JUNE 2015

VOL. 12 ISSUE V 

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY JUNE 2015 

$ 

3 

www.chaldeannews.com 

The 

ADVENTURE 

of a 

LIFETIME 

Getting through the 

Nepal earthquake 

INSIDE 

SINGING HIS PRAISES 

CCC UPDATE 

ROCKIN’ WITH MARK KASSA 

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CHALDEAN COMMUNITY 

FOUNDATION 

Build It and They Will Come 

This we know based on the 16,000 immigrants who walked through the doors of the Chaldean 

Community Foundation’s Sterling Heights center in 2014 alone. We are well on our way to 

commencing business in the new, state-of-the-art facility scheduled to open its doors in October. 

The new Chaldean Community Center will continue to provide a range of support services to 

Chaldeans, refugees and others who seek assistance with immigration, housing assistance, 

free or reduced-cost medical and mental health care. ESL and acculturation classes, assistance 

and advocacy for special-needs refugees, and many more services that help vulnerable people 

stabilize their lives and become self-sufficient once again, will also be available. 

To learn more, including how you can help, contact the Chaldean Community Foundation at 

(248) 996-8340 or ChaldeanFoundation.org. 

Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce 

and Chaldean Community Foundation 

30850 Telegraph Road, Suite 200 

Bingham Farms, MI 48025 

248-996-8340 

www.chaldeanchamber.com 

Chaldean Community Foundation 

– Sterling Heights Office 

4171 15 Mile Road 

Sterling Heights, MI 48310 

586-722-7253 

www.chaldeanfoundation.org 

WAAD 

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4 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2015

CONTENTS JUNE 2015 

THE CHALDEAN NEWS VOLUME 12 ISSUE V 

22 28 38 

departments 

6 FROM THE EDITOR 

BY VANESSA DENHA GARMO 

Blessed with the bread and wine 

8 IN MY VIEW 

BY MICHAEL SARAFA 

A fall fight in Philly 

10 GUEST COLUMN 

BY DAVE TROTT 

America must stand with the Chaldean people 

12 NOTEWORTHY 

13 COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD 

14 CHAI TIME 

16 HALHOLE 

18 RELIGION 

19 OBITUARIES 

32 ECONOMICS AND ENTERPRISE 

BY JOVAN JANE KASSAB 

Young designer fashions her future 

33 THE DOCTOR IS IN 

BY ANITA BODIYA, M.D. 

Fun in the sun – the safe way 

34 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT 

BY KEN MARTEN 

Mark Kassa: Groceries and guitar solos 

36 CLASSIFIED ADS 

38 EVENTS 

Kids in the Kitchen 

on the cover 

22 THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME 

BY JOYCE WISWELL 

Getting through the Nepal earthquake 

features 

20 KIDS AND COMMUNIONS 

Celebrating the milestone 

24 SINGING HIS PRAISES 


‘Ignite the Spirit’ makes beautiful music 

25 THE HIGHEST JOURNEY 

BY BIANCA KASAWDISH 

San Diego has two new priests 

26 COMING SOON? 


CCC may open this summer 

28 MORE THAN A TEACHABLE MOMENT 


Committee helps refugee students 

29 AN EVENING BETWEEN TWO RIVERS 

PHOTOS BY RAZIK TOMINA 

30 SPECIAL VISITOR 


Bishop’s Turkey trip goes well 

JUNE 2015 CHALDEAN NEWS 5

from the EDITOR 

PUBLISHED BY 

The Chaldean News, LLC 

EDITORIAL 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

Vanessa Denha-Garmo 

MANAGING EDITOR 

Joyce Wiswell 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Anita Bodiya 

Michael Bouchard 

Bianca Kasawdish 

Jovan Jane Kassab 

Ken Marten 

Michael Sarafa 

Dave Trott 

PROOFREADER 

Lisa Kalou 

ART & PRODUCTION 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS 

Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

Joseph Sesi 

PHOTOGRAPHERS 

Razik Tomina 

OPERATIONS 

Interlink Media 

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS 

Martin Manna 

CIRCULATION 

Stacey Sheena 

CLASSIFIEDS 

Joyce Wiswell 

SALES 


SALES REPRESENTATIVES 


Sana Navarrette 

Stacey Sheena 

MANAGERS 


Martin Manna 

Michael Sarafa 

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $25 PER YEAR 

THE CHALDEAN NEWS 

30850 TELEGRAPH ROAD, SUITE 220 

BINGHAM FARMS, MI 48025 

WWW.CHALDEANNEWS.COM 

PHONE: (248) 996-8360 

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

monthly; Issue Date: June 2015 Subscriptions: 

12 months, $25. Publication Address: 30850 Telegraph 

Road, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, Michigan 48025; 

Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Rates is 

Pending at Farmington Hills Post Office Postmaster: 

Send address changes to “The Chaldean News 30850 

Telegraph Road, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, MI 48025” 

Blessed with the bread and wine 

When I started second 

grade at Holy 

Trinity in California, 

I began practicing my 

First Holy Communion. Most 

of the time I was in a bathing 

suit as we had a pool and San 

Diego climate is perfect for 

year-round swimming. I put a 

white towel around my head 

and pretended to walk down 

the church aisle. I would 

say “amen” as I approached 

the altar visualizing a priest 

handing me a host. Instead I would eat 

a chip and do it over again. Sometimes 

I would mix it up and pretend I was 

getting married and the white towel 

was the veil for my wedding day, not 

for my communion. 

When the real day came, I felt 

special and honored to be part 

of God’s church. Of course at 

7 years old I didn’t fully comprehend 

the magnitude of receiving 

the blood and body of 

Christ as I do today, but I knew 

that it was a blessing. 

With few relatives and 

friends in San Diego in the 

1970s, we went to lunch after 

with my parents and sisters. I 

remember getting a camera as 

a gift and capturing the day. It 

was that day I fell in love with 

taking pictures. 

This year I got to participate 

in another very special 

communion — my daughter’s. 

I was so excited yet stressed 

planning the event. I had no 

VANESSA 

DENHA-GARMO 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

CO-PUBLISHER 

reason to stress out. I had 

Lawrence and Andy from 

Top that Table in charge. 

Like they always do, they 

transformed the afternoon 

into something spectacular. 

I had a “small” luncheon 

for a Garmo and Denha 

group. I kept it to close relatives 

and friends. I wanted a 

religious theme – something 

biblical. So they created a 

Bible-storied theme room at 

Shenandoah. Liz at Paradise 

Cake was able to design a tasty dessert 

that replicated the Bible stories 

that Lawrence and Andy created on 

the tables – from a long, wooden Last 

Supper table to a Noah’s Ark candy 

table equipped with animals. 

The real important part was at 

church — Fr. Jeff at St. Fabian engaged 

the packed mass with his age-appropriate 

homily that explained the Holy 

Sacrament in a sweet and touching 

way to a class of second graders. 

I want to personally thank all 

my vendors including Shenandoah 

where the food was delicious and 

the service superb, photo booth My 

Party, Yvonne’s Invitations, Eugene 

Clark’s fun entertainment and Kaman 

Arts Handimals, photographer 

Razik Tomina and my fabulously creative 

videographer Fadi Attisha. 

We are in the communion season 

and this month we feature a series 

of photos and quotes from the communicants. 

Each child realized the 

true blessing that occurred on the day 

they received Jesus Christ in body and 

blood for the first time. May we all 

wish them blessings on this important 

time in their lives. 

Alaha Imid Koullen 

(God Be With Us All) 


vdenha@chaldeannews.com 

Follow her on Twitter @ 

vanessadenha 

Follow Chaldean News on 

Twitter @chaldeannews 

Clockwise form top: Vanessa’s communion photo; Elayna on her special day; 

Grandma, Vanessa, Elayna and Ron; the Last Supper table and Noah’s Ark cake. 


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JUNE 2015 CHALDEAN 6/19/14 NEWS 11:01 AM7

in my VIEW 

A fall fight in Philly 

A 

fight is brewing in 

Philadelphia for this 

coming September 

and it promises to be a good 

one. No, it’s not a fall matchup 

between the Philadelphia 

Eagles and the Detroit 

Lions. It’s phase two of the 

Synod on the Family called 

by Pope Francis in October 

2013. The first phase, held in 

Rome last fall, ended with a 

resounding thud. 

The issues pondered last year included 

whether and how the Church 

should welcome gay, lesbian, bisexual 

and transgender (LGBT) people; the 

attitude of the Church, both pastoral 

and doctrinal, regarding “irregular” 

relationships such as living together 

without being married; and whether 

divorced Catholics who remarry without 

first getting an annulment should 

be able to receive communion. 

Pope Francis: Focus 

more on mercy and 

less on judgment. 

Towards the end of the 2014 

meeting, it seemed there was a movement 

among some lay and religious 

participants to signal openness on 

many of these types of issues. But language 

drafted towards this end was 

quickly squashed by the more conservative 

Cardinals in attendance. His 

Holiness signaled frustration when 

he announced at the end of the 2014 

meeting that, “the next year would 

be time for more discernment and 

that meanwhile, the Church would 

be open to everyone.” 

The Pope has been rather plainly 

outspoken in his encouragement to 

the “Princes” of the Church to focus 

more on pastoring and less on disciplining; 

more on mercy and less on 

judgment. In February he exhorted 

a gathering of Cardinals to create a 

Church with a vision marked first by 

seeking out others and by welcoming 

them, no matter what their situation 

in life, and warned them about being 

a “closed caste, with nothing authentically 

ecclesial about it.” 

The Pope recognizes that family issues 

are quickly evolving in the west, 

led by the United States, which is quite 

possibly why he chose a major American 

city as the site for part two of the 

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Synod on Families. At the 

end, the facilitators will be 

charged with making a report 

to the Pope. Final decisions 

will be his to make. While 

it is not likely that the Pope 

will venture down a road of 

conflict with the College 

of Cardinals, it is probable 

that he will not be satisfied 

with the results. While Pope 

Francis is wildly popular to 

the general world public, he 

is controversial, at best, amongst the 

Cardinals. Still, he is not likely to stray 

far from traditional views of marriage 

or lifestyles, especially if they run up 

against well-established doctrine. 

Herein lies the singular challenge 

of this Synod — what is doctrine or 

as some Church leaders call it “the 

truth,” versus what is the merciful, 

pastoral or welcoming approach to 

those outside of Catholic orthodoxy. 

But it strikes me that Pope Francis is 

like most American Catholics and 

others who believe in tenderness and 

healing. He has said as much. 

In one homily the Pope said the 

following: “Truly, the Gospel of the 

marginalized is where our credibility 

is at stake, is found and revealed … 

We can fear to lose the saved and we 

can want to save the lost. Even today 

it can happen that we stand at 

the crossroads of these two ways of 

thinking.” He went on in a sort of 

direct attack on his Cardinal critics: 

“The thinking of the doctors of the 

law, which would remove the danger 

by casting out the diseased person … 

And the thinking of God, who in 

His mercy embraces and accepts by 

reinstating him and turning evil into 

good, condemnation into salvation 

and exclusion into proclamation.” 

