CULTURE & HISTORY
Poetry has long stood at the heart of Arabic culture. For its earliest speakers, it was the primary means of recording belief systems, oral history and philosophy. Originating on the Arabian Peninsula more than 1,500 years ago—well before the rise of Islam—Arabic poetry has since become a global art form.
NOTEworthy
Rafid Kiti etched his name into Oregon Institute of Technology men’s basketball history as one of the program’s most dominant and prolific scorers — and he may now hold a distinction that extends well beyond the court.
IRAQ TODAY
BAGHDAD (AP) — U.S. forces have fully withdrawn from an air base in western Iraq in implementation of an agreement with the Iraqi government, Iraqi officials said. Washington and Baghdad agreed in 2024 to wind down a U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq by September 2025, with U.S. forces departing bases where they had been stationed.
Online Exclusive
Iraq’s parliament has postponed the vote to elect a new president to allow further talks between the country’s two main Kurdish parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), amid an unusual dispute over the Kurdish nominee for the largely ceremonial post. Under Iraq’s post-2003 power-sharing system—well known to Iraqis and Chaldeans alike—the presidency is reserved for a Kurd, the prime ministership for a Shia Muslim, and the speaker of parliament for a Sunni Muslim, a balance meant to reflect Iraq’s diverse communities.
Features
For more than four decades, Coach Thaier Mukhtar has shaped one of Michigan’s most respected high school soccer programs, leading De La Salle Collegiate High School in Warren to hundreds of victories, multiple state championships, and a reputation for excellence that extends far beyond the field.
When it comes to Chaldean weddings, the celebration has always extended beyond a single day. Layered with faith, family and detail — from the rings exchanged at the altar to the flowers carried down the aisle and from the invitation to the reception — 2026 wedding trends lean further into personalization and intentional design.
When couples tie the knot, they hope their day will be unforgettable. Fadi Y. Sitto ensures it is. Using a typewriter, Sitto listens to wedding guests and newlyweds alike, translating conversation, laughter, and quiet glances into live, spontaneous poetry.
Marian High School marked a significant milestone late last year with the official opening of its new Wanink Art Wing and Fisher Family Science Wing, a major step forward in the school’s long-term campus improvement plan. The ribbon cutting, held October 28, celebrated the completion of Phase One of a multi-year renovation campaign aimed at enhancing both academic rigor and creative exploration for students.
From launching fast-casual restaurant concepts to building international retail and entertainment platforms, Saad Nadhir has spent a career transforming bold ideas into enduring enterprises. In 2026, the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce will honor Nadhir as its Businessperson of the Year, recognizing not only his corporate achievements but also his longstanding commitment to mentorship and community leadership.
Volunteering takes many forms — from strengthening families and supporting engaged couples to empowering middle school girls. Often unseen and unpaid, volunteers are the behind-the-scenes heroes who hold a community together. Here are three stories of priceless service making a lasting impact within the Chaldean community.
Artificial intelligence is no longer a concept of the future. Most businesses already rely on it in some form—through accounting software, inventory systems, customer service platforms, or data analytics. These tools help companies move faster, process information efficiently, and make decisions with greater confidence. As AI becomes embedded in everyday business operations, it is also beginning to influence the legal services that businesses rely on.
When Dawn (Shaouni) Pullis’s stomach pains were too much to bear, she went to the doctor and was surprised by a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. She was 21. The examination was caught in its early stage, so she had an oophorectomy, the surgical removal of both her ovaries, and did not require chemotherapy or radiation. It took eight weeks to recover, but years to find a life partner who would accept her as an infertile wife.
Arabic Translations
لطالما كان الشعر في قلب الثقافة العربية، وصدر الديوان وأدب المجالس كونه أقدم وسيلة استخدمها المتحدثون الأوائل في اللغة العربية لتسجيل معتقداتهم ورواياتهم وفلسفتهم. بدأ الشعر في شبه الجزيرة العربية منذ أكثر من 1500 عام، قبل الإسلام، واستمر في الشهرة ولكنه أصبح فيما بعد شكلاً لغوياً فنياً وانتشرعالمياً.
بغداد (أ ف ب) - قال مسؤولون عراقيون يوم السبت إن القوات الأمريكية انسحبت بالكامل من قاعدة جوية في غرب العراق تنفيذا لاتفاق مع الحكومة العراقية. سبق واتفقت واشنطن وبغداد في عام 2024 على إنهاء عمل التحالف الذي تقوده الولايات المتحدة والذي يقاتل تنظيم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق بحلول سبتمبر 2025، ومغادرة القوات الأمريكية القواعد التي كانت تتمركز فيها. ومع ذلك، بقيت وحدة صغيرة من المستشارين العسكريين الأمريكيين وأفراد الدعم.
Voices
FROM THE EDITOR
The second month of the year is when we turn our attention to the topic of love. We celebrate St. Valentine’s Day, devoted to lovers, smack dab in the middle. February is also when a whole lot of wedding planning takes place, leading up to a big day—and a big deal—later in the year.
GUEST COLUMN
There has been a surge of commentary about the H-1B program lately. Much of it, in my view having worked in this field for over 30 years, is misguided. Too often, the debate assumes that H-1B professionals threaten the U.S. workforce. In reality, the program brings in only about 85,000 highly educated professional workers in specialty occupations a year—an insignificant number in a labor force of nearly 180 million.
