s complicated, and there are more than two sides to the story.

Reprinted below are the article referenced and the reply from

the MDPA. Feel strongly about it? We recommend you pen a letter

to the editor.

Residents of Farmington Hills showed up at a council meeting to protest the opening of a

Sheetz gas station in their community.

The illegitimate pushback

against Sheetz in Michigan

Gas-and-food retailer faces objections

from would-be competitors

An Open Letter to the Michigan

Center for Public Policy

We are writing in response to Jarrett Skorup’s June 18, 2025 article:

“The illegitimate pushback against Sheetz in Michigan.”

Sheetz, a Pennsylvania-based company that sells gasoline and

made-to-order food, wants to expand its footprint in Michigan. The

chain, which offers a wide selection of decent meals at a low cost,

has plans to add dozens of new stations in metro Detroit.

It shouldn’t be news that a company with several hundred

stores wants to expand. But Sheetz is in the news because some

businesses, citizens and public officials in various cities want to

to use government power to prevent the retailer from opening.

Some complaints come from people who object to the gas

stations’ 24/7 operations. Others say the stores would be too

noisy or too close to residential areas. Some complaints are more

legitimate than others, and most can be mitigated with a few

changes to the company’s plan for the site in question.

But some objections are just examples of good old-fashioned,

anti-competitive behavior. Owners of other gas stations are

worried about what Sheetz might mean for them and other owners,

and they support regulations to stop Sheetz from opening. One

business owner declared simply, “I don’t want them competing

with me,” in a comment published by Crain’s Detroit Business.

Local officials — and the business community — should reject

these efforts. Building and zoning regulations should be about

rational planning and protecting the public. Protecting some

businesses from others is not a legitimate reason for zoning laws.

Michigan needs to be a competitive state — not a guild state.

In the former, consumers benefit when businesses compete for

their business. In the latter, existing favored businesses use the

government to pull up the ladder behind them, stopping new

companies from starting, growing and thriving.

– Jarrett Skorup

June 18, 2025

We agree that competition is good for everyone – when it is fair, level and free of conflicts

of interest. It was recently published in the Oakland Press that two Oakland County

Commissioners are looking into ethics and financial disclosure policies including those

related to Dave Woodward, chair of the commissioners, who is also a paid consultant

for Sheetz. This individual holds tremendous sway with municipal leaders and decision

makers throughout the county.

There is also much area buzz related to Sheetz hiring legal, architectural, engineering

and other consultants across the region with ties to municipal decision makers in the cities

where developments are being proposed. No one is reporting on that – but should.

This is anything but fair competition. It is a stacked deck.

We also can point to multiple examples, none of which have been reported, where similar

development proposals by our constituents have been turned down one minute, with Sheetz

being approved the next, despite city charters, zoning limits and master plans.

Crime is also a serious issue for the communities that allow Sheetz to operate. The

company’s top leadership even testified in a congressional hearing in January 2024 that

they attract more crime because of their 24-hour model: https://www.congress.gov/118/

meeting/house/116713/documents/HHRG-118-SM00-20240111-SD006.pdf Google “Sheetz”

and “crime” and you will be alarmed.

It is also important to note that fierce opposition to Sheetz comes not only from the

business community but equally from residents and concerned citizens living and working in

the cities and towns where the developments are being proposed. They are deeply concerned

about their local communities bringing mini truck stops into their backyards and typically

pack planning and city council meetings to voice those concerns. It is why the cities of:

Allen Park, Farmington Hills, Livonia (twice), Madison Heights, Oak Park, Rochester Hills,

Southfield, Waterford, West Bloomfield and Wixom have already turned Sheetz away.

Ultimately, it is not about sour grapes or fear of competition. But when you really take

a closer look (and someone needs to), something absolutely does not smell right.

– Nasir Siddiqui, President,

Metro Detroit Petroleum Alliance

June 24, 2025


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FEATURE

The Great Commission

Mass for Commerce and Unleashing the Gospel at Work

BY SARAH KITTLE

The Great Commission, as described

in Matthew 28:19-20,

outlines three essential commands

for believers: spread the Gospel,

encourage others to follow Jesus,

and teach His ways. It is a mission Jesus

entrusted to His apostles—and to

all of us who follow Him today.

Most adults spend more time at

work than on any other activity—

except perhaps sleeping. Yet many of

us don’t bring our whole selves to the

workplace. For Christians, that often

means hiding a key part of who we are:

our faith.

We are all called to live our faith

and, yes, to evangelize in everything

we do—including our work. Still, for

many, sharing faith in the workplace

can feel intimidating.

We may fear backlash,

company policies, or potential

legal consequences. And while

these concerns are real and must

be considered, they don’t mean we

should leave our faith at the door

when we arrive at work.

When we don’t talk about our faith,

we can feel isolated—like we’re the only

Christians in the room, stranded on an

island. But the reality is that more than

60% of Americans identify as Christian.

If you’re in a meeting of 20 people,

chances are about 12 of them are your

brothers and sisters in Christ.

It’s time to seriously consider what

it means to unleash the Gospel in the

workplace. If we are truly called to be on

mission, then the workplace is mission

territory. The question isn’t, “Should

we live and share our faith at work?”

The real question is, “How can we best

live and share our faith at work?”

The Mass for Commerce: A Space

for Catholic Professionals

On October 22, 2025, Catholic professionals

from across Southeast Michigan

will gather at Sacred Heart Major

Seminary for the 32nd Annual Mass for

Commerce—a longstanding tradition

that unites faith and business.

UTG founders Deacon Mike Houghton and Mary Martin.

Founded in 1993 by local businessman

Thomas Angott, the Mass for

Commerce offers a unique space for

Catholic business leaders to reflect on

the integration of faith and work. The

event includes a Eucharistic celebration

followed by a networking breakfast,

fostering both spiritual growth

and community connections.

The Mass for Commerce is an

opportunity for the Catholic business

community to spread the hope and joy

that come from knowing Jesus Christ

in the sharing of the Eucharist.

Participants seek the guidance

of the Holy Spirit and the strength of

their Catholic faith in their personal

and professional lives. The event is

open not only to business owners

and executives but to anyone who

works and is affected by the economy.

This year, the Chaldean American

Chamber of Commerce is participating

and promoting the Mass to its 1,000+

membership.

Following Mass, attendees gather

for breakfast at the seminary to build

fellowship and expand their professional

networks. In good times and

difficult times, the constant for the

Catholic business community is the

teachings of the Gospel.

“The Mass allows professionals to

tie their work to the life of the Church

and to connect with fellow Catholic

professionals,” said Deacon Mike

Houghton, executive director of UTG

(Unleash the Gospel) at Work, the

organization supporting the event.

He cited the organizational mission:

“In our ever-changing world, the

principles of stewardship, service, and

leadership are timeless.”

Launched in 2023, UTG at Work

helps Catholics live out their faith in

the workplace through podcasts, articles,

events and the Catholic Commerce

Directory. The initiative is led

by Deacon Mike Houghton and Mary

Martin, who bring deep ministry experience

and a passion for equipping

Catholic professionals.

Deacon Mike Houghton was ordained

a Catholic deacon in October

2012 and has served for more than a

decade at St. John Vianney Parish in

Shelby Township, Michigan, within

the Archdiocese of Detroit. After a

35-year career at General Motors, he

transitioned to full-time ministry as

Director of Missionary Strategic Plans

for the Archdiocese. In July 2023, he

assumed the role of executive director

of UTG at Work, where he leads efforts

to help Catholics live their faith in the

workplace.

Mary Martin brings more than

20 years of pastoral planning and

organizational leadership to UTG at

Work. Prior to joining the team, she

served as a coach and team leader in the

Archdiocese of Detroit’s Department

of Missionary Strategic Planning.

Passionate about evangelization and

small groups, she has developed

discipleship formation tools, launched

evangelization efforts, and created

opportunities for Catholics to live and


The Challenges and

Opportunities of Christian

Leadership in Business

Christian leaders are often wellequipped

to navigate business

challenges because they build on a

foundation of faith and ethics that

guide their decisions and actions.

