FEBRUARY 2010

CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2010

FEBRUARY 2010 CHALDEAN NEWS

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CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2010 

THE CHALDEAN NEWS VOLUME 7 ISSUE I 

on the cover 

22 A Decade of Change 

and Growth 

By Vanessa Denha-Garmo and Joyce Wiswell 

Charting the community’s progress 

22 

26 Chaldean on the Street 

By Caroline M. Bacall 

What do you consider the top Chaldean 

story in the last 10 years? 

features 

27 killing shocks community 

By Ray Gabbara 

Grandmother charged with drowning tot 

28 31 

28 ‘Nothing like Love’ 

By Rosalie Kakos 

Couple celebrates seven decades of marriage 

30 A Political Player 

By Vanessa Denha Garmo 

Young woman makes her mark in Democratic party 

32 34 

31 In the Thick of the Fight 

By Ken Marten 

Attorney fights Kilpatrick and others for dancer’s family 

departments 

6 From the Editor 

7 In Our View 

8 Guest Column 

By Sharon Hannawa 

An enlightening journey 

11 Noteworthy 

13 Community 

Bulletin Board 

14 Ask the ECRC 

By Father Frank Kalabat 

How should I observe 

Lent? 

16 Chai Time 

18 Halhole 

20 Religion 

20 Obituaries 

32 Economics 

and Enterprise 

By Joe Gasso 

Babylon Market: A touch of home 

34 Arts and Entertainment 

By Joyce Wiswell 

Acting Out: 

Lamar Babi pursues a film career 

35 Priestly Profile 

By Weam Namou 

Rev. Emmanuel Rayes: 

Still going strong – and 

strongly opinioned — at 80 

36 Classifieds 

38 kids corner 


from the EDITOR 

So what do you think? 

Published By 

The Chaldean News, LLC 

Editorial 

Editor in Chief 

Vanessa Denha-Garmo 

managing Editor 

Joyce Wiswell 

Contributing Writers 

Caroline M. Bacall 

Ray Gabbara 

Joe Gasso 

Sharon Hannawa 

Rosalie Kakos 

Fr. Frank Kalabat 

Ken Marten 

Weam Namou 

art & production 

creative director 

Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

graphic designers 

Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

Joseph Sesi 

Photographers 

David Reed 

Ramiz Romaya 

operations 

Interlink Media 

director of operations 

Paul Alraihani 

circulation 

Paul Alraihani 

CLASSIFIEDS 

Joyce Wiswell 

sales 

Interlink Media 

sales representative 

Crystal Oram 

managers 


Martin Manna 

Michael Sarafa 

subscriptions: $20 per year 

The Chaldean News 

29850 Northwestern Highway, Suite 250 

Southfield, MI 48034 

www.chaldeannews.com 

Phone: (248) 996-8360 

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

monthly; Issue Date: February 2010 Subscriptions: 12 

months, $20. Publication Address: 29850 Northwestern 

Hwy., Suite 250, Southfield, MI 48034; Application 

to Mail at Periodicals Postage Rates is Pending at 

Farmington Hills Post Office Postmaster: Send address 

changes to “The Chaldean News 29850 Northwestern 

Highway, Suite 250, Southfield, MI 48034” 

As we started to work 

on the cover collage 

for this issue, I kept 

thinking about how I am finishing 

a decade in my life. 

Yes, I am nearing 40 – just 

photo by Ramiz Romaya 

a few months away. I cannot 

believe it. 

I am not going to spend 

too much time discussing 

this month’s cover collage of 

stories because we discuss 

that very issue in the In Our 

View piece. And don’t forget 

to check out what Chaldeans on the 

street have to say about the hot stories 

of the decade. 

I don’t know about you, but I thought 

my life would be different at 40. I guess 

things don’t turn out exactly as 

you might have planned. I am 

not sure if they are better or 

worse than what I anticipated 

— just different somehow. I am 

not complaining about it, just 

stating it as a fact. 

Unfortunately, there are 

many people nearing 50 who 

are financially worse off than 

they were in their 30s due to 

the bleak economy. I have my 

opinions about what caused this crisis 

and they are political opinions based on 

much reading I have done. 

I don’t know about you, but I have 

lost faith and much respect for our political 

leaders across party lines and at 

all levels. They have failed us in many 

ways. In fact, leaders both politically 

and on the corporate side have allowed 

personal agendas and greed to take 

control over their decision making. 

Public service has turned into personal 

service “what is in it for me” and 

corporate America has turned into corporate 

corruption on many levels. I 

am not saying that is true across the 

board but as I look at the last 10 years 

in our country, there is much blame to 

Vanessa 

denha-garmo 

editor in chief 

go around on both the political 

front and in the corporate 

world — Enron and Kwame 

Kilpatrick, just to name a 

couple. 

Speaking of Kilpatrick, we 

feature a story about Norman 

Yatooma and his involvement 

in the Detroit scandal that still 

goes on today, even though 

Kilpatrick is no longer the 

mayor. As an attorney, Yatooma 

has been representing 

the family of Tamara Green. 

I had the opportunity to talk to Jillian 

Semaan. She is heavily involved in 

the Democratic Party and we feature 

her story in this issue. She is young, 

has had many accomplishments and is 

optimistic about the future. As I was interviewing 

her I couldn’t help but think 

what she will be thinking about politics 

as she nears 40. Perhaps we will have 

better leaders by then. One can only 

hope and pray. 

I don’t know about you but my hopes 

about the future are brighter than they 

were in 2009. I believe things will get 

better. I believe that new leaders – better 

ones – will emerge as they have in 

the City of Detroit. I believe there is an 

opportunity to rid this country of stale 

leadership and for sharper minds with 

purer hearts to take over. 

This is also a good time to reflect on 

life as we head into the season of Lent. 

Fr. Frank Kalabat authors this month’s 

Ask the ECRC piece and tells our readers 

what this season leading up to Easter 

entails. 

I don’t know about you but I am not 

one who likes to share with others my 

fasting rituals or my promises to God 

during this season. It is a time for quiet 

reflection, for personal growth and for 

building a better relationship with God. 

In this issue we are launching a 

new piece called Priestly Profiles. Our 

debut piece, written by Weam Namou, 

features Fr. Emanuel Rayes from St. 

Thomas in West Bloomfield. He is a 

retired priest who dedicated his life to 

God, the church and the people. 

He speaks candidly about the future 

of Chaldeans, our language preservation 

and our heritage. In 50 years, when I am 

My hopes about the future are brighter than they 

were in 2009. I believe things will get better. I 

believe there is an opportunity to rid this country 

of stale leadership and for sharper minds with 

purer hearts to take over. 

nearing 90 or in heaven — God willing — 

looking down at it all, I can only wonder 

what the world will be like, if there will be 

a Chaldean News, Chaldean churches 

or the Aramaic language spoken. 

I don’t know about you but I have 

faith in God, I love this country, I believe 

that there is more good than bad 

in the world and the future is what we 

make it. 

Alaha Imid Koullen 

(God Be With Us All) 


vdenha@chaldeannews.com 

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in our VIEW 

Chaldean institutions buck the ‘lost decade’ trend 

This past decade in Michigan has 

been dubbed the lost decade. 

The easy money era in the 1990s 

came to a screeching halt followed by 

the collapse of the housing market, the 

commercial real estate market, the auto 

industry, a horrendous credit crunch 

and high unemployment. For Michigan, 

it became a depression-like economy. 

In scouring the old issues of the 

Chaldean News since its first publication 

in February 2004, one thing stands 

out — the Chaldean community, from 

an organizational standpoint, had a 

pretty good decade. The CN itself 

became the first major English-reading 

paper for the Chaldean community and 

has had six good years. The Chaldean 

Church has had explosive growth fueled 

by an uptick in immigration and 

huge explosions in new families as second- 

and third-generation young people 

continue to marry each other. Birth 

rates in the community easily surpass 

the national average. 

The Chaldean Diocese expanded 

with the beautiful St. George Church in 

Shelby Township, which is now the largest 

Chaldean Church in Michigan. In 

addition, the Eastern Christian Re-evangelization 

Center continued and grew 

its mission with the purchase of a new 

building on Maple and Inkster in 2006. 

With the support of the Shammaya 

Kassab Trust and the leadership of His 

Excellency Bishop Ibrahim, the Chaldean 

community now has its own camp 

near Brighton. Eventually, the Mar 

Gorgis Chapel will anchor one side of 

the campgrounds. 

But is was the elevation of Chaldean 

Patriarch Mar Emmanuel Delly to 

the status of Cardinal by Pope Benedict 

that was quite possibly the crowning 

moment for our Church in the last 

decade. Not only was it a great honor 

for the Patriarch and the Chaldean 

Church, but the appointment brought 

international attention to the plight of 

Christians in the Middle East. 

Bishop Ibrahim also retook the 

handles of the Chaldean Federation of 

America (CFA) in 2006, which struggled 

off and on for more than two decades. 

The CFA has focused its efforts 

on issues related to Chaldean refugees 

and its Adopt-A Refugee Program has 

been wildly successful under the leadership 

of Basil Bacall. 

In 2004, the Chaldean American 

Chamber of Commerce opened its 

doors. Today, it boasts a brand-new 

headquarters at Northwestern and 

Inkster in Southfield. Under the leadership 

of Martin Manna and several 

consecutive chairmen, the chamber 

has grown to nearly 900 members. Its 

annual dinner regularly gets more than 

800 attendees and its Political Action 

Committee has been busy supporting 

candidates for local and state office. 

The Chaldean Community Foundation 

now has a budget of nearly $1 million. 

The Bank of Michigan opened 

its doors in 2005 lead by a group of 

Chaldean businessmen and has had 

two consecutive profitable years in 

a very challenging environment. It 

is now the bank of choice for many 

small businesses and families in the 

community. 

The good news is that the organizational infrastructure around the 

community has grown and strengthened. 

All this is not to say that it wasn’t a 

tough decade for individuals and families. 

A great deal of wealth was lost 

in the stock market, real estate, home 

equity and many other over-leveraged 

investments. But the good news is that 

the organizational infrastructure around 

the community has grown and strengthened. 

The Church and these other organizations 

have been able to be supportive 

during these tough times. Hopefully, 

when things get better for people, the 

community will help take these entities 

to greater heights. 

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GUEST column 

An enlightening journey 

Break down walls, and 

build bridges. That was 

my Facebook status 

update November 9, 2009, 

three days following my graduation 

from New Detroit’s Multicultural 

Leadership Series 

and on the 20th anniversary 

commemorating the Fall of the 

Berlin Wall. 

I had the privilege of partaking 

in an experience in which I 

spent eight hours a month for 

seven months learning about 

the various ethnic communities that 

make up this culturally diverse region, 

as well as engaging in an open dialogue 

about race. 

Just before graduation, I was invited 

to share my experience in the series 

with the Birmingham Public Schools’ 

District Diversity Committee. The purpose: 

to promote benefits of participation 

and to enhance race relations. 

I was honored and touched by the 

response I received to the words I 

spoke that day and want to share them 

with the Chaldean community as well. 

We can all be more conscious of our 

words and actions, be more aware of 

our surroundings, embrace our differences 

and take steps to be the change. 

Let us learn by looking back, and make 

a difference moving forward. 

Here’s my speech: 

I signed in, was welcomed and 

asked to take a seat at the 2009 Multicultural 

Leadership Series Orientation. 

I was told to sit at a table where I did 

sharon 

hannawa 

SPECIAL TO THE 

CHALDEAN NEWS 

not know or look like anyone. 

I scanned the room and then 

took my seat. 

We were all to share a defining 

moment. One by one, 

we each stood and told a story 

of how we were each personally 

touched and affected 

by race. I shared the story of 

my Arab studies college professor 

who knew who Chaldeans 

are. For the first time, 

I did not have to explain that 

Chaldeans are not Arabs. 

Many stories shared uprooted 

deep emotion. It is not often you can 

sit in a room with strangers and feel 

free to express yourself. 

I thought to myself: This was going 

to be an opportunity to be honest and 

not judged. 

An opportunity for my voice to be 

heard. 

We often focus on how different we are 

from one another, that we fail to realize and 

appreciate our similarities. 

An opportunity to tell my side of the 

story. 

An opportunity to dispel stereotypes. 

An opportunity to bring awareness 

to those who are unaware. 

An opportunity to engage in an 

open dialogue and not be ashamed or 

afraid. 

An opportunity to learn about and 

from one another. 

This was the beginning of an enlightening 

journey. We often focus on 

how different we are from one another, 

that we fail to realize and appreciate 

our similarities. 

Pride was evident in attending 

each of the six sessions held through 

the experience. The presenters were 

eager to share, and I eager to learn. 

I learned of their traditions and 

language, sampled their food, was 

empathetic of their struggles, celebrated 

their accomplishments, and 

could hear and see the passion for 

their communities. 