GUEST COLUMN
In addressing this difficult subject, I must first make a clarification: I am not a theologian or an ethicist. I am a physician who has faced end-of-life issues many times over my 37-year career in pediatric oncology. This article is guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church—its Catechism and moral tradition—and by the Catholic Medical Association, of which I was a member. If I have made any errors, I welcome correction and comment.
Departments
IRAQ TODAY
BAGHDAD (AP) — U.S. forces have fully withdrawn from an air base in western Iraq in implementation of an agreement with the Iraqi government, Iraqi officials said. Washington and Baghdad agreed in 2024 to wind down a U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq by September 2025, with U.S. forces departing bases where they had been stationed.
RELIGION
For the first time in over fifteen years, the Chaldean Antonian Hormizdian Order welcomed a new novice. On the third Sunday of the season of Subara (Annunciation), Daniel Orcen, a 31-year-old from France, received the beige cassock that marks the beginning of monastic life at the Monastery of the Servant of God Martyr Abbot Gabriel Denbo in Ankawa, Iraq.
EVENT
More than 100 attendees from West Bloomfield—city employees and business owners—gathered for Breakfast with a Champion on January 22, hosted by the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce (CACC) at its West Bloomfield facility.
LEGAL UPDATE
Artificial intelligence is no longer a concept of the future. Most businesses already rely on it in some form—through accounting software, inventory systems, customer service platforms, or data analytics. These tools help companies move faster, process information efficiently, and make decisions with greater confidence. As AI becomes embedded in everyday business operations, it is also beginning to influence the legal services that businesses rely on.
Economics & enterprise
In many Chaldean homes, the kitchen is more than a place to cook. It is where family gathers, traditions are preserved, and creativity quietly takes shape. For Rasha Shaffou and her daughter Annabel, that familiar space became the foundation for La Fleur Cupcakes, a home-based business that transforms cupcakes into intricate floral bouquets and everyday moments into meaningful memories.
CULTURE & HISTORY
Poetry has long stood at the heart of Arabic culture. For its earliest speakers, it was the primary means of recording belief systems, oral history and philosophy. Originating on the Arabian Peninsula more than 1,500 years ago—well before the rise of Islam—Arabic poetry has since become a global art form.
Foundation Update
The new year is off to a great start at CCF West in West Bloomfield. Language and cooking classes are back in session, bringing fresh energy and new opportunities for learning. Before the holidays, the CCF West proudly celebrated the class completion of several students for the fall session of the Sureth and Arabic language classes.
The CCF hosted members of the Michigan Central Station Children’s Endowment Initiative (MCSCEI) for a tour of their Sterling Heights facility on January 12, 2026. As a proud grant recipient of the Children’s Endowment Initiative, CCF looks forward to strengthening partnerships that support children and families in our community.
In December, the CCF was nominated by the Macomb County Board of Commissioners for the Macomb County Casual Day Charitable Collections Program. With department leader permission, participating employees within Macomb County Government could wear casual clothing to work on Fridays/designated days if they donate at least one dollar to that month’s organization.
Under the patronage and presence of Mr. Abdul Qader Al-Dakheel, Governor of Nineveh, and at the kind invitation of His Excellency Mar Najeeb Mikhael, Archbishop of Mosul and Aqra for the Chaldean Catholics, and in coordination with the Iraq office of the Chaldean Community Foundation, a ceremony was held on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at the site of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Telkeif, marking the beginning of its rehabilitation.
Noteworthy
Rafid Kiti etched his name into Oregon Institute of Technology men’s basketball history as one of the program’s most dominant and prolific scorers — and he may now hold a distinction that extends well beyond the court.
Vanessa Denha Garmo’s newly published book Conversations That Create the Culture explores how communication — when done with intention, consistency, and humility — shapes organizational culture, employee engagement, and the bottom line.
A new Michigan Historical Marker to be unveiled along Seven Mile Road will formally recognize the area as Chaldean Town, honoring the neighborhood that served as the cultural and economic heart of Detroit’s Chaldean community for much of the 20th century.
The Shenandoah Young Adult Committee presented a $36,298 check to the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center’s Patient and Family Support Program. The funds were raised through the committee’s inaugural 5K run, which was planned in just one month and brought the community together for a morning of purpose and unity.
Obituaries
Lewis Yaldo, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and beloved uncle, passed away on November 1, 2025. Born in 1928, he overcame early family hardships to build a successful plumbing and import business with his brother and cousins.
John Mansour, cherished son of Emanuel and Antoinette Mansour, was born on December 29, 1968, and went to Heaven on September 17, 2025. The loving husband of Ann “Ahlam” Mansour, John was a faithful father to Adriana, the late Alexander, and the late Gabrielle Mansour and caring brother of Steven (Zenia) Mansour and Marvin Mansour.
Hana Yousif Manna, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on August 22, 2025. Born in Iraq on April 6, 1943, she married Frank (Fouad), in 1959. Ten years later, they immigrated to the US, where they built a life rooted in faith, family, and service. Hana worked for the Oak Park School District, where she was known as a second mother to many, always offering kindness, guidance, and love.
Laith Joseph Manni was born on July 2, 1964, and peacefully entered the gates of Heaven on July 12, 2025. He was the cherished husband of Suhair Katoola Manni for 31 years and the devoted father of Brandon, Brenda, Dylan, and Destiny. Laith’s greatest joy in life was his family, whom he loved unconditionally. May he rest in peace.
In Memoriam
february 2026