That seems pretty straightforward 

to me and it sure would be nice if this 

group of Catholic religious leaders 

attending this Synod, mostly single 

men over the age of 60, would listen 

to their boss. Because this much is 

for sure: If these guys roll into Philadelphia 

and spend three days debating 

whether divorced Catholics or 

non-traditional couples can receive 

communion or not, not only will 

they put off a majority of American 

Catholics but they will have wasted 

an enormous opportunity created by 

the unprecedented good will towards 

Pope Francis. They will have squandered 

the best chance in a generation 

to show a different side of the 

Catholic Church, to welcome people 

back and restore people’s faith in true 

principles of the Gospel. 

Let’s hope they get it right. Godspeed 

to Francis. I hope he gives them 

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hell in Philadelphia and in Washington, 

D.C. when he visits the U.S. 

Michael Sarafa is president of the Bank 

of Michigan and a co-publisher of the 

Chaldean News. 


In Memoriam 

In commemoration of the one year anniversary 

of Michael J. George’s death, the Bank of 

Michigan Board of Directors, shareholders and 

staff offer this tribute. 

Michael George passed on June 24, 2014. He 

was a powerful man, but only because he 

humbled himself in service to his family, friends 

and community. He spent the better part of his 

life uniting and elevating his community, 

building bridges and helping those most in need. 

Today, Bank of Michigan stands as a testament to his vision, perseverance 

and his core belief that small business lending is instrumental for strong 

families, thriving communities and a robust economy. He believed deeply 

in the American dream for himself and others and understood intuitively 

that business banking and access to capital was a central component of 

opportunity for all people. 

In honor of this occasion, we rededicate ourselves to this vision and 

to our Michael George-inspired core principles of integrity, loyalty, 

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America must stand with 

the Chaldean people 

Since first coming to 

America in the early 

1900s, Chaldeans 

have contributed to the 

diversity, culture and economic 

prosperity of all sectors 

across Southeast Michigan. 

They have brought 

their tenacious work ethic 

and strong family foundations 

to communities all 

across the Great Lakes 

State. From opening up 

various businesses in underserved areas 

to establishing schools, churches, 

scholarships and community centers, 

Chaldeans have embodied all the attributes 

of the American dream, and 

have become one of America’s greatest 

success stories. 

Throughout my life, I have had the 

opportunity to get to know this important 

community and see firsthand 

their significant contributions to our 

area. Having lived my entire life in 

Southeast Michigan, I have been fortunate 

to get to know many Chaldeans 

as neighbors, colleagues and friends. 

That is why, like many Americans, 

I am deeply concerned for the 

vulnerable minorities in the Middle 

East who continue to face religious 

persecution for their beliefs. For over 

2,000 years, Chaldeans, Syriacs and 

Assyrians have survived various Persian 

wars, forced conversion attempts, 

aggression from the Ottoman Empire, 

and countless ethnic conflicts. Their 

efforts to preserve their identity and 

culture have been heroic, but the current 

situation in Iraq has collapsed so 

rapidly that it’s become increasingly 

evident that these indigenous minorities 

need America to stand with them. 

Unfortunately, the Obama Administration 

has shown a lackluster 

response to the advance of ISIS in 

Iraq. Initially, President Obama dismissed 

the threat of ISIS and went as 

far as calling them “JV.” Now months 

later, we see the terrorist group controlling 

large portions of Iraq as they 

brutalize innocent civilians and indigenous 

religious minorities. Even 

former Democratic President Jimmy 

Carter has been critical of Obama’s 

slow response to the deteriorating situation, 

stating “we waited too long” before 

moving against ISIS. 

Yet where the Administration has 

failed, Chaldean Americans have 

BY DAVE TROTT 


CHALDEAN NEWS 

taken the lead in the humanitarian 

relief efforts in 

Iraq. Through various outreach 

events, locally based 

non-profit organizations 

have been able to successfully 

raise millions of dollars 

to help aid their family 

members back home, even 

providing aid to other religious 

minorities like the 

Yezidis, who don’t have as 

strong of a diaspora presence 

— a true sign of leadership. 

To help the community’s relief efforts, 

I lead an effort in Congress to 

ensure our locally based relief organizations 

are able to avoid government 

red tape and be able to deliver their 

services quicker to those who need 

it most. With the current situation 

in Iraq growing progressively worse, 

bureaucratic slowdowns from Washington 

only compromise our ability 

to help as many people as we can. 

While the long-term goal should 

always be a protected, safe haven in 

the Nineveh Plains, our focus must remain 

on the relief efforts and showing 

that America stands with the indigenous 

people of the Middle East. This 

effort has been one of my priorities during 

my first months in Congress and I 

remain committed to pressing for solutions 

that help the Chaldean people. 

Having just returned from Armenia 

to commemorate the centennial of the 

1915 genocide, I have seen firsthand 

how devastating international inaction 

can be. The Armenians weren’t 

just targeted for their ethnicity, but like 

many of the Chaldeans, Assyrians and 

Syriac Christians in Iraq today, they 

were also targeted for their faith. 

It’s crucial that the American people 

don’t forget the plight, persecution 

and sacrifice of Iraq’s Chaldeans. We 

must continue to stand with the Chaldean 

people both here in America and 

in their indigenous homeland. Our nation 

and our government cannot let 

their oppression become unnoticed 

and forgotten. Like the great Coptic 

Pope Shenouda so famously said, we 

must “remember those who have no 

one to remember them.” 

U.S. Congressman Dave Trott, a 

Republican, represents Michigan’s 11th 

District (northwestern Wayne and 

southwest Oakland counties). 


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noteworthy 

Celebrating the win are, from 

left front, Frankenmuth owners 

Haithem and Anmar Sarafa, 

head brewer Jordan Fagan and 

brewmaster Steve Buszka. 

Cheers! Frankenmuth 

Takes Gold 

Frankenmuth Brewery’s Batch 69 

American IPA was awarded the 

2015 Gold Medal for Best IPA at the 

World Expo of Beer in May. 

Considered the largest beer sampling 

event in Michigan, the World 

Expo of Beer featured hundreds of 

breweries from around the world submitting 

their best beers. With 61 entries, 

the IPA category is the largest 

and most competitive segment in the 

craft beer industry. 

Batch 69 American IPA is dryhopped 

to trap in aromatics during 

fermentation and to create a more 

balanced drinking experience. The 

recipe was recently tweaked by Frankenmuth’s 

brewmaster, Steve Buszka. 

Help CALC Win 

The Chaldean American Ladies of 

Charity (CALC) has been chosen 

to be part of the Art Van Charity 

Challenge, a fundraising campaign 

launched by Art Van Furniture, 

which will donate $370,000 to local 

organizations. 

The charity that raises the most 

from May 18 through June 22 receives 

a $75,000 donation to their 

cause. In addition, the charities 

that come in second through tenth 

place will get donations ranging from 

$65,000 to $7,500. 

Donations of any size can be made 

at help CALC’s cause at CrowdRise. 

com/calc-ArtVan2015 by June 22. 

See You in 

September 

Strides for Seminarians is offering 

an early bird special for its second 

annual event on September 20 at 

the Detroit Zoo. The event is held 

in memory of Alexander and Gabrielle 

Mansour, who were tragically 

killed in a boating accident two 

summers ago. 

Through June 14, adult admission 

is $30 and kids aged 2-12 are $20 – a 

$10 savings. This includes a tee-shirt, 

breakfast, lunch, all-day access to the 

zoo, activities for the kids, and mass 

celebrated by Bishop Francis. Sign 

up at www.AlexAndGabby.com. 

5 Stars for Bank 

of Michigan 

Bank of Michigan has been recognized 

as a superior 5-Star rated bank 

by BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation’s 

leading bank rating and research 

firm. To earn this rating – the firm’s 

Go for Sophia! 

The Azzou family is once 

again supporting the work of 

the Spina Bifida Association 

of Michigan by participating 

in its annual Walk-N-Roll. 

The family is committed 

to raising $2,000 in honor 

of their daughter Sophia, 

who has the complex birth 

defect. 

The event takes place on 

June 6 at Waterford Oaks 

Park. To make a donation, 

visit TinyUrl.com/TeamSophiaAzzou2015. 

highest — Bank of Michigan must 

not only report impressive capital 

levels, but also an enviable loan 

portfolio with negligible levels of delinquent 

loans. The 5-Star Superior 

rating is the highest level of strength 

and performance a bank can receive. 

Sweet Deal 

Library card holders statewide can get 

a free pass to Michigan’s state parks, 

historic sites, cultural attractions, 

campgrounds and recreation areas 

through the third annual Michigan 

Activity Pass program, sponsored by 

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, 

the Michigan Department of Natural 

Resources, the Michigan Recreation 

and Park Association and The Library 

Network. 

The pass offers cardholders at 

more than 400 participating Michigan 

libraries a one-day pass to explore 

– at no cost – hundreds of 

destinations simply by visiting their 

local library or MichiganActivity- 

Pass.info. 

Correction 

We misspelled the Chaldean American 

Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian of 

the Year on the events page in the May 

issue. He is, of course, Rafed Yaldo. 


Rising Star 

Jennifer Oram has been named as a Fellow in 

the 2015 Class of the Michigan Political Leadership 

Program housed at the Michigan State University 

Institute for Public Policy. She currently 

holds elected positions on the 14th Congressional 

District Republican Executive Committee 

and on the Oakland County Republican Executive 

Committee, along with a leadership position 

in the Oakland County Young Republicans. 

Oram is a graduate of Wayne State University 

and is employed by 5 Star Outdoor Media. 

Community Bulletin Board 

Impressive 

Preston Rabban just 

graduated from St 

Mary’s as a valedictorian. 

His grade-point 

average was 4.23 and 

he earned 17 college 

credits. Preston was 

also recently featured 

by Channel 7 as a 

“Brightest and Best.” 

Doing His Part 

As all students at Holy Spirit School in Brighton, Jack was looking for a 

Lenten sacrifice. His mother had just heard a segment on Ave Maria Radio 

about the persecution of Christians in Iraq, so he decided to organize a 

bottle and can drive to help out. Thanks to the assistance of classmates and 

the entire church parish, Jack was able to donate $751.26 to HelpIraq.org. 

Have an item for the Bulletin Board? Send it to Chaldean News, 

30850 Telegraph Road, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, MI 48025, 

or e-mail info@chaldeannews.com. 

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CHAI time 

CHALDEANS CONNECTING 

COMMUNITY EVENTS IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT JUNE 2015 

[Friday, June 5] 

Cruise: Pau Hana After-Work 

Party cruise aboard the Ovation 

features tropical drinks, islandinspired 

five-course strolling dinner 

and Hawaiian music by the 

Kroon Band. Some proceeds 

go to Macomb County’s Special 

Dreams Farm for developmentally 

disabled adults. 7-10 p.m., Port 

Authority Dock in Detroit. Tickets 

are $99. SummerCruiseSeries. 

com or (586) 778-9060. 

[Thursday, June 11] 

Golf: The Chaldean American Chamber 

of Commerce has its 12th Annual 

Golf Outing at Shenandoah Country 

Club. (248) 996-8340 or CACC.com. 

[Thursday, June 11] 

Fundraiser: We Are N is a fundraiser 

to benefit Iraq’s displaced people. Entertainment 

is by Juliana Jendo, Ameed 

Asmaro and Nashwan Nabeel. Tickets 

are $20 in advance, $40 at the door. 

Food, drinks and hookah available for 

purchase. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Bellagio 

Banquet in Warren. Neptix.com. 