I felt sad and angry touring the 

replica of a slave ship in the African- 

American session, happy learning to 

dance the Debkeh in the Arab-American 

session, honored to meet the 

woman who named the cholesterollowering 

drug Lipitor in the Asian- 

American session, closer to nature 

and my artistic side participating in 

a sage blessing and playing a water 

drum in the Native American session, 

and I enjoyed every bite of my Iraqi 

salad in the Chaldean-American session. 

I was disappointed to have missed 

the Hispanic/Latino session, but look 

forward to making it up next year. 

The highlight for me was the 

roundtable discussions. Members 

and leaders of the session’s community 

were invited to discuss their 

personal journeys and answer questions. 

These were the stories you 

don’t always hear about. I witnessed 

the raw emotion that is not closely 

depicted in history books. 

I sat next to a gentleman from 

Nigeria in the African-American session 

who shared his pain for his fellow 

Christian Nigerians who were 

being persecuted for their religious 

beliefs back home. A pain I can 

strongly relate to, for my fellow Iraqi 

Christians are being persecuted for 

their beliefs as well. Two countries 

thousands of miles apart, and two 

individuals walking separate paths 

of life, yet sharing a common bond. 

I partook in this leadership series 

to gain a better understanding of the 

different racial and ethnic groups that 

make up this culturally diverse region. 

In life I cannot always be reactive. 

I need to be proactive. How could I 

expect people to understand me, if I 

did not take the time to understand 

them? 

I will continue to build bridges. I 

appreciate that each of us has something 

unique to offer. 

I am excited to share my learnings 

to help others understand. I am 

blessed for the new friendships and 

partnerships I have made. 

We can work with each other’s 

strengths and weaknesses. In order 

to live, work and communicate with 

each other, we need to have a mutual 

respect for one another. 

And as I scan the room today, I 

see a little bit of all of you in me and 

I hope you see a little bit of me in all 

of you. 

Sharon Hannawa is a board member 

of the Chaldean American Chamber of 

Commerce and a member of the City of 

Southfield’s Total Living Commission. 

Join In 

For more information about the 

Multicultural Leadership Series 

contact: 

Marshalle S. Montgomery 

New Detroit 

Multicultural Leadership Series 

3011 W. Grand Blvd., Suite 1200 

Detroit, MI 48202 

(313) 664-2000 

www.newdetroit.org 

Applications for the 2010 Series 

must be submitted by February 26. 

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INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY 

Virtual 

Career Fair 

Tuesday, March 16 | 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET 

Meet the Intelligence Community Online 

The United States Intelligence Community (IC), an integrated network of agencies 

that work together to protect our Nation’s security, is seeking a culturally diverse, 

technically savvy workforce for exciting careers in a number of fields. Join us at the 

IC Virtual Career Far to explore career opportunities, chat with recruiters, and 

apply for job openings – from the comfort of your computer! 

Available career opportunities: 

• Cybersecurity/Information Assurance 

• Engineering and Physical Science 

• Foreign Languages* 

• Information Technology 

• Intelligence Analysis 

• Law Enforcement 

• Many others 

Note: Not all opportunities are available at all agencies. 

* Proficiency in one of the following languages is highly desirable – Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Mandarin, Pashto, Somali, or Urdu. 

Participating agencies: 

• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) 

• Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) 

• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 

• National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) 

• National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) 

• National Security Agency (NSA) 

• Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) 

• Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) 

Registration begins January 12, 2010. 

For more information and to register: 

visit www.ICVirtualFair.com 

U.S. citizenship is required. The IC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 


10 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2010

noteworthy 

Iraq Vote Set for March 

Iraqis head to the polls on March 7 for parliamentary elections. 

There will also be out-of-country voting — including 

Michigan — on March 5-7, but details were not available at 

press time. 

Out of 276 slates running, 11 are composed of Christians, 

said Joe Kassab, executive director the Chaldean Federation 

of America. Chaldeans have three slates: the Chaldean National 

Congress, Chaldean Democratic Union Party and the 

Chaldean Assyrian Syriac Popular Council. There are also 

some Chaldeans running on other slates. 

The election includes 325 parliament seats — 310 seats 

for the provinces and 15 compensational seats. Ethnic minorities 

will receive eight of the compensational seats and the 

Kurds will receive three additional seats in parliament. 

At press time, it had not been determined exactly which 

ex-patriots will be eligible to vote. During the last election in 

January 2005, the adult children of Iraqi citizens were allowed 

to participate, even if they were born in the United States. 

Visit our website, www.chaldeannews.com, for more information 

on the election as it becomes available. 

Tariq Aziz Suffers Stroke 

Former Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz has been afflicted by 

a severe stroke and lost the power of speech, his son said. 

Aziz was the international face of Saddam Hussein’s regime 

for several years. He was convicted and sentenced to prison for 

his involvement in the forced displacement of Kurds in northern 

Iraq and the deaths of Baghdad merchants in the early 1990s. 

He was the only Chaldean in Hussein’s inner circle. 

Ziad Aziz told The Associated Press that his 73-year-old 

father had a stroke on January 15 and was rushed to a hospital 

in Balad, about 40 miles north of Baghdad. 

The son criticized the Iraqi government for the continued 

detention of his father. 

“The Iraqi government insists on the mockery of keeping a 

sick old man in jail,’’ Ziad Aziz said. “We’ve been telling them 

that his health has deteriorated severely since the first stroke 

he had before the war in 2003. We’ve repeatedly asked that 

he be released on humanitarian grounds,’’ he said. 

The family has appealed to the Vatican and President 

Barack Obama to intervene on Aziz’s behalf. 

Anti-Christian Countries Citied 

International Christian Concern, a Washington, DC-based 

human rights group, has released its annual Hall of Shame 

report listing the world’s 10 worst persecuting countries of 

Christians. 

ICC ranked the following countries as the world’s worst 

Sun Spots 

An Iraqi family dons sunglasses to watch the solar eclipse in Baghdad on Friday, January 15. 

AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed 

persecutors of Christians in 2009: 

Eritrea, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea, 

Somalia, India, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, 

Nigeria and China. 

This report calls attention to the 

trend of Christian persecution, which 

continues on an alarming scale. Communist 

and former Communist states 

are becoming less antagonistic towards 

Christianity (North Korea being 

the exception) while persecution continues 

to increase in Islamic countries. 

The report can be found at www. 

persecution.org. 

Fatuhi Contributes to Journal 

Amer Hanna Fatuhi was among those published in the November/December 

2009 issue of World Literature Today. 

The magazine, published at the University of Oklahoma, ran 

a special section about writers who suffered persecution 

called “Voices Against the Darkness: Imprisoned Writers 

Who Would Not Be Silenced.” 

Fatuhi, an artist, writer and co-founder of the Iraqi Artists 

Association, was featured as one of these writers. His 

poem, “Wounding the Dark,” was translated from Arabic to 

English and published alongside his art piece that carries 

the same title. Only 10 writers from across the globe were 

featured in the special edition, two of whom were of Iraqi 

descent. 

Writer Weam Namou, a Chaldean News contributor, 

has also been published in past editions of World Literature 

Today. Visit www.ou.edu.worldlit. 

Kay Garmo 

Shawn George 

Jappaya 

Randall A. Denha 

People 

Kay Garmo has joined Home Interior 

Warehouse – Furniture & Design in 

Walled Lake as an interior design sales 

associate. She was previously an independent 

interior designer for the past 

10 years. 

Attorney and certified public accountant 

Shawn George Jappaya has 

opened Jappaya Law PPC, a general 

law practice with a core focus on property 

tax appeals, federal and state tax 

disputes, credits and incentives, and 

loan modifications/workouts. Jappaya 

was an attorney with Honigman Miller 

Schwartz and Cohn LLP, and previously 

with Ernst & Young in its international 

tax department. Jappaya Law is 

located in West Bloomfield and has a 

mutual of-counsel relationship with the 

law firm Yono & Associates PLLC. 

After nearly 13 years as partner 

with Giarmarco Mullins & Horton, PC 

in Troy, Randall A. Denha, J.D., LL.M. 

has opened his own firm. Denha & 

Associates, PLLC, located in Birmingham, 

specializes in the areas of estate 

and personal tax planning, business 

and succession planning, family wealth 

planning and asset protection planning. 

Denha has been named one of Michigan’s 

rising stars by the publication, Super 

Lawyers. 

FEBRUARY 2010 CHALDEAN NEWS 11

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Community Bulletin Board 

They Are the Champions 

The Monday League emerged victorious in 

the Shenandoah Country Club basketball 

league championship game on January 

4. The Monday Night guys defeated the 

Thursday Night league champ by 55-48 to 

take the title. Celebrating their win are Mark 

Kejbou (standing, left), Steve Sagmani, 

Jordan Rassam and Ray Toma. Kneelinf 

are team captain Luke Samona and Stefan 

Kallabat, voted Most Valuable Player. 

Hot Hotel 

The Chaldean-owned Hampton 

Inn Shelby Township has won 

the prestigious Hilton Lighthouse 

Award for 2009. The award is 

given to only a handful of top-performing 

properties. Out of 1,800 

Hampton hotels, the Hampton Inn 

Shelby was rated number one for 

Michigan and number 14 worldwide. 

The property is owned by 

Basil Bacall (left), Mike Bacall, 

Basim Shina and his brothers and 

Saad Halabo. 

The Hampton Inn Novi, owned 

by Mike and Basil Bacall, was 

rated number two in Michigan. 

Well-known Iraqi singer Rida 

Abdullah spent 10 days in December 

at the Stratosphere Hotel 

and Casino while performing 

in Las Vegas. He’s pictured 

here with Venice Yaldo, who 

handles the property’s Middle 

Eastern marketing. 

Honoring the Dream 

More than 1,200 people attended 

a Martin Luther King Celebration 

on January 18 at Royalty House in 

Warren. Sponsored by Interfaith 

Center for Racial Justice, the 

event featured an invocation by 

St. Joseph Msgr. Zouhair Toma 

(Kejbou). A play called “Pass the 

Torch” was performed with several 

Chaldeans, including Rosemary 

Najor, Miranda Kattula, Dominic 

Hallak, Marianna Kattula and 

Deanna Hallak. Also there that 

evening were John Dishow, U.S. 

Rep. Sander Levin, Christine 

Jaddou and Sue Kattula. 

Have an item for the Bulletin Board? Send it to 

Chaldean News, 29850 Northwestern 

Highway, Southfield, MI 48034, or e-mail 

info@chaldeannews.com. 


ask the ECRC 

How should I observe Lent? 

By Father Frank Kalabat 

Come and experience a great dental visit. Valerie Hailo, a Chaldean and 

Arabic speaking dental assistant, will make your child’s visit fun and positive. 

The season of Lent (which begins 

February 15) is the time of the 

year when most Christians prepare 

for the Easter event, namely the 

passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. 

How we prepare for this event is 

crucial for our Christian lives. Though 

one must live daily in the understanding 

of Jesus’ sacrifice, Lent brings out an 

even greater focus. To truly celebrate 

this blessed season, there needs to be 

a good balance of interior meditations, 

such as prayer, combined with exterior 

actions, such as fasting, to get the 

most out of it. 

In regards to the interior, there 

needs to be time dedicated to allow 

the passion of Jesus to dwell within us. 

This could be the celebrations of the 

Friday Stations of the Cross. This is a 

great way to initiate the meditation. 

Other means of initiating this inner 

meditation are reading the passion and 

resurrection narratives that are found in 

the Gospels, such as Matthew chapters 

26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24, 

John 17-21, or those found in the Old 

Testament such as Isaiah’s prophecy of 

the suffering servant that was fulfilled in 

Jesus as seen in chapters 52-54. 

Notice that these only initiate the 

meditation; one needs some silence or 

even a focused discussion and then silence 

to allow the event to become one 

in you. Before you initiate the meditation, 

pray to the Holy Spirit to allow the 

hearing or the reading of these events 

to take a hold of you and to originate a 

new seed of appreciation and love for 

Jesus on an even greater level. One 

possible way to do this is to take one 

week at a time to read, discuss and 

silently meditate on any of these meditations 

individually as well as with your 

families. This will bring an abundance 

of grace in your spiritual lives as well as 

in your family ties. 

In regards to the external, fasting 

has a great deal of benefit for us. In 

the Bible, fasting is a profound way 

to make peace with God, such as the 

story of Jonah in the Old Testament. It 

is also a great way to help us deal with 

temptation by driving evil away, as seen 

in Matthew 17:21 and many more such 

great benefits. But the greatest of these 

is that Jesus fasted and overcame His 

temptations by the devil, therefore we 

need to fast so that we may overcome 

our temptations of the devil. 

A question that so frequently occurs 

is, how to fast? There are many ways 

of doing so. One is the traditional way 

of not eating anything, if possible, until 

noon and then abstaining from meat the 

whole day. This, by all means, is not 

the only means of fasting. Therefore, 

other means of sacrifice that could 

supplement this fast or even replace it 

might be necessary. The best thing to 

do is to pray and invite the Holy Spirit 

to lead you into the necessary sacrifice 

that you might be called upon. 