They also have access to a community

of believers who can offer support,

prayer, and guidance in difficult

times. Upholding Christian values,

leading with love, making faith a

priority, and maintaining integrity

can set Christian leaders apart in

competitive industries.

One major challenge is the

pressure to compromise beliefs to

stay competitive. In a world where

profit often trumps ethics, it can be

tempting to cut corners or pursue

opportunities that conflict with

Christian values. However, we

are called to live lives of integrity,

choosing what is right—even when

it’s not the most profitable path. A

Christian leader’s ethical foundation

helps ensure decisions are both

profitable and morally sound,

avoiding ethical missteps that can

harm both reputation and business.

Another challenge is facing

discrimination or intolerance based

on faith. Even in societies that

protect religious freedom, Christians

may encounter hostility or business

exclusion. In these moments, it’s

essential to remember Jesus’ call

to love our enemies and to trust in

God’s plan, even when obstacles

seem insurmountable.

Balancing faith and business is

also a frequent struggle. There can

be tension between profitability

and moral integrity—whether that’s

feeling pressured to sell products

that conflict with your beliefs or

being asked to compromise religious

commitments, like working on

Sundays. Prayerful discernment

and a firm commitment to keeping

faith as a priority are essential to

navigating these conflicts.

Christian leaders also face the

constant challenge of standing

out in a crowded, competitive

marketplace. How can you

distinguish yourself, your team, and

your business? The answer is found

in composure, resilience, trust, and

wisdom gained through prayer and

a close relationship with God. Faith

can offer peace in stressful moments

and provide clarity when making

high-stakes decisions.

Despite these challenges,

many Christian business leaders

have overcome adversity while

making a positive impact in their

communities. Business leadership

is a powerful platform to live out

the Gospel and shape workplace

culture. By remaining grounded

in biblical principles, seeking

God’s guidance, and surrounding

themselves with supportive, likeminded

believers, Christian leaders

can both succeed and inspire.

Christian business owners

don’t have to face these challenges

alone. By engaging in communities

like UTG at Work, leaders can

gain wisdom, support, and

accountability from fellow believers

who are also working to integrate

their faith into their careers. These

groups offer a space to lean on each

other, grow together, and navigate

challenges with God’s plan in mind.

Integrating faith into business

has its challenges, but the rewards—

personally, professionally, and

spiritually—are immeasurable.

share their faith in everyday life.

One of UTG at Work’s key resources

is the UTG at Work Podcast, which

offers weekly reflections on the Sunday

Gospel, applying its lessons to modern

work environments.

Both the Mass for Commerce and

UTG at Work emphasize the importance

of Catholic social teaching in

promoting ethical business practices.

They encourage professionals

to see their work as both a vocation

and a means of evangelization.

Deacon Houghton extends a special

invitation to members of the Chaldean

business community to participate in

this year’s Mass for Commerce. “We

welcome all Catholic professionals to

join us in celebrating the gifts of love

and grace bestowed upon our work,”

he said.

For more information and to register,

visit massforcommerce.org.


SPORTS

Sister Act

State Champion siblings Alana and Lexa Hindo

BY STEVE STEIN

Two sisters winning girls tennis

state championships while

playing for different high school

teams is a remarkable achievement.

The coincidences surrounding Alana

and Lexa Hindo’s state titles make

their story even more extraordinary.

Alana captured her state

championship in the spring of 2023 as

a sophomore at Bloomfield Academy

of the Sacred Heart. She teamed

with Presley Krywko to win the No.

3 doubles title at the Division 4 state

tournament at Kalamazoo College.

Fast forward to the spring of 2025:

Lexa, also a sophomore, won the No. 3

doubles title with partner Stella Glorio

at the Division 3 state tournament at

the University of Michigan.

Two state championships in two

years for the Hindo sisters—each won

as a sophomore, each at No. 3 doubles.

The similarities don’t stop there.

Alana and Krywko, the No. 1 seed

in their flight, won four consecutive

matches to claim their title. They

dropped just nine games in their first

three matches before defeating No. 2

seeds Meera Pandey and Meera Tewari

of Ann Arbor Greenhills, 6-2, 7-6 (2),

in the final. Alana and Krywko had

already beaten Pandey and Tewari

twice earlier in the season.

Lexa and Glorio, also the No. 1

seed in their flight, followed a nearly

identical path. They won four straight

matches, losing just 13 games in the

first three rounds, before defeating

No. 2 seeds Michelle Chen and Jessica

Hall from Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-

Kingswood, 6-3, 6-4, in the final.

Lexa and Glorio had split their earlier

matches against Chen and Hall. The

Cranbrook pair won in three sets in the

Catholic League semifinals, but Lexa

and Glorio dominated their rematch at

regionals, winning 6-1, 6-1.

Alana transferred from Sacred

Heart to Marian after the 2023 season

to attend a larger high school. She

sat out her junior tennis season due

Lexa Hindo (holding sign) is joined by her parents, John and Veronica Hindo,

and sister Alana Hindo after Lexa won the MHSAA Division 3 No. 3 doubles

state championship with her partner Stella Glorio last month at the University

of Michigan’s Varsity Tennis Center.

to transfer rules and had planned

to play as a senior this past spring.

However, she couldn’t balance a

tennis commitment with her job at a

physical therapy office and ultimately

didn’t return to the team, though she

remained a dedicated supporter from

the sidelines.

Marian coach Olivia Underwood

said it was purely a strategic

decision to pair Lexa with Glorio at

No. 3 doubles—replicating Alana’s

championship path was never part of

the plan. She was just trying to put

together the strongest lineup.

But the sisters were well aware of

the coincidence, and Lexa embraced

the opportunity.

“That absolutely motivated me,”

Lexa said. “I wanted to win a state

championship exactly when and

where my sister did.”

“It was so cool to watch my sister

win a state championship, and to do

it as a sophomore at No. 3 doubles.

That’s hard to believe,” Alana said. “I

was so happy for her because all her

hard work paid off.”

As a freshman, Alana played No.

3 singles at Sacred Heart and won a

regional championship.

Lexa, who is 5-foot-5—an inch

taller than her sister—had a much

quieter freshman season at Marian.

She wasn’t a regular in the starting

lineup, playing just five matches at

No. 4 singles and finishing with a 1-4

record.

Her sophomore year was a different

story. She and Glorio went 16-5, and

Lexa said she entered the season

confident she could succeed.

“I’ve been playing tennis for quite

a while. I know how to play,” she said.

“You’re just so young when you’re a

freshman. The biggest thing I had to

learn was dealing with the pressure of

big matches. I didn’t have that pressure

when I was a freshman.”

Lexa said partnering with Glorio

set her up for success, both on and off

the court.

“Stella and I are friends. We’ve been

in a lot of the same classes together,”

she said. “Both of us had extra

motivation this season. Stella lost in

the state championship match at No. 4

doubles as a freshman (in 2024).”

Underwood said several factors go

into pairing doubles teams.

“Playing styles, strengths,

weaknesses, attitude when they play,

their relationship off the court ... “ she

said. “Lexi has an incredible serve.

Stella is a left-hander who is strong

at the net. I knew she could take

advantage of the weak shots that come

back from Lexa’s serves.”

Lexa noticed.

“Stella is very good at the net. She

can get to any ball,” she said.

Underwood said she enjoys having

Lexa on her team.

“It’s a pleasure to be her

coach. She’s a good kid,” she said.

“She’s always positive and always

encouraging her teammates.”

Both Hindo sisters are standout

students.

Alana, who turns 18 on July 31,

graduated from Marian this spring

with a 4.0 GPA and has been accepted

into the University of Detroit Mercy’s

five-year accelerated physician

assistant program.

She said transferring to Marian

was “great academically and socially

for me.”

Lexa, 16, also holds a 4.0 GPA.