Fitness: “Detroit’s Largest Zumba Fitness 

Party” takes place at Eastern Market 

inside Shed 3. A portion of the ticket 

sales benefit the Michigan Anti-Cruelty 

Society to assist stray, injured and forgotten 

animals. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. 

for shopping, health checks and fitness 

demonstrations, and Zumba begins at 

7. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at 

the door. http://dzas.weebly.com. 

[Saturday, June 13] 

Benefit: Min Sharetha (In the Beginning) 

first annual benefit dinner for 

Right to Life Michigan features guest 

speaker Fr. Frank Pavone, a prominent 

prolife leader. Fr. Pierre Konja is master 

of ceremonies. Tickets are $40. 

Doors open at 7 p.m., dinner is 

at 8 and the program begins at 

9. St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic 

Church Banquet Hall in Troy. 

(313) 212-1326 or RTL.org. 

[Sunday, June 14] 

Fundraiser: Garden Party Foundation 

has its seventh annual event 

from 1-4 p.m. on the grounds of 

Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester. 

Tickets cost $150 and include fine 

food and wine, classic cars and live 

entertainment. Ladies are requested to 

wear a hat. Benefits the Macomb Community 

College’s Applied Technologies 

Programs and Oakland Community 

College’s Culinary Studies Institute. 

TheGardenPartyMichigan.org. 

[Monday, June 22] 

Boom: The 57th Annual Ford Fireworks 

blast off from the Detroit River 

starting at dusk. 


Music: The Detroit Symphony Orchestra 

Neighborhood Concert series 

comes to the Macomb Center led by 

guest conductor Marcelo Lehninger. 

Renowned pianist Andrew von Oeyen 

joins the orchestra in Grieg’s Piano 

Concerto in A minor. 2:45 p.m. Tickets 

are $10-25. (586) 268-2222 or MacombCenter.com. 


Art: ParkArt interactive evening for 

youth includes hands-on art projects 

including calligraphy, origami, painting 

and tie-dye. Free admission; $5 per 

project. 5-9 p.m., Shain Park in Birmingham. 

(248) 644-5832. 

[Saturday, June 27] 

Fundraiser: Sixth Annual Race & Remember 

begins at 7:30 a.m. to celebrate 

the lives of departed loved ones. The 

event includes a 5k run and one- to twomile 

pet-friendly walk, both on Belle Isle. 

Benefits Hospice of Michigan’s Open 

Access program. (313) 578-6268. 

Send items for Chai Time to 

info@chaldeannews.com. 


Salon Skye 

Soars 

ADVERTORIAL 

There’s always something new at 

Salon Skye, which despite tremendous 

growth manages to faithfully 

offer that home-away-from-home vibe 

that keeps clients coming back. 

“We started off with five stylists two 

years ago and now we have 12 stylists 

and two makeup artists,” says Owner 

Traci Saffo. “We have two assistants 

and are looking for more.” 

Saffo attributes the salon’s success 

to her intensely loyal clientele – and 

with perks like Keurig coffee, lovely decor, 

a candy bar and even a fireplace, 

it’s easy to see why. 

“We have created Skye to be very 

comfortable and as close to a home as 

possible,” says Saffo. “We’re a family 

at Skye, from the staff to the clients.” 

Clients also appreciate the fact that 

appointments are confirmed the day 

before via text message, fun promotions 

(like earing a $5 Skye note for every 

$50 spent) and the way Salon Skye 

supports local charities. 

“We are constantly donating,” 

says Saffo. “Our favorite was a oneday 

fundraiser for Julia’s Journey, 

which raised thousands of dollars. 

We also do Christmas in July, where 

our clients bring in brand-new items 

for kids at DMC Children’s Hospital. 

We had tons of bags that we delivered. 

The hospital was so grateful!” 

Besides offering the best in hair and 

nail care, Salon Skye does eyebrows 

(a more natural look is in, says Saffo) 

and is constantly on the hunt for the 

latest new products. Recently added 

are the hard-to-find Eco Tan self-tanner, 

the Beauty Blender sponge, and Body 

Bling by Scott Barnes. Skye has also 

launched its own private-label makeup 

line that includes lipstick crayons, 

bronzers, highlighters and brow fillers. 

“The colors and applications are 

unique,” says Saffo. “These are beautiful 

products that make you feel beautiful.” 

Salon Skye is known for its popular 

Blow Dry Bar, with many clients having 

standing appointments once or twice 

each week for a shampoo and blowout. 

One stylist specializes in smoothing 

unruly hair, which can mean everything 

from going stick-straight to keeping the 

curls but eliminating unsightly frizz. The 

staff also includes extension specialists. 

Makeup applications include the full 

deal for wedding and proms, and the 

popular “Lashes, Lips and Liner” service 

for a quick, polished look. “It takes 

just 15 minutes and costs only $25, including 

lashes,” Saffo says. “It’s perfect 

for when you’re going out on a weekend 

night and want to look especially cute.” 

Salon Skye is not just a women’s 

domain – men and children are always 

welcome for cuts (or just to tag along). 

Looking for the perfect gift? At SalonSkye.com, 

you can create your own 

personalized gift card for that special 

someone. 

Whether they are new to the salon 

or a faithful regular, customers know 

they will enjoy their “time in the Skye.” 

Says Saffo, “It’s very comforting here 

– clients definitely don’t want to leave!” 

Salon Skye 

6080 West Maple Road 

(just east of Farmington Road) 

West Bloomfield, MI 48322 

(248) 851-SKYE 

www.SalonSkye.com 

@salonskye 

Salon Skye has a great 

selection of high-quality, 

hard-to-find products. 


HALHOLE! 

[Births] 

Landon Jude 

Sent to us from Heaven above, a gift from God 

for us to love. Lance and Lourdes are very excited 

to introduce their baby brother, Landon Jude 

Toma, born on January 14, 2015 at 8:17 a.m. He 

weighed 5 lbs., 14oz. and was 18.5 inches long. 

Proud parents are Lawrence & Patricia Toma. 

Landon is the grandson of the beloved Kamil & 

Suad Toma and Samir & Ibtisam Pattah. 

Madison Marie 

Madison Marie Nafso was born on April 2, 

2015. She weighed 6 lb., 8 oz. Happy parents 

are Tommy & Reva Nafso and Thomas Nafso 

is the proud big brother. Madison is the 14th 

grandchild for Thamir & Faiza Nafso and the 

fifth for Qies & Niran Saco. 

Landon Jude 

Madison Marie 

[Wedding] 

Shirley & George 

Shirley Asofi, daughter of Khalida Attisha, 

was married to George Murad on May 8, 

2015. After the mass at St. George Chaldean 

Catholic Church, a reception was held at 

Penna’s of Sterling Heights. George’s parents 

are Paul & Salma Murad. 

Shirley & George 

PRIVATE 

ROOM FOR 

10-150 

PEOPLE 

FIRST ANNUAL BENEFIT DINNER 

WHEN 

SATURDAY, 

JUNE 13, 2015 

7:00 P.M. 8:00 P.M. 9:00 P.M. 

Doors open Dinner Served Program 

WHERE 

ST. JOSEPH CHALDEAN CATHOLIC 

CHURCH - BIG BANQUET HALL 

2442 E. Big Beaver Rd. 

Troy, MI 48083 

WITH SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER 

FR. FRANK PAVONE 

National Director of Priests for Life 

For more information, call 313-212-1326 

or e-mail minsharetha@rtl.org. 

No tickets sold at the door. 

www.RTL.org 

Private Banquet Rooms Available, 

Specializing In All Occasions: 

• Small Weddings 

• Rehearsal Dinners 

• Bridal & Baby Showers 

• Communions 

• Baptisms & More 

* MENTION THIS AD AND WE WILL WAIVE ROOM CHARGE 

Register online by June 3 at www.RTL.org 


32940 Middlebelt Road • Farminton Hills, MI 48334 

Phone: (248) 855-1730

eligion 

PLACES OF PRAYER 

CHALDEAN CHURCHES IN AND AROUND METRO DETROIT 

THE DIOCESE OF ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE 

IN THE UNITED STATES 

St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Diocese 

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

Bishop: Francis Kalabat 

Retired Bishop: Ibrahim N. Ibrahim 

HOLY CROSS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

32500 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334; (248) 626-5055 

Rector: Msgr. Zouhair Toma Kejbou 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, noon in Chaldean; Saturdays, 4:30 p.m. in 

English; Sundays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean and Arabic, noon in English, 6 

p.m., in Arabic 

HOLY MARTYRS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

43700 Merrill, Sterling Heights, MI 48312; (586) 803-3114 

Rector: Fr. Manuel Boji 

Parochial Vicar: Fr. Matthew Zetouna 

Bible Study: Mondays, 7 p.m. in Chaldean; Thursdays, 8 p.m. Seed of 

Faith in English; 

Saturdays, 7 p.m. Witness to Faith in Arabic 

Youth Groups: Wednesdays, 7 p.m. for High Schoolers 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 9 a.m. in Chaldean; Saturdays, 5 p.m. in 

English; Sundays: 9 a.m. in Chaldean and Arabic, 10:30 a.m. in English, 

Morning Prayer at noon, High Mass at 12:30 p.m. in Chaldean; 7 p.m. 

Arabic and Chaldean 

MAR ADDAI CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

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

Pastor: Fr. Stephen Kallabat 

Retired Priest: Fr. Suleiman Denha 

Adoration: Last Friday of the month, 4 p.m. Adoration; 5 p.m. Stations of 

the Cross; 6 p.m. Mass; Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. 

Bible Study: Fridays, 8-10 p.m. in Arabic and Chaldean 

Youth Groups: Thursdays, 7:30-9 p.m. Jesus Christ University High 

School and College Mass Schedule: Weekdays, noon; Sundays, 10 

a.m. in Chaldean and Arabic, 12:30 p.m. High Mass in Chaldean 

MOTHER OF GOD CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

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

Administrator: Fr. Pierre Konja 

Bible Study: Mondays, 7-9 p.m. in English; Wednesdays, 7 p.m. for 

college students in English 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m.; Tuesdays, 8:45 p.m. in English; 

Saturdays, 4 p.m. in English; Sundays: 8:30 a.m. in Arabic, 10 a.m. in 

English, noon in Chaldean, 7 p.m. in English 

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

11200 12 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48093; (586) 804-2114 

Pastor: Fr. Fadi Philip 

Bible Study: Thursday, 8 p.m. for ages 18-45; Friday, 8 p.m. in Arabic. 

Teens 4 Mary Youth Group: Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 

Confession: 1 hour before mass or by appointment. 

Adoration: Thursday, 5-7 p.m. Chapel open 24/7 for adoration. 

Mass Schedule: Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. in Chaldean; Thursday, 

1 p.m. in English and 7 p.m. in Chaldean; Friday 7 p.m. in Chaldean; 

Sunday, 10 a.m. in Arabic and 12:30 p.m. in Chaldean. 

SACRED HEART CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

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

Pastor: Fr. Sameem Belius 

Retired Priest: Fr. Jacob Yasso 

Bible Study: Tuesday, 8 p.m. at St. Joseph in Troy 

Mass Schedule: Sunday, 11 a.m. 