An important point needs to be 

made in regards to sinful actions that 

many people try to abstain from during 

this season. Though that is great 

for your spiritual well being, it is by no 

means at all a temporary “fast.” We 

all need to fast from obscenities such 

as foul language or pornography, but 

by all means we must not return to 

sins after Lent is over. This fast needs 

to be a springboard to quit sinning. 

This is a great time of the year to lose 

a very bad/sinful habit for 40 days 

and beyond. 

Let us not also forget that when Jesus 

was first tempted to change rocks 

into bread, He responded by quoting 

Deuteronomy 8:3: “It is written: ‘One 

does not live by bread alone, but by 

every word that comes forth from the 

mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). Therefore, 

this teaches us that we not only 

sacrifice by removing, but we also “fast” 

by receiving. That is the Word of God! 

This is a great time of year to fulfill 

what the Holy Spirit has been calling 

you whenever you heard yourself say, 

“I’ve always wanted to read the Bible.” 

But like the example above of “fasting” 

from sinful habits, this type of “fasting” 

need not end at the end of Lent. Use 

the grace of this blessed season as 

another launching pad for the 40 days 

and beyond. 

May the fruits of this blessed season 

bring you close to the Heart of 

the Master to truly experience His 

love for you. 

Fr. Frank Kalabat is pastor of St. 

Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church 

and an administrator with the Eastern 

Christian Re-Evangelization Center. 

Have a question for the ECRC? Drop 

a line to info@chaldeannews.com. 


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CHAI time 

chaldeans conNecting 

community events in and around metro detroit FEBRUARY 2010 

[Monday, February 1] 

Diet: “The Essentials of Carbs: How 

Do Veggies, Fruits, Legumes, Dairy and 

Whole Grains Compare?” is the topic 

of a nutrition class by St. Joseph Mercy 

Oakland Hospital. 7:15 p.m., Franco 

Communications Center, 44405 Woodward 

Avenue, Pontiac. $75 fee covers 

two people. (248) 858-2475. 

[Wednesday, February 3] 

Cigars: Monthly Smokandoah Cigar 

Club meets at Shenandoah Country 

Club for appetizers and cash bar. 

Doors open at 7 p.m. Guests are welcome 

only with a member. 

[Friday, February 5] 

Culture: the 2010 Sterling Heights Cultural 

Exchange is a celebration of diversity 

with music, cuisine and cultural activities. 

6-10 p.m., Sterling Heights Senior Center, 

40200 Utica Road. Admission is free. 

[Sunday, February 7] 

Camps: Super Summer for Kids Camp 

Fair showcases more than 60 U.S. and 

Canadian camps. Admission is free. 11 

a.m.-3:30 p.m., West Bloomfield High 

School. (248) 398-3400 ext. 128. 

Football: Doah Party at Shenandoah 

Country Club includes dinner buffet and 

a cash bar. Tickets are $30 in advance, 

$40 at the door. Doors open at 4 p.m.; 

kickoff is at 6:20. Open to all above age 

15. (248) 454-1932. 

Football: Super Bowl party includes 16 

high-def plasma TVs, free buffet at halftime, 

raffles, throw the football contests, 

drink specials and more. 5 p.m., Sylvan 

Lanes, 2355 Orchard Lake Road, Sylvan 

Lake. (248) 682-0733. 

[Wednesday, February 10] 

Jobs: A Night of New Job Opportunities 

is presented by the Chaldean 

American Chamber of Commerce and 

includes representatives of the CIA 

and FBI. Jobs are open to U.S citizens 

only. 6-8 p.m., Shenandoah Country 

Club. RSVP to lkalou@chaldeanchamber.com 

or (248) 996-8340. 


Dinner: Associated Food and Petroleum 

Dealers celebrates its 100th anniversary 

with a gala Diamond Jubilee 

black tie event. Rock Financial Showplace, 

Novi. (248) 671-9600. 

[Saturday, February 13] 

Party: Valentine’s Eve party includes 

dinner, super premium bar and karaoke. 

8 p.m., Shenandoah Country 

Club. (248) 454-1932. 

Auction: Our Lady of Refuge event 

includes dinner, music, silent and live 

auctions. Donation is $90 per person. 

6 p.m., Shenandoah Country Club. 

(248) 682-3422. 

[Saturday, February 13 – 

Sunday, February 21] 

Boats: The 52nd Annual Detroit Boat 

Show floats into Detroit’s Cobo Center. 

$12 adults, free for kids 12 and under. 

Seniors ages 62 and older get in free 

on Monday. www.detroitboatshow.net. 

[Monday, February 15] 

Diet: “Salt: Pressure, Bones and 

Stones … Maybe Cancer Too?” is 

the topic of a nutrition class by St. 

Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital. 

7:15 p.m., Franco Communications 

Center, 44405 Woodward Avenue, 

Pontiac. $75 fee covers two people. 

(248) 858-2475. 

[Thursday, February 18 – 

Sunday, February 21] 

Outdoors: A new consumer show, 

the Great Lakes Outdoor Recreation 

Expo, includes seminars, demonstrations 

and exhibits for outdoor enthusiasts. 

$12 adults, free for kids under12. 

Cobo Center, Detroit. www.greatlakesoutdoorrecreationexpo.com. 


Music: 80s Night features live performances, 

moon walk contests and more. 

Tickets are $30 in advance, $40 at the 

door and benefit the Adopt-A-Refugee- 

Family program. 8 p.m., Farmington 

Hills Manor. (248) 747-2424. 

[Saturday, February 27] 

Gala: Eighth annual Heart of the 

Lakes Gala benefits the cardiac 

care program at DMC Huron Valley-Sinai 

Hospital and community 

programs for the Lakes Area Chamber 

of Commerce. Tickets are $75 

and include dinner, dancing and silent 

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HALHOLE! 

[Births] 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Affiliated with 

Wafaa’s Flowers 

Loretta Habayeb 586-822-3332 

email: LinensandBeyondMichigan@hotmail.com 

 

 

Elena Grace 

A gift from heaven above was sent 

to us with all of God’s love! Sam 

Joseph would like to announce 

the birth of his baby sister, Elena 

Grace. Elena was born on October 

8, 2009 at 1:33 p.m. weighing 

7 lbs., 10 oz. and measuring 

20 inches. Blessed parents are 

Stewart & Joanne Yatooma. Elena 

is the tenth grandchild for Sami 

& Suhaila Yatooma and the fifth for 

Fouad & Lamia Sitto. Loving godparents 

are Aunt Silvana Sandiha 

and Uncle Jeremy Sitto. 

Cruz Anthony 

Evelyn loves her little brother! 

Cruz Anthony was born on August 

6, 2009. He weighed 5.12 

lbs and was 19 inches long. 

Blessed parents are Muhand 

(Mark) & Ronda Sawa. Cruz is 

the third grandchild for Dhia & 

Nidhal Hamama and the 13th for 

Yelda & Zuhaira Sawa. Godparents 

are Uncle Ronny Hamama 

and Aunt Moroch Kouza. 

Lily Marie 

Blake, Ella, Melanie & Angelica 

Dabish are happy to announce 

the arrival of their new sister, Lily 

Marie. Lily was born on September 

13, 2009 at 4:59 a.m. She 

weighed 8 lbs., 10 oz. and measured 

21 inches long. Proud parents 

are Ala & Vivian Dabish. Loving 

grandparents are Bassima & 

the late Elia Dabish and George & 

Souhaila Awdish. Godparents are 

Sara Dabish and Fayha Sabish. 

Paris Evelyn 

Preston is excited to announce the 

arrival of his little sister. Paris Evelyn 

Delly was born on August 18, 2009 

at 2:52 p.m. She weighed 6 lbs., 

11 oz. and was 20 inches long. 

Proud parents are Athir & Jaime 

Delly. Paris is the 14th grandchild 

of Youhannan & Evelyn Delly and the 

third grandchild of Ghanim & Batoul 

Abro. Godmother is Sue Delly. Our 

families are blessed to have welcomed 

such a precious angel. 

Jaxx Isaac 

Derrick & Jeana Bacall are proud 

to announce the birth of their son, 

Jaxx Isaac, on September 9, 2009 at 

9:49 p.m. He weighed 8 lbs., 2 oz. 

and was 20.4 inches long. He is the 

first grandchild of Ike & Mona Bacall 

and Jalal & Samar Thiwaney. Jaxx 

was baptized by his loving godparents, 

Farrah Thwianey and Andrew 

Bacall. May God bless him always! 

Elena Grace 

Cruz Anthony 

Lily Marie 

Paris Evelyn 

Jaxx Isaac 


Marie Skye 

Jeffrey & Amanda Jonna proudly 

announce the birth of their first 

child, Marie Skye. Marie was 

born on November 21, 2009 

weighing 6 lbs., 6 oz. and measuring 

20 inches long. Marie is 

the third grandchild for Sundus 

Jonna & the late Zuhair Jonna, 

and the first for Janet Jamil & the 

late Sabah Jamil. Loving godparents 

are Ricky Jonna and Rhonda 

Jamil. God has truly blessed our 

lives with one of his angels! 

Alyssa Naheel 

God has blessed our family with 

another angel from above. Alyssa 

Naheel Fakhouri was born on August 

29, 2009. She weighed 8 

lbs., 13 oz. and measured 20.25 

inches. Her older sister Christianna 

is so happy to welcome her 

into this world. Joyful parents are 

Nader & Janeen Fakhouri. Alyssa 

is the second grandchild for 

Musa & Naheel Fakhouri and the 

eighth grandchild for Eliya & Seham 

Boji. Loving godparents are 

Najwa Fakhouri and Ron Boji. 

Maleena Marie 

God has blessed ever-so-proud 

parents Ely & Valerita Asmar with 

their first child. Maleena Marie 

was born on September 25, 

2009. She weighed 7 lbs., 9 oz. 

and measured 20 inches long. 

Loving godparents are her cousin, 

Advan Oraha, and her aunt, 

Vera Lossia. Maleena Marie is 

the eighth grandchild for Faraj & 

Batol Asmar and the sixth grandchild 

for Faris & Thuraya Kassab. 

We thank God every day for our 

precious little gift. 

Michael Joseph 

God has blessed Diana & Joe 

Sesi with a second son, and 

Luke is excited to announce his 

brother Michael Joseph. He was 

born on July 29, 2009, weighing 

7 lbs., 5 oz. and measuring 19 

inches. Loving grandparents are 

Masoud & Hana Sesi and Munir 

& the late Virgeen Kalasho. Michael 

was baptized on November 

9, 2009. Proud godparents are 

Joni Sesi and Riva Kalasho. 

Marie Skye 

Alyssa Naheel 

Maleena Marie 

Michael Joseph 

Announcements are offered free of charge to paid subscribers. Please email or mail 

announcements with a photo to the Chaldean News at halhole@chaldeannews.com or: 

Chaldean News; c/o Editor, Subject: Announcements 

29850 Northwestern, Suite 250, Southfield, MI 48034 

Please include your address and phone number to verify your paid subscription. 

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must be active 30 consecutive days. Allow 10 to 14 weeks for rebate. Upgrade: Existing customers in good standing with service on the same device for 

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RELIGION 

obituaries 

places of prayer 

chaldean churches in and around metro detroit 

THE DIOCESE OF ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE IN THE UNITED STATES 

St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Diocese 

25603 Berg Road, Southfield, MI 48033; (248) 351-0440 

Mar (Bishop) Ibrahim N. Ibrahim 

www.chaldeandiocese.org 

MOTHER OF GOD CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

25585 Berg Road, Southfield, MI 48034; (248) 356-0565 

Rector: Rev. Manuel Boji 

Parochial Vicar: Rev. Wisam Matti 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays except Tuesday, 10 a.m.; Tuesday, St. Anthony prayer 

at 5 p.m. followed by mass at 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 5:15 p.m. in English; Sunday: 

8:30 a.m. in Arabic, 10 a.m. in English, 12 noon in Chaldean, 7 p.m. in English 

SACRED HEART CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

310 W. Seven Mile Road, Detroit, MI 48203; (313) 368-6214 

Pastor: Rev. Jacob Yasso 

Mass Schedule: Friday, 6 p.m. in Chaldean; Sunday 11 a.m. in Chaldean 

MAR ADDAI CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

24010 Coolidge Highway, Oak Park, MI 48237; (248) 547-4648 

Pastor: Rev. Stephen Kallabat 

Parochial Vicars: Rev. Fadi Habib Khalaf, Rev. Suleiman Denha 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 12 noon; Sunday, 10 a.m. in Sourath and Arabic, 

12:30 p.m. in Sourath 

ST. GEORGE CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

45700 Dequindre Road, Shelby Township, MI 48317; (586) 254-7221 

Pastor: Msgr. Emanuel Hana Isho Shaleta 

Assistant Pastor: Rev. Basel Yaldo 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m.; Saturday, 5 p.m.; Sunday: 8:30 a.m. in 

Chaldean, 10 a.m. in Arabic, 11:30 a.m. in English, 1 p.m. in Chaldean. Baptisms: 

2:30 p.m. on Sundays. 

