Michigan, USA – The Camp Chaldean open house brought thousands of community members out into the fresh October air.  Some Chaldeans traveled for three hours to join the tour and share in the celebration of new of the community campground. 

“We worked very hard to get the property ready for the camp open house,” says Adil Kallabat, Camp Chaldean president. “We had crews working around the clock for nearly a month making repairs, cleaning, landscaping, and decorating the buildings.”

Chaldean diocese volunteers came together to offer community tours of the camp property and answer any of their questions.  Nearly ten bus loads of people left from church parking lots to the campground. 

(Must be a registered member of www.CHALDEAN.org to view the photo albums.  Registration is free and begins by selecting the register link in the upper right-hand corner.)

Michigan, USA - Over 10,000 Chaldeans visited the two day summer Chaldean music festival.  The event was hosted by Mother of God Chaldean Church of Southfield, Michigan, and featured some of the community’s top singers and bands.  “This was the best festival I have been to all year,” said James Hakim of Sterling Heights. “They had everything.  Games for kids, dancing, great music, excellent food and snacks, everyone was so helpful and nice.”

Hakim’s sentiments were widely shared as nearly 10,000 Chaldeans enjoyed the fair weathered weekend.  Opening Saturday, the sun sat hidden behind some gloomy clouds at first.   However, D.J. Imad Koki kept spirits high and coaxed the sun out with his excellent mix and play of traditional Chaldean songs.  By mid afternoon the sun shined brightly and the crowds began to merge.  The enticing harmonies combined to transform Mother of God Chaldean church’s campus into the old time village celebrations Chaldeans long remembered.

[This article features five photo albums and an event program PDF download.  Visitors must be registered members of the site to access the additional resources.]

California, USA - "My village was burned in 1961 with an act they called “Ethnic Cleansing.” I was 2 years old at that time when both my father and mother witnessed the event. There will always be that clear picture of us running and hiding to survive etched into our memories," by Paul Batou.

Paul Batou, releases his new book titled My Last Thoughts About Iraq; a compilation and collection of my memories as an artist. His work, contained within the passionate pages of his latest musings, capture his reactions to the suffering and the Sadness which Has Plagued Mesopotamia.

As a gift, Batou has released one of his famed poems as a tribute to the suffering endured by those harmed by the September 11 bombing and those impacted by the pain Iraq has long suffered. 

Southfield, MICHIGAN - The Chaldean Church Sports League ended their summer season with electrifying excitement.  After the playoff games the best church teams in girls’ volleyball and boys flag football faced one another.  In the girls’ volleyball division, the Mother of God Guardian Angels played the St. Thomas Twin Tigers.  In the boys flag football division the St. Joseph Protectors took on the St. Thomas Twin Tigers. 

The championship volleyball game began first.  Both Mother of God and St. Thomas entered the sand court with stern determination.  Each team brought with them a cheering squad in the hundreds. 

(To view photos you must be a registered member of www.CHALDEAN.org.)

Windsor, CAN - Besides the brains and business, Chaldeans are also known for their superior athletic ability.  Take for instance Chaldean champion boxer Andre Gorges, a tall, lean, cobra-fast striking boxer who is returning to Iraq to represent the embroiled country. 

A country his family was forced to flee from over twenty years ago due to persecution, war, and hatred of Christians.  Gorges' family fled Iraq, first to Greece, then Toronto, before landing in Windsor where they have lived for 18 years.

Michigan, USA - Picture perfect weather in the mid 80’s with a rolling cool breeze excited organizers as they waved cars into the fair ground.   Nearly five thousand Chaldeans gathered at the Knights of Columbus family picnic grounds for the St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church 2007 annual family festival.  The attendance was much better than the last year and continues to grow at an exceptional rate as more and more families recognize the importance of their Chaldean church and community. 

The picnic was organized in appreciation and for the importance of faithful Chaldean families for their support and guidance.  Families enjoyed a sparkling day as St. Joseph church members, well-wishers, and their friends celebrated, danced, ate and played. 

Michigan, USA - Joe Bidawid, professional board rider, uses his paddle in the fight to finding a cure for cancer.  The middle child from a family of five children has his eyes set on breaking a world record as he trains to stand-up paddle surf across Lake Michigan from St. Joseph, Michigan to Chicago, Illinois. 

The Farmington Hills, Michigan Chaldean native is perhaps one of the more versatile athletes in professional boarding.  Skiing, snowboarding, windsurfing, kiteboarding, and surfing, Joe Bidawid has mastered them all at a world class level.  Capturing the imagination of world boarders the Chaldean Aquaman has been featured in top sports boarding magazines and local Michigan papers.