ST. GEORGE CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

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

Pastor: Fr. Wisam Matti 

Parochial Vicars: Fr. Anthony Kathawa 

Youth Groups: Disciples for Christ for teen boys, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.; 

Circle of Friends for teen girls; Thursdays, 6 p.m.; Bible Study for college 

students, Wednesdays 8 p.m. 

Bible Study: Wednesdays, 8 p.m. in English; Fridays, 8 p.m. in Arabic 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean; Wednesdays, 7 

p.m. Adoration; 8-10 p.m. Confession; Saturdays, 6:30 p.m. in English 

(school year); 6:30 p.m. in Chaldean (summer); Sunday: 8:30 a.m. in 

Chaldean, 10 a.m. in Arabic, 11:30 a.m. in English, 1:15 p.m. in Chaldean; 

7:30 p.m. in English 

ST. JOSEPH CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

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

Administrator: Fr. Rudy Zoma 

Parochial Vicor: Rev. Bashar Sitto 

Bible Study: Mondays, 7 p.m. in Arabic; Tuesdays, 7 p.m. in English; Thursdays, 

7 p.m. Chaldeans Loving Christ Youth Group for High Schoolers 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean except Wednesdays, 10 

a.m. in Arabic 

Saturdays, 6 p.m. in English and Chaldean; Sundays, 9 a.m. in Arabic, 

10:30 a.m. in English, noon in Chaldean, 2 p.m. in Chaldean and Arabic, 7 

p.m. in Chaldean 

Baptisms: 3 p.m. on Sundays. 

ST. PAUL CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

5150 E. Maple Avenue, Grand Blanc, MI 48439; (810) 820-8439 

Pastor: Fr. Ayad Hanna 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 6 p.m.; Sundays, 12:30 p.m. 

ST. THOMAS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 

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

Pastor: Msgr. Zouhair Toma Kejbou 

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

Retired Priest: Fr. Emanuel Rayes 

Bible Study: Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. in Arabic 

Youth Groups: Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. Girls Challenge Club for Middle 

Schoolers; Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Chaldeans Loving Christ for High Schoolers; 

Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. Boys Conquest Club for Middle Schoolers 

Other: First Thursday and Friday of each month, 10 a.m. Holy Hour; 11 

a.m. Mass in Chaldean; Wednesdays from midnight to Thursdays midnight, 

adoration in the Baptismal Room; Saturdays 3 p.m. Night Vespers (Ramsha) 

in Chaldean 

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean; Saturdays, 5 p.m. in 

English; 

Sundays, 9 a.m. in English, 10:30 a.m. in English, 12:30 p.m. in Chaldean, 

2 p.m. in Arabic 

Grotto is open for Adoration 24/7 for prayer and reflection 

___________________________________ ___________________________________ ______________________________ 

CHALDEAN SISTERS, DAUGHTERS OF MARY IMMACULATE 

24900 Middlebelt Road 

Farmington, MI 48336; (248) 615-2951 

NOVITIATE HOUSE 

31855 Allison Drive 

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

CONVENT 

43261 Chardennay 

Sterling Heights, MI 48314; (586) 203-8846 

EASTERN CATHOLIC RE-EVANGELIZATION CENTER (ECRC) 

4875 Maple Road, Bloomfield Township, MI 48301; (248) 538-9903 

Director: Patrice Abona 

Daily Mass: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. 

Thursdays: 5:30 Adoration and 6:30 Mass 

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

Bible Study in Arabic: Wednesdays 7 p.m. 

Bible Study in English: Tuesdays 7 p.m. 

ST. GEORGE SHRINE AT CAMP CHALDEAN 

7000 Clements Road, Brighton, MI 48114; (888) 822-2267 

Campgrounds Manager: Sami Herfy 

___________________________________ ___________________________________ ______________________________ 

ST. MARY HOLY APOSTOLIC CATHOLIC 

ASSYRIAN CHURCH OF THE EAST 

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

Rector: Fr. Benjamin Benjamin 

Mass Schedule: Sundays, 9 a.m. in Assyrian; noon in Assyrian and 

English 

ST. TOMA SYRIAC CATHOLIC CHURCH 

25600 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48335; (248) 478-0835 

Pastor: Fr. Toma Behnama 

Fr. Safaa Habash 

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

All in Syriac, Arabic and English 

Submission Guidelines The Chaldean News welcomes submissions of obituaries. They should include the deceased’s name, date of birth and 

death, and names of immediate survivors. Please also include some details about the person’s life including career and hobbies. Due to space constraints, 

obituaries can not exceed 300 words. We reserve the right to edit those that are longer. Send pictures as a high-resolution jpeg attachment. 

E-mail obits to info@chaldeannews.com, or through the mail at 30850 Telegraph Road, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, MI 48025. 

Prayer for the unborn child 

Almighty God, our Father, 

you who have given us life 

and intended us to have it forever, 

grant us your blessings. 

Enlighten our minds to an awareness 

and to a renewed conviction 

that all human life is sacred 

because it is created 

in your image and likeness. 

Help us to teach by word 

and the example of our lives 

that life occupies the first place, 

that human life is precious 

because it is the gift of God 

whose love is infinite. 

Give us the strength to defend human life 

against every influence 

or action that threatens or weakens it, 

as well as the strength 

to make every life more human 

in all its aspects. 

Give us the grace ... 

When the sacredness of life 

before birth is attacked, 

to stand up and proclaim 

that no one ever has the authority 

to destroy unborn life. 

When a child is described as a burden 

or is looked upon only as a means 

to satisfy an emotional need, 

to stand up 

and insist that every child is a unique 

and unrepeatable gift of God, 

a gift of God 

with a right to a loving 

and united family. 

When the institution of marriage 

is abandoned to human selfishness 

or reduced to a temporary conditional arrangement 

that can easily be terminated, 

to stand up and affirm 

the indissolubility of the marriage bond. 

When the value of the family is threatened 

because of social and economic pressure, 

to stand up and reaffirm 

that the family is necessary 

not only for the private good of every person, 

but also for the common good of every society, 

nation and state. 

When freedom is used to dominate the weak, 

to squander natural resources and energy, 

to deny basic necessities to people, 

to stand up and affirm 

the demands of justice and social love. 

Almighty Father, 

give us courage to proclaim the supreme 

dignity 

of all human life and to demand 

that society itself give its protection. 

We ask this in your name, 

through the redemptive act 

of your Son and in the Holy Spirit. 

Amen. 

www.catholic.org 


GMGX0385000_AprilPostcard.indd 1 

GMUX0385000_Sign&Drive_Billboard.indd 1 

3/26/15 11:35 AM 

3/30/15 1:49 PM 

RECENTLY DECEASED COMMUNITY MEMBERS 

Frank 

Daiza 

February 8, 1937 – 

May 19, 2015 

Victoria Yono 

Fachou 

July 1, 1939 – 


Gully Shamooni 

Kassab Yatouma 

July 1, 1931 – May 

16, 2015 

Sami 

Daman 

July 1, 1926 – May 


Astefan Zrow Yousef 

July 1, 1957 – May 


Ohanees 

Shukri 

July 1, 1945 – May 


Najma Myoma 

Hankelah 

July 1, 1929 – May 


Mary Mansor 

Azer 

August 16, 1946 – 


Ahlam Gorgees 

Shamasha 

July 1, 1963 – 


Fatin Namou 

Calasho 

April 6, 1960 – 


Anwar Mekha 

Habbo 

December 15, 1957 – 


Amira Yousif 

Pattah 

August 1, 1941 – 


Putros Robin 


Mariam Tobia 

Hanna 

July 1, 1928 – 


Rose Hanna 

Hamama 

September 14, 1934 

– May 2, 2015 

Henia Roufa 

Talia 

May 21, 1924 – 


Antoin Zia Altoon 

Thuwaini 

May 7, 1950 – 


Haiat Karana 

Yaldo 

July 1, 1929 – 

April 28, 2015 

Stella Jani 

Ibrahim 

July 30, 1921 – 


Balkes Yacoub 

Shunyia 

May 15, 1938 – 


Hazem Yousif 

Jejo Barno 

July 1, 1944 – 


Bushra 

Kallabat 

July 19, 1957 – 


Habiba Toma 

Saffar 

July 1, 1922 – 


Salim Putrus 

Shunyia 

July 1, 1931 – 


Nuriya Yasso 

Jabiru 

July 1, 1929 – May 


Ashraf Ishak– 

Georgi Ghebrial 

September 11, 1961 

– May 10, 2015 

Suresho 

Nano Audisho 

July 1, 1934 – 


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tell us about your first 

holy communion 

Join us in celebrating with these community members 

I feel so blessed now. 

– Amelia Kashat 

I loved that my family and I got to go 

to mass once a week and that we got 

to learn about participating during 

mass with Maser, and that I learned to 

confess my sins. We also got together 

with all my aunts and uncles 

and cousins and had a fun lunch. 

– Bailey Nazhat Kassab 

I loved that we got to take the body 

of Christ. I loved going to church 

and learning our prayers in Chaldean, 

and learning and singing the 

songs during mass. I got to do it with 

my sister and we had a family lunch 

all about us! 

– Brooklyn Nidal Kassab 

It was the first time that I would 

receive the Sacrament of the Holy 

Eucharist, which is the body and 

blood of Jesus Christ. 

– Gisella Dalou 

The best part 

of my communion 

was 

receiving 

Jesus’ body 

and celebrating 

with my 

family. 

– Lucas Najor 

The best part was receiving 

Jesus because now 

I can take communion 

every time I go to church 

with my mom and dad. 

I loved my Bible story 

party and the dress my 

Auntie Jennifer made 

for my doll to match my 

communion dress. 

– Elayna Garmo 


My first Holy Communion is very 

important and it feels very good 

because I took Jesus’ body and blood 

into my body. My favorite part of my 

communion was my party! 

– Cameron Delly 

Wow, I will never forget that feeling! 

– Isabella Marougi 

Getting the body of Christ was 

important. And getting to drink the 

wine for the first time was really exciting, 

but it didn’t taste very good. 

– Ella Kizi 

I loved tasting the real Eucharist. 

Also, dancing and celebrating with 

my cousins was really fun. 

– Reese Kizi 

I loved receiving Jesus and learning 

all the prayers in Chaldean. 

– Nikolas Sesi 

I loved learning more about Jesus in 

my catechism classes and receiving 

the Eucharist. I also loved confession. 

– Scarlet Sesi 

My favorite part of my communion 

was bringing down the Eucharist to 

the altar. 

– Bryce Saroki 

My first communion made me feel 

very special because in my heart I 

know God is closer to me and that 

all my sins are forgiven. I could now 

receive the body and blood of Jesus. 

– Xavier Alexander 

For me receiving Holy Communion 

for the first time makes it feel 

like I am now one with Jesus in 

mind and body. 

– Logan Hamama 

It means I can love 

God and my family 

and other people 

more. Also, I can go 

to confession to have 

my sins forgiven. 

– Sebastian Nagara 

When I first received my 

Holy Communion, my 

heart lit up! I never want 

to let go of Jesus because 

He’s always been there 

for me. 

– Kayla Kilano 


adventure 

lifetime 

The 

of a 

Getting through the 

Nepal earthquake 



Katie Atto snapped these scenes of destruction on her trek down the mountain. 

Katie Atto likes adventure travel, but she got 

a lot more action than she bargained for on 

her latest trip. 

