perpetual growth Sunday
perpetual growth Sunday Mass attracts some 800 worshippers. Church continues to accommodate the expanding faith community Meet Fr. Fadi Fr. Fadi Philip likens his church’s journey to an infant. “Like a baby we started out with nothing,” he said of the small mission that began inside St. Sylvester three years ago. “Now we are seeing everything here with all the people and activities.” It’s a busy time for Fr. Fadi, a native of Baghdad who enjoys reading, swimming and soccer. After studying interior design in college in Iraq, he served his mandatory three months of military service (happily, during peacetime). “I was feeling the need to serve the people,” he said of his calling. “I was all the time in the church and was happy to do it.” By Renee Gabbara The Chaldean Diocese in Metro Detroit continues its rapid growth as Our Lady of Perpetual Help is now a full-fledged church. During a meeting with the clergy in late 2009, Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim requested a mission be launched. The initial purpose of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mission was to find a place in the city of Warren to serve the vast number of Chaldean refugees and new arrivals who have been settling in the area. Aside from moving from one country to another and trying to adapt to an entirely new life, these refugees come here with a laundry list of needs, social and financial being the topmost. Quickly to take responsibility to start this mission was Fr. Fadi Philip. “I prayed,” said Fr. Fadi, knowing that Jesus Christ would be with him every step of the way for guidance. The first task was to find a location to start the mission. Christ paved his way to find St. Sylvester in Warren. “St. Sylvester didn’t have a busy schedule and the pastor was flexible and open minded, with an open heart,” Fr. Fadi said. The Catholic church was readily available for rent and the Chaldean community in Warren was set to call it their place of worship. Eighty percent of the parishioners are refugees and new arrivals. For three and a half years, the church was rented to serve the refugees in the surrounding area. Besides Sunday and daily mass, it offered catechism, first communion and Bible study. While the Chaldean mission flourished, St. Sylvester faced a continued decline in its own parishioners, losing about a half over the past several decades. In June, it merged with St. Edmund into a new parish called St. Faustina at the St. Edmund site, also in Warren. The Chaldean The church is on 12 Mile Road in Warren. Diocese purchased the St. Sylvester building and grounds and Our Lady of Perpetual Help is now Michigan’s ninth Chaldean church. “It became a church for the need,” said Fr. Fadi. “In three years, we had too many activities — 75 kids for communion and 200 kids for catechism.” A typical Sunday Mass is home to 800 people on average. The church has 19 deacons. Fr. Fadi said he anticipates attracting more members in the coming months. “I expect to see more refugees and new arrivals,” he said, “and more Chaldeans from the Metro Detroit area.” The closing date for the purchase of the church was August 5. A month later, on Monday, October 7, Our Lady of Perpetual Help held its Blessing Mass. Among those in attendance were the City of Warren Mayor James R. Fouts, the president of St. John Hospital, and Bishop Ibrahim, who served the mass. Programs offered at the church include Bible Study in Arabic and another for high school students, Catechism, First Communion, a pre-school program, and spiritual retreats. The only expectation laid upon church members is to become one family of God. “I can’t do everything by myself,” said Fr. Fadi. “We do everything as a group here, as one family.” The fondest memory of this mission was that it started with nothing financially. Donations and collections quickly started to pour in. “God was with us every day, every moment,” said Fr. Philip, citing Bible verse John 3:30: “He must become greater, I must become less.” “In the future, I hope the church will be a sign of love, for everyone a real home,” he added. Our Lady of Perpetual Help is located at 11200 12 Mile Road in Warren. Call (586) 804-2114. The church plans a fundraising Christmas part on December 28 at Bellagio Banquet Hall in Warren. Fr. Fadi studied theology in Rome for six years until Mar Ibrahim Ibrahim asked him to come to Michigan in 2006. Now he is happily ensconced at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, where 80 percent of the parishioners are refugees. He encourages everyone to reach out to the community’s newcomers. “They are trying to have their life, to love and be loved and they need acceptance by their people. Some of them don’t feel it,” he said. “Chaldeans who are here for a long time were also once refugees or immigrants and faced many problems in the beginning. I hope they help the refugees, not only with money but with jobs and everything else.” – Joyce Wiswell 18 CHALDEAN NEWS NOVEMBER 2013
NOVEMBER 2013 CHALDEAN NEWS 19
