chaldean on the STREET
chaldean on the STREET How has the church and faith shaped your life? By Caroline m. Bacall Chaldeans are among the first Christian believers and strive to be sincere followers of the Catholic faith. On a casual night out at Shenandoah Country Club in West Bloomfield on July 18, we asked those spending time with family or friends the significance of faith in their lives. “The church has always kept me grounded. No matter what your status, the church treats everyone equally. When I am standing in church looking at the cross in the center, something happens. I feel more at peace.” Gus Abro, 33 West Bloomfield “In my prayers I ask God to forgive me for my sins. I also say the Our Father in Chaldean and in English. If I ever need anything, I ask God if He can help.” Nicole Kenaya, 10 West Bloomfield “Even with the transition from Baghdad to America, my family kept the faith going strong. Faith and the church have brought my family and me to a state of contentment. That’s all I ask for.” George Atchu, 62 West Bloomfield “My two older sisters were nuns before me. At the age of 12 I decided it was my calling too. Morning prayers, evening prayers and praying the rosary are especially important for me and the sisters I reside with in Rome.” Sister Hikma, 60 Dominican Nun of St. Catherine of Siena Rome, Italy “I pray for all those who have passed on and for God to bless all the people I know and love. I usually include one Our Father and one Hail Mary in my prayers. I also thank God every day that I am alive.” Ronnie Abro, 31 West Bloomfield “I learned most of my prayers from church and from school. My prayer time is at night, before I go to bed. I include two personal prayers, the Apostles’ Creed, three Hail Marys, one Our Father, the Angel of God prayer, and one Glory Be.” Rena Sarafa, 10 Novi “After my First Holy Communion I began to pray more. I go to church every Sunday, if not Saturday. I thank God for everything I have, and say one Our Father and one Hail Mary before I go to sleep.” Nikolas Kenaya, 13 West Bloomfield “I grew up with nuns in Telkaif — they were very helpful and served as very good role models. When I came from Telkaif, I taught Catechism for Mother of God Church for 10 years. When St. Thomas church was established, I served in the parish for two terms. Daily mass is the most important thing for me.” Galia Thomas, 57 West Bloomfield “Through the church and my upbringing I learned that we as one nation — the Chaldean Assyrian Syriac people — believed before many other faiths that God is the Creator and He controlled everything in their lives. God always existed with people. Growing up in Baghdad, we weren’t forced to go to church. Faith was a part of life and naturally grew within the family.” Zuhair Kakka, 54 West Bloomfield “Faith and the church have brought peace and sanity in my life. I feel much more confident and I stand taller knowing that I am so close to God. I prayed the rosary every morning during the season of Lent and kept it as a routine ever since.” Brenda Kanona, 18 White Lake 28 CHALDEAN NEWS AUGUST 2009
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