Atto was on Mount Everest when the 7.8-magnitude 

earthquake hit on April 25. She was a two-day 

trek away from the base camp where people gather 

before and after climbing the mountain. Eighteen 

people were killed and dozens more injured in avalanches 

at Base Camp triggered by the earthquake, 

and more than 8,400 others died throughout Nepal. 

Atto was uninjured in the quake but spent a 

hairy couple of days trying to get off the mountain 

and out of the traumatized Himalayan country. 

The Farmington Hills resident arrived in the 

capital city of Kathmandu on April 19. She and 

a friend hired a Sherpa (local mountain guide) 

named Kale to guide them to Base Camp – a 

sort of tent city for those attempting to summit 

29,000-foot-high Mount Everest. 

“I’ve always wanted to go to Base Camp and 

even thought of climbing to the summit but that 

takes two months and I can’t get that much time 

off work,” said the Beaumont pharmacist, who has 

already conquered Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and 

Peru’s Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. 

Reaching Base Camp – located 18,000 feet off 

sea level — is in itself a big achievement. Atto and 

her friend planned a trek of seven or eight days just 

to get there. It’s an exhausting excursion because 

most hikers can only travel four to six hours a day as 

they adjust to the high altitude. 

A few days in, Atto’s friend experienced severe 

altitude sickness with vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia 

and a serious headache. 

“I didn’t realize before that altitude sickness is a 

killer,” Atto said. “There were at least three deaths 

on the mountain from it while I was there, not related 

to the earthquake.” Kale convinced the friend 

that there was no choice but to be helicoptered off 

the mountain and the friend luckily flew back to 

the U.S. just 14 hours before the earthquake hit. 

The Earth Shook 

Meanwhile, Atto and Kale were eating lunch in 

a stone lodge when the earthquake struck. “There 

were a bunch of foreigners and guides in there and 

the owner told us to just sit still, that earthquakes 

happen,” she said. “But the ground just kept on 

shaking and he yelled, ‘run!’ It didn’t take very long 

for me to get out the door. I have never been in an 

earthquake before and it was what it would feel like 

to be on an unbalanced washing machine.” 

Though the village in which they were lunching 

was not badly damaged, the group could hear 

avalanches nearby, which Atto described as “a 

tearing noise as the ice and snow separated from 

the mountain.” The Sherpa knew it was serious. 

“Kale said – and I will never forget it — ‘this is really 

going to be bad for Base Camp,’” Atto recalled. 

There was nothing to do but stay put. That evening 

a slew of Sherpas poured into the village to 

line up and use the one phone at the guest lodge to 

try to contact their families. “I could just hear the 

busy signal over and over,” Atto said. 

Kale was finally able to get through and learned 

that his family was safe and his house still stood, 

though his kitchen was damaged. Atto was able to 

get word to her family via Facebook. 

Learning that Base Camp was heavily damaged, 

the pair turned around and began trekking back 

down the next day. They stopped in Pheriche, a 

village set up as a temporary hospital. “That’s when 

I saw the first bad signs of destruction – there were 

collapsed buildings and injured Sherpas were being 

brought in by helicopter in bandages,” Atto said. 

“A friend of Kale’s had no hand. We just passed 

through – there was nothing for us to do there.” 

Close Call 

They stopped in another village looking for a tea 

house – or even a tent – in which to spend the 

night, but there was nothing available. “We had 

just left and then there was a huge aftershock. I 

could hear people screaming and stones falling,” 

Atto said. “It was just dumb luck we didn’t get a 

room there. That was my closest call, my scariest 

moment.” 

Finally, on the evening of April 28, the two 

made it to Lukla and its tiny airport. Atto was able 

to connect with her worried family in Michigan 

and assure them she really was okay. But she was 

still stuck far from home. 

“I found a place to stay in a wooden structure and 

I felt safe enough, but in hindsight that was dumb 

because of the aftershocks,” she admitted. 

The next day, the first plane made it into the 

airport to the cheers of the hundreds of people 

waiting there. “It was just packed, shoulder to 

shoulder,” Atto said. “My guide said, ‘we won’t get 

out today but we will tomorrow – I will make it 

happen.’” 

Atto spent the next day at the chaotic airport 

with her baggage from 6 a.m. until 3 p.m. All of a 

sudden, Kale appeared among the throngs. 

“He came running at me and said, ‘let’s go, and 

don’t stop running until we get on the airplane.’ I 

had no ticket and no one had checked or weighed 

my luggage. We ran out onto the apron and the 

stewardess waved us onto the [14-passenger] plane. 

It was a terrible flight, so bumpy, and I wonder if it 

was because of all the extra weight of luggage that 

wasn’t checked.” 

The pair caught a second plane at Biratnagar, 

Nepal’s second-largest city, which brought them 

into Kathmandu. There, “the airport looked like a 

military air force base with all the cargo planes and 

piles of aid supplies,” Atto said. 

Kale brought her to a couple he knew, “then 

hugged me and took off.” Atto stayed with the 

people in a little shed outside their house, which 

was rocked all night by aftershocks. “It was terrifying,” 

she said. 

The next morning, May 1, she offered to do 

anything to help but the couple gently told her 

that they didn’t have enough food and it would be 

better if she left. 

“I left them some medications and clothes and 

got the heck out of there,” Atto said. “I spent the 

day walking around the city and seeing temples 

that were piles of rubbles, houses that were gone, 

bulldozers in the street moving debris. And the 

area I was in was not as badly hit as other parts of 

Kathmandu.” 

She was able to get a flight to the U.S. and arrived 

in Michigan on May 2 – the same day Kalamazoo 

had a rare (and minor) earthquake. 

Atto didn’t realize the Nepal earthquake was 

such big international news until she returned 

home to her family. (“We couldn’t sleep,” said her 

father, Hikmat.) Her story landed her on page one 

of the May 11 Detroit Free Press, was picked up 

on USA Today’s website, and was seen by all sorts 

of acquaintances and former classmates. A stranger 

even asked her to pose for a picture. 

She is forever grateful to Kale, who, as it turned 

out, lost his second residence in a large aftershock 

on May 12 that killed more than 100. 

“I really felt for the people trying to get back 

without a guide,” she said. “I thank God for him 

and I will never forget him. When we got to Kathmandu 

I said, ‘you could have just left me and I 

wouldn’t have blamed you.’ He said, ‘that is not 

how the Sherpas are.’ 

Atto said that in retelling the story, she has 

come to appreciate the harrowing experience. 

“As unfortunate as it was, it was an experience 

that I am glad I had,” she said. “But since I never 

made it there, I still can’t cross Base Camp off my 

bucket list.” 


Adam Plomaritas and Christina Thomashefski perform music as Fr. Andrew Seba says mass 

singing his praises 

‘Ignite the Spirit’ makes beautiful music 


Worship the Lord in the splendor of His 

holiness; tremble before Him, all the 

earth. 

— Psalm 96.9 

Give unto the Lord the glory due His 

name; worship the Lord in the beauty of 

holiness. — Psalm 29:2 

It is a form of prayer and worship 

common in the Protestant and 

Evangelical Christian circles and 

now Catholics are participating in 

this devotion. 

The Eastern Catholic Re-evangelization 

Center ministry (ECRC) 

is among those Catholics. This year, 

they introduced a new program, Ignite 

the Spirit, “which is essentially a 

Eucharistic prayer service that allows 

us to pray in a different way, through 

the gift of music,” said Spencer Sandiha, 

organizer of the program and an 

ECRC board member. 

Fadi Attisha, video director of 

Mar Toma Chaldean Catholic Productions, 

brought the idea to the 

ECRC board and was confident the 

community would respond. “It is 

such an inspirational way to praise 

God,” said Attisha. “As a video director, 

I have filmed this kind of worship 

in Protestant groups and there 

is no reason we as Catholics can’t do 

the same.” 

A committee was created and on 

the last Friday of every month at 7 

p.m. musicians lead the attendees in 

song and meditation. “This program 

is simply a different form of prayer 

where all are invited to come to adoration 

and be moved through live 

music,” said Sandiha. 

Attisha is also producing a television 

series on the program to air on 

Catholic stations around the globe as 

a Mar Toma program. 

“You can really feel God’s presence 

when you praise and worship 

Him,” said Attisha. “The Holy Spirit 

is all over the place and people are 

moved to stand up, lift their hands 

high and sing.” 

Ignite the Spirit features a live 

band including guitarists, drummers, 

violinists, pianists and other 

musicians. “We start off in silent 

adoration and through the night we 

have various forms of music, various 

forms of instruments, various forms 

of prayer and mediations, but most 

importantly we are in the presence 

of Jesus Christ Himself, in the Eucharist,” 

said Sandiha. 

The program is geared towards a 

diverse audience — youth, elderly 

and everyone in between. “We want 

anyone who yearns to grow closer to 

the Lord and an audience who really 

want to understand and feel His presence 

in their hearts,” said Sandiha. 

The ECRC committee is also establishing 

its own Praise and Worship 

band that will perform at every 

Ignite the Spirit event. “A lot 

of people are intimidated by new 

things and new ways of prayer,” said 

Sandiha. “It’s more comfortable to 

stay in our own little quiet comfort 

zones, but Jesus really calls us to grow 

closer to Him and if we aren’t doing 

everything we can to grow with Him, 

frankly we aren’t doing enough.” 

Aware that most people will be 

hesitant to stand up and praise the 

Lord in music, Sandiha is asking 

everyone to give it a try at least one 

time. “I encourage everyone to give 

Ignite the Spirit a shot to assist you 

in your relationship with Jesus,” said 

Sandiha. “As St. Paul said in his letter 

to the Ephesians, ‘Be filled with 

the Spirit, speaking to one another 

in psalms and hymns and spiritual 

songs, singing and making melody 

with your heart to the Lord.’” 


the highest journey 

San Diego has two new priests 

BY BIANCA KASAWDISH 

History was recently made at St. Peter 

Cathedral in San Diego as the first two 

seminarians of Mar Abba the Great were 

ordained priests. In attendance were five bishops 

and more than a dozen priests, along with so many 

faithful friends and family that many were left 

standing or watching a live stream. 

Although both were born and raised in San Diego, 

Fr. Simon Esshaki and Fr. Ankido Sipo were 

cut from very different cloth. 

Fr. Simon Esshaki: A Call from God 

Fr. Simon Esshaki, 23, was raised very close to the 

church by parents who taught him and his two sisters 

everything they could about Jesus. He joined the 

seminary at 17 years old, and his father, Deacon Keith 

Esshaki, was his main influence to become a priest. 

One of the main things that got him discerning 

the priesthood was meeting Fr. Andy Younan, rector 

of the Seminary of Mar Abba the Great. 

“When he first came, it was the first time that I 

could relate to a priest. There was one time in Bible 

study where he was talking about how he played video 

games. It was at that moment that I realized that 

priests were ‘normal’ people just like everybody else. 

Through my interaction with Fr. Andy and seeing 

how happy he was as a priest, the priesthood became 

really attractive to me,” said Fr. Simon. 

He had another moment on a visit to Michigan 

while speaking to a good friend of his father’s, now 

Bishop Francis Kalabat, who told him to open his 

heart to God and be ready for whatever it was that 

He wanted him to do, whether it was marriage or 

the priesthood. “From that point on, I asked God 

what He wanted of my life, and fully trusted in 

Him. I found that God was calling me to the priesthood,” 

said Fr. Simon. 