ST. JOSEPH CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

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

Pastor: Msgr. Zouhair Toma (Kejbou) 

Parochial Vicar: Fr. Rudy Zoma 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean; Saturday, 5 p.m. in English and 

Chaldean; Sunday, 8 a.m. in Chaldean, 9:30 a.m. in Arabic, 11 a.m. in English, 12:30 

p.m. in Chaldean, 2:15 in Chaldean and Arabic. Baptisms: 3 p.m. on Sundays. 

ST. MARY HOLY APOSTOLIC 

CATHOLIC ASSYRIAN CHURCH OF THE EAST 

4320 E. 14 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48092; (586) 825-0290 

Rector: Fr. Benjamin Benjamin 

Mass Schedule: Sunday, 9 a.m. in Assyrian; 12 noon in Assyrian and English 

ST. THOMAS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

6900 Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322; (248) 788-2460 

Pastor: Rev. Frank Kalabat 

Rev. Emanuel Rayes (retired) 

Parochial Vicar: Rev. Jirgus Abrahim 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m. in Sourath; Saturday, 5 p.m. in English; 

Sunday 9 a.m. in English, 10:30 a.m. in English, 12:30 p.m. in Sourath 

ST. TOMA SYRIAC CATHOLIC CHURCH 

2560 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48335; (248) 478-0835 

Pastor: Rev. Toma Behnama 

Mass Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 6 p.m.; Sunday 12 p.m. 

All masses are in Syriac, Arabic and English 

Hayat Kado 

“The world’s loss was heaven’s 

gain when God took you 

home.” 

Hayat Kado, the first born 

to Hermiz and Rahel Kado, 

was born in the village of 

Alqosh on December 8, 1933. 

Sadly, Hayat passed away on 

October 23, 2009. 

Hayat Kado was the oldest 

and only sister of five brothers: 

Abid, Kamel, Rahem, Bassam 

and Tiva. Hayat was married to 

the late Adil Koja in 1963. Adil 

and Hayat were married for a 

happy 33 years until Adil Koja 

passed away. 

Hayat was a proud and 

amazing mother to Fouas 

(Nagham), Marwan (Eva), Nadia 

(Sarmed), Fadia (Labeeb) 

and Nashwan (Suzan). She 

was also a loving grandmother 

of 13 and an inspiring aunt of 

13 nephews and 14 nieces. 

Hayat immigrated to America 

in 1995 to join the rest of 

her family. Hayat was also 

known to everyone as Khatha 

Hayat, which means “Sister 

Hayat,” because of the way 

she put everyone in her heart 

and before herself. She was a 

very religious women and was 

constantly praying for everyone 

and singing hymns. 

Hayat lived 76 long and 

beautiful years. Anyone who 

had the chance to meet or talk 

to Hayat was very heartbroken 

when she left us. Hayat went 

through a lot of medical procedures 

in her lifetime, but God 

took her to his home without 

any pain and suffering. Even 

though Hayat is not present 

with us today, we know that 

her memories and teachings 

will never fade away from our 

hearts. 

The family of Hayat Kado 

would like to thank everyone 

for all their generous help conducting 

the funeral. We thank 

all the friends and family for 

their phone calls and emails. 

We also appreciate all the condolences 

and all your prayers. 

We know that our beloved 

Hayat hears our prayers and 

has become an angel and will 

be watching over all of us. 

Khatha Hayat, as we continue 

with our lives we still feel like a 

part of us is missing but we know 

you’re in a better and wonderful 

place where you have always 

wanted to be. We love you Nana 

with all of our hearts and we will 

never forget you. Please watch 

over us. 

Hayat Kado 

Recently deceased 

Community members 

Kathleen Marie 

Hermiz (Summa) 

January 24, 2010 

Sabria Arab Allos 


Yousif Betou 


Yousif Ramzi 

Shammas 


Goriel Hanna Goriel 


Jalil Tobia Zeituna 

December 23, 2009 

Victor Khami 

December 22, 2009 

Submit your loved 

one’s obituary to 

info@chaldeannews. 

com, or send it to 

Chaldean News, 29850 

Northwestern Highway, 

Southfield, 

Goriel Hanna 

Goriel 

Jalil Tobia Zeituna 

Yousif Ramzi 

Shammas 



a decade of 

growth and change 

By Vanessa Denha-Garmo and Joyce Wiswell 

The Iraq War and 

Ensuing Refugee Crisis 

Regardless of one’s political persuasions, 

there is little arguing the invasion 

of Iraq by U.S. forces in March 

2003 has had terrible consequences 

for the country’s religious minorities. 

Despite his many sins, Saddam 

Hussein protected Iraq’s Christians 

but since his fall, the community 

has seen some 40 church bombings, 

untold religious persecution, kidnappings 

for random, and murders. 

Perhaps the most shocking was the 

death of Archbishop Paulos Faraj 

Rahho on March 13, 2008, whose 

body was discovered two weeks after 

he was kidnapped. 

Since the war, 2.2 million Iraqis 

have left the country and another 2.2 

million have become Internally Displaced 

People. Iraq’s Christian population 

has plummeted from 1.2 million 

to less than a half-million who 

are mainly living in their ancestral 

villages in the north, said Joe Kassab, 

executive director of the Chaldean 

Federation of America (CFA). 

After a sluggish start, the U.S. 

government is beginning to accept 

more Iraqi refugees. Since August 1, 

2007, 35,350 refugees have come to 

the United States, primarily Michigan 

but also California, Arizona, Nevada 

and Illinois. 

In the beginning, some 80 percent 

were Christian, but that number 

is now only about 40 percent, 

Kassab said. 

“The government wants to show 

they are bringing in all Iraqis, not just 

Christians,” he said. “They think all refugees 

are entitled to come to the U.S.” 

This past decade was one of great change for the United States 

– the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; the launching 

of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; the election of the country’s first 

African-American president; and the economic meltdown from 

which we’ve yet to recover. 

It’s also been a milestone decade for the Chaldean community 

both here in Michigan and in Iraq. Here’s an overview of some of 

the biggest stories to hit the community in the past 10 years. 

Church bombings 

took a heavy toll 

on Iraq’s Christian 

community. 

This fiscal year, which began October 

1, 2009, will see 20,000 Iraqi 

refugees admitted to the U.S. Kassab 

said it is impossible to predict how 

many will be religious minorities, 

but “the government is starting to 

see that they are the most vulnerable 

and the most admissible.” 

For many refugees, landing on 

U.S. soil only continues their arduous 

journey. “Once in the U.S. 

services are still inadequate and the 

relationship between different agencies 

is not coherent,” Kassab said. 

The CFA is calling on the State 

Department to change the orientations 

given to would-be refugees so 

they come to America with a more 

realistic picture. 

“They make a lot of promises 

that are not being kept, including 

providing jobs, housing and 

healthcare. We want these orientations 

to be accurate so refugees are 

not shocked when they get here,” 

Kassab said. 

Groups like the CFA, Chaldean 

Community Foundation and Chaldean 

American Ladies of Charity 

have been forced to step in to help 

the newcomers. 

“It’s becoming a real burden to 

community members. We are very 

displeased that the U.S. administration 

and the state are not coming to 

the rescue,” Kassab said. 

He is optimistic that resolutions 

introduced by U.S. Rep. Gary Peters 

and U.S. Sen. Carl Levin will 

get more funding to grassroots organizations 

to assist in resettlement. 

“The situation is becoming so tenuous 

that we need help,” Kassab said. 


The Adopt-A-Refugee-Family program allows concerned Chaldeans to directly help Iraqi 

refugees. Thanks to an anonymous benefactor who pays all administrative costs, the CFA 

guarantees that 100 percent of donations go directly to the family. 

The CFA Is Reborn 

“For I was hungry and you gave me 

something to eat, I was thirsty and 

you gave me something to drink, I 

was a stranger and you invited me in, 

I needed clothes and you clothed me, 

I was sick and you looked after me, I 

was in prison and you came to visit 

me.” Mark 25-35-40 

Basic Bacall proudly recites that 

verse when he talks about the Adopt- 

A-Refugee-Family program. This 

past decade, thousands of Christians 

Iraqis were helped. The successful 

program is a testament to the rebirth 

of the Chaldean Federation of America 

(CFA). 

Founded in 1981, the non-profit 

CFA is a national umbrella organization 

of Chaldean entities. Once 

considered a dominant force, the 

CFA went dormant for several years. 

In 2006, Bishop Ibrahim M. Ibrahim 

appointed West Bloomfield resident 

and Farmington Hills businessman 

Michael George as interim chairman, 

after the CFA’s General Assembly 

voted to ask His Excellency 

to assist in overhauling the federation. 

George then brought on Joseph 

Kassab as executive director. 

In July 2007, with the help of Bacall, 

the CFA launched a new program 

for displaced Iraqi Christians 

called Adopt-a-Refugee-Family. 

Facing religious persecution, kidnappings 

and murder, thousands of Iraqi 

families have been forced from their 

homeland into neighboring countries. 

As refugees they are left with 

no other choice than to seek safety 

anywhere they can. There they live 

a squalid existence, unable to work 

legally and send their children to 

school. Some mothers have turned 

to prostitution in a desperate attempt 

to keep their children fed. Food, water 

and other basic necessities have 

become exceedingly scarce. Entire 

families are homeless, hungry and 

desperate. 

The Adopt-A-Refugee-Family program 

allows concerned Chaldeans to 

directly help Iraqi refugees. Thanks to 

an anonymous benefactor who pays all 

administrative costs, the CFA guarantees 

that 100 percent of donations go 

directly to the family. 

As of January 2010, more than 

Camp Chaldean 

was purchased 

from the city of 

Detroit in 2007. 

50,000 people have been helped and 

more than $1 million raised through 

the program. 

“Our local community should be 

proud of themselves. Together we 

have accomplished an amazing feat,” 

said Bacall. “This is a small drop in 

the bucket but compared to what the 

Lord has blessed us all with in this 

country, I feel that it is our duty to 

help those in need and much less 

fortunate than we are. Our donors 

feel such a sense of satisfaction when 

they send a donation and know that 

100 percent of their money will go to 

a refugee family and make such a big 

impact in their lives. There definitely 

is a lot more satisfaction in giving 

than receiving.” 

Over the next few years, the CFA 

is not focused on reaching a certain 

dollar amount but plans to live up to 

its commitment to assist Iraqi Christians 

being forced out of their countries 

and living as refugees. 

“We are their lifeline,” said Bacall. 

“There are so many refugees in 

dire need; we are just scratching the 

surface. We are only able to continue 

our mission as long as our people 

open their hearts and continue to 

give. We are inspired by our faith 

and human love and compassion of 

those in need.” 

The CFA is also a force in getting 

the message out about the persecution 

of Iraq’s Christian and other religious 

minorities. It helps refugees 

adjusting to life in the U.S. and assists 

those fighting for asylum status. Its 

most enduring tradition is the annual 

Chaldean Commencement, which 

celebrates its 28th year this June. 

Chaldean Diocese 

Enjoys Growth 

The pressing need for a new church 

on the Eastside was answered in 

December 2005, when St. George 

Chaldean Catholic Church opened 

its doors in Shelby Township. Since 

then it has become the largest Chaldean 

church in the United States. 

This past Christmas season, for example, 

St. George celebrated 11 

masses on December 24 and 25. 

“We have to accommodate the 

people,” said Msgr. Emanuel Shaleta, 

St. George’s pastor. He is assisted by 

two assistant pastors but, at times, 

even that is not enough. 

While the pews at the church 

are filled, the collection baskets are 

not. The debt from the original construction 

project remains large. Msgr. 

Shaleta said the church gets by week 

to week and is being supported by St. 

Joseph’s Chaldean Church in Troy, 

which has no debt. Church leaders 

are hesitant to push for more support 

during these difficult times and 

rely on God’s grace. So far, that has 

worked pretty well. 

Meanwhile, the Chaldean Diocese 

purchased from the City of Detroit 

a large track of rural land near 

Brighton in 2007. The move was met 

with great excitement and anticipation 

by community members across 

the spectrum who looked forward to 

having a place just 40 minutes west 

of town to escape the hustle and bustle 

of city life. 

The camp was purchased for $3.5 

million, which at the time was the 

best and only offer. Several hundred 

thousand more dollars were spent to 

bring the property, now known as 

Camp Chaldean, into useable condition 

after years of neglect and lack of 

maintenance. 