She’s undecided about her future

career but is considering something in

the science field.

The sisters’ parents, John and

Veronica Hindo, live in Commerce

Township.


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CULTURE & HISTORY

Al-Uzair (Ezra) Mosque and Holy site in Al-Uzair town, south-Iraq.

Jewish Shrines in Iraq: A Shared Heritage

BY ADHID MIRI, PHD.

Part I

The historical connection between

Babylon and the Israelites

is profound and enduring.

While Jerusalem is widely recognized

as a sacred city central to Judaism,

Christianity, and Islam, its deep ties

to ancient Mesopotamia are less commonly

acknowledged.

According to the Torah, the Garden

of Eden was situated in this fertile

region. The city of Ur, located near

present-day Nasiriyah in southern

Iraq, is traditionally identified as the

birthplace of Abraham, the patriarch

of the Abrahamic religions. Rebecca,

the wife of the prophet Isaac, was

born in Nahor, a location believed to

correspond to the modern Nahrawan

region southeast of Baghdad. This

area, known historically as Wadi

Halun, is noted for its associations

with the Babylonian and Persian

captivities of the Jewish people.

Today, the border region between

Iran and Iraq encompasses numerous

shrines dedicated to Israelite prophets,

including Daniel, Ezekiel, Jacob, Ezra,

and Nahum, among others. These sites

underscore the enduring spiritual and

historical connections between the Israelites

and Mesopotamia.

Buried in Iraq

Several Abrahamic prophets are

traditionally believed to be buried in

Iraq:

Jonah (Nabi Yunus): His tomb was

in Mosul at the Al‐Nabi Yunus Mosque,

originally built over a Christian church

in 1365. It was destroyed by ISIS in

2014 but is now under reconstruction.

Ezekiel: His tomb lies in al‐Kifl,

beneath the An‐Nukhailah Mosque

complex, an Islamic shrine built in

the 14th century and once a Jewish

pilgrimage site.

Daniel: Believed to be interred at

the Prophet Daniel Mosque within

Kirkuk Citadel, a site revered by Muslims,

Christians, and Jews.

Ezra and Nahum: Tombs of Ezra

(Ezra ha‐Sofer) and Nahum also exist

in the region, with Nahum’s shrine in

Alqosh preserved by local Christians.

Jewish Prophets in Mesopotamia

The history of Jewish prophets

in Mesopotamia, now modern-day

Iraq, is deeply intertwined with the

geography and cultural fabric of the

land. Iraq is home to hidden Jewish

gems—holy sites linked to biblical

prophets that are revered by Jews,

Christians, and Muslims alike. For

centuries, Iraqi Muslims and Jews

honored local tombs and shrines

associated with revered biblical figures

such as Ezra, Daniel, Ezekiel, Nahum,

and Jonah.

Northern and southern Iraq were

once dotted with sacred sites traditionally

ascribed to biblical prophets, including

Nabi Yunis (Prophet Jonah) and

Nabi Hasqel (Ezekiel). These shrines attracted

Jewish pilgrims, especially during

the holiday of Shavuot, known in

Arabic as ‘Id al-Ziyara—the Pilgrimage

Holiday.

The Prophet Jonah, originating

from northern Israel (near Nazareth),

traveled to ancient Nineveh—located

around modern-day Mosul in northern

Iraq—to preach repentance. His

message led many to turn to God, and

some early Christian traditions view

the Assyrian, Chaldean, and Eastern

Aramaic civilizations as spiritual

descendants of those converts.

Nineveh, the Assyrian Empire’s

capital (north and south of today’s

Mosul), later waged war against the

Kingdom of Israel and, according

to tradition, conquered the ten

northern tribes. The Babylonian king

Nebuchadnezzar II deported many

Israelites in 586 B.C., following the

destruction of Solomon’s Temple.

The Prophet Amos also preached

in ancient Mesopotamia, and Jacob

met Rachel in the Diyala region—


referred to in legends as “Sinbal”—

where a shrine honoring Jacob still

stands today.

Babylon, once the world’s

mightiest empire, conquered Judah,

destroyed Jerusalem, and subjugated

the Jewish people to harsh treatment

such as enforced sabbath observance.

The Prophet Daniel is traditionally

said to have survived the lion’s den in

the Khafajiya area, near today’s Iran–

Iraq border in southern Iraq’s Amara

Governorate.

This region is also the birthplace

of the Babylonian Talmud, which was

compiled in the 5th century and later

became the core text of Judaism. It

combined Jewish law, theology, and

traditions, shaping Jewish practice

worldwide.

Modern research has identified at

least 27 Jewish heritage sites in Iraq that

are still standing but in varying states

of neglect and decay. Following the

mass Jewish expulsions from Iraq in

the 1950s, many of these sacred spaces

suffered dramatic transformations.

The shrines of biblical prophets such

as Ezra, Ezekiel, and Jonah were

converted into mosques, and hundreds

of synagogues vanished—leaving

only the Meir Taweig Synagogue in

Baghdad. Remarkably, the Sassoon

Synagogue in Mosul also survived,

though it was severely damaged.

Efforts to resurrect the Jewish

memory of Mosul and rebuild these

synagogues are not only complex but

dangerous. Nonetheless, some Iraqis

are courageously advocating for the

preservation of Iraq’s Jewish heritage,

recognizing its invaluable place in the

nation’s history.

Authors and researchers have

extensively documented the history

and geography of major Jewish sites

in Iraq. In a 2009 book, Dr. Wassan

Hussein Muhaimid identified nine

Jewish shrines, though many more

exist throughout the country. Some of

the most significant include:

The Shrine of Ezra the Scribe –

Al Uzair

The Shrine of Ezra the Scribe, also

known as Uzair in Arabic and Abdenjo

in Chaldean, is dedicated to one of

the most important Jewish prophets.

According to ancient Hebrew accounts,

the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar

punished Ezra by casting him into fire.

Historians disagree on the prophet’s

burial site—some say he died in

Babylon, while others believe he was

buried in Amara, in southern Iraq.

The shrine stands on the banks

of the Tigris River in the Al-Ghadir

district, between Al-Qurnah and Qal’at

Saleh in Maysan Province. The nearby

village, Al-Uzair, is named after Ezra.

The shrine, believed to have been built

in the 11th century, has evolved over

time, blending Jewish and Islamic

elements. Hebrew scriptures, Jewish

symbols, Quranic verses, and Islamic

inscriptions coexist within its walls.

The site underwent significant

changes after the mass exodus of Iraqi

Jews in the 1950s, when it was transformed

into an Islamic landmark.

Today, it is filled with Islamic books,

Shiite religious images, and symbols,

though remnants of its Jewish past—

such as Hebrew writing and faded

Stars of David—can still be found.

Some of these Jewish symbols were

unintentionally removed during maintenance

conducted by the Ministry of

Awqaf (Endowments) in the 1980s under

Saddam Hussein’s regime.

Despite the conversion of the

shrine into an Islamic site, many

local Muslims remember their Jewish

neighbors fondly. The shrine remains

a religious destination, attracting

visitors who revere Prophet Ezra as

a holy figure linked to miraculous

healings. In Islam, Ezra is mentioned

in the Quran in Surah Al-Tawbah

(9:30): “The Jews say, ‘Ezra is the son

of God.’”

The people of Al-Uzair welcome

Jewish visitors to the shrine, and reconstruction

efforts are underway, led

by the local government in coordination

with the Shiite Endowment Directorate.

There is hope that the shrine

could one day become a religious tourism

destination, especially for Iraqi

Jews who emigrated but remain connected

to their heritage.

Between 1948 and 1951, more than

121,000 Jews left Iraq for Israel during

Operation Ezra and Nehemiah, as the

Iraqi government intensified persecution

after Israel’s establishment.

Al- Kifil (Ezekiel’s Thu- Al Kifil) - A new restored doorway to the Al Kifil

Mosque courtyard built in the style of a Shia Muslim shrine.