Fr. Simon said his journey to priesthood was the 

best time of his life as he grew to love his brother 

seminarians and grew closer to Christ. The more 

time passed, the more excited he became to finally 

become a priest. Now, he said, he feels like he is 

living in a dream as he looks forward to a lifetime 

of service to God and his church. 

“I love being with people in the most important 

moments of their life. The priest shares the joys of 

people’s lives and also the sorrows,” he said. “It is truly 

an honor and a grace from God that He has allowed 

me to be a priest and be so close to His people.” 

New priests Ankido Sipo and Simon Esshaki flank Bishop Sarhad Jammo. 

Fr. Ankido Sipo: Filling Up Heaven 

In contrast, Fr. Ankido Sipo, 28, was planning on 

becoming a professional tennis player after high 

school, but quickly found it wasn’t worth giving 

up so much for. He went on to become a personal 

banker for almost three years until he joined 

the seminary. He was also inspired by Fr. Andy. 

“Watching what he has done in the community, 

and especially in my own life, made me want to do 

the same for others,” said Fr. Ankido. 

Through his journey, he said, he learned virtue 

and what it means to give up his own desires to 

fulfill the needs of others — to be a spiritual father, 

which required much patience. 

When asked about his heroes, he said, “A hero 

is someone ready and willing to first know the 

needs of others and then to fulfill those needs, and 

is willing to be unrecognized for doing it. This person 

would have to be like God and leading others 

towards God since he would know that God is the 

ultimate source of our happiness and would know 

how to give God to others.” 

Fr. Ankido said the joys of being a religious 

leader have been the little things that usually go 

unnoticed. “For example, seeing the excitement on 

a child’s face when they hear about God’s love for 

them, watching a community come together on a 

feast of Our Lady to celebrate God’s work in our 

heavenly Mother, or hearing the sigh of relief upon 

forgiving the sins of a penitent,” he said. 

Fr. Ankido said we can promote vocations by 

being a people worth sacrificing so much for, by 

being open to holiness and to transcendence. Being 

true and honest, looking for the real good of 

the other, and exposing superficial things for what 

they are, he said, may lead others to see that life is 

deeper than what most believe. When they search 

for this depth, he said, they just may end up in a 

seminary or convent. 

“Young people need to stay involved in the 

Church and open their hearts to God, being ready 

to serve Him and His Church in whatever way 

He wants. That’s how happiness comes, when we 

are completely open to the will of God,” said Fr 

Simon. “All I can achieve in the priesthood is 

through the grace of God, because it is through 

Him that people can change their lives; I am just 

His instrument.” 

Said Fr. Ankido, “I want to fill up heaven 

with Chaldeans united around Christ in His holy 

church.” 


coming 

soon? 

CCC may open 

late this summer 


Mary Romaya doesn’t blame 

the skeptics, but says the 

opening of the long-awaited 

Chaldean Community Center (CCC) 

really is on the horizon. 

“We’re hoping it will 

be done by the end of this 

summer, beginning of fall,” 

said the museum’s director. 

“There have been so many 

delays we can’t promise, but 

things are moving.” 

Initially slated to open in 

2005, the CCC has faced one 

postponement after another 

over the past decade. Several 

factors are to blame for the 

setbacks, Romaya said. 

“We are new to the museum 

business. There was 

a learning curve and that 

slowed us down,” she admitted. 

“Coordinating architects, 

the media person, the 

professional writer and the 

fabrication company, bringing 

all these elements together, took 

longer than we anticipated.” 

Most significant was the heavy 

financial cloud hanging over the 

CCC’s home, Shenandoah Country 

Club, which came to a head in 2009 

amid real fears about the future of 

the facility. The situation has since 

been resolved and the club’s finances 

are now secure. (Meanwhile, about 

$3 million has been raised specifically 

for the CCC, mostly through 

grants, and another $500,000 is 

hoped for.) 

“Shenandoah was going through 

severe financial problems and we 

didn’t know if it would stay in Chaldean 

hands or not, so we stopped,” 

Romaya said. “We still continued 

to collect artifacts, but things were 

pretty much at a standstill because 

Clockwise from above: Mary Romaya shows a piece of the Ishtar Gate reproduction under which visitors will pass. 

This photograph shows the Sacred Heart Chaldean Church in Telkaif (Telkeppe), where Fr. Manuel Boji was baptized and served as an 

associate priest from 1968-1987. The church’s current status since ISIS took over the village is unclear. 

Dried mud “bricks” (actually made of foam) are arranged in the herringbone pattern used 5,000 years ago in building construction. 

we had no other location.” 

Once the situation at Shenandoah 

stabilized and it became clear 

it would remain a Chaldean-owned 

facility, work resumed on the CCC. 

But the designers and suppliers had 

already moved onto other projects, 

Romaya said. 

“We had to renegotiate contracts 

with the same people again, who had 

taken on other jobs in the meantime, 

and they raised their prices. 

We didn’t want to go to someone 

new because then we would lose 

even more time,” she said. 

But now, she said, it’s full steam 

ahead as the center begins to take 

shape. The space has been divided 

into five separate galleries, some 

walls and floors have been intricately 

textured to reflect their themes, 

and exhibits are being built. 

“It’s starting to get exciting. 

What has happened until now has 

all been intellectual – doing research, 

writing captions, consulting 

with other museums about prices 

– but now I can visually see what 

we have been working on all these 

years,” Romaya said. 

The CCC will include five galleries: 

Chaldeans in the Ancient 

World, Village Life, Faith and 

Church, Journey to America, and 

Chaldeans Today. 

A sculpture of a detail of the 

Ishtar Gate by Grand Blanc artist 

Sabah Selou will grace the entrance, 

and the sign “Chaldean Cultural 

Center” will be in both English 

and Aramaic. 

Highlights of the museum will 

include a video presentation giving 

a birds-eye view of the ancient city 

of Babylon during Nebuchadnezzar 

II’s reign, a detailed reproduction of 

a Chaldean Catholic church from a 

village in Northern Iraq including a 

baptismal font from Mar Shamoun 

(St. Peter) Church in Mosul, and a 

replica of the Code of Hammurabi 


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The Donor Wall commemorates those who made financial gifts. 

stele purchased from the Louvre in 

Paris. The stele will be explained 

via a touch monitor that translates 

some sections and shows their exact 

location on the stone. 

In the Village Life gallery, a lifesized 

model of a woman bakes bread 

while a farmer stands among his 

wheat and barley crops. 

Romaya is excited about a new 

acquisition, an actual WWJ radio 

recording of a Detroit Tigers game 

from the 1930s, which will play in 

Journey to America’s replica grocery 

store, just as in the days of the pioneer 

immigrant storeowners. 

“Unfortunately it’s not the voice 

of Ernie Harwell,” Romaya said of 

the legendary Detroit announcer, 

“but that would have been the 

wrong era.” 

The store is modeled after one 

on Woodward Avenue owned by 

Jack Najor and will include food 

packages and other goods authentic 

to the time. 

Romaya promises to hang around 

a while once the CCC opens but is 

hoping a new director will take the 

reins before too long. 

“I want to make sure all the exhibits 

and media are working correctly,” 

she said. “My focus has been 

on getting this built, while the new 

director will primarily work on programming. 

A few have expressed interest 

but we’re still in the process of 

trying to find the right person.” 

She is confident community 

members will be impressed with 

their cultural center, despite the delays. 

“I never thought it would take 

this long and understand people’s 

frustrations because I share that 

frustration; I get it,” she said. “I 

think people will be very happy 

with what we have done. Overall, 

we have done a good job – it just 

simply took too long.” 

As the situation in Iraq deteriorates 

for Christians, the cultural 

center is increasingly vital, Romaya 

said. “With ISIS destroying things, 

to us the museum is even more important 

now,” she said. 

Perhaps no one will be happier 

than Romaya to see the CCC finally 

open. 

“I’m ready for anyone to buy me 

a drink when this is all over,” she 

laughed. “And I promise it won’t be 

more than one glass of wine.” 

CCC Seeks 

Director 

The Chaldean Cultural Center is 

seeking a full-time Executive Director. 

The ideal candidate is fluent in 

English and Chaldean/Aramaic 

with an understanding of the Chaldean 

community, Chaldean history 

and its past and present contributions 

to society, and the plight of 

Iraqi Christians. The director collaborates 

closely with the Board of 

Directors to refine, develop, and 

implement a progressive program 

for the CCC’s fundraising, exhibitions, 

collections management, 

educational activities and community 

outreach. 

Email judy.jonna18@gmail.com 

for a complete job description. 

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more than a 

TEACHABLE moment 

Committee helps refugee students 


It is one of the many committees created at the 

request of Bishop Francis and since its inception, 

TEACH has been instrumental in the efforts 

to help displaced Iraqi Christians. 

Standing for Teachers Education And Creating 

Hope, this group of educators has been working 

collaboratively with the Bishop’s advocacy committee 

and other committees to help the thousands 

of displaced Iraqi Christians who have been persecuted 

at the hands of ISIS. 

Currently TEACH is assessing each camp 

where refugees are living to determine how many 

school-aged children are currently in each specific 

area in northern Iraq as well as areas in Jordan. 

Since the invasion, children are left with not 

much to do throughout the day. They, of course, 

have no school to attend. This has been the situation 

for many refugees forced from their homes 

because of terrorism. Many have arrived in the 

United States with little education. 

Recently, TEACH has provided educational 

tools for the leaders in the respective camps to initiate 

some formal learning until classrooms are established. 

TEACH is also providing the educators 

in the area necessary ongoing continuing education, 

despite the fact that they have not been able 

to establish sustainable schools with proper technology 

and resources. 

“The educational system in those parts of the 

Middle East is lacking in terms of continuing education 

courses for teachers,” said Margaret Shamoun 

of TEACH. “Therefore, we have another obstacle 

to deal with and that is to ‘teach the teachers’ so 

that they are able to provide the most up-to-date 

curriculum for students.” 

The challenges are great. There is a language 

barrier for the mostly American-born teachers in 

the group who only speak English. However, there 

are a few educators able to translate Arabic and 

Sourath. 

“Fr. Douglas Bazi [in Iraq] has been working 

incredibly hard to provide educational programs 

for the children in his care,” said Shamoun. “Not 

having proper assessments as to reading and math 

levels is also a challenge. Although they should be 

placed in age-appropriate classrooms, it’s difficult 

to know whether or not they are at grade level 

without proper assessments.” 

TEACH does not have to create curriculum; 

there are sufficient tools to teach reading, reading 

comprehension, math, science and other subjects. 

Displaced Christians receive 

toys from TEACH, which sent 

donations to refugee camps 

in Erbil and Duhok. 

The group has already provided some basic school 

supplies to various camps. In addition, TEACH 

has shipped tens of thousands of new coats, feminine 

products and toys to the refugees. 

TEACH is working primarily with students in 

northern Iraq and they have recently inquired about 

refugees in Jordan. Their goal is to help all students 

who are displaced throughout the Middle East. 

