The Metro-Detroit area has been the largest hub for Chaldean Catholics in America. The Chaldean Church, also called The Church of the East, can be seen as the liturgical and historical “older brother” of our own SyroMalabar Church. Before arriving in India, St. Thomas the Apostle evangelized the people of modern day Iraq. Despite constant persecution in the Middle East, and amid the chaos of post-Saddam Iraq, the Chaldeans still thrive. Knowing that the Chaldeans, many of whom still speak and worship in Aramaic (the language of Jesus and the Apostles), have ten churches in the Metro-Detroit area, I felt a call to reach out to them and encounter what our older brothers in faith had to offer.

I am very pleased to know that all the parishes and missions of the diocese give proper importance to the programs of the Year of Faith. I appreciate and congratulate Reverend Fathers, Sisters and Lay people of the diocese for organizing successful celebrations of the Year of Faith through their dedicated service and hard work. All the programs of the Year of Faith are intended to enkindle the fire of faith in every faithful and thereby to know better the fundamentals of Christian faith and to witness to this faith in the present society.