The Shrine of Ezekiel (Thu Al-Kifl)

The Shrine of the Prophet Ezekiel,

known in Arabic as Thu Al-Kifl

( ) and in Hebrew as Yechezkel

( ), stands in the town of Al-Kifl,

about 20 miles south of Hillah and 77

miles south of Baghdad. Historically,

this site was one of Iraq’s most significant

pilgrimage destinations for both

Jews and Muslims, particularly Shiites.

Ezekiel, a central prophet in Jewish

history, is renowned for his visions

and prophecies during the Babylonian

exile. He authored the Book of Ezekiel,

which contains the famous “Valley of

Dry Bones” vision symbolizing Israel’s

revival and the detailed description

of the divine chariot that has since

inspired Jewish mysticism.

Al-Kifl is an otherwise ordinary

Iraqi town, except for the synagogue

that gives the place its identity. Down a

narrow lane in Al-Kifl’s bazaar, through

a small passageway adorned with

turquoise geometric tilework, sits the

shrine of the Biblical Prophet Ezekiel.

The tomb is a beautiful space where

Arabic and Hebrew flow freely—a rare

and poignant reminder of Iraq’s onceflourishing

Jewish heritage.

The tomb is thought to date back

to the 500s, when Iraq was home to

Christians, Zoroastrians, Manicheans,

Mandaeans, and polytheists. When Islam

entered Iraq, Muslims became part

of the shrine’s pilgrimage tradition.

Across the region, it was common for

Muslims—both conquerors and converts—to

revere local sacred sites, especially

those linked to figures from the

Abrahamic tradition.

The tomb complex, which includes

a synagogue and ancient Hebrew inscriptions,

became a major pilgrimage

site for centuries. Muslims and Jews

alike revered the prophet Ezekiel. Shiite

Muslims still pray at the site, honoring

it as a holy place. Inside, Hebrew

writing remains on the walls alongside

Arabic calligraphy. The coffin itself is

draped with a cloth bearing Quranic

verses, a visual representation of the

shrine’s layered religious history.

One Hebrew inscription reads:

“This is the tomb of our master,

Yehezkel the Prophet, son of Buzi the

priest. With his blessings, he protects

us and all the faithful children of

Israel.”

Pilgrimage and Shared

Custodianship

The question of the shrine’s religious

ownership has been debated for

centuries. A 19th-century mayor of

Al-Kifl claimed the site was Islamic

because it included a minaret.

However, Ottoman authorities sent

investigators from Baghdad and

Istanbul, who concluded the minaret

was likely a later addition and not

evidence of Islamic origin.

Historian records show that after

part of the mosque collapsed during a

flood in the 1700s, Ottoman officials allowed

Jewish leaders to carry out major

repairs. The Jews used the opportunity

to reconvert the mosque back

into a synagogue, removing Islamic

symbols and building a yeshiva (Jew-

CULTURE continued on page 36


CULTURE & HISTORY

CULTURE continued from page 35

ish religious school). Muslim tribes in

the surrounding areas were assigned

the role of protecting the shrine. By the

1850s, Jewish pilgrims from across Iraq

were building homes and religious institutions

in Al-Kifl to support the influx

of visitors.

For the Jewish community, Al-Kifl

held a similar spiritual significance as

the nearby Shiite holy cities of Karbala

and Najaf. During the Shia observance

of Arbaeen, which attracts millions

of pilgrims walking the road between

Karbala and Najaf, some travelers

pass near Al-Kifl, slowly transforming

Ezekiel’s tomb into a site of Muslim

pilgrimage. Although the site’s Jewish

history remains evident—especially

in the Hebrew inscriptions—Muslim

tour guides increasingly emphasize its

Islamic past, presenting it as the resting

place of Thu Al-Kifl, an Islamic prophet

mentioned briefly in the Quran.

Some Muslims have long viewed

the shrine as belonging to Islam rather

than Judaism. However, no Jew or

Muslim dared to desecrate or harm the

site, even during times of war. Despite

the Jewish exodus from Iraq in the

1950s and the near disappearance of the

Jewish community, Muslim caretakers

continued to protect the shrine.

Following the U.S. invasion of

Iraq in 2003, the site was redeveloped

and the balance between its Jewish

and Islamic identities began to shift

further toward its Islamic narrative.

Still, the core of the shrine remains

untouched—a testament to shared

reverence and an era when Jews and

Muslims prayed side by side.

Shrine of Rabbi Isaac (Ishaq Ga’on)

Al-Ga’aouni – The Forgotten Rabbi

Little is known about Rabbi Isaac

Ga’on Al-Ga’aouni, a prominent figure

during the Gaonic period, the era of

Babylonian rabbinical academies.

The title “Gaon” likely indicates his

position as the head of one such

academy. His name appears in a single

story from the 10th century, referenced

by another rabbi, though it is not

corroborated elsewhere, according

to Professor Simcha Gross of the

University of Pennsylvania.

Al-Ga’aouni was said to be a

righteous Jewish man who worked as

an accountant and money exchanger

under Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, the

fourth Islamic caliph and a cousin of

the Prophet Muhammad, revered by

Shiites as the first Imam. When Imam

Ali conquered the city of Fayrouz-

Shapur in 658 A.D., Rabbi Isaac

reportedly led 90,000 Jews to greet

him. After this meeting, according to

tradition, Rabbi Isaac was appointed

to oversee the caliph’s treasury.

Whether this story is historically

accurate or a symbolic tradition added

later by minority communities is

still debated. Professor Gross notes

that in the 10th century, Christian,

Jewish, and Zoroastrian minorities

often recounted stories of welcoming

Muslim conquerors, likely to preserve

their social privileges and tax exemptions

under Islamic rule. Jewish

shrines across Iraq began to flourish

during this period, though Jewish

roots in Mesopotamia date back more

than 2,600 years.

Few details about Rabbi Isaac’s religious

teachings or personal life are

known, but his shrine became a revered

site for Muslims, Christians, and

Jews. Pilgrims visited to seek blessings,

make vows, and pray for healing.

The site once included a synagogue

and a school, though today it has been

reduced to a small room housing the

grave.

The tomb of Rabbi Isaac Gaouni

is believed to be the oldest Jewish

synagogue in Baghdad’s Al-Rusafa

district. Archaeologists estimate the

grave is more than 1,400 years old. It

is located in the Sheikh Ishaq area of

the old Hanoun Market—once known

Reviving Rabbi Isaac Ga’aon shrine in Baghdad - Door way to Issak Ga’aon site.

as the Jewish market of Baghdad. For

centuries, the shrine was seen as a

sacred refuge by locals of all faiths.

Sadly, all Hebrew writings, artifacts,

and manuscripts that once filled the

shrine were looted over the years.

Following the 2003 U.S. invasion

of Iraq, the doors of the shrine were

closed. Its outer courtyard became a

dumping ground, and its structure

was left to decay. Photos from recent

years show the site covered in debris,

its door rusted, windows shattered,

and walls blackened by neglect.

The shrine’s religious identity is

still contested. Some Muslim communities

claim the tomb belongs to a local

Muslim holy man, while others insist it

is the resting place of the Jewish Rabbi

Isaac. The ambiguity reflects the complex,

overlapping religious histories

that define much of Iraq’s cultural

heritage.

Today, the Iraqi government has

launched restoration efforts to save

this historic site. The Jewish community,

aiming to reclaim and preserve

its vanishing heritage, has committed

$150,000 to support the restoration of

Rabbi Isaac Gaouni’s shrine. Laborers

are now working to repair the centuries-old

structure, hoping to revive

the long-faded legacy of Iraq’s Jewish

community.

Iraq was once home to one of the most

vibrant Jewish populations in West Asia.

Today, that community has dwindled to

just a few individuals. In Baghdad, the

last synagogue stands silent, with no

rabbis, and the Jewish neighborhoods of

old are now mostly abandoned. Years of

dictatorship, war, and sectarian violence

have left their mark, but the ongoing

restoration of Rabbi Isaac’s shrine offers

a rare glimmer of cultural preservation

amid so much loss.