“Every child deserves an education,” Shamoun 

said. “It is heartbreaking to know that these children 

are eager to learn yet aren’t allowed to, simply 

because of their faith. “ 

While TEACH is trying to do exactly what 

their name stands for, they are focused on the refugees’ 

basic needs as well: food, shelter, medicine 

and clothing. 

All of Bishop Francis’ committees, including 

MERCI (which are the health providers) and Project 

Justice (attorneys) are doing what they can to 

assist in the ongoing crisis. 

“Throughout their struggles, the common denominator 

is faith,” said Shamoun. “As long as 

they are able to pray, they thank God for being 

alive. To have as much faith as they do, facing an 

uncertain future, there’s something to be said about 

that. The children need to be in a safe, learning 

environment. It is their right to learn, just as much 

as any other child.” 


2 

1 

1 

3 

7 11 

4 

an evening 

between 

two rivers 

8 

PHOTOS BY RAZIK TOMINA 

An elegant event celebrating 

Chaldean art and history was 

held May 15 at Regency Manor. 

TEACH presented “An 

Evening Between Two Rivers” 

to benefit educational programs 

for displaced Chaldean children. 

5 9 

1. The event was a sell-out 

2. Maysoun Sakal 

3. Sabah Wazi 

4. Kaitlin Senawi, Karl Senawi, Nicole 

Dallo and Renee Kakos 

5. George Matti Patrus and Fr. Manuel Boji 

6. Sr. Ann Shields 

7. Manal Rabban and Jumhoria Kaskorkis 

8. Fr. Andrew Seba, Musib and Ban Gappy 

9. Reta and Manhal Shammami 

10. Sirena Seman, Bonita Narra, Aida 

Monteith and Rawaa Yaldo 

11. Linda George 

6 10 


special visitor 

Bishop’s Turkey trip goes well 


Visit chaldeannews.com 

When Bishop Francis visited 

displaced Christian Iraqis 

now living in Turkey, he 

was welcomed with open arms and 

loud cheers. 

“I don’t think Bishop Francis has 

ever heard the ‘halhole’ as loud as he 

did when he arrived in Turkey and 

visited with the many families all 

over the country,” said Shokie Konja, 

a member of the Bishop’s advocacy 

committee who traveled with him 

on the trip. “So many of these people 

have not celebrated mass or had clergy 

visit them in months or years. They 

were so happy to see our Bishop.” 

Upon returning, the men drafted 

an update of the trip as they continue 

to work with members of the 

community, government officials and 

others to assist with the needs of the 

displaced Christians now living in 

Turkey. 

All the refugees, whether from 

Syria or Iraq, are seen as guests of the 

country and prior to the ISIS invasion, 

there were more Syrian refugees 

in Turkey than Iraqi refugees. When 

they arrived, the government gave 

the Iraqi refugees these options: If 

they are looking to Turkey to host 

them only so that they can go to a 

third country, then they are given international 

protection. If they wish 

to go back to Iraq, then they are allowed 

to stay and Turkey will assist 

them in returning. If they wish to 

stay in Turkey as their final destination, 

then they are allowed to receive 

residency. They must declare it. 

“The majority of the people have 

applied to go to a third country,” said 

Konja. 

There is an increased number of 

applications for the international 

permits. The government of Turkey 

has recognized that there are a large 

amount of those who wish to interview 

with the UN but cannot do it 

in Ankara because of their difficult 

situations. Therefore, they are making 

available registrations in more 

places. 

Since February, the Turkish government 

agreed to accept anyone 

who is registered and to provide them 

with free health insurance. Each person 

who came to Turkey and was registered 

before this date must register 

again. This gives everyone the right 

to health insurance. 

Those who apply for international 

protection can apply for work 

permits after six months. Those who 

apply for residency can apply for 

work permits immediately. Anyone 

who wishes to change province can 

petition their initial province and 

the petition will go to Ankara, which 

makes the final decision. 

The church is 

working to establish 

a regular schedule 

of visiting priests 

from Iraq to say 

mass. 

“Right now we are working to 

‘adopt’ 200 widows living in Turkey 

through our Adopt-a-Refugee program,” 

said Konja. 

After February 12, every registered 

family has no problem sending 

their kids to school, but those registered 

before that date need to register 

again for a new identity card. 

At the direction and request of 

Patriarch Louis Sako, the church is 

working with the consulate, embassy 

and other government offices to establish 

a regular schedule of priests 

visiting Turkey to celebrate mass, 

baptize babies and provide First Holy 

Communion. 

“We have been told that a guest 

priest may come from Iraq to be with 

the people and pray with them and 

then return after a short time,” said 

Konja. 



ECONOMICS and enterprise 

Young designer 

fashions her 

future 

BY JOVAN JANE KASSAB 

Fashion always stood out to 25-year-old Oliviancio 

designer Oliva Rita Oram of Bloomfield 

Hills. Sewing and creating pieces at an early 

age gave her the chance to showcase her creativity. 

Oram’s first taste of national recognition in the 

fashion world came at age 20 when she won a competition 

of 35,000 entries to design a tennis outfit 

for tennis pro player Venus Williams. The blackand-white 

piece was personally chosen by the tennis 

star, who wore it at Round 2 of the 2010 U.S. Open. 

“I knew from that moment on that I wanted to 

pursue fashion full-time,” Oram said. 

Oram’s vision was to have her first collection 

based on a major fashion moment that happened 

in her life, so it makes sense that the Williams 

outfit inspired the first three pieces of her summer 

2015 Oliviancio collection. Believing in designs 

that are able to compliment every woman’s figure, 

Oram loves working with fabrics that offer a bit of 

stretch. Her designer icons include Williams, Rachel 

Zoe, Donatella Versace and Valentino. 

In 2011, actress Jessica Szhor and Dove chose 

Oram’s shirt design as runner-up for the Dove Go 

Sleeveless campaign. 

Last October, Oram released the clothing name 

Oliviancio (which she likes to see in all capital 

letters) at rapper Frenchie’s release party in New 

York for his single “Ain’t Goin Nowhere” featuring 

B.o.B. and Chanel West Coast and produced 

by Grammy winner Jerry Wonda. 

Oliviancio has been featured in national outlets 

including People StyleWatch, ESPN2 and 

USA Today. 

Oram knows that in today’s world, social media 

offers an easy, affordable and effective way to connect 

with a target audience and create brand awareness. 

But with that comes some disappointment. 

“I have heard harsh comments from people. 

Looking back, those comments only made me the 

strong, independent and successful woman that I 

am today,” she said. 

Left: Oliva Rita Oram shows off a few of her 

creations. Above: Venus Williams personalized 

this photo in which she is wearing 

Oram’s winning design. 

Oram hopes to inspire young men and women 

to go after their dreams. “You are always going to 

face tough times but it is how you react to them 

that changes everything,” she said. 

Williams, Frenchie, Pam Shiver, Talenthouse, 

MTV, and others have kept up with 

Oram’s designs on social media. “They all congratulate 

me, support my passion and encourage 

my designs,” she said. 

Olam is active on Etsy, Facebook, Instagram, 

YouTube and Twitter. The platforms have also 

been a great way for her to release her new designs, 

which are handmade in the U.S. and range in price 

from $130 to $350. 

Her YouTube page, OliviasDesigns, features 

how-to and style features, and viewers are welcome 

to ask style advice. The channel has received nearly 

a half-million views. 

Oram dreams big, and her wish list is to create 

for such luminaries as Serena Williams, Angelina 

Jolie, Katy Perry, Adele and JLo. “Living my 

dream,” she said, “is the best feeling ever!” 

Madison Makes Sense … for Your Student 

Open enrollment has started and your student will benefit from: 

 

 

 

Parents will benefit from our: 

 

 

 

 

MADISON DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOLS | 26524 JOHN R. | MADISON HEIGHTS, MI 48071 

Call us to find out how to enroll your 

student at 248-399-7800 

or visit us online at 

MadisonMakesSense.com 

MADISON DISTRICT 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS 

Prepare. Aspire. Succeed. 


the DOCTOR is in 

Fun in the sun – the safe way 

Summer is a fun time of 

year. No more cold or 

snow and a great deal 

of time spent outdoors in 

the sun. But carefree days 

does not mean we can forget 

safety. 

Protect Your Skin 

Being outdoors means putting 

on sunscreen regularly 

and reapplying often. 

Even if the sunscreen says 

water-resistant, you should 

still apply after swimming. 

Sunscreen should have an SPF of at 

least 15 to help prevent skin cancer, 

a common type of cancer. However, 

do not use sunscreen in children under 

6 months. They should be kept in 

the shade and wear protective clothing 

that includes a hat. 

Skin cancer can be very serious 

and even deadly. 

It is important to look for any 

changes in the moles on your body 

because this can be a sign of skin 

cancer. Remember the ABCDE rule: 

• A for Asymmetry. Is one side of 

the mole different than the other if 

you were to cut it in half? 

• B for Border. Does your mole 

have an irregular border? 

• C for Color. Does your mole 

have more than one color or is the 

color changing? 

• D for Diameter. Is the mole 

growing or enlarging? 

• E for Enlarging. Is the mole 

changing in size, shape or color? 

If you notice any of these changes, 

make sure you see your doctor. 

Water, Water Everywhere 

One of our favorite summer pastimes 

is spending time by the pool or lake. 

Safety is very important when swimming 

or boating. There are boating 

safety classes offered in many areas to 

learn the rules of the lakes and how 

to be safe when on a boat. 

Drinking and driving a boat or 

any watercraft is just as dangerous 

and has severe penalties as drinking 

and driving a car. Make sure the driver 

is sober when on the water. 

If you don’t know how to swim, 

consider taking swimming lessons. 

This can be important for adults as 

well as children and can be lifesaving. 

Drowning can occur in very 

BY ANITA 

BODIYA, M.D. 


CHALDEAN NEWS 

shallow water. Even a slip 

and fall on a pool deck can 

lead to a serious injury. 

Mind the Head 

Playing sports or riding bikes 

can lead to injuries as minor 

as a cut or as severe as 

a concussion, if not properly 

protected. Concussions are 

head injuries that occur with 

or without a loss of consciousness. 

Parents should 

require their kids to wear 

helmets when playing certain 

sports as well as when bike riding 

or riding anything with wheels. 

Symptoms of a concussion can 

Keep an eye on suspicious moles. 

include: headache, nausea, vomiting, 

dizziness, balance and vision problems, 

fatigue, sensitivity to light and 

sound, feeling dazed, mentally fogged, 

slowed down, trouble concentrating 

or remembering, confused, answering 

questions slowly, numbness and tingling. 

Other symptoms can be mood 

problems like irritability, sadness, feeling 

more emotional or nervous. You 

may also feel drowsy and sleep more 

or less than usual or even have trouble 

falling asleep. 

It is important to seek medical 

care after a head injury. You may 

need to go to the ER if the injury is 

more severe or to your doctor if it 

seems milder. Your doctor will determine 

if any testing like a CT scan 

of your brain is needed. Not all head 

injuries require this. 

The treatment for a concussion 

is rest if any symptoms persist. The 

patient should carefully return to 

their daily activities and limit physical 

and mental activity. The injured 

will need adequate sleep and possibly 

even naps. 

