Michigan, USA – Over 300 Chaldean athletes head to the grassy fields and sandy pits as the Chaldean Church Sports League of Michigan Tri-Sport season gets underway.  In the high school flag football division returning champs St. Thomas Twin Tigers hope to repeat.  However, St. Joseph Protectors new all-star draft picks round out their passing and defensive game which may pose a challenge for the Twin Tigers.

In the ladies high school volleyball, defending champions Mother of God Guardian Angels look to take on St. Thomas once more in the championship finals.  Both teams had such a large turn-out that they fielded two teams for competition.

In high school soccer, Mar Addai Healers remain undefeated.  Hoping to best Mar Addai’s powerful team, St. George and St. Joseph combined their teams as did Mother of God and St. Thomas.  Nonetheless, Mar Addai remains undefeated and is considered the early favorite to take the high school soccer championship finals.   

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Michigan, USA - No one would dare refute that Chaldeans often come from large families.  The Chaldean culture values the importance of family virtues and cooperation.   Chaldeans often hold large family gatherings, dinners, and celebrations.  

One family is taking the family gathering up a few notches.  The Yaldo(o|u) family is hosting their 2008 family reunion at Camp Chaldean in Michigan beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 27.  Nearly a thousand family members are expected to attend the family gathering. 

Saher Yaldo, a leading community entrepreneur and committed volunteer for the Chaldean Voice radio station has been instrumental in the reunion.  “We invite everyone with Yaldo(o|u) blood pulsing through their veins.  This includes all children and grandchildren whose mother or father are Yaldo(o|u), says Saher.

“Guests are also welcome to invite close friends and relatives as well. We will be holding a special Mass for all our guests led by Fr. Basel Yaldo of St. George Church at 4 p.m. and we have games, gifts, and more as well.”

Michigan, USA - In a few more days Chaldeans will be able to enjoy a unique, high-energy water sports festival for the Summer of 2008.  Chaldeans in southeast Michigan are eagerly looking forward to the APBA Inboard Hydroplane Races in Oakland County.  “My whole family is going to be there,” says Abraham Sandeha of Novi.  The 15 year old teenager has been on water skis since the age of nine says his mother.  The event will take place between White Lake and Waterford townships at the Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area. 

Chaldeans attending the event will be treated to high-speed excitement of professional hydroplane boat races, the 2008 event will also feature one of the premier international waterski and wakeboard competitions…the Malibu Open. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Malibu Open features the top slalom skiers, jumpers and wakeboarders in the world. The Malibu Open has traditionally been the event where major world records have been set in seven of the nine years.

California, USA – Chaldeans living in Detroit, Michigan may feel they are close to the heart of the automotive world.  If that is the case, then Chaldeans in El Cajon, California would rightly consider themselves the lungs; breathing air back into the passion of classic car ownership. 

For Jason Jarboe classic cars has been a passion since he sat in his father’s lap and held on a steering wheel. “My dad and I would watch the dream cruise every year.  When our family moved to California I was bummed out.  So instead of mope about missing cars I would hang out with friends and supe-up classic cars.  All the different auto shops formed a small network and together with other we pushed to start a car cruise in Cajon”

Michigan, USA - Mother’s Day began as a day to unite parents to improve the world for future generations.  The bond between mother and daughter is especially strong in the Chaldean community.  Chaldean mother and daughters are finding a very unique blend of mother-daughter moments. 

“I love mother’s day.” Says Athra Yakoo, a mother of three Chaldean young ladies and two teenage girls.  “I am so blessed with my daughters.  They are educated, respectful, and religious.  They give our family a very good reputation and make us very happy.”

The challenges Chaldean families face in Europe and America remain a top priority for Chaldean churches. Chaldean churches have focused on offering compelling sermons, lectures, and community wide events to strengthen and warn Chaldean families of growing cultural dangers in their host countries tearing at the family. Joining the call is the Ladies Social Group of Our Lady of Chaldean Cathedral, Mother of God Church in Southfield, Michigan. The group hosts an annual dinner to celebrate the loving bond between mother and daughter as well as organizes prayer breakfasts and outings for mothers and their daughters.  