A Shared Heritage in Peril

The stories of the shrines of Ezra the

Scribe, Ezekiel, and Rabbi Isaac Gaouni

are not just relics of Jewish history—

they are threads in the rich, intricate

tapestry of Iraq’s cultural and religious

identity. For centuries, these sacred sites

stood as places where Jews, Muslims,

and Christians alike sought blessings,

prayed for the sick, and celebrated their

shared reverence for the prophets of the

Abrahamic traditions.

But decades of political turmoil,

war, religious persecution, and mass

emigration have severed Iraq’s Jewish

community from its ancestral roots. Once

a cornerstone of Iraqi society, the Jewish

population has all but disappeared,

leaving behind synagogues that stand

empty and sacred shrines that have

fallen into ruin.

Yet these stories endure, carried

by scholars, community leaders, and

everyday Iraqis who recognize the

urgent need to preserve what remains.

The ongoing efforts to restore sites

like the shrine of Rabbi Isaac Gaouni

represent more than simple acts of

renovation—they are bold attempts to

reclaim a nearly forgotten chapter of

Iraq’s pluralistic past.

These shrines are more than stones

and faded inscriptions. They are

symbols of coexistence, resilience, and

a spiritual lineage that spans millennia.

In a region still scarred by sectarian

divides, remembering and safeguarding

these places offers a path toward a

deeper understanding of Iraq’s shared

heritage—a heritage that belongs to all

its people, regardless of faith.

By protecting these sites, Iraq not

only honors its Jewish past but also

affirms a future where the memory of

its diverse communities can continue

to inspire generations to come.

SOURCES: WIKIPEDIA, “JEWISH SHRINES IN IRAQ” BY

DR. WASSAN HUSSEN MUHAIMID, MEMORIES OF EDEN

BY VIOLETTE SHAMASH, THE JEWS OF IRAQ (THEIR

HISTORY, CONDITIONS AND THEIR IMMIGRATION) BY

YACOUB YOUSEEF KOREYA, THE YEARNING FOR THE

HISTORY OF THE JEWS OF IRAQ NUZHAT AL-MUSHTAQ

IN THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS OF IRAQ, PUBLISHED IN

1922, BY YOUSIF RIZQ-ALLA GHANIMAH, HISTORY OF

IRAQI JEWS IN THE 20TH CENTURY BY MEER BASRI,

BAGHDAD YESTERDAY-THE MAKING OF AN ARAB JEW

BY SASSON SOMEKH, IRAQI ECONOMIST NETWORK,

ADNAN ABU ZEED, AFP, PETER FORD-CHRISTIAN

SCIENCE MONITOR, JOSEF MERI.


DEPRESSED

CALMNESS

THOUGHTS WORRY CONCERN

SELF-CARE ISSUESSTRESS

POSITIVITY FAMILY

GRIEF GLADNOISE

SICKNESS SADNESS

RESILIENCE

HAPPINESS RELAX AWARENESS

SAFETY MOURN LOSS BALANCE

NEGATIVITYSTRENGTH

STABILITY

WISDOM

CLARITY MADANXIETY

MOTIVATION

COPING

JEALOUSY

CONFUSION

WELLNESS

FRUSTRATION

EXCITEMENT

ACCEPTANCE

TRUST

LIES

DREAMSPEACE

CONNECTION

HOPELESSNESS GUILT

ENVY

OPENNESS

ISOLATION

LOVE

BURN-OUT

EMOTIONAL

VULNERABILITY

JOY

DISAPPOINTMENT

RESENTMENT

REGRET

HUMOR

FEAR

INSECURITY

BOREDOM

MENTAL

PAST

AGE

SELF-ESTEEM CONFIDENCE

REFLECTION

TRAUMA

LONELINESS DRAMA SHAME

OVERWHELMED

WELL-BEING

RECOVERY

MINDFULNESS

PAIN

PLAN

FRUSTRATION

CHILDHOOD

GROWTH

MIND

EMPOWERMENT

THINK

SUPPORT

PROJECT LIGHT

PROJECT LIGHT

MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM

Emotional wellness is the ability to understand your

emotions and adapt to difficulties, stress, or changes

in life. Emotional wellness is important for overall

health and can lead to better physical health, stronger

relationships, and emotional resilience.

Project Light trilingual (Arabic, Chaldean, English)

licensed, professional therapists are here for you and your

best health. Through the process of therapy, you can change

self-destructive behaviors and habits, resolve painful

emotions, improve relationships, and explore issues that

may be hard to face alone.

Your therapist will help you to establish person centered

goals and determine the steps you will take to reach those

goals. Your relationship with your therapist is confidential

and our common therapeutic goal is to improve the quality

of life, no matter the challenge.

We invite you to seek out the Light of Project Light!

Serving Michigan residents ages 13 years and up regardless

of insurance status. Please call to request a Project Light

Intake at (586) 722-7253.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY: The CCF and Project Light is committed to your privacy

and confidentiality and are sensitive to the stigma and stress that come with seeking

mental health support. Therefore, all counseling records are kept strictly confidential.

Information is not shared without client’s written consent. Exceptions to confidentiality are

rare and include persons who threaten safety of themselves others or in circumstances of a

court order.

Chaldean Community Foundation

3601 15 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48310


RELIGION

A Tale of Two Priests

New spiritual fathers ordained

BY MICHAEL ANTOON

Father Eahab Ishak

Ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus

Christ on July 5, 2025.

Eahab Ishak was born on June 18,

1981, in Baghdad, Iraq, into a loving

and faithful Chaldean

Catholic family. One of six children—five

sons and one daughter—

Eahab was the second-youngest in a

household where faith was a constant

presence. As a child, his family attended

Mass at the Church of Our Lady

Guardian of Plants (Our Lady of the

Fields) in Baghdad, and

from his earliest memories, he was

drawn to the Church. He recalls begging

his family to take him to church

even on weekdays, only to be told,

“That’s not until Sunday.”

In 1989, the family moved to

Kirkuk, where Eahab continued his

education. It was in Kirkuk where his

vocation began to take shape. After

receiving his First Holy Communion

in ninth grade, he told the late Sr.

Elizabeth that he wanted to become a

priest. She encouraged him to speak to

his parish priest, Fr. Stephan Rabban,

who advised him to wait a little longer.

That same desire to serve stayed with

him throughout high school. By eleventh

grade, Bishop Andrawis Sana

personally brought him to Baghdad

to visit the seminary and arranged for

him to begin studies there following

his senior year.

In 1999, Eahab entered the Minor

Seminary in Baghdad. In 2001, he transitioned

to the Major Seminary of St.

Peter. There, he completed a preparatory

year and then two years of philosophy.

He began theology studies but

decided to leave in October 2004 due

to the poor security situation during

the Iraq War. The three-hour journey

between Baghdad and his hometown

of Kirkuk became too dangerous, and

his family urged him to return home.

Eahab worked briefly in Kirkuk before

his family fled to Turkey as refugees

in 2008. After more than a year of

waiting, they immigrated to the United

States in 2010. The Ishak family moved

to Oak Park, Michigan, where Eahab

began working in automotive repair,

eventually opening his own tire and

mechanic shop.

It was during these years that

Eahab grew even more deeply connected

to the Church. He began attending

Mar Addai Church regularly—

Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

He says, “Whenever the doors were

Father Eahab Ishak

open, I was there.”

Fr. Stephan Kallabat, Pastor of Mar

Addai church, encouraged him to join

the deacons in prayer and service,

which reignited his sense of vocation.

Though he had stepped away from the

seminary for a time, his internal call

to the priesthood had never left. He

began to understand that his desire to

serve could not be ignored, it had just

been delayed through his long journey.

One moment that stayed with him

was watching Fr. Stephan, in his older

age, slowly ascending the steps to

the altar during Mass. Deacon Eahab

mentioned he was struck by the image

— this priest, even in his older age

and even in pain, did not abandon his

service, saying “After only some hardship,

I did not complete my service.”