Returning to school can start 

with shorter school days if needed 

and slowly increasing the hours as 

the patient improves. Returning to 

sports should also be slow to avoid 

re-injury or prolonged recovery. The 

athlete should never return to sports 

with any lingering symptoms. Monitoring 

for any change in behavior or 

activity level is important. Teens and 

adults should also follow the same 

guidelines — start slow and monitor 

symptoms before returning to 

work full time. Driving could also 

be a problem until full recovery is 

achieved. 

Finessing Fireworks 

Summer also brings the Fourth of 

July barbecues and fireworks. This 

day of celebration of our independence 

can lead to serious injuries 

including burns. Firework safety is 

very important. 

Purchased fireworks should be 

legal and stored in a cool, dry place. 

Never let young kids play with fireworks. 

Don’t hold fireworks in your 

hand or over any part of your body 

when lighting. Sparklers can get 

very hot and cause third-degree 

burns. 

Discard sparklers and all fireworks 

in a bucket of water to avoid 

any fires. You may want to go to a 

local fireworks show put on by professionals 

to avoid any risk of injury. 

Don’t Get Bit 

These warm summer evenings can 

bring mosquito bites and the West 

Nile Virus. Make sure you use an 

insect repellent with DEET when 

outdoors in the evening to avoid 

mosquito bites and contracting the 

virus. 

The West Nile Virus causes no 

symptoms in most cases. A small 

percentage can have flu-like symptoms. 

An even smaller percentage 

can develop a serious, sometimes 

fatal neurologic illness. 

Eat Well 

Summer barbecues usually include 

hamburgers and hot dogs. Some 

healthier options are chicken, fish 

and vegetables, which have wonderful 

flavor on the grill. 

Ice cream is also a refreshing 

summer treat but choose sherbets 

or sorbets because they have fewer 

calories and fat. Fruit is the healthiest 

choice and there are so many delicious 

ones this time of year. 

These are all common safety tips. 

Despite having this knowledge, injuries 

and accidents still occur. I hope 

you will enjoy your summer safely! 

Anita Bodiya, M.D., is board certified 

in family medicine and treats patients of 

all ages with special interest in pediatric, 

preventive and travel medicine. She 

is on staff at Providence Hospital, 

Providence Park Hospital and Henry 

Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. Visit 

InfinityPrimaryCare.com. 


ARTS & entertainment 

Mark Kassa: 

Groceries and 

guitar solos 

BY KEN MARTEN 

PHOTO BY 

Grocer by day, rocker by night. Mark Kassa 

leads a double life of sorts. 

In one sense, he exemplifies the typical 

Chaldean success story. Kassa is one of five partners, 

all third-generation grocers who have worked 

together since childhood, who own four stores in 

Metro Detroit. He, wife Marilyn, and daughters 

Marie, Katherine and Kristen are West Bloomfield 

residents. 

But Kassa is also the leader of the hard rock 

band Slight Return. Its namesake is the classic Jimi 

Hendrix tune “Voodoo Child (Slight Return),” and 

Kassa is a huge Hendrix fan (it’s even his license 

plate). The band has existed for nearly 20 years and 

has released five albums. The latest, “Welcome to 

the D,” hit the market in March and has received 

several positive reviews. 

“I live two lives and basically, I don’t sleep,” 

Kassa said. “I do everything for the band. I’m the 

owner of the band. I write all the music. I’m the 

guitarist, vocalist, producer and manager. 

“You’ve got to approach a band like it’s a business,” 

he added. “A lot of musicians, they have the 

art side down, but not the business side. For the business 

aspect, you get the right side brain usage. For the 

music, the art, you get the left brain 

creative side.” 

Rounding out Slight Return 

are drummer Ronnie Karmo, 

bassist Robert Bennett and percussionist 

Tony Mitchell. 

A Slight Return gig isn’t the 

stereotypical dive bar show that 

ends with last call and a smattering 

of tipsy applause. When the 

band performs, it’s usually as the 

opening act for a touring band at 

Freedom Hill, DTE Energy Music 

Theatre, or the Royal Oak Music 

Theatre. 

“When we gig, it’s fairly significant,” 

Kassa said. “We don’t do a lot of gigs. I’d 

say we perform 12 to 20 times a year. I prefer the 

atmosphere of a big stage. A bar isn’t a bad gig, but 

it’s a whole different ballgame than a venue.” 

It’s been a long road to Freedom Hill. Kassa’s 

interest in music began during his senior year at 

Detroit Catholic Central. He saw Robin Trower at 

Chene Park and Stevie Ray Vaughn at Meadowbrook, 

both in 1986. 

“I was mesmerized,” he recalled, and promptly 

found himself at Wonderland Music, where he 

bought a Peavey guitar and amplifier. Kassa enrolled 

at Wayne State University and idled for two 

Slight Return’s new CD. 

Mark Kassa lets loose on stage. 

years before heading west to study at the Musicians 

Institute in Hollywood. 

“I met students from all over the world,” Kassa 

said. “The musicians at that school were some of 

the best I’ve ever dealt with.” 

Upon returning to Metro Detroit, Kassa formed 

Tower in 1992 and played with a few cover bands. 

He formed Slight Return in 1996 and focused on 

writing original material. Alberto Rosal, who was 

also Kassa’s best friend, was the band’s vocalist 

until he died of cancer in 2005. Kassa paused for 

about a year and pondered the band’s future. 

“Around the time when Alberto 

died, we had some major 

label interest in the band,” Kassa 

said. “Something inside me told 

me it’s just not the right thing to 

do. Now, the twins are about to go 

to college, and it might be time to 

pursue bigger things.” 

“Welcome to the D” is Kassa’s 

opus and brainchild, a 12-track 

barrage of energy that he executive-produced. 

It features a host of 

notable guest musicians including 

George Clinton, Funk Brothers 

guitarist Dennis Coffey, Hendrix/ 

Band of Gypsies bassist Billy Cox, 

and Montrose and Robin Trower vocalist Davey 

Pattison. The album was edited and mixed by Jack 

Endino and mastered by Chris Hanszek – Seattlebased 

wizards known for developing the grunge 

scene and sound. 

Guests and big names cost money. Kassa declined 

to specify the album’s overall cost, but 

admitted to funding the entire project over 18 

months. 

“I could have had two kids by the time this album 

was done,” Kassa said with a laugh. “I’m glad 

I did it. I had to test myself and see if I could pull 

something like this off. There are Rock and Roll 

Hall of Famers and huge industry leaders on this 

album, and I was running the whole thing.” 

Music critic Steve Roby praised “Welcome to 

the D” in a recent review for SF Bands and Music 

Magazine (also known as SFBAM). “I can definitely 

hear Chili Pepper and Rage Against The Machine 

influences, but with a more contemporary 

feel,” Roby wrote. “Slight Return have had the 

distinction of opening for the legendary guitarist 

Robin Trower, and no doubt are on their way to 

headline status soon.” 

What if Roby’s prediction comes true? 

“I can’t give a direct answer until the time 

comes,” Kassa said. “I feel like we’re going to get 

some recognition off of this album. I feel like we’ll 

get some national airplay. All it takes is one thing 

to break. But on the flipside, it’s not why I do music. 

I play what I play and I love it.” 

“Welcome to the D” is available on Amazon, 

iTunes, Google Music and other download sites, 

but Kassa also released it as a CD. 

“People don’t buy many CDs anymore,” Kassa 

said, “but when you’re promoting, when you’re in 

the promotional phase, a CD is like a press kit. 

They need something they can touch and feel.” 

And referring to Detroit as “The D?” That was 

Kassa’s idea, born out of the song that he originally 

wrote and recorded several years back. “The D” is 

a trademark registered to him through the United 

States Patent and Trademark Office. Kassa offers a 

full line of clothing featuring “The D” and similar 

slogans. 

There’s one more project that Kassa has shoehorned 

into his schedule. He hosts “Welcome to 

the D,” an hour-long show filmed twice a month 

that airs on Middle Eastern American TV. He’s 

working on a second show, titled “Top 10 Now 

and Then,” to be co-hosted by metro Detroit-based 

singer Dal Bouey. 

Learn more about the band at SlightReturn.com. 

34 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE MAY 2015

Match your Daily 4 number to the drawn number in 

“straight back” reverse order and win a $1,000 payout. 

It’s the simplest way to get more from your Daily 4! 


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BINGHAM FARMS, MICHIGAN 48025 

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

early bird registration 

GENERAL ADMISSION: $40 $30! 

AGES 2-12: $30 $20! 

2 AND UNDER: FREE! 

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PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS 

Accredited Buyer Representative 

Certified Luxury Home Marketing 

Specialist 

Certified Residential Specialist 

Internet Professional 

Graduate REALTORS Institute 

Quality Service Certified 

Seniors Real Estate Specialist 

Brian S. Yaldoo 

Classic - Associate Broker 

29630 Orchard Lake Road 

Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334 

Office: 1-248-737-6800 

Fax: 1-248-539-0904 

E-Mail: brianyaldoo@remax.net 

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Commercial Refrigeration•Heating & Cooling 

Mechanical Contractor 

STEVE ROUMAYAH 

29333 LORIE LANE 

WIXOM, MI 48393 

steve@phoenixrefrig.com 

PHONE: 248.344.2980 

FAX: 248.344.2966 

TOLL FREE: 877.856.5800 

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Palladium 

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www.palladiumfinancialgroup.com 

BMW of Rochester Hills 

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Client Advisor 

Street Address 

45550 Dequindre Road 

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Telephone: (248) 997-7519 

Mobile: (248) 219-5525 

Fax: (248) 997-7766 

Email: sammi.naoum@bmwofrochesterhills.com 

Website: www.bmwofrochesterhills.com 

Parking Lot Lighting 

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Electrical Contractors 

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COMING IN 

JULY 

Sacred Heart Chaldean Church 

celebrated its relocation from 

Detroit to Warren with a mass 

led by Bishop Francis on May 

24. We’ll have full details, 

including an interview with Fr. 

Sameem Balius, next month. 


events 

1 

kids 

in the 

kitchen 

It was the first Kids in the Kitchen event hosted 

by Chaldean American Ladies of Charity 

(CALC) Bernadette’s Kitchen program. The 

idea was brought to CALC by Elayna Garmo, 7, 

a Food Channel fan who envisioned more of a 

“Chopped” setting with her being a kid judge. 

However, the event turned into a cooking lesson 

and a fun night for all. On May 4, just days before 

Mother’s Day, local moms and their kids threw 

on chef hats and aprons for a night of cooking. 

Professional Chef Derrick Rassam guided the sous 

chefs as they made pizza, fattoush salad, macaroni 

and cheese and a parfait dessert. CALC’s Clair 

Konja, Lillian Shallal and Julie Garmo assisted. 

Each mom and child not only tasted their creations, 

they got to take home the meals they prepared. 

In addition to catering parties and all kinds of 

events, Chef Derrick is in the process of developing 

an innovative concept centered on living a 

healthy lifestyle while managing a hectic schedule. 

Participants 

Vanessa Denha Garmo and Elayna 

Sally LaFave and Lea 

Stepanie McKee and Kiera 

Carol Hanna and Lily 

Bridget Sagmani and Lola 

Heather Kizi and Skye 

Nancy Kashat and Amelia 

Sylvia Laboda and Aidan 

Ban Yaldo and Lauren 

Suhair Gulli and Noah 

Noura Sharrak and Rosemary and Annabelle 


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12/19/14 12:16 PM

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JUNE 2015

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