Chaldean News
January’s issue was the last that featured the old logo and look. We covered the story of the Bishop of Mosul and Kirkuk, who stood up for his convictions and risked the ire of his enemies to proclaim the truth. We celebrated a Chaldean mayor on New Baltimore and Chaldean contestants on Disney+ show Foodtastic.
In February, we broke out the new look and new logo, and introduced the Iraqi photo essay In the Frame. All this year, we’ve been blessed by these beautiful photos taken by photographer Wilson Sarkis. This issue is typically about weddings and matters of the heart, and this year was no different. We brought you a story of two couples with unlikely connections, a study of marriage preparation courses, and a profile of MATCHaldean.
The March issue put Tel Keppe (Tilkepe, Tel Kaif) “in the frame” and shared the story of young people of Iraqi descent making the pilgrimage back to the homeland through Gishru. We also gave you tips to avoid getting scammed (tax season) and told the story of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, who celebrated their 100th anniversary this year.
April brought us another sad tale of loss in the convenience store industry, as we reported on the second death of a community member on the job this year. Taken Too Soon highlighted the story of those two men and the efforts of the CCF’s Waad Murad Advocacy Fund to bring the killers to justice. Both cases ultimately resulted in arrests.
We took some heat for reporting on the Assyrian New Year in May but stand by our belief that Chaldeans and Assyrians are part of the same family. The photos from that story are colorful and vibrant and exhibit the joy that comes only from true believers. We also introduced other Chaldean cold case files, or unsolved murders stretching back decades.
In June, for Father’s Day, we looked at the role of fathers in our lives, both biological and religious. Since summer had arrived, we featured a guest column on water safety. We also ran a guest column from a woman who had spent Easter in Jerusalem. Dr. Miri wrote about Iraq’s water crisis, a story that has only grown more immediate with each passing day.
For July, we celebrated diversity and ran the stories of some New Americans that had passed through the Chaldean Community Foundation’s citizenship classes. The political arena started heating up and we reported on that. Nahla Valley in Iraq was our photo essay for the month, and photos focused on the flourishing sesame butter industry there.
The August issue, typically our back-to-school issue, introduced us to learning to Nineveh, what the schools there look like and what can be done to help students in Iraq receive a better education. We also addressed America’s aging population and individuals with special needs.
September showcased one man’s attempt to stay a step ahead of ICE in America, and highlighted the struggles that immigrants still face. Oftentimes, arriving in the U.S. is just the first step on the road to freedom. In the photo essay, we shone the spotlight on Mar Matti (St. Matthew), a Syriac Orthodox monastery located 15 miles from Nineveh.
October announced information about the Cross in the Woods, an annual pilgrimage destination for many Chaldeans in Michigan. Dr. Miri continued his dissertation on Iraq’s climate in Storms Without Borders and told of some shared heritage with Our Mandaean Cousins. We also featured a profile of Akram Kareem, the Chaldean Community Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year.
In the November issue, we covered the efforts to rebuild Nineveh; from the governor in Iraq to the CCF here in the States, everyone is working toward a common goal – avoiding the extinction of Christians in Iraq. The CCF is also working on issues closer to home, including the affordable housing crisis in Michigan.
To close out the year, you are reading the December issue. Thank you!