During the summer 2009 season, 

the camp was used mostly on weekends 

for family reunions, picnics and 

small gatherings. There were even a 

couple of weddings there. Plans are 

underway to build a chapel that will 

be named Mar Gorgis per the wishes 

of the late Shammaya Kassab, whose 

trust provided some of the monies 

to purchase the camp and build the 

chapel. 

Late last year, former Detroit officials 

were indicted in an alleged 

bribery scheme related to the camp 

purchase. While this has clouded 

the Camp Chaldean sale in the media, 

no community or church members 

were involved in the scheme. 

The investigation appears to be 

ongoing. 


Located in Farmington Hills, Bank of Michigan opened with $8 million in capital and grew its 

asset size to $60 million in its first three years . Today it is a $90-million institution. The bank 

services small businesses, with loans averaging in the $500,000-$600,000 range. 

The Bank of Michigan Launches 

When it opened in January 2005, the 

Bank of Michigan effectively gave the 

Chaldean community its own financial 

institution. Though bank officials 

downplay the Chaldean connection, 

the fact remains that many in the 

community view it as “their” bank. 

Located in Farmington Hills, Bank 

of Michigan opened with $8 million 

in capital and grew its asset size to $60 

million in its first three years. Today 

it is a $90-million institution, according 

to Michael Sarafa, president and 

CEO, who came onboard in 2006 

after serving as president of the Associated 

Food Dealers. He is also a copublisher 

of The Chaldean News. 

The bank services small businesses, 

with loans averaging in the 

$500,000-$600,000 range. It has 

more than 1,000 clients. 

In the beginning, some were skeptical 

about keeping their money in a 

community bank because of privacy 

concerns. 

“We have overcome that feeling 

completely by consistently demonstrating 

to people that we deliver all 

our services with the highest level of 

professionalism and confidentiality,” 

Sarafa said. 

It hasn’t all been rosy – investors 

did not receive their planned-on 

share exchange at the end of 2007 because 

of the financial position of the 

holding company, Capitol Bancorp 

(CBC-NYSE). BOM’s net income 

dropped from $600,000 in 2008 to a 

little more than $100,000 in 2009 – 

but the fact that it still made a profit 

in the state’s brutal economy is laudable, 

Sarafa said. 

“The point is that most Michigan 

headquarter banks lost money in 

2008, 2009 or both,” he said. “We 

were profitable for two consecutive 

years in the worst economy since the 

1930s in the hardest-hit industry and 

in the hardest-hit state.” 

In 2010, BOM is looking to take 

advantage of a shakeout in the state’s 

banking industry. That may include 

purchasing a majority share of Capitol 

Bancorp, raising capital to make a 

different acquisition or aligning itself 

with another financial institution, 

Sarafa said. 

“The name of the game right now 

is survival,” Sarafa said, “and preparing 

yourself to be in a position of strength 

and stability once the dust settles.” 

Shenandoah Country 

Club opened its doors 

in January 2005. 

Shenandoah Opens 

Though last year’s financial problems 

cast a giant shadow over Shenandoah, 

there is no denying the achievement 

the upscale country club represents 

for the Chaldean community. 

When it was opened in January 

2005 by the Chaldean Iraqi American 

Association of Michigan (CIAAM), 

many were proud of the lavish facility 

though some complained it was too 

opulent compared to CIAAM’s former 

home at the Southfield Manor. Nevertheless, 

membership rose at a healthy 

clip to 900 before Shenandoah even 

opened, despite the hefty $12,000 initiation 

fee for new members. 

Shenandoah’s early days were 

challenged by construction cost 

overruns (much due to an upgrade 

of the members-only areas that were 

decried as too Spartan) and ineffective 

operations that saw three general 

managers in the first 13 months 

of operation. 

While the banquet performance 

gradually improved, the club become 

mired in debt and faced the very real 

possibility of foreclosure. That was 

just resolved last December when the 

club purchased its $20 million bank 

note for $6.7 million. 

Meanwhile, popular General 

Manager Kamal Kassem retired late 

last year and the club is now run by 

former head chef Lee Sharkis, who is 

still formally on an interim basis as 

GM. 

Due to the economy and uncertainty 

about the club’s future, membership 

has nosedived. Today there 

are about 540 paid members and another 

170 or so who owe dues, said 

President Neb Mekani. A greatly reduced 

buy-in of only $1,000 already 

lured more than 100 new members in 

December and January, he said. 

“We hope to have 800 members 

by the end of 2010 and get to 1,000 

by the end of 2011,” Mekani said. 

Shenandoah also plans to offer 

more competitive banquet prices, 

beef up marketing and strictly enforce 

its rules regarding members, Mekani 

said, who noted that too many nonmembers 

take advantage of the club 

without paying for it. 

“We are now having someone 

check IDs at all entrances,” he said. 

“We have made that commitment to 

the members – it’s not fair they are 

paying their dues and others get to 

use it and not pay for it.” 

John Orow of Troy bought in at 

$9,000, reflecting a 25 percent family 

discount. He is not resentful that the 

same membership now costs so much 

less. 

“At the time the price was right,” 

he said. “I can’t be upset about it 

because nothing is worth was it was 

four years ago. In the grand scheme 

of things, it’s more important for 

Shenandoah to succeed.” 

Mekani said despite its bumpy 

road, everyone needs to look at the 

big picture of what Shenandoah represents. 

“It’s truly a landmark for the 

entire community,” he said. “Chaldeans 

are still a relatively new group 

of immigrants and to accomplish and 

achieve something like Shenandoah 

is absolutely remarkable.” 

The Chaldean News Is Created 

In the spring of 2002, four young 

Chaldeans decided to forge a partnership 

and launch a newsmagazine 

about the Chaldeans, for the Chaldeans 

and for anyone wanting to 

do business or connect with Chaldeans. 

After two years of research and 

preparation, The Chaldean News 

was launched in February 2004. 

The first cover was a collage of news 

stories featuring new Patriarch Emmanuel 

III Delly, the fall of Saddam 

Hussein and the flag of Iraq. 

“We were so proud of that cover,” 

said Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief 

Denha-Garmo. “In retrospect, I 

don’t know if we would have chosen 

the same artwork. We have learned 

a tremendous amount about publishing 

a newsmagazine since then.” 

The product was the birth of 

something all the partners hoped 

would be loved and nurtured by the 

community. 

The first Chaldean News cover, 

February 2004. 

“So much was happening that 

year we launched,” said Denha-Garmo. 

“I got married, published a book 

and launched a new magazine all 

while working full-time for Wayne 

Executive Robert Ficano. And my 

partners were having kids and pursuing 

other business ventures, but all of 

us stay focused on producing a quality 

newsmagazine.” 

Statically, magazines fold within 

the first five years of business; The 

Chaldean News is now in its seventh 

year and despite the tough economy, 

moving forward. 


The future of ECRC is the fulfillment of the teaching of the Second Vatican council. 

All baptized Christians are called by the virtue of their baptism to evangelize the 

Good News of Jesus Christ to the whole world. 

Iraqi Church Leaders 

Are Elevated 

On October 17, 2007, Pope Benedict 

XVI sent a strong message to the rest 

of the world — the plight of Christians 

and Christianity in the Middle 

East demands attention. That message 

was sent when the Pope elevated 

Mar Emmanuel III Delly, the Patriarch 

of Babylon to Cardinal. 

Emmanuel III Delly was born 

on October 6, 1927 in Telkaif and 

was ordained a priest on December 

21, 1952. He was ordained a bishop 

ten years later in December 1962 at 

the age of 35. He has been the Patriarch 

of the Chaldean Church since 

December 3, 2003. He replaced Patriarch 

Raphael I Bidawid. He was 

created a Cardinal Bishop on November 

24, 2007. 

His patriarchate in Iraq came at 

a fairly difficult time period. Before 

he became Patriarch he had been accidentally 

injured by shattered glass 

in an attack. Hence he has been 

strongly concerned about the security 

situation there. He has expressed 

criticisms about upsurges in violence 

against Christians. He has taken efforts 

to improve the population’s morale, 

maintain friendly relations with 

Islamic leaders, improve safety, and 

work for the release of kidnapping 

victims. 

Just this past November, Fr. Emil 

Shimoun Nona was named the new 

Archbishop of Mosul by Pope Benedict. 

He replaces Archbishop Paulos 

Faraj Rahho, who was kidnapped by 

militants and found dead two weeks 

later in March 2008. 

Archbishop Nona, 42, was born 

in Alqosh, Iraq, on November 1, 

1967. He entered the Chaldean Patriarchal 

Seminary in 1985 and was 

ordained a priest on January 11, 1991 

in Baghdad. His pastoral experience 

includes serving as the parochial vicar 

at Alqosh from 1993 to 1997 and 

then as pastor until 2000. 

Thousands of people attended his 

ordination as an Archbishop at the 

Convent of Our Immaculate Lady in 

Alqosh. 

Business-minded Chaldeans 

create a chamber 

In 2003, a group of Chaldean businesses 

owners and community activists 

created The Chaldean American 

Chamber of Commerce. It is a partnership 

of Chaldean businesses and 

professionals working together to 

strengthen members’ businesses, increase 

job opportunities, encourage 

expansion and promote Chaldean 

business and culture. The chamber 

seeks to service and represent Aramaic-speaking 

people, including Assyrians, 

Chaldeans and Syriacs. 

Sabah Hermiz (Summa), the first 

chairman of the board, led the effort 

to form the chamber along with 15 

community members. 

Chaldean Chamber of Commerce Chairman 

Frank Jonna addresses guests at 

the opening of the new Chamber office. 

“The chamber’s success is a clear indication 

of the impact Chaldean businesses 

have on the economy in Southeast 

Michigan,” said Martin Manna, 

the group’s executive director. “This 

organization has given our business 

community a voice in the region.” 

Mar Emmanuel III 

Delly, the Patriarch of 

Babylon, was elevated 

to Cardinal in 2007. 

Today, there are nearly 800 members 

who enjoy quarterly networking meetings, 

an annual Business Conference, 

industry outlook events and the annual 

dinner highlighting the Businessperson 

of the Year and Humanitarian of the 

Year, which is always a sell out. 

The chamber also created the 

PAC, a political action committee 

that lends its support to various candidates 

running for political office. 

Charitable works are done through 

the Chaldean Community Foundation, 

a not-for-profit dedicated to advancing 

the needs of the Chaldean 

American community and the communities 

they live and work in through 

education, charitable giving and advocacy. 

The Foundation includes the 

Waad Murad Advocacy Fund, which 

supplies reward money for information 

that leads to the arrest and conviction 

of the assailant(s) of violent crime perpetuated 

against businesspeople. 

Thanks to state funding, the 

foundation has launched the Mental 

Health Initiative, which provides 

mental health services to those in 

need, particularly newly arrived refugees 

still coping with the trauma of 

the Iraq War and its subsequent religious 

persecution. 

The foundation has supported 

and been a part of several initiatives, 

including workplace development, 

economic development, refugee assistance, 

cultural competency training 

and charitable giving. The Foundation 

hosts two major events each June: A 

Golf Outing at Shenandoah and the 

Chaldean Festival, held in conjunction 

with the City of Southfield. 

The ECRC Flourishes 

The more than 20 programs offered 

by the Eastern Catholic Re-Evangelization 

Center (ECRC) grew substantially 

during the last decade that the 

group grew right out of St. Thomas 

Church in West Bloomfield and into 

St. Ephrem’s Center in Bloomfield 

Township, 15 minutes away. 

Nearly 600 people walk through 

the doors each week to take part in 

the religious studies offered by ECRC. 

The 7,000-square-foot facility was a 

Jewish synagogue before St. Thomas 

purchased it for $1.3 million in 2007. 

ECRC was co-founded by Fr. 

Frank Kalabat, Karam Bahnam, Neran 

Karmo and Vanessa Kassab. 

“Since 2001 when ECRC was 

founded till this day we felt all along 

the hand of God continually guiding 

the work, from the simple idea of a 

few people filled with zeal to an organization 

of more than 20 activities led 

by lay faithful serving more than 500 

people weekly,” said Fr. Frank. “As 

the Gospel reminds us, the harvest is 

plenty but the laborers are few.” 

Since its inception, ECRC has received 

support from the Church’s hierarchy 

including by His Excellency Bishop 

Ibrahim Ibrahim. However, they are 

challenged on a regular basis to encourage 

the faithful to take on their role of 

evangelization and activating their faith. 

“We all have a share to proclaim 

the Good News; it is not only the responsibility 

of the religious and the 

clergy,” said Bahnam. “We have been 

blessed with a lot of good fruits to encourage 

us in our journey. The Lord 

is leading the way. In Him we trust.” 

Most program leaders are volunteers, 

but all leaders must attend the 

ECRC’s theology class for one year or 

have equivalent experience. ECRC 

expenses are covered by a grant from 

the archdiocese and donations. 

The future of ECRC is the fulfillment 

of the teaching of the Second 

Vatican council. All baptized Christians 

are called by the virtue of their 

baptism to evangelize the Good News 

of Jesus Christ to the whole world. 

