CHALDEAN DIGEST United
CHALDEAN DIGEST United in faith: Iraqis celebrate the Feast of Cross In Ankawa, a suburb of the capital city of Iraqi Kurdistan located in the north of the country, hundreds of Christians participated in the Feast of the Cross. The joyous event was marked by high hopes given that the Christians of various traditions that came together for the celebration - Catholic, Orthodox and Assyrian - united for the first time together in celebrating the memory of the finding of the Holy Cross on which Jesus Christ died for the redemption of all. The focus of the celebrations underscores the faith that unites Christians. They prayed each day in a different church and participated in the various cultural meetings organized in the streets of the suburb. All the events were part of the preparations for the liturgical Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which took place on September 14 for Churches following the Gregorian calendar, or September 27 for those following the Julian calendar. At the opening of the festivities on Monday, September 9, a large cross was carried in procession to the Assyrian Church of the East of St. John the Baptist. The solemnity of the celebration was reflected in the hymns sung by the clergy and faithful holding large lit candles, a sign not only of praise and adoration but also of sharing and peace. “Churches used to celebrate this commemoration separately every year. But this year is wonderfully different,” said Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda of the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of Erbil, who organized the event with the blessing of Mar Awa III, Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Bishops of the Syro-Catholic and Syro-Orthodox Churches. – Vatican News Trump Adviser Alina Habba Tells Michigan Chaldeans They Have the Power to Flip Swing State Alina Habba, Donald Trump’s senior advisor, was in Michigan recently to spread the word that Michigan’s large Chaldean community has the voting power to flip the battleground state in the former president’s favor on November 5. Winning Michigan is crucial for Mr. Trump or his opponent Vice President Kamala Harris as they seek the White House, and the Chaldean American vote could help determine the outcome. While Chaldeans skew conservative, many in the community felt duped by Trump after voting for him in 2016, when he went on to order the deportations of more than 1,400 Iraqi nationals -- many who had been in the U.S. since childhood. Habba, a Chaldean-American whose parents were born and raised in Baghdad, joined Trump’s legal team in September 2021, after having previously worked at a small law firm in New Jersey. “In Michigan, in particular with the Chaldean community, my community, we can flip this state, and we have to do it or we will lose our country,” Habba said at the Shenandoah Country Club in West Bloomfield during a reception that was chaired by members of the Chaldean community on Friday, September 13. “We have control for once in our lives, unlike where we left, we have a lot of control right now in America, and don’t undervalue your vote,” said Habba. “It is so critical ... Our voices matter as Chaldeans.” – thenationalnews.com VATICAN PHOTO Married Man and Father of Three is Ordained a Chaldean Catholic Priest Father Amar Agag, a 38-year-old husband and father of three, was ordained as a priest in the Chaldean Catholic Church in France this past September. While this tradition is common in the Church’s countries of origin in the Middle East, the ordination of married men among Eastern Catholic communities in the diaspora was authorized by Rome only in 2014. “Before we begin Amar’s ordination, I must ask for his wife’s consent,” declared Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Church. In this rite, the wife’s consent highlights her role in her husband’s commitment. “In a way, the ordination involves her too. The calling is for her and the entire family,” Father Amar explained. His wife was deeply involved in the discernment process. After he felt called to the priesthood, the couple attended spiritual retreats in various church Father Amar Agag at his ordination to the Chaldean Catholic Church in France. settings for a year. “My wife and I answered, ‘yes’ together,” he said. Looking ahead, Father Amar knows he will face the challenge of balancing parish and family life. After working during the week as a driver, he will dedicate Friday evenings, some Saturdays, and Sundays to his parish duties with his family by his side. “We’ll be together, but I’ve explained to them that when I’m with the parishioners, I’m Father Amar. That means I’m the father of everyone,” he said, ensuring no special treatment for his family compared to his parishioners. “At the same time, it’s important for my family to be with me at church.” As a married priest, Father Amar believes he brings a unique perspective to the church. “I can speak from experience during marriage preparation. I understand the challenges couples face, and I know the issues that come with raising children.” – Aina.org 12 CHALDEAN NEWS OCTOBER 2024
OCTOBER 2024 CHALDEAN NEWS 13