This year the group held their 2008 Mother / Daughter Fashion Show Gala bringing nearly 700 women together to celebrate the importance of motherhood.  The feature rich event included dinner, three fashion shows, live entertainment, a crowd of vendors, silent auction, raffle prizes, and gifts. 

{Must be a registered member of www.chaldean.org to view the photos of the 2008 Mother / Daughter Fashion Show Gala}

California, USA  – “I am very excited and my entire family is ready,” says Nick Siman, San Diego County Fair’s self proclaimed biggest fan.   Over a million residents will be joining Siman as “the greatest indoor-outdoor show on Earth” opens their doors.

The San Diego County Fair opens Saturday, a 21-day extravaganza that costs nearly $140 million to put together. The 360-acre fairground was a disaster-relief center for horses and people evacuated during the October 2007 wildfires.

In a few short days, Chaldeans by the thousands will join the millions of other guest and flock to the sports themed fair.  Pop stars, celebrities, and professional athletes will be freely mingling with the crowd, signing autographs, and performing.  An estimated 1,600 entertainment acts will let the good times roll on nine stages.

Michigan, USA – The season anticipated match-up of the best Chaldean basketball players under the age of eighteen squared off in Royal Oak, Michigan.  An intense ten weeks of competition, stunning play, and exciting action have led to the Chaldean Basketball final four in Michigan.  Yesterday’s playoff matches narrows the teams in Chaldean Church Sports League 2008 Basketball Championships down to the best two teams in the Chaldean Diocese located in Michigan.  The Chaldean Catholic diocese covers the eastern United States and brought together the best Chaldean basketball talent under the age of eighteen.

Michigan, USA - Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church in Southfield, Michigan holds there 3rd annual Mother & Daughter Fashion Show Dinner Extravaganza.  “We want to celebrate the value and bond between mothers and daughters,” says Nadira Kannu, event chairwoman and Mother of God parish council member.  “All communities and cultures rest in the hands of mothers and daughters.  They sacrifice so much for their family and community.  They guide us and give us hope.  It is only fitting that we acknowledge how much we love them.”

Organizers of the event are also seeking nominations for the "Mother of the Year" essay contest.  Their theme this year is "Mama, No One Can Take Your Place". Writers can nominate any special ‘mother’ in their life including their own mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, niece or a friend.

Michigan, USA – “It appears Sterling Heights is a hot bed for budding young artists and recycling craftsmen,” Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Anthony Marrocco said.  Each year the county holds an environmental calendar drawing contest to promote environmental preservation.

All the artists who submitted art work should be proud Marrocco commented. “These were excellent drawings. The judging was very difficult again this year because the entries from across the county were exceptional.”   The winning calendar entries for the 2008 environmental calendar were selected from a field of 700 entries across Macomb County.  Surprising the judges was Ivan Kesto, an inspirational third grade elementary school artist from Sterling Heights. 

Michigan, USA - Below zero cold weather in Royal Oak, Michigan, could not stop over 500 Chaldeans as they gathered to jump-off the Chaldean Church Sports League 2008 indoor basketball season.  Six Chaldean churches in Michigan, each hosting three divisions of players, came together to prove their basketball skills. 

Hundreds of friends and family members cheered their teams on to victory as athletes sprinted down court, jammed jumpers, and popped threes from the outside.  The league is made-up of women 15-18, boys 11-14, and men 15-18 from the six Chaldean churches of southeast Michigan. 

“It was jammed packed!  I never saw so many Chaldeans in one place,” says Kenny Bajoka excitedly.  “You couldn’t move.  It was loud and exciting.  The women were great and the battle between the Twin Tigers and Dragon Slayers was deep.  I am real happy I came to watch.”

The women’s 15-18 division did provide a show for the fans.  Many underestimated the skill and focus of the Mar Addai Healers and the St. Joseph Protectors.  The see-saw competition kept fans jumping to their feet screaming for their teams.  In the end, the one point difference placed the lady Healers into the win column. 

(Registration on www.CHALDEAN.org is free and required to view the nearly 250 photos of the CCSL’s Basketball League Game 1 matches.)