“We pray that the ECRC is helping 

out the faithful to carry on their 

vocation as they live their daily lives,” 

said Karmo. “More people are coming 

forward to serve others as an immediate 

result of their experience, especially 

the youth since many activities 

and retreats are helping to initiate and 

awaken their love for the Lord.” 


chaldean on the STREET 

What do you consider the top Chaldean story in the last 10 years? 

By Caroline M. Bacall 

Since the booming settlement of the Chaldean community in America, there is no denying change will be ever-present. 

We visited local businesses and asked people what they consider to be the past decade’s top stories. 

The liberation of Iraq and the 

opportunity of freedom. The 

despicable actions of a dictatorship 

regime once monitored 

the daily lives of citizens with 

intense scrutiny and extreme 

consequences. Despite the 

quest for “Operation Iraqi 

Freedom,” Chaldean churches 

were bombed, clergy murdered, 

businesses looted and family 

members kidnapped for ransom. 

From these actions, each and 

every one of us has been affected 

in a heart-wrenching manner. 

Regardless of being related 

to someone who suffered, as a 

close-knit community we have all 

experienced the pain. However, 

freedom will be attained once 

again in our homeland with the 

grace of our Lord and the leadership 

of our church. 

Michael Kado, 23 


The Chaldean Catholic Church. 

In the past decade, we have 

seen the Chaldean Church transform 

from an ordinary institution 

into an extraordinary institution. 

The opening of the gorgeous St. 

George in 2005 was followed by 

the opening of the much-needed 

Camp Chaldean in 2007, which 

was then followed by the opening 

of the useful St. Ephrem in 

2008. Besides the expansion of 

the Church by way of structures, 

more importantly came the expansion 

of services offered out of 

these structures. Programs such 

as CLC, apologetics, Thursday 

adoration and first Friday 

devotion provided a pathway for 

each of us to grow closer to the 

heavenly Father. Through the 

will of God, let us pray that the 

next decade will allow for the 

Chaldean Church to flourish to 

an even grander scale. 

Amanda Kesto, 23 

Commerce 

Young Chaldeans are losing 

their roots. Throughout the 

years, there has been more 

focus on the glamorous life 

with the Chaldean youth in 

particular. The obsession with 

Hollywood, celebrities and 

wealth has changed the majority 

of our youth’s mentality, from 

being humble to being a lover of 

individualism or an “it’s all about 

me” attitude. There needs to be 

a balance in life: God first, family 

second and one’s self last. It is 

very important that we hold on to 

our Chaldean traditions. 

Tom Naemi, 55 

Farmington Hills 

An increasing involvement in 

media and the entertainment 

world. Chaldeans are walking 

into the entertainment business 

more than before, but at the 

same time Chaldeans have yet 

to branch out. I know someone 

who is an actor in California and 

visits his family here. I also have 

a cousin who utilizes his degree 

in the industry as a music engineer. 

As a writer and screenwriter, 

I believe more talent in 

our community is out there. 

Eventually, we will develop a 

name for ourselves and be a 

big part of the entertainment 

industry. 

Alex Ketty, 39 


The downfall of the economy. I 

believe we needed it in a way. At 

one point, many of us including 

myself have felt occupied in our 

own world with our busy lives 

and had everything we needed. 

Maybe some of us felt like praying 

was not as necessary when 

every business was making 

money. Lately, I have noticed 

people asking me “let’s pray 

together” or “teach me” because 

they’re going through very difficult 

times. Saying, “Thank you 

God” or “I love you” are simple 

prayers we can all say in our 

spare time to enhance our faith. 

I think the economy has helped 

many of us realize we need God 

through good and bad times. 

Majda Ayar, 32 

Southfield 

In more recent times, the 

Adopt-a-Refugee program 

has positively impacted the 

Chaldean population around the 

world. It has shown the nature 

of our generosity, and I think it 

is very honorable of our people 

even with the decline of the 

economy. The hardships that 

the refugees have encountered 

were devastating. Here, they 

have an opportunity for a new 

beginning. 

Mary Mattia, 65 


Income. For the last few years, 

people have compared prices of 

the bakery I work for to prices 

of other bakeries in the area. 

Before that, people would just 

buy and not even ask about 

the price. Over the years, 

people have been spending less 

because of a decrease in their 

income. There are those who 

have humbled themselves a little 

more and others who argue 

about not being treated right if 

they are not given the price they 

want. 

Bianca Kas-Marogi, 21 

Commerce 

An increase of faith in the 

Chaldean community. Seems 

like more Chaldeans have been 

attending the workshops that the 

different churches offer. Within 

the last few years, we’ve had 

about six seminarians and two 

girls who have entered the convent. 

It’s a beautiful thing. The 

building of the St. Thomas grotto 

has also helped — it’s like an 

invitation to the church because 

it is open to the public 24 hours, 

seven days a week. 

Louie Abbo, 51 


Gambling has been a big problem 

in the community for a long time. 

I personally know of many people 

who ran their own businesses 

from open to close hours for 

more than 30 years and sacrificed 

family time that was priceless. 

What started as a leisure activity 

became an addiction with bad 

friends and incentives to get 

people into the casino. They were 

drained mentally, physically and 

emotionally. The end-result was 

divorce and losing everything they 

worked so hard for. Now, they’re 

just living from day to day. 

Sam Bashi, 45 

Sterling Heights 

Over the past ten years, parents 

in our community have emphasized 

the value of education to 

their children. Chaldeans are 

not only attending college at an 

increasing rate, they are also 

receiving professional degrees. 

Chaldeans have always been 

ambitious people, but the 

direction of those ambitions 

have shifted. Several of us are 

pursuing our goals and successfully 

achieving them through 

education 

Javon Hindo, 21 

Wixom 


killing shocks community 

Grandmother charged with drowning tot 

By Ray Gabbara 

The Chaldean community was 

shocked last month by the death 

of 4-year-old DeAngelo Tobia Al- 

Kasmikha, allegedly at the hands of his 

grandmother. 

DeAngelo was visiting his maternal 

grandmother, Terry Rita Borgia, for the 

weekend when his life was cut short. On 

the morning of January 11, Clinton Township 

Police responded to a 911 phone call 

from Tanina Borgia, DeAngelo’s aunt, who 

said the boy was laying unresponsively in a 

few inches of bathtub water. Prior to the 

arrival of EMS, Borgia performed CPR on 

the boy, but he was not breathing. 

Emergency responders also tried CPR 

with no luck. Paramedics rushed DeAngelo 

to Henry Ford Hospital in Clinton 

Township where he was pronounced dead. 

The suspicious nature of the incident 

led police to question DeAngelo’s Italian- 

American grandmother, Terry Rita Borgia, 

60, of Clinton Township. “Borgia informed 

police that she indeed murdered the boy,” 

said Lina Najor, another of DeAngelo’s 

aunts. “But as soon as they began in-depth 

questioning, she immediately [took] the 

Fifth Amendment.” 

Two days later, Borgia was charged with 

DeAngelo’s murder. Borgia, who reportedly 

has a history of mental illness, reportedly 

showed no emotion in the presence of 

EMS paramedics and the police. Neighbors 

and other people in the community 

said she consistently exhibited abnormal 

behavior. 

“We would have never in a million years 

have thought she would murder DeAngelo; 

she was always there for him and showed 

that she loved him,” said Najor. 

Borgia is presently in Macomb County 

Jail with no bond option. She was scheduled 

to appear in court on January 27, past 

press time. 

Both DeAngelo and Borgia reportedly 

had several bruises on their bodies, suggesting 

the boy battled for his life. 

“I have met with the detective on multiple 

occasions but have not gotten any answers 

as to why she murdered my nephew,” 

Najor said. “The detective claims that if 

he releases any information, it could ruin 

his investigation.” 

Those who knew DeAngelo say he 

was a precious little boy who always had a 

beautiful smile. He is survived by his parents, 

Bashar and Amy Al-Kasmikha, and 

two siblings. 

“It’s difficult to accept such reality, but 

God has a different plan for everyone,” 

said Fr. Manuel Boji, the pastor at Mother 

of God Chaldean Catholic Church where 

DeAngelo’s funeral mass services took 

place. 

Southfield Funeral Home handled 

the funeral. “It is always very sad to deal 

with a death of a child,” said Anthony 

Yono, administrative assistant. “It is not 

like dealing with the death of an elderly 

person. When an elderly person dies, we 

all pray for them and thank God for allowing 

them to live a long life. But in a 

situation like this, it is so much harder to 

recover.” 

DeAngelo Tobia Al-Kasmikha was 4 years old. 


‘nothing 

like love’ 

Couple celebrates 

seven decades of marriage 

By Rosalie Kakos 

For Zia Mansour Oram and 

Shamama Jerjis Oram, love 

knows no bounds as they celebrate 

72 years of married life together. 

When they wed on April 25, 

1937, in the village of Telkaif, Zia 

was 25 and Shamama was just 12 — 

a normal age difference at the time. 

“I didn’t even know what marriage 

was,” said Shamama. “I was like 

a saint, I didn’t know anything.” 

The couple knew they had to 

take on many responsibilities to care 

for their children — 11 were born 

in Iraq and one in America. This 

was no easy task living in a very nonindustrialized 

world. The food they 

had was for that day only and on the 

rare occasion they had leftovers, they 

were stored in the coolest part of the 

basement covered with blankets. 

Water retrieved from a well had to 

be boiled before consumption to kill 

off bacteria. 

While Shamama was home with 

the children, Zia had a job as the 

first private driver in his village; his 

license number was 111. He drove 

everyone from government officials 

to beggars on the street. On Sundays, 

he took widows and orphans 

anywhere they wanted to go free of 

charge. He never left his wife and 

children without their basic needs, 

sometimes stopping by the house at 

5 a.m. to drop off chickens, cheese, 

rice, olives and barley. His family 

would wake up to a house full of food 

every morning. 

When the Orams’ eldest daughter, 

Suham, married Salim Dickow 

and moved to America in 1948, she 

received her citizenship. (The two are 

the parents of Judge Diane Dickow 

D’Agostini.) Suham was able to bring 

either her mother or father to the 

country. She chose her father and in 

turn, he was able to bring two of their 

six sons, ages 16 and 17, to America. 

After only two years of living in the 

U.S., Zia moved back to Iraq. Shamama 

was happy he returned but terribly 

missed her children. 

“She was crying all the time because 

she missed them and I told her 

it’s not right. We all needed to be together,” 

said Zia. 

Before they arrived in the U.S., 

Shamama told her sons to have everything 

ready and the house fully furnished 

“from needles to thread”; they 

did just that and in 1963, the entire 

family was together again in Detroit. 

But leaving Telkaif was hard. 

“Everyone in the village loved us 

Zia and 

Shamama 

Oram on their 

wedding day 

in Telkaif … 

and today in 

Michigan. 

because we helped so many people. 

They said the neighborhood is dark 

without us,” remembered Shamama. 

Zia found a job in Detroit at the 

classic restaurant chain, Big Boy. 

Working there for more than 10 

years, he not only helped his family, 

but also other newly arriving members 

of the Chaldean community. He 

worked his way up to a managerial 

position and helped more than 400 

Chaldeans get a job with the chain. 

While Zia was at work, Shamama 

stayed home with the children. 

“I raised them like I was raised 

back home. The way they grow up 

depends on how you raise them,” she 

said. “Take care of them when they’re 

young, not when they’re old. This is 

the time to help them and nurture 

them; it doesn’t work when they’re 

older. You won’t be able to take care 

of them then, it’s now.” 

The Orams attribute the success 

of their marriage and family to one 

powerful factor — love. 

“Love, there is nothing like love,” 

said Shamama. “Of course we had 

problems, but you have to humble 

yourself and respect each other. There 

is no such thing as divorce. I’ll work 

as hard as I can because love solves 

all the problems. Let it go and be the 

first one to say you’re sorry. This is 

how you overcome problems.” 

“My parents grew together in 

love, in life and in holiness,” said 

one of their six daughters, Christine 

Oram. “They lived a hard life in a 

simple world, simple in the sense of 

faith and family. There was no industry, 

no conveniences. They raised 

their children with such deep love, 

pride and joy. When they came to 

America, time stopped in their mind. 

Their values remained in them.” 

Today Zia is 98 and Shamama is 

85. They live in West Bloomfield and 

have 75 grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. 

“My husband helped a lot of 

people, and this is the secret to a 

long and good life,” said Shamama. 

“Believing in Jesus Christ and being 

religious is also very important 

and I’m very proud of how my children 

grew up. No matter what you 

do in your life, there is an ending to 

your life, so make the best of it with 

God‘s help.” 



