Chrism Mass

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On April 4, 2023, Mother of God Church held the Chrism Mass, a significant Mass during holy week for Catholics across the world. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Francis Kalabat, along with all diocesan clergy. Bishop Kalabat blessed the holy oils used for various sacraments in all parishes. 

The holy oils blessed by Bishop Kalabat during the Chrism Mass are essential to several sacraments in the Catholic Church. The Oil of Catechumens is used during the sacrament of baptism, while the Oil of the Sick is used to anoint the sick and the dying. The Oil of Chrism, which is a mixture of olive oil and balsam, is used during the sacraments of confirmation and ordination, as well as in the consecration of altars and churches. 

The Chrism Mass is also an opportunity for the priests to renew their commitments to their vocation. During the Mass, they renew  the promises they made during their ordination, which include a promise of obedience to their bishop and a commitment to celibacy. 

The Mass was a powerful reminder of the significance of the sacraments in the lives of Catholics and the role of the church and clergy in nurturing their spiritual journey. 

 

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Mass for Those with Special Needs

On Wednesday, March 29, Bishop Francis Kalabat celebrated Mass for those with Special Needs at Holy Martyrs Chaldean Catholic Church, along with another mass on Saturday, April 1, at Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church. There was a fellowship that followed both Masses.

During Wednesday’s mass, Bishop Francis focused on how, as humans, we strive for perfection but not in the divine way that God is looking for. “We try to be a perfect person without God. And that’s the problem of today.”

He went on to say that because of Jesus’ wounds and sufferings, he understands our pain and he wants us to come to him so that he can strengthen us in our weaknesses. “By his wounds, we are healed. God understands our sickness and infirmities because He Himself personally experienced them. So let’s not be disturbed by them.”

The focus during Saturday’s mass was that children have always played a role in God’s plan for salvation. “It’s important to have children in the Palm Sunday procession. ALL kinds of children; that includes the disabled,” he said.” He went on to say that it is a God-given grace that we celebrated today’s mass for those with special needs on Palm Sunday.

Bishop Francis reminds us that we are called by Jesus to love ALL children from all our hearts and to help them carry their crosses. May we continue to pray for our brothers and sisters who face any sort of disability, that God continues to guide them and heal them!

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Easter Message 2023

Easter Message 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On this Easter we peer into the tomb with bewilderment: it is empty! Death no longer has victory over us, rather the Resurrection of Jesus Christ has triumphed and defeated death! This is our central hope and belief as Christians and why Easter is the holiest holiday for Christians around the world.  

After reflecting upon our sins throughout this Lenten season, we now reflect upon the mercy and love of God the Father, who wishes for nothing more than for us to walk out of the darkness of our sins, our fears, our anxieties, and to walk with Him each and every day in the joy and peace of His everlasting light. 

The Church is your beacon of light in these continuously trying times for Christians throughout the world. According to various research studies, Christianity is currently the most persecuted religion in the world. It is becoming more and more difficult to follow Jesus Christ and His Catholic Church, especially in a world that is viewing Christianity in an ever increasing hostile manner, and that includes right here in our very Diocese as well.

Remain strong in Christ and stay close to your Mother, the Church, my brothers and sisters, and She will guide you and your families, just as She has done in the past 2,000 years, to Christ. This is how we find Jesus in these dark and difficult times: by gathering and praying together as a community of believers in the Chaldean Church that is dedicated to being your home and that guiding light that will lead you to that victory over darkness and death.  

Your Church is working tirelessly to bring you and your families Jesus. This Easter join me in giving thanks to almighty God for the many blessings that He has bestowed upon the Diocese with various new and exciting projects and initiatives that will work to better serve your families: the first Chaldean Catholic preschool outside of the Middle East; the blessing of Mar Eliya Retreat Center this past October; and the campaign to renovate Our Lady of the Fields Camp to host more programs to bring Jesus to today’s youth and future generations to come. 

The Church is on fire with the Holy Spirit and has no intention on slowing down anytime soon. This is your home; your community, my brothers and sisters. The Church is where we will find the peace, joy, mercy, and love of God. We will always preach the Good News of the Resurrected Jesus, no matter the circumstance. 

Your Faithful Servant and Shepherd,

† Mar Francis Y. Kalabat
Bishop of the Chaldean Diocese
of St. Thomas the Apostle

Bishop

Lenten Hiking Trip 2023

On Saturday, March 18, Fr. Marcus Shammami and Fr. John Jaddou led a group of hikers to Saugatuck, Michigan for their annual Lenten hike. The day started off with Mass being celebrated at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Douglas, Michigan, before heading to Saugatuck Dunes State Park for a 4 hour, 6.2 mile hike along Lake Michigan. While the trails were cold and snowy, it did not stop the hikers from enjoying the peacefulness of all the nature around them and soaking Jesus in every step of the way.

Thank you to everyone who attended and thank you to Fr. Marcus and Fr. John for leading such a fruitful Lenten hike. We look forward to seeing everyone next year! 

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Subdeacon and Lector Courses

Our Chaldean Diocese would like to inform those interested in becoming lectors and/or sub deacons that the last day of registration will be on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. To register for the bible study lectures in Arabic or English, please contact Shamasha Khairy at (248) 882-5445. Classes are every Wednesday evening at Mother of God Church at 6:00 PM. For those interested in attending the class via zoom, the ID number and passcode will be provided to you by Shamasha Khairy.

تود ابرشية مار توما الرسول ان تعلن عن برنامجها الخاص للمتقدمين لرسامة الشمامسة، ان يحضروا عددا من الدروس، من ضمنها دراسة الكتاب المقدس، فان يوم الاربعاء الموافق 22/ آذار  يعتبر آخر يوم للتسجيل، والراغبين في التسجيل عليهم الحضور الى كنيسة ام الله في السادسة مساء اليوم المذكور. ومن تفوته فرصة التسجيل في اليوم الذكور، عليه الانتظار لسنة 2024. والدروس ستكون في كنيسة ام الله في الساعة السادسة من مساء كل يوم اربعاء، صف باللغة الانكليزية وصف آخر باللغة العربية.