With the encouragement of friends

and clergy, Eahab approached Bishop

Francis Kalabat and Fr. Bryan Kassa to

explore the possibility of returning to

Father Joseph Naji Nannoshi

seminary. Though his early formation

in Baghdad had been significant, the

path forward in the U.S. would require

many additional years due to differences

in language barriers.

It was decided that Eahab would

return to Iraq to complete his studies

at the Chaldean Patriarchal Seminary

of St. Peter. There, he was welcomed

back by the rector—who had once been

his classmate. Patriarch Sako, who

had once been his bishop in Kirkuk

and his seminary rector, welcomed

him with open arms and expressed joy

at his return. Eahab resumed theology

studies and earned his bachelor’s degree

in theology in June 2024.

Along the way, he was ordained a

lector and subdeacon in Kirkuk in October

2021 by His Beatitude Patriarch

Louis Sako and later ordained a transitional

deacon in 2024 by Bishop Francis

Kalabat—alongside his classmate

Deacon Joseph Nannoshi.

Reflecting on his journey, now Fr.

Eahab says that as far back as he can

remember, he has always been in the

Church. He grew up surrounded by

prayer, attending youth programs,

Rumsha (evening prayer), and devotions

with his mother, who belonged

to the Sodality of the Sacred Heart.

Even when transportation meant taking

multiple buses, the family always

made it to Mass.

Now, after years of formation,

struggle, and unwavering faith, he is


finally receiving the grace he always

desired—the priesthood. His story

is one of perseverance, sacrifice,

and the quiet strength of a lifelong

calling that never truly faded. From

Baghdad to Detroit and back again,

Fr. Eahab Ishak’s journey reminds

us that God’s call may wait patiently—but

it never disappears. God will

never give up on us.

Father Joseph Naji Nannoshi

Ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus

Christ on July 5, 2025

Joseph Naji Nannoshi was born on

December 10, 1996, and raised in West

Bloomfield, Michigan. The oldest of

three brothers, Joseph grew up in a

warm and faithful home, the son of

Namir and Balsam Nannoshi.

He was baptized by Fr. Boji at

Mother of God Church and received his

First Holy Communion at

St. Thomas Church from Bishop

(then Fr.) Francis (Frank) Kalabat.

As a child, Joseph regularly attended

catechism at St. Thomas and was

involved in parish life. But it wasn’t

until his high school years that

his involvement in the Church

deepened. He began volunteering,

teaching catechism, helping with

First Communion prep, and assisting

wherever he was needed—even in the

parking lot.

Joseph graduated from Detroit

Catholic Central High School and went

on to study biology at Wayne State

University, where he was on the premed

track. While in college, he became

active in the Catholic Newman Center

on campus, attending daily Mass and

participating in faith-based events. It

was here that his faith truly took root.

Joseph said that being surrounded by

holy and committed priests and good

Catholic friends, he began to seriously

practice and own his faith.

During this time, he also began

to experience a deeper restlessness

in his heart. While working toward

a promising future in medicine, he

found himself asking: what will truly

fulfill me? He enjoyed his studies and

had dreams of a career and family,

but the deeper he went, the more he

realized that worldly success couldn’t

satisfy the longing in his soul.

Fr. Joseph recalls approaching

a priest on campus—not because

he wanted to become a priest, but

because he felt spiritually unfulfilled.

Through their conversations, and as

he gave his faith more room in his

life, clarity began to form. He realized

that what he was seeking wasn’t just

happiness, but holiness. And the call

to the priesthood, which had never

before crossed his mind, would start to

become known to him.

After several meetings with Fr.

Bryan Kassa, the vocations director, it

became clear that the Lord was calling

him to take the next step. Joseph

entered the seminary in August 2019.

He completed two years of philosophy

and earned his bachelor’s degree,

followed by four years of theology,

earning his Master of Divinity in May

2025. He was ordained a subdeacon in

December 2023 at Mart Mariam Church

in Chicago, and a transitional deacon

in July 2024 at Mar Addai Church in

Oak Park.

Joseph says that growing up

under priests like (then) Fr. Frank

and Fr. Boji, he saw firsthand that a

joyful and fulfilling priesthood was

possible. Their own happiness in

their priesthood encouraged him and

helped him realize the life of a priest

is fulfilling.

Recalling his journey to the priesthood,

now Fr. Joseph reflects on the

weight and beauty of this calling.

“The priesthood is a gift that humanity

is unworthy to receive, yet is freely

given,” he says. “It requires God’s help

to live up to the service of the people.”

Fr. Joseph says he hopes to be a

priest who is a true father to his people,

to be generous with his time and

available to those in need. He hopes

to be a priest for the entire community.

To be a father who really loves

his people. For him, one of the most

humbling experiences is when someone

comes to you for help—not because

of you, but because they sense

something greater working through

you. “It’s a gift to walk with people

through their struggles and help them

become not just better Christians, but

better people.”

To any young man considering the

priesthood, Fr. Joseph offers this advice:

“God didn’t create us to be miserable.

If you feel like the priesthood

might be your path to fulfillment, don’t

ignore it. His ways are perfect. We owe

it to Him—and to ourselves—to say

yes.”

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ECONOMICS & ENTERPRISE

Kassab of Sesi Motors in Ann Arbor

sells Lincolns, Volvos and Mazdas

at his family-owned dealership, at

a time when more dealerships are

being acquired by private equity firms

and corporate groups.

Kassab, 43, says his great-uncle

founded the dealership in Ypsilanti

in the 1940s, when the Lincoln brand

was first introduced after World War II.

“It’s always been in my blood.

It’s been my passion my whole life.

Since I was very young, this is what I

wanted to do,” he said.

Kassab noted that prices have

ticked up slightly, but it’s still too early

to determine the full impact tariffs may

ultimately have on vehicle costs.

The Road Ahead

Dealers and automakers adapt to a changing market

BY PAUL NATINSKY

The future for Michigan’s

automakers and dealers is a

lot like the state’s weather—

unpredictable. And today’s economic

policy environment is only adding to

the uncertainty.

At the center of the debate are

tariffs, a key flashpoint in U.S.

economic policy. The goal is to

protect American industry by making

it harder for foreign companies to

sell goods and services in the United

States. The primary tool? Imposing

steep tariffs on those imports.

It sounds simple enough. But in a

global economy—where parts often cross

international borders multiple times

before a vehicle is fully assembled—the

reality is far more complicated.

“We speak to the White House

almost on a daily basis,” said Ford

Motor Company Executive Chair Bill

Ford, speaking at the Mackinac Policy

Conference in May. “And I think…

the hard part for a lot of people in

Washington…regardless of party, is

to understand that our lead times as

an industrial manufacturer are longer

than political lead times, and we

can adapt to almost anything except

uncertainty. And unfortunately,

where we are right now is there’s

nothing but uncertainty.”

Layers of Tariffs

Ford outlined four layers of tariffs

currently impacting the auto industry:

fentanyl tariffs, reciprocal tariffs, auto

tariffs, and steel and aluminum tariffs.

“I think that proves the point that,

unintentionally, there are so many

layers to our industry, and we get

hit with things people don’t always

realize,” he said.

“And look, I completely agree

with what the president wants to do,

which is to have a strong American

industrial base,” Ford continued.

“We’re the most American company.

We make 80% of our vehicles here.

Most of our competitors make 50% or

less, and it has cost us over the years.

It’s about a $2,000 vehicle penalty

versus our domestic competition,

because we’ve chosen to be the most

American. But I always felt that was

the right thing to do, so I completely

agree with the goal.

“The question is, getting there can’t

go like this. There are just too many

things that are tails on those decisions

that have to be worked through. We

live in a time of great uncertainty.

And whether it’s, tariffs, obviously,

things like access to rare earth, which

go into so many industrial products,

emission regulations… So, while we

are very adaptable, we do have long

lead times, and that sometimes is

completely out of sync with the way

Washington is.”