Jillian Semaan is flanked by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, with his wife Jill. 

a political player 

Young woman makes her mark in Democratic party 

By Vanessa Denha Garmo 

Still in her 20s, Jillian Semaan has had extensive 

experience working on campaigns 

for the Democratic Party. She has lived in 

Washington, D.C., worked for a Governor, a Congressman, 

a Vice President and a President, and is 

currently back home working for the Detroit City 

Council. 

While still in college studying political science, 

Semaan attended a fundraiser for then-gubernatorial 

candidate and Michigan Attorney General 

Jennifer Granholm. “My uncle Najib Attisha was 

throwing the party and knowing that I am a social 

butterfly he invited me,” recalled Semaan. “I met 

several people working on the Governor’s campaign 

and they invited me to work with them.” 

She did and ended up being hired to be part of 

the Governor’s finance staff. She transferred from 

Eastern to Michigan State where she spent two 

years with Granholm before she ended up moving 

to D.C. to work for then-Senator Joe Biden. 

After her stint with Biden, Semaan found herself 

shuffling between D.C. and Michigan as she 

worked on Gary Peter’s successful race for Congress 

against incumbent Joe Knollenberg. 

Her highest-profile race is the highest profile 

you can get, the race for President of the United 

States. Semaan, with already a significant resume, 

worked as liaison to Chaldean constituents as well 

as athletes and entertainers who came to Michigan 

to campaign for Obama/Biden. “I took care of the 

logistics,” said Semaan. “I also scheduled two of 

Michelle Obama’s visits here.” 

After working on Ken Cockrel’s race for Detroit 

Mayor in which he was defeated by David Bing, 

Semaan landed the position as Charles Pugh’s campaign 

manager. The City Council President is her 

newest boss. Semaan will be coordinating business 

outreach for the council. “I want to make sure we 

maintain a significant business presence in the city,” 

said Semaan. “We will continue to do outreach beyond 

what we did during the race.” 

The City Council’s focus, like the Mayor’s and 

other elected officials in the state, is to attract 

business and residents. “I really want to be able to 

present to corporations change, new ways of doing 

business and to invest into Detroit and the 

DEGC [Detroit Economic Growth Corporation],” 

said Semaan. “We at the City Council office will 

work with the Mayor’s Office to attract jobs, create 

revenue and perhaps a new Green Task Force in 

Detroit.” 

Semaan has tremendous 

faith in the 

‘We will work 

new council. “These with the Mayor’s 

new five council members 

not only give the Office to attract 

city but the entire region 

new hope,” she jobs, create 

said. “We want new 

ideas, and to engage 

revenue and 

the community.” 

perhaps a new 

Although her dream 

job is to work for the Green Task 

NFL, Semaan is realistically 

looking at Force in Detroit.’ 

a job with the Environmental 

Protec- 

– Jillian Semaan 

tion Agency (EPA) 

and wants to focus on 

attracting green jobs to Michigan. For right now 

she is hopeful that Detroit has the potential to be 

a Baltimore, Cleveland and even Chicago on a 

smaller scale. 

“When you are living elsewhere, people don’t 

know who Chaldeans are and I find myself giving 

my entire life story about who we are,” said Semaan. 

“I am proud. I have been through struggles like we 

all have been. I hope this community is proud of 

my successes. I have had issues with the community 

because of my political involvement and I am 

respectful of other’s opinions. I am proud to be a 

Chaldean-American and proud of what I do.” 

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in the 

thick 

of the 

fight 

Attorney fights 

Kilpatrick and 

others for 

dancer’s family 

By Ken Marten 

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame 

Kilpatrick continues to make 

the news, and attorney Norman 

Yatooma is in the thick of some 

of the proceedings. 

Yatooma, 37, represents the family 

of Tamara “Strawberry” Greene, 

the exotic dancer who was murdered 

on April 30, 2003 in a drive-by 

shooting. Greene is alleged to have 

performed at a party in fall 2002 at 

the Manoogian Mansion, home to 

then-Mayor Kilpatrick. While Michigan 

Attorney General Mike Cox has 

famously dubbed the party an “urban 

legend,” rumors persist that the party 

took place and that the mayor’s wife, 

Carlita, assaulted Greene. 

The slain dancer’s family is suing 

the city of Detroit, Kilpatrick, former 

Detroit police chief Ella Bully- 

Cummings, former mayoral chief of 

staff Christine Beatty (with whom 

Kilpatrick admitted to having an 

affair), and several other parties in 

federal court. The suit alleges that 

Kilpatrick and the others obstructed 

the Greene murder investigation for 

political reasons. Kilpatrick and his 

fellow plaintiffs deny the claims. 

“The [Manoogian Mansion] party 

is often referred to as the muchtalked-about, 

never-proven party,” 

said Yatooma, whose office is in Birmingham. 

“The party is significant 

to this case only because it could be 

Norman Yatooma: “It’s often forgotten that this case isn’t about politics or politicians.” 

the reason why Kwame Kilpatrick 

ordered a shutdown of the murder 

investigation of Tamara Greene. If 

Carlita Kilpatrick assaulted Tamara 

Greene, that could be a reason. It’s 

one of many reasons why that shutdown 

could have happened.” 

A wrongful death suit is out of 

the question, Yatooma said, because 

there is no defendant. Greene’s 

murderer is unknown at this time, 

and may never be known. 

“Too great a time has passed, 

too many documents have been destroyed, 

too many witnesses have 

been intimidated,” Yatooma said. 

“Instead, we’re suing the people 

who prevented us from ever learning 

who killed Tamara Greene, and 

that’s the former mayor and all his 

underlings.” 

Greene is survived by three 

children:16-year-old son Jonathan 

Bond and two younger daughters. 

Jonathon’s father, Ernest Flagg, is 

also a plaintiff in the case. 

At this point, the case is still in 

discovery, the process during which 

attorneys gather evidence for trial 

through depositions and by sifting 

through various documents. In December, 

Yatooma deposed Cox – an 

event Yatooma described to reporters 

as “not cordial” and “not nearly 

finished.” 

While Yatooma, a Bloomfield 

Hills resident, can’t speak directly 

about the case, certain facts are 

known through various media reports 

and other published statements. 

In May 2003, Governor 

Jennifer Granholm instructed the 

Michigan State Police to investigate 

the alleged party and Cox to review 

the results. Days later, Cox said 

he would lead the investigation. In 

June, Cox and his deputy, Tom Furtaw, 

interviewed Kilpatrick with no 

one else present. A few weeks later, 

Cox ended his investigation and 

issued the “urban legend” remark. 

The state police continued its investigation 

until January 2004 but was 

unable to uncover any evidence of a 

party or assault. 

Flagg began the lawsuit in November 

2005 and hired Yatooma 

in October 2007. Late in 2009, Yatooma 

deposed State Police Detective 

Sergeant Mark Krebs, who said 

that Cox, Detroit police officials 

and reluctant witnesses thwarted 

the investigation into the Manoogian 

party. 

“It’s often forgotten that this case 

isn’t about politics or politicians,” Yatooma 

said. “It’s fundamentally about 

three otherwise defenseless and forever 

motherless kids. I think Jonathan 

Bond said it best: ‘I just want 

the same thing Kwame Kilpatrick 

would want if his mom was killed.’” 

Yatooma will continue his deposition 

of Cox later this month. 

Depositions of Kilpatrick, Beatty 

and Bully-Cummings will also be 

scheduled. 

Yatooma, whose father was murdered 

in 1993, is the founder of Yatooma’s 

Foundation For The Kids, 

a non-profit organization that provides 

grief-counseling, mentoring, 

and assistance to children who have 

suddenly lost a parent. 


ECONOMICS & enterprise 

Babylon Market: A touch of home 

By Joe Gasso 

It is no surprise that Iraqi immigrants 

who have fled to Metro 

Detroit feel right at home in a 

number of the area’s authentic Chaldean 

stores like Babylon Market in 

Sterling Heights. 

“After many years of work in the 

liquor store business, I knew I was 

ready to change career paths. I wanted 

to really challenge myself and I 

felt something like Babylon Market 

would be perfect,” said Jamal Shaow, 

who opened the store in 2004. 

Entering the creatively constructed 

Babylon Market is a cultural experience 

in itself. Former Iraqi citizens 

will regard the song playing as a top 

40 Iraqi hit while newcomers will be 

mesmerized by its traditional flute and 

tapping of the tambourine. Hundreds 

of products grace the shelves of the 

market including dates, figs, almonds, 

cashews and nuts while classic beverages 

such as chai and shannineh (yo- 

Photos by David Reed 

Clockwise 

from top: 

Jamal Shaow greets 

customers with a 

smile 

Hazim Hanna 

bakes bread 

The meat 

department 

draws raves 

gurt drink) fill the many refrigerated 

cases. (Many young Chaldeans may 

be surprised to find these products 

are not just homemade by their parents 

but are actually best sellers.) 

The meat market, which Shaow 

calls “perhaps the most fascinating 

section to customers,” is an extensive 

area with butchers on hand patiently 

waiting as customers place their orders. 

Choices range from a variety 

of fresh fish to cattle and lamb. The 

fish are literally taken alive from the 

water, butchered and packaged. It 

is quite the contrast from the bakery 

section located across the aisle, 

which produces a sweet-smelling 

aroma from the many homemade 

pastries and breads. 

“I am always trying to change the 

store up and make it a little different 

from the last time a customer has visited,” 

says Shaow. “I owe my success 

to these little changes I have made 

while staying as authentic to Chaldean 

culture as possible, because if 

you take a look around you will see 

similar markets all over the city.” 

Those “little changes” are not 

hard to identify as they surely stand 

out to newcomers while making Iraqi 

natives feel at home. The signs in Arabic 

text and the sound of Chaldean 

being spoken among the customers 

make any transplant fit right in. 

Following the hectic holiday 

season where orders are in demand, 

Shaow’s main focus these days is the 

preservation of markets within the 

Chaldean lifestyle. As first-generation 

Chaldean Americans attempt 

to maintain a balance between complete 

assimilation and the preservation 

of an ancient culture, Shaow 

worries they will lose their roots. 

“Our community is only growing 

and immigration will never stop so it 

is essential to have Chaldean-owned 

and -run markets,” he said. “It is very 

important to know where you came 

from — and a Chaldean grocery store 

can provide that awareness.” 

Babylon Market is located at 

36886 Ryan Road in Sterling Heights. 

Call (586) 264-1700. 


Shawn G. Jappaya 

Attorney Counselor CPA 

“As an Attorney and CPA, I am 

uniquely qualified to handle your 

Financial Legal Needs” 

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ARTS & entertainment 

acting 

out 

Lamar Babi 

pursues a film 

career 

By Joyce Wiswell 

As a student at Brother Rice, 

Lamar Babi played a big 

role on the basketball court 

– never dreaming that the lure of 

other roles would change the course 

of his life. 

Despite some college athletic scholarship 

offers, Babi quit the basketball 

team during his senior year after a dispute 

with his coach. With his newly 

free time, he decided to take a drama 

class at Marian High School – and 

quickly became bitten by the acting 

bug the first time he took to the stage. 

“It was a huge rush – a feeling like 

I’ve never had before,” said Babi, now 

24. “God closed a door and opened a 

window.” 

Babi knew that he wanted to 

make acting a career, but his family 

was not thrilled with the idea of a 

college degree in theater. To appease 

them, and to have something to fall 

back on if needed, he majored in finance 

at Wayne State University, 

where he graduated Cum Laude. 

His academic success notwithstanding, 

Babi is still determined to 

make it as an actor. He’s appeared 

in 10 short films (having the lead in 

all but one) and starred in numerous 

commercials for companies like Henry 

Ford Hospital, Art Van and Match. 

Com. His work in one independent 

film, Detroit Unleaded, was seen at 

22 film festivals around the world 

and won him the Best Performance 

award at the New Haven (Connecticut) 

Film Festival. Babi, who lives in 

West Bloomfield, also co-wrote, codirected 

and co-starred in the Chaldean 

Comedy Show, which played to 

large crowds at Shenandoah Country 

Club a few years ago. 

His latest achievement is landing 

a small role in Crave, a movie starring 

Edward Furlong and Ron Perlman 

Lamar Babi: “You have to make things happen yourself.” 

that comes out later this year. “I’m in 

two scenes and only have about five 

or six lines, but it got me my SAG 

card,” Babi said. Having that Screen 

Actor’s Guild card is essential for any 

actor who wants to work in big studio 

productions. 

But Babi is not ready to quit his 

day – or night – jobs yet. He manages 

the family liquor store, Corner 

Market, in White Lake and bartends 

nights at another family business, the 

sports bar Scores in Farmington Hills. 

He is doing an internship at Greenlight 

Films, a Northville production 

company, and takes a method acting 

class that meets weekly in Ferndale. 

Despite all that, Babi stays busy 

with the community, serving as a Eucharist 

minister at St. Thomas Chaldean 

Catholic Church and a leader 

with the youth group CLC (Chaldeans 

Loving Christ). 

“If you want to do something 

you’re going to do it,” Babi said. 