Michgian, USA - The southeast Michigan Chaldean Church Sports League prepares for their playoff games this Saturday, July 21, 2007.  The Chaldean Eparchy (Diocese) of Eastern United States has narrowed the four top performing church teams in the 18 and under category of girl’s volleyball and boy’s flag football. 

In the heart of Southeastern Michigan at the Southfield Municipal Civic and Sports Center hundreds and hundreds of Chaldeans gather to play, pray, and show their support.  The Chaldean church teams have been competing weekly for nearly two months.  Based on their win-loss record and total game point earnings the top four church teams qualified for the League playoff games. 

The CCSL is attracting a high level of talent and producing great competition.  The league features some of the best athletes in the Chaldean community as all-American high school athletes lead their respective church to victory on the field and on the sand court.

Michigan, USA - Chaldean agility, strength, speed, and finesse are showcased weekly in Southfield, Michigan.  A fifty-yard dash, a sand dive, a spike, ace, dig, and a “Hail Mary” touchdown pass are par for Chaldeans that meet and compete in the 2007 Chaldean Church Sports League. 

No helmets. No shoulder pads. No problem.  The Chaldean churches newest youth football league requires hardly any of the standard equipment associated with the sport.  A pair of shorts and a league-furnished jersey, along with a desire to have fun are about the only things needed to participate in the Chaldean Church Sports flag football league.

Over 100 Chaldeans from southeast Michigan get the opportunity to play each other throughout the day at the Southfield Civic Center.    The Chaldean Church Sports League features flag-football field and volleyball for Chaldean youth, eighteen years and younger.  The volleyball sand courts and flag football field come alive every Saturday from noon until 3 p.m. with spirited sports competition, prayer, and camaraderie. 

Michigan, USA - If you were to ask St. Joseph Chaldean Church in Troy, Michigan what is the most valuable thing in our life, besides God, that we take for granted – what would they answer?  The answer – our parents; next to our savior, our parents are the ones we sinfully take for granted most often. 

St. Joseph, along with many of the other Chaldean churches, held special Mother’s Day celebrations in hopes of strengthening the family bonds.  Delicious food, great music, family and friends, wholesome fun, and prayer brought nearly 300 Chaldeans together to honor our mothers.   

(You must be a registered member to view the photos of this event)

Michigan, USA - The MESOPOTAMIA Learning Studio & Art Gallery in Ferndale, Michigan invites you to the closing ceremony titled the “Many Colors of Iraq” art exhibit Friday, May 18, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the evening. 

The art exhibit has received many positive reviews and has been well attended throughout the exhibit.  Art directors Lavon Ammori and Amer Hanna Fatuhi have assembled many  of the worlds finest Chaldean artists and artwork.  The astonishing exhibit features well known and influential artists along with many brilliantly talented new artists.  Participating artists from around the world have showcased their talent and vision. 

The Chaldean Flag serves to express the Chaldean identity and heritage. After long and purposeful discussions relevant to the Chaldean cultural identity the internationally celebrated Chaldean artist Amer Hanna Fatuhi in Beth Nahrain-Iraq was commissioned to create a community flag. 

After a number of proposed submissions the flag was approved by leading Chaldean community organizations.  Groups like the Chaldean Cultural Center, the Chaldean Union Democratic Party, Chaldean National Congress, and Chaldean Democratic Forum, along with other Chaldean cultural, educational, and social Organizations voted unanimously.  The flag has since been registered by international bodies and the United State of America on Oct. 27, 1997. 

Michigan, USA - Tickets sold out in less than a few days to the highly anticipated event.  Over 300 Chaldean women gathered at Mother of God Chaldean Church Hall in Southfield, Michigan for the 2nd Annual Mother’s Day Fashion Show Dinner.  The event was held on Friday, May 4, 2007 and began at 6 p.m. in the evening.  The event organized by the Our Chaldean Ladies Social group of the Chaldean church holds a number of special activities targeting Chaldean women. 

The annual fashion show event helps to raise funds to help Chaldean causes around the world and all proceeds of the event go directly to the Chaldean community.  The highlights of the evening were two incredible fashion shows and the ability to receive or win gifts totaling close to $10,000.   However, winning rave review was the “Pure of Heart - ‘To be Admired not Desired’ Fashion Show,” hosted by fashion stylist Patrice Konja and produced by Remon Jiddou.  The performance sponsored Nahla's Place, This is Me, and Platinum Salon, of Birmingham, Michigan. 

(Access to all photos of the event are included for registered members of the community website)

North Carolina, USA - Hippocrates said, "Art is long, life is short," but he didn't know Albert Chaffoo. The symphony conductor's far-reaching artistic influence has stretched through a life of nine decades and shows no signs of ceasing any time soon.