Fr. Anthony preaches to
Fr. Anthony preaches to a packed house father, brother, friend Young people love Fr. Anthony By Crystal Kassab Jabiro His favorite subjects were math, accounting and English. He used to play hockey and lacrosse. He served on Student Council all four of his years at De La Salle Collegiate High School. After two years at University of Detroit- Mercy, God called him to enter the seminary. Fr. Anthony Kathawa considers himself a regular guy, even though he is one of the youngest American-born priests in the St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Diocese in Metro Detroit. Ordained as a priest last year, the Sterling Heights native is currently assigned to assist Fr. Wisam Matti at Mother of God Church in Southfield. He mostly presides over the English masses, teaches Bible Study, and oversees First Communion and middle-school Catechism classes. The Sunday night mass at 7 p.m. has definitely been popular with youth, which in Chaldean terms means people in their 30s and younger. “I always pushed for an evening mass even before I was a priest,” said Fr. Anthony, 26. “Currently, there are always more than 600 people at the mass, mostly young adults.” While he thinks it is because of convenience, many who flock to the mass say they come to hear his homilies. “I know that young adults are busy with school, work and family. Sunday is a day they can sleep in and come to mass in the evening,” said Fr. Anthony. “I try my best to keep the homilies geared towards them and their lifestyle. I use examples they can relate to and aspects of their lives they can understand.” Heather Jamil, a University of Michigan-Dearborn student, met Fr. Anthony on the church’s first youth trip to Jerusalem last year. She has been faithfully attending Sunday night mass since August. “He’s one of the first priests of my generation; he’s young and knows where we’re coming from,” said Jamil, 22. “His homilies are so good for young people to understand. Fr. Anthony is your friend, and you can trust him with everything.” photo by David Reed A San Diego native, Jamil said that Fr. Anthony’s energy reminds her of another young American-born priest – Fr. Andy Younan, who currently serves in California. Originally from Michigan, Fr. Andy has awakened youth with homilies geared towards their daily lives. The Mother of God Sunday night mass attracts people from Commerce Township to Shelby Township, and even students from Ann Arbor and Lansing. They are drawn in by Fr. Anthony’s charismatic personality and his passion for Christ. “My favorite part of the mass is definitely the Words of Consecration,” said Fr. Anthony. “I always picture myself being at the Last Supper and Jesus is present and says, ‘this is my body, this is my blood.’ Every time I say the Words of Consecration, I get the chills and feel a great burst of fire in my body.” The young priest believes that religion is interesting and fun, and he does his best to share that joy with his parishioners by helping them understand that being Catholic is not a burden, but rather a blessing. The Sunday before Lent began, he typed up an information sheet about fasting including Biblical quotes to match his homily, and distributed it after church for everyone to take home and reflect upon. Of course, he opened that homily with a joke about giving up carbs to lose weight — just one of the ways he connects immediately to the mass-goers. “I do not think of myself as that great of a priest,” Fr. Anthony commented. “I am still new and have so much to learn. I love to go ice skating, play hockey, travel, try new restaurants, be with friends, go shopping and watch movies. But I make sure I put God as No. 1 in my life. When we do so, everything seems much better and happier.” Father Anthony’s Masses Sunday — 10 a.m., 7 p.m., both in English Tuesday — 10 a.m. in Sourath Young Adult/College Bible Study 7:30 p.m. in English 9 p.m. in English Thursday — 10 a.m. in Sourath High School Bible Study 7-9 p.m. in English It’s Spring Time… It’s BOTOX Time! SKINNY’S MEDICAL SALON Botox , Microdermabrasion and Chemical Peels are 25% off for entire month of APRIL We offer treatment for: Ask about • Acne • Hair loss our Mother’s • Melasma • Roseacea • Shaving bumps • Removal of fl at moles and skin tags DayGift Certifi cate SO, COME IN AND LEAVE CLEAR, CLEAN & SMOOTH 6271 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield Call 248-669-0069 For An Appointment David Criss M.D. Dorothea Green P A C BEFORE Grand Opening Will Be May 3rd AFTER KENT S. SIEGEL, P.C. Bankruptcy & Tax Attorneys IRS Debt Collections & Foreclosure Matters 248-539-3344 kent@kentsiegelpc.com 5665 West Maple Road, Suite B West Bloomfield, MI 48322 24 CHALDEAN NEWS MAY 2011
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