It’s not just the tariffs or the

current administration, Ford

added. The industry is forced to

make sharp U-turns every time a

new administration takes office, a

challenge compounded by the seesaw

nature of American politics,

where Democrats and Republicans

frequently succeed one another.

Closer to Home

Closer to home, those who sell cars

are facing pressures of their own. Alex

The Times, They Are Changing

In addition to fending off corporate

dealership acquisitions, independent

dealers like Sesi Motors are also facing

competition from online sellers such

as Carvana and Tesla, Kassab said.

The solution, he believes, remains

the same: personalized service and

strong community relationships.

Sesi focuses on building long-term

connections with customers, hoping

they will return to purchase multiple

vehicles and rely on the dealership as

a trusted source of advice.

While Sesi does offer online carbuying

options, Kassab prefers getting

customers into the showroom, where

personal relationships can take root.

He also noted that many customers

are trying to finalize purchases or

leases before broader macroeconomic

changes, such as interest rate shifts

or potential tariff impacts, reach the

retail level.

Another trend—or perhaps a

counter-trend—Kassab is seeing is

softer-than-expected demand for

electric vehicles. He believes the

industry may have gotten a bit ahead

of itself on that front. Instead, he’s

seeing growing interest in hybrid

vehicles, which don’t require charging

stations and still offer a gasolinepowered

option.

As automakers work to stay ahead

of a rapidly shifting political and

economic landscape, and dealers like

Kassab strive to keep their customerfirst

approach viable, one thing is

certain: the future of Michigan’s auto

industry won’t be boring.


Chaldeanand

Arab American

Tobacco Survey

The Chaldean Community Foundation has partnered with the

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to survey the Chaldean and Arab

community living in Michigan about different health conditions.

The purpose of this survey is to assess knowledge, beliefs,

behavior around tobacco (including Narghile/Hookah)

use among the Arab and Chaldean Americans in Michigan.

Surveys are completely anonymous.

You are eligible to participate in this survey if you:

Are a current resident of Michigan.

Identify as Chaldean or Arab.

18 years of age or older.

Arabic

English

SCAN QR CODE


ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Ancient Roots, Modern Vision

Chaldean art takes center stage in Southfield

BY JENNA ABROO

Artist Azhr Matti showcases several pieces, including a ram-style harp and a

meticulously carved wooden chair.

Art is often seen as a reflection

of a thriving society—one full

of life, growth and expression.

It profoundly influences communities

by offering a platform for individuals

to share their visions, values and selfexpression

with the world. Art reflects

the times, often carries political

meaning, and serves as a mirror of

collective experience.

This is especially true for the

Chaldean community. Our ancestors in

ancient Assyria were among the earliest

recorded artists in human history.

Across our homeland, evidence of this

legacy endures in cave paintings, poetry

and pottery dating back thousands of

years. Our people were known for the

sophistication and detail of their art and

architecture—from the bronze Balawat

Gates and the colossal winged Lamassu

statues to hundreds of stone carvings

that tell the stories of our history

scattered throughout the region.

Fast forward to the present day.

The Chaldean diaspora has spread

across the globe, making meaningful

contributions to society along the

way—and art is no exception. Like our

ancestors, today’s Chaldean artists

continue to express culture, identity

and creativity through their work.

I recently attended a local art

exhibition that reflected this legacy.

The City of Southfield is hosting an

exhibit titled Perspectives, featuring

Chaldean American artists from across

Metro Detroit. The show highlighted a

variety of media, including painting,

photography, woodworking, charcoal,

metalwork and more.

The exhibit will be on display at

Southfield City Hall from May 22 through

July 31, 2025, with individual pieces

available for purchase. It features the

work of eight local Chaldean American

artists: Taif Alheety, Habib Hannona,

Sipya Kado, Azhr Matti, Wilson Sarkis,

Reni Stephan, Sam Selou Wazi and

Emad Tammo.

The collection fills the city hall lobby

with vibrant, meaningful pieces—many

reflecting the richness of Assyrian culture.

While the exhibition includes a

wide range of mixed media, each piece

uniquely honors the deeply rooted

values and proud heritage of the Chaldean

community. Photographs capture

scenes such as the streets of Tel Keppe,

the mountains of Alqosh, and traditional

cultural clothing worn by Chaldeans

in the homeland.

To be surrounded by art that so

genuinely reflects our identity was an

empowering experience. The opening

event featured traditional Iraqi-style

food and music, along with personal

remarks from the artists about their

inspiration, purpose and motivation

to share our culture through their

work. Many attendees wore traditional

Assyrian clothing, including Nela Koki,

who said she “enjoys art that represents

our culture for everyone to see”—just

like the garments she proudly wore.

While attending the exhibition

opening, I had the opportunity to

speak with several of the featured

artists about their work. Each piece

on display was striking in its own

way—beautiful, imaginative and

deeply personal. Every artwork told

a unique story, reflecting the passion

and purpose behind the artist’s vision.

Artist Azhr Matti showcased several

pieces, including a ram-style harp

and a meticulously carved wooden

chair. The chair stood out for its intricate

detail and rich imagery, blending

elements from Mesopotamian history

with Matti’s own artistic imagination.

When asked about the piece, Matti

shared that he worked on the chair for

eight months straight, devoting nearly

eight hours a day to the project. He jokingly

referred to it as a “full-time job,”

explaining that he followed a strict routine—sketching

in the mornings and

carving in the afternoons.

Matti said his goal was to “showcase

ancient Assyrian art and history.” The

chair features ornate floral motifs,

warrior-like figures reminiscent of

powerful Mesopotamian kings, metal

embellishments and even a matching

carved footrest. He credits much of his

skill to his brother, also an artist, who

currently lives in Paris.

“Our people were born from art,”

Matti said warmly. “Creating art inspired

by our culture is relaxing—and a form of

therapy for me.”

For many of the artists, creativity

seems to run in the family. Artist Habib

Hannona showcased painted portraits

titled My Mother and Coffee Man. He

shared that his siblings also had artistic

interests, and he remembers showing

his own talent from a young age—

starting as early as primary school.

Though Hannona spent much of his

professional life as a civil engineer, he

never let go of his creative side. “I always

made time for art,” he said, adding that

he plans to continue doing so for as

long as he can. In addition to painting,

Hannona is a poet, author, linguist,

historian and former United Nations

employee—a man of many talents.

“I’ve felt a passion to be an artist for as

long as I can remember,” he said. “Since I

was a small child, I was born with it in my

heart, and it will always be there.”

It was evident throughout the

exhibit that Chaldean and Assyrian

heritage served as a powerful source

of inspiration for many of the artists.

Taif Alheety was no exception. Her

contributions included a charcoal

portrait titled Master Study and a

painted portrait titled The Silent Dove.

Alheety shared that Assyrian

culture is the driving force behind her

work. “It means a lot to represent our

culture in this way,” she said. “Our

people were among the first to create

art and left it behind for us. This was

their message from the beginning,

even up to today. We were born as

artists, musicians, poets and scholars.

To create art is to express our culture.”

Delores Flagg, chairperson of the

Southfield Public Arts Commission and

one of the exhibit’s curators, opened

the event with heartfelt remarks,

congratulating the artists on their

contributions to the community. Over

the years, many Chaldeans have settled

in the Southfield area, making it a

vibrant part of their diaspora story.

“This exhibit is an opportunity for

our Chaldean community members to

showcase their art,” Flagg said. “This

is a collaborative community effort that

the artists helped bring to fruition. Art

is a vehicle for community and truth.

It is the ultimate communicator—it

helps us blend cultures together, from

clothing to food to music.”

Attending this exhibit and

experiencing these powerful works of

art was nothing short of incredible.

To be surrounded by pieces featuring

imagery such as the Ishtar Gate, the

Assyrian flag, abstract interpretations,

and portraits of members of our own

community was a moving experience—

one that words can hardly capture.