“Even though I work at the bar on 

Saturdays and don’t get home until 

3:30 in the morning, I get up for 

church every Sunday. This is more 

important to me than anything.” 

Generous tax credits have lured 

many film productions to Michigan 

– just in the nick of time for Babi, who 

had planned to move to Los Angeles 

to pursue acting. “It’s a blessing. Now 

everywhere you turn people say, ‘don’t 

go anywhere right now – there is more 

being shot here than in LA,’” he said. 

That finance degree may still 

come in handy down the road. “I 

like the business end of films too,” 

Babi said. “I might get into producing 

or directing at some point later 

on – way later.” 

While he’s not about to turn his 

back should fame and fortune come 

his way, Babi said he will define success 

by winning an Academy Award 

– and being a positive role model in 

the Chaldean community. 

“I want to be someone people respect 

and admire not only as an actor, 

but as a person. I’d like to be able to 

use the celebrity and recognition you 

get and give back,” he said. “Much 

more than anything else, I’d like to 

inspire young people to not go in a 

negative way – to show that you can 

do things that are really important 

and something you dream of without 

going the wrong route, by following 

God and making sure you stay on the 

right track. It’s like that Robert Frost 

poem: two roads diverged and I took 

the one less taken – especially in our 

community.” 


PRIESTLY profile 

Rev. Emmanuel Rayes: Still going strong — 

and strongly opinioned — at 80 

By Weam Namou 

Upon entering one of the 

home quarters adjacent to 

the St. Thomas Chaldean 

Catholic Church chancery office in 

West Bloomfield, one would presume 

it’s a writer’s sanctuary. Bookshelves 

upon bookshelves fill the incensed 

dwelling, and there are stacks of 

manuscripts everywhere. 

The home belongs to Fr. Emmanuel 

Rayes, who was nicknamed 

Khalil Gibran when he was in the 

seminary. 

“I love writing,” said Fr. Rayes 

with a Syrian accent. “I always enjoyed 

and appreciated literature and 

poetry.” 

The author of more than a dozen 

books and the translator of just as 

many, Fr. Rayes writes an average of 

eight hours per day. He was once the 

editor-in-chief of the Al Mishal (The 

Torch) and Al-Tariq (The Way) 

magazines. Today he writes Arabic 

and French articles and continues 

to translate many books from French 

and English into Arabic. 

Born in 1930 in the village of 

Araden, Fr. Rayes is pleasant in nature 

and has a wonderful sense of 

humor. He initially brushed off the 

idea of being interviewed, claiming 

with great laughter, “I’m not of that 

caliber!” 

He even deglamorizes his “calling” 

by simply stating that he fell 

into priesthood “by coincidence” at 

the age of 12. 

“I used to hate priests,” he said. 

“Then one day the Bishop came to 

our house for lunch and I was captivated 

by his words and mannerism. 

He asked me whether I wanted to 

enter the seminary. I wanted to reply 

no, but was too embarrassed and 

afraid to do so, so I said yes.” 

He entered St. John Dominican 

Seminary not knowing that he would 

end up liking the priests and environment 

there to the point of continuing 

with this vocation. He has since 

never regretted his decision. On the 

contrary, he has been very happy, his 

only challenge having been the time 

when he’d separate from his family. 

Fr. Rayes was ordained to the 

priesthood in 1954. In 1963, he was 

sent to minister in Syria, where he 

remained for 17 years. He then lived 

in Lebanon for one year before arriving 

to the United States in 1980. 

“I came here at age 50,” he said, 

“so it was more difficult for me 

to adapt than it would someone 

younger.” 

Form 1980 to 1983, Fr. Rayes was 

Fr. Emmanuel 

Rayes is known for 

speaking his mind. 

appointed associate pastor at Mother 

of God Parish in Southfield. From 

1983 to 1989 he served as pastor at 

Sacred Heart Parish in Detroit, then 

during the early 1990s ministered to 

the Chaldean community in Farmington 

Hills and was at St. Joseph 

Parish in Troy, where he was Parochial 

Vicar until 2000. 

Although Fr. Rayes retired in 

2001 due to health problems, he remains 

active in serving the community, 

a community he believes will be 

drastically changed in the future. 

“I expect that the Chaldean 

church will not last more than 50 

years,” he said. “Eventually, it will 

become all American.” 

Is he saddened by this likelihood? 

Not necessarily. 

“Our roles are that of St. John 

the Baptist,” he explained. “We prepare 

for Jesus to come. We protect 

and maintain the Catholic faith and 

teachings and give it to our children, 

the next generation.” 

A number of factors will attribute 

to this extinction, Fr. Rayes 

believes, including Chaldeans placing 

money as their number-one priority 

– even if it means attaining it 

illegally – and the division caused 

by prejudice amongst Iraqi Christians. 

“People have treated one’s label 

like in a caste system,” he said of 

the Chaldean, Assyrian and Syriac 

names. “If you’re Chaldean or not, 

then you’re on a higher or lower class 

than someone of a different sect.” 

What can Chaldeans do to 

change their lot? 

“Become more open minded 

– especially with issues of equality 

between men and women,” said Fr. 

Rayes. 

Describing them as “shallow,” 

Fr. Rayes feels that many of the 

Chaldeans who immigrated to the 

U.S. held onto the ancient Iraqi 

traditions rather than adapt to their 

new country. This caused a wall between 

them and their Americanized 

children, led to control issues 

and pushed the youth to turn to 

harmful behavior. 

Another issue that will lead to 

the Chaldean church’s deterioration 

is that only 10 percent of Chaldeans 

attend church, said Fr. Rayes. 

“We’ve lost many of them to other 

Christian sects,” he said. “Those who 

left their countries, the refugees, were 

fished out by Protestants and Evangelicals. 

We didn’t get to them in time.” 

He regretfully admits that there 

hasn’t been enough care provided for 

the Iraqi refugees living in America, 

who are experiencing poor and miserable 

conditions. 

“We should’ve done more,” he 

said. 

The job of the priest has become 

more administrative, he lamented. 

In the past, priests were more active 

within the community, one of their 

tasks being to visit peoples’ homes. 

Because families increased and priests 

decreased in number, the priests were 

unable to maintain that type of close 

interaction. 

“I wish for newness in the church,” 

Fr. Rayes said. “The next generations 

of priests are our only hope.” 


classified listings 

HELP WANTED 

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INSTRUCTION 

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Master’s in Special Ed. Home 

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(248) 739-0333. 

Stores For Sale 

MULTI-CARRIER CELL 

PHONE SHOP 

VZW, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, 

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Call Dian, (586) 243-6445. 

LIQUOR STORE FOR SALE 

Great and Safe location! 

Short hours of operation. 

Averaging $18,000-$20,000 a 

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$750,000 or best. Ron, 

(248) 931-1065. 

MARATHON GAS STATION 

FOR SALE 

Beer, wine, lottery, check 

cashing. Built in 2004. 

Excellent Sales! Located on 

the eastside, 696 & Gratiot. 

Call Kevin, (248) 504-7302. 

TANNING SALON FOR SALE 

2200 sq ft. Family-owned for 

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Located on the eastside. 

Loyal customer base. 

Great sales! Call Kenny, 

(586) 360-6796. 

STORE FOR LEASE 

MARKET IN LAS VEGAS 

Beer, wine, grocery, Western 

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COMMERCIAL 

BUILDINGS FOR LEASE 

10 MILE/DEQUINDRE AREA 

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Zahler Enterprises, 

(248)-324 0088 

INVESTMENT PROPERTIES 

Quality National Tenants. 

Long-term leases. Call Kevin 

Lipke @ Sperry Van Ness. 

(616) 949-6168 Ext 3 

IN MEMORIAM 

IN LOVING MEMORY OF 

KHAIRIA FARIDA 

7/1/39 – 2/22/07 

You have been gone three 

years from us but not from 

our hearts. Tears continue to 

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unending love for you. We miss 

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Sadly missed by your children. 

FOR SALE 

SUBURBAN SPORTS BAR 

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SIX FIGURE NET 

22+ Years, Family Restaurant 

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Serious Purchasers for 

Business only. Great income 

for family business. 

BRIDAL SALON 

w/ the latest styles in 

wedding, prom & party 

dresses now for sale. 

Located on a busy street, 

this salon has steady sales 

& clientele w/ many repeat 

customers. This is an upscale 

business and not a hardship 

sale. Business Only. 

BAR -- GREAT LOCATION 

Busy, local bar with main 

street visibility. Full Kitchen, 

Pool, Darts, Baseball Teams 

and Karaoke. 

PARTY STORE 

Suburban party store (no 

liquor), 35+ years, completely 

remodeled inside and out. 

Bridge card and lottery. ++ 

parking on well-lit lot. Land 

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FOR LEASE 

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Join Sahara Market, Princess 

Fashions and Saints Gifts & 

More in busy 9-unit center. 

Only one unit 1,200 sq ft. 

left. Great location for office, 

medical, phone store or retail. 

OAK PARK 

1,000 sq. ft. for lease in 

modern center on 9 Mile Rd. 

Built out w/front counter and 

new carpeting throughout. 

Great for taxes, insurance, 

retail or service. Boarders 

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DETROIT (EAST SIDE) 

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Only unit available -- center 

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For Information, CALL TERRI 

at (248) 670-0473.

PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS 

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4132 Telegraph Rd. 

Bloomfield Hills 

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syaldo@fbinsmi.com 

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Huntington Woods, MI 48070 

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M I C H I G A N ’ S I N S U R A N C E C O M P A N Y 


1 

KIDS corner 

Make Lent Special 

Lent begins on Monday, February 15. The Jelly Bean Prayer 

Start with 

a large 

glass jar 

filled with 

jellybeans 

and tape 

the Jelly 

Bean 

Prayer to 

it. Each day 

pick out a 

jelly bean 

and let 

the color 

determine 

your action. 

helps us reflect on what it’s all about. 

Red is for the 

blood Christ gave. 

Choose something 

to sacrifice. 

Green is for the 

palm’s cool shade. 

Choose a good 

deed to do. 

2 

Note: 

You 

can’t eat 

the jelly beans 

until Easter 

– and you will 

never eat the 

white ones, 

because they 

represent the 

Grace 

of Christ, 

which is not a 

gift we earn 

ourselves. 

Red is for the blood He gave. 

Green is for the grass He made. 

Yellow is for the sun so bright. 

Orange is for the edge of night. 

Black is for the sins we made. 

White is for the grace He gave. 

Purple is for His hour of sorrow. 

Pink is for our new tomorrow. 

A bag full of jelly beans 

Colorful and sweet, 

Is a prayer, is a promise, 

Is a special treat 

May the joy of Christ’s resurrection 

Fill your heart and bless your life. 

Yellow is for God’s 

light so bright. Do 

something kind for 

another to share 

God’s light. 

Orange is for 

prayers at twilight. 

Say an extra prayer 

at bedtime or read 

a Bible story. 

Black is for sweet 

rest at night. Go to 

bed right on time 

with no arguing! 

White is for the 

Grace of Christ. 

Reflect on God’s 

goodness in 

your life. 

3 

Save up 

all the 

jellybeans 

and eat 

them up 

on Easter 

– Sunday, 

April 4. 

They will 

never taste 

sweeter! 

Purple is for His 

days of sorrow. 

Apologize to 

anyone you have 

hurt with words or 

deeds. 

Pink is for each 

new tomorrow. 

Forgive someone 

for hurting you 

with their words or 

deeds. 

WORD 

SEARCH 

Lent 

Forgiveness 

Sacrifice 

Grace 

Apologize 

Reflect 

Goodness 

D u i s g r a v i d a l e o e g e t e r o s p l a c 

e r a t b i b e n d u m P r a e s e n t r t g d r p 

p i s e l i t g r a v i d a a c i m p e r d i e t r 

s a c r i f i c e l a c e r a t e g e t n i s l S a 

e r a t l i b e r o a d i p i s c i n g a t a d i y 

i s c i n g a p o l o g i z e n t e t s a p i e c e 

N u n c n i b h i p s u m v e n e n a t i s u d t r 

p u l v i n a r e g e t r u t r u m s i t a m e t o 

g o o d n e s s t e t d i c t u m o r c i V i v d a 

r u s p e l l e n t e s q u e d u i e t l a c u s r 

a l i q u e t v u f o r g i v e n e s s m u s a t s 

c e l c r i s q u e e s t N u l l a m a d d a p i t 

e u s h u g u e V e s t i b u l u m e u n e q u e l 

u i s u p s u m e u i s m o d v u l p u d t a t r e 

P e l r e f l e c t u e e g e t d o l o d r e t a n 

t e s c s c i p i t u l t r i c i e s s e d a c l t 

r e m h o n e c r h o n c u s j e l l y b e a n k d 

Prayer 

– Courtesy of 

www.CatholicMom.com. 

Church 

Jellybean

FEBRUARY 2010

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