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The Sunday English Mass on June 19 was the last time for Tom Gabriel to serve the Mass before leaving for Texas for a new job. Tom served our church for many years and received the blessing of our Bishop last December to become a lector in the church and to officially officially the Chaldean English language Mass.

After the Holy Liturgy, Msgr. Felix thanked Tom for his service and encouraged more youths to approach and serve likewise with a dedicated spirit and obedience. He also presented Tom with a special gift from the church to remind him of his spiritual ties with the mother church.

Although every departure is hard, this one is a happy one since Tom is finding better job and study opportunities in Texas. Also, his absence encouraged other youths to step up and start serving the Mass perfectly as if they were doing it for years!

Thank you, Tom. We wish you all the best in your new life plans, and wish all young people to be ready to serve their mother church just as Tom served.

 

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AZ Youth

Preparing Christmas Cards for our Parishioners

On Wednesday -the traditional ‘youth day’ at Mar Abraham Chaldean Catholic Church- our youth gathered to celebrate not only their ‘Secret Santa (gift exchanging)’ but also to help the parish with putting together the Christmas Cards -prepared previously; by the church secretary and some dear volunteers- and send them out to our beloved parishioners via mail.

In less than two hours, 500 Christmas cards -containing the season greetings and Masses Schedule for both churches “Mar Abraham” and “Holy Family”- were wrapped up and ready to go!

We highly appreciate all people who are volunteering with their time and effort to build and bring together our community.

God Bless You All

Msgr. Felix Shabi

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مأدبة غداء لأطفال التعليم المسيحي

بمناسبة عيد الشكر

في كنيسة مار أوراها الكلدانية الكاثوليكية – أريزونا

أقامت كنيسة مار أوراها للكلدان الكاثوليك في فينكس – أريزونا، مأدبة غداء لأطفال التعليم المسيحي (بمناسبة عيد الشكر) بحضور الأب ريمون سركيس وراهبات الكلدان ومعلمي التعليم المسيحي وعدد من الآباء والأمهات الذين ساعدوا في تحضير الطعام وتوزيعه على أتم وجه. لقد قام الطلاب (حوالي 70 طالباً وطالبة) كل مرحلة على حدة بتقديم صلاة الشكر لله ولأبنه يسوع المسيح كل العطايا التي وُهبت لنا من قبلهم، وأختتمت الصلوات ببركة الكاهن. هكذا فقد سُر الجميع بهذه المناسبة صغاراً وكباراً بالشيء البسيط الذي يقدمونه لأطفالهم الذين هم مستقبل كنيستنا.

:وأليكم بعض هذه الصور التي قد ألتقطت في هذا اليوم

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Children of the Christian refugees from Iraq celebrate Thanksgiving – 2010

at Our Lady of The Vally Parish

On Saturday Nov 20 about 100 Chaldean and Assyrian Catholic children celebrated together the feast of Thanksgiving at Holy Family Mission (at Our Lady of the Valley Parish). Many children has celebrated for the first time in their life the Thanksgiving, since they are new refugees; flee from Iraq because of the intense danger and specifically the persecution that is targeting Iraqi Christians!

Holy Family Mission is the second center for the Chaldean Catholic Church in Phoenix after “Mar Abraham Parish” in Scottsdale, which was establish since 1995.

Despite the differences of establishment –the mission was established at 2009- today we have more people attending the Mission’s Mass than the main Parish. The reason behind it because a lot of the new refugees live in Phoenix- Glendale area, close to the refugee organization centers who help them.

After the first class, all children lined up in front of the banquet table to receive the Thanksgiving meal, that was prepared by the volunteering ladies, parish council members, and the food was donated by some parishioners, we ask the Lord to bless their hearts and souls.

Upon finishing their meal, kids hanged around, playing and shouting, and playing with their teachers. A little while after, Msgr. Felix Shabi invited all children to make one big circle, as a symbol of the church unity, and asked the teachers to prepare the kids to do some activities.  The first communion class was able to sing long and different hymns from the Chaldean Mass, since they are training to get ready for their first communion ceremony on Dec 11!

The new arrived Christian refugees are facing a new wave of challenge after the whole turmoil they went through in Iraq created by the religious fanatics. Here they are facing every day, in America, different people, religions, and believes. While the Chaldean church is weak and targeted in Iraq, also here in America, many people are trying to grab our people and fill their congregations with them!

From this position, I am raising my voice to make it heard to all Catholics in Phoenix and all over America. Our people are in real need of many things, supports: religious education, catholic Media, spiritual and educational printings, and special courses on faith…etc.

The Good Samaritan should be someone not too far from us, or at hand, since WE are the suffering and injured man who was dying on the road waiting for God’s Mercy to reach him.

These are some pictures from the event…

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اطفال إرسالية العائلة المقدسة للكلدان والاثوريين الكاثوليك يحتفلون بعيد الشكر

يوم السبت 20 نوفمبر 2010

بحضور الخوراسقف فيليكس الشابي، النائب الاسقفي لاريزونا، احتفل ما يقارب 100 طفل في مدرسة التعليم المسيحي لارسالية العائلة المقدسة بعيد الشكر يوم السبت 20 نوفمبر.

بدأ المنهاج بحضور الاطفال للحصة الاولى من التعليم المسيحي. عقبتها حالا تناول وجبة الغذاء المُعدة من قبل متوطوعات في الكنيسة وعدد من الامهات، واعضاء في مجلس الخورنة مشكورين. كما قام بالتبرع بالطعام بعض من المحسنين جازاهم اللـه الف خير وبركة. بعد وجبة الطعام، قام الاطفال بقضاء الوقت مع بعضهم ومع معلميهم، ولعب الالعاب الرياضية.

ثم طلب الخوراسقف الشابي من المدرسين بان يجمعوا الاطفال ويقعدوهم في حلقة مع بعض. ثم قام كل فريق وصف من الاطفال بترتيل احد الاناشيد الدينية والطقسية مثل: “لاخو مارا، قديشا الاها، ها مزمنيتون، شلاما وشينا، ويما دالاها مشبحولا، ومهيمنينان، يا شفانا طاوا…الخ”. استمرت الاحتفالية زهاء ساعة ونصف (من 11 صباحا – 12:30 ظهرا). ووزعت الهدايا لطلاب التناول للاداء الجميل الذي ادوه باصواتهم الملائكية.

جدير بالذكر بان 70% من هؤلاء الاطفال هم من العوائل المهاجرة الجديدة والواصلة حديثا الى اريزونا، وهم بحاجة الى دعم واسناد من قبل الكنيسة والجمعيات الخيرية، لان بعض الجماعات التبشيرية بدأت تطرق ابواب الوافدين الجدد وتبث تعاليمها المناهضة للتعليم الكاثوليكي الصحيح، وتحاول ان تكسب لها مؤيدين جدد بين صفوفها.

مع ذلك فالعمل مستمر بعون الرب وبهمة الغيارى والمتطوعين من اجل تعليم وتثقيف الاطفال دينيا وإنسانيا لكي يكونوا واعين ومدركين بالاخطار المحدقة بهم في المستقبل القريب.

وهذه بعض من صور الاحتفالية.

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