Our culture has endured for

thousands of years, passed down

through generations, rooted in a deep

sense of pride and identity. At our

core, we are a people who cherish and

preserve our heritage. Anyone who visits

this exhibit is in for a meaningful and

memorable experience—it’s a hidden

gem that deserves a spot on everyone’s

summer bucket list.


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TEL: (586) 722-7253

FAX: (586) 722-7257

elias.kattoula@chaldeanfoundation.org


248.851.1200 office

248.925.7773 cell

chaldeanchamber.com

snavarrette@chaldeanchamber.com



MARIAM ABDALLA

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STACY THERAPIST BAHRI

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES MANAGER

3601 3601 15 15 Mile Mile Road Road

Sterling Sterling Heights, Heights, MI MI 48310 48310

TEL:

TEL: (586) (586) 722-7253 722-7253

FAX:

FAX: (586) (586) 722-7257 722-7257

mariam.abdalla@chaldeanfoundation.org

stacy.bahri@chaldeanfoundation.org



POLITICS OF SCAPEGOATING

continued from page 8

This is not a defense of undocumented

immigration, but rather a recognition

that the United States needs a new

immigration approach—one that

provides reasonable solutions to

meet the country’s needs while

disincentivizing unlawful entry.

This tactic of scapegoating is

neither uniquely American nor new.

History is full of examples where

leaders have used minority groups

to deflect blame and rally support.

In U.S. history, Japanese Americans

were scapegoated during World War

II and placed in internment camps—

not due to actual sabotage, but

because of collective fear and political

expediency. During the AIDS crisis,

gay men were initially blamed as

“spreaders” of the disease, leading to

years of underfunded research and

delayed public health responses.

Scapegoating thrives when fear

outweighs reason and political

gain takes precedence over truth.

Fortunately, not all citizens fall for

these tactics. Those with higher

education and critical thinking skills

are less likely to accept simplistic

explanations that blame complex

problems on single groups. A Pew

Research Center study found that

Americans with college degrees

were more skeptical of antiimmigrant

rhetoric and more likely

to understand the structural causes

of economic inequality. A society

that promotes analytical thinking

and civic literacy is better prepared

to resist political manipulation and

demand evidence-based policies.

In conclusion, scapegoating is a

tempting but harmful political tool. It

oversimplifies complex issues, fuels

division, and delays meaningful

reform. The result is a misinformed

public and a distracted government.

Americans must be wary of rhetoric

that assigns blame and instead

demand leaders who tackle root

causes with clarity and courage. By

resisting scapegoating, we can begin

to address the real challenges before

us.


IN MEMORIAM

Hanaa

(Habiba) Gappy

Oct 10, 1955 -

May 15, 2025

Sharon Ann Lossia

Aug 25, 1940 -

May 15, 2025

Dhafer Joseph

Talia

Jul 2, 1961 -

May 17, 2025

Marvin Alaa

Sharrak

May 4, 1977 -

May 19, 2025

Angeel Yousif

Alawardi

Jul 1, 1938 -

May 21, 2025

Nabeel (Bill) Rayes

Feb 7, 1957 -

May 21, 2025

Badia Wassouf

Mar 20, 1936 -

May 21, 2025

Khairi Jarjes

Farida

Sep 12, 1974 -

May 22, 2025

Sr. Afriasia Matti

(Samira Ayoub

Matti)

Sep 13, 1938 -

May 23, 2025

Bashir Ablahad

Shallal

Mar 15, 1939 -

May 23, 2025

Youkhana Yalda

Shamana

Jul 1, 1955 -

May 23, 2025

Shakre Shelmon

Jul 1, 1935 -

May 25, 2025

Husniya Dawood

Zaya Salmo

Jul 1, 1946 -

May 28, 2025

Adnan Najor

Dec 16, 1946 -

May 29, 2025

Bassam Bashier

Farage

Oct 16, 1958 -

May 29, 2025

Salma Habib

Butres

Jul 1, 1949 -

May 31, 2025

Sadie Isaak

Shammas

Jul 1, 1955 -

May 31, 2025

Professor Doctor

Yousif Zora Yousif

Jun 8, 1941 -

May 31, 2025

Audioshow Ishaq

Matte

Jul 1, 1943 -

Jun 1, 2025

Sahira Yacoub

Putrus

Oct 25, 1945 -

Jun 1, 2025

Munam Mousa

Shaya

Dec 19, 1957 -

Jun 1, 2025

Nazhat Gulla

Jul 1, 1937 -

Jun 3, 2025

Joseph Jarjis

Denha

Jun 1, 1935 -

Jun 4, 2025

Victoria Binno

Daiza

Jul 1, 1927 -

Jun 5, 2025

Khami Toma

Jul 1, 1939 -

Jun 5, 2025

Sabri Shamoon

Shaeena

Aug 6, 1940 -

Jun 6, 2025

Mariam

Shamoon Sitto

Oct 3, 1988 -

Jun 6, 2025

Marguerite

Michael

Nov 17, 1976 -

Jun 7, 2025

Layla Shamany

Jul 1, 1940 -

Jun 8, 2025

Dhuha Jamil

May 12 1975 –

Jun 8 2025

Nawal Joseph

Garmo

Oct 10, 1967 -

Jun 9, 2025

Maream

Hanna Qilo

Jul 1, 1937 -

Jun 9, 2025

Mary Sitto

May 23, 1926 -

Jun 9, 2025

Katrinah

Shamon Sana

Jan 1, 1947 -

Jun 10, 2025

Wadeea Shamoon

Jul 1, 1938 -

Jun 10, 2025

Isam Morkas

Mansour

Feb 3, 1949 -

Jun 11, 2025

Ibtisam Sabri

Gorgis

Jul 28, 1949 -

Jun 12, 2025

Andy Farid Sawa

Nov 11, 1991 -

Jun 12, 2025

Yakob ( )

Thomas Gorges

Jul 1, 1942 -

Jun 13, 2025

Warina Hanna

Jul 1, 1930 -

Jun 14, 2025


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EVENT

CCF West

Grand Opening

The Grand Opening and Blessing of the new community

center, CCF West, on June 4 featured a private program

emceed by Fr. Marcus Shammami followed by a special

blessing ceremony led by Bishop Francis Kalabat, Bishop

Ibrahim Ibrahim, Bishop Basilio Yaldo and other esteemed

members of the clergy. The dedication of the Mar Ibrahim

Library was the highlight as clergy, leaders, and community

members gathered to mark this important milestone and

explore the exciting opportunities the new center will offer.

Clockwise from top left:

The official ribbon

cutting for the Mar

Ibrahim Library involved

many members of the

clergy.

Dr. Adhid Miri and

Bishop Basilio Yaldo

in the Salim Y. Sarafa

Protocol Room.

Bishop Francis Kalabat

leads the blessing

ceremony.

The space was filled

to capacity with

community members

eager to witness the

blessing of the new

building.

Those in attendance

stood in reverence as

the blessing occurred.

Martin Manna shows

Bishop Basilio Yaldo

the CACC timeline,

prominently displayed

in a major hallway at

CCF West.

Bishop Ibrahim made

remarks before the

ribbon cutting and

blessing ceremony.


AWARD-WINNING ATTORNEY

ALEXANDER A. AYAR

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HONORS & RECOGNITION

Super Lawyers (Business Litigation, Michigan)

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Avvo Rating: Superb (highest rating)

Martindale-Hubbell: AV Preeminent (highest rating)

Go To Business Litigators, Michigan Lawyers Weekly

Oakland County Executive Elite 40 Under 40

Up & Coming Lawyers, Michigan Lawyers Weekly

Attorney on the Rise, Chaldean American Bar

Special Tribute Recipient from the Michigan Legislature

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Business Litigation

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380 N. OLD WOODWARD, SUITE 300, BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 248.642.0333 WWRPLAW.COM

024) 1

10/20/23 10:20 AM

JULY 2025

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