In the early and mid-20th century, countless numbers of young Iraqi men were moving from villages to fill up major Iraqi cities like Baghdad, Mosul, and Basra. But a few visionaries, courageous young men, were more adventurous and turned their faces another way, journeying west to the United States of America. The late Thomas Denha was one of them.
Read MoreIn a remarkable convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and linguistic passion, the enigmatic beauty of ancient languages and cultural identities is emerging from the shadows. For one individual, this fusion is more than an academic pursuit; it’s a personal odyssey fueled by a deep desire to reconnect with his roots and amplify the voices of silenced cultures.
Read MoreWhen ancient Mesopotamians carved their drawings into clay, constructed elaborate ziggurats and city gates, and designed practical and beautiful vases, their practice likely focused on their contemporaries. Thousands of year later, however, this act of creativity is kept alive by modern Chaldeans. Thamer Hannona expresses himself through many different media and inspirations, but his car designs garner national appeal and the attention of large companies.
Read MoreFor nearly half a century, Chaldeans have been visiting the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio. It is the site of an annual pilgrimage of Roman Catholics, primarily Iraqi Christians, to mark the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, celebrated August 14, on the Eve of the Assumption.
Read MoreThis month’s Chaldean News has so many inspiring and uplifting stories, beginning with our cover story. Thomas Denha was a man who dreamed big; he had dreams not only for himself and his family, but for the entire Chaldean community.
Read MoreChaldean Youth Camp, or CYC for short, is a summer camp program containing a variety of traditional camp activities such as sports, team building activities, art projects, campfires, and indoor games, while at the same time promoting the values and ideals of the Chaldean Catholic Church.
Read MoreRaegan Tomina. Kayla Nafso. Alana Hindo. Three Chaldean girls, three winners of high school state championships in tennis this past spring.
Read MoreOn July 1, the Chaldean community gathered at Mother of God Cathedral in Southfield, Michigan, as Fr. Namir Narra was ordained to the priesthood. A graduate of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Father Narra was ordained through the laying on of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit by the Most Rev. Francis Y. Kalabat, Bishop of St. Thomas the Apostle Chaldean Catholic Diocese. Father Narra will serve as parochial vicar at St. George Chaldean Catholic Church in Shelby Township, Michigan. Please keep him in your prayers as he begins his new journey as a priest!
Read MoreSince 2014, confiscating and seizing of property has become increasingly prevalent in Iraq, with thousands of homes and properties being sold without their owners’ knowledge. Armed militias have undertaken these land-grabs, seizing property in Baghdad, Basra, Kirkuk, the Nineveh Province, and Kurdistan Region, supported by Islamist parties that have been at the helm of power since 2003, in coordination with several public land registry officials.
Read MoreIt was mid-July when Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid revoked a decree that gave state recognition to His Beatitude Mar Louis Raphaël Sako, the Patriarch of the Chaldean Church. The decree had given recognition to the patriarch’s appointment by the Holy See as head of the Chaldean Church “in Iraq and the world” and thus, “responsible for the assets of the Church.” Why did Rashid do that, and what does it mean for Iraq’s dwindling Christian population?
Read MoreWhen Christina Roki’s family car broke down, they couldn’t afford a mechanic to look it over. Her family lived paycheck to paycheck, and with three children, there was little money to spare. Most would turn to a family member for help or take out a short-term loan. But Christina had a rare and enterprising thought: What if she tried to fix it herself. The rest, as they say, is history.
Read More“The fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action.” Mother Teresa’s words echoed in our hearts as we embarked on a remarkable medical mission to Iraq in June 2023. With a team of nine dedicated healthcare professionals and two aspiring medical students, we traveled to a land that held both ancestral roots and a need for medical assistance. What unfolded was an emotional and impactful experience that left a lasting impression on us.
Read MoreAmong the many inventions credited to Mesopotamian cultures, most notably the Sumerians, are the first written language, first code of law, first urbanization in the form of city-states, first astronomical calendar, and first numerical system based on 60 (seconds in a minute, minutes in an hour). They also invented the idea of a 24-hour day and the concept of zero!
Read MoreAlthough there are a variety of ways to prepare Pikota, the age-old Chaldean dish, Samira Cholagh’s presentation is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. With only a handful of ingredients, the recipe itself is surprisingly simple but the final touch of display Samira gives her Pikota is over-the-top extraordinary: It’s a work of art.
Read MoreBahi was born to farmers Zingel and Gorgia Jarbo on December 10, 1947, in the village of Telkeppe, Iraq. As a young boy, he shepherded animals and cared for his hunting dog. His mother died when he was 11. His older sisters helped raise him, as did his mom’s brother, the late Ramzi Yono, who taught him how to cut hair. When he was 18, Bahi was drafted into the Iraqi Army where in between training and combat he would trim soldiers’ hair for extra money. He served six years in very difficult conditions because of ongoing conflict in the region. After he was discharged, Bahi went to Kuwait and worked for a sheik as his personal barber. Several years later he traveled to Lebanon with a friend to await their American visas.
Read MoreIt began with the Seyfo Genocide between 1914 – 1925 and peaked with the Semele [Simele] Massacre in 1933, exactly 90 years ago. If you ever wondered what our community was doing during World War I and the Great Depression, this was it.
Read MoreTheoni came to the United States to live with her son and daughter-in-law Samantha in 2008 after the death of her husband. Both families lived in Greece, sharing a building and meals, and caring for each other. Samantha is a teacher here as she was in Greece and has always had a strong relationship with her mother-in-law Theoni.
Read MoreIt’s August, and soon the summer will slowly come to a sad surrender and the hustle and bustle of school will be upon us. Pick-ups and drop-offs, packing snacks and school lunches, buying clothes and shoes and school supplies, and of course, homework and extracurriculars. It is a full plate for moms and dads and kids everywhere!
Read MoreDespite punishingly high temperatures, dozens of Iraqis took to the streets of Baghdad on July 18 to protest water and electricity shortages, and to blame Turkey for reduced flow of rivers. Designated by the United Nations as one of the five countries in the world most touched by some effects of climate change, Iraq is experiencing its fourth consecutive summer of drought.
Read MoreSummer is really heating up! And because we have barely been able to go outside earlier this summer because of the poor air quality, we have to make up for some much-needed splash time. Thankfully, though, you don’t have to travel too far to engage in some family-fun outdoor activities. So many new splash pads and aquatic centers have emerged in the last few years; allow me to list a few.
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