Chaldean Catholic Church Community Shares Memories to Preserve Cultural Heritage in Detroit

Father Manuel Boji, a member of the Chaldean Catholic Church, shares his early call to priesthood in an interview conducted by Robin Darling Young, associate professor of Church history at Catholic University of America. Boji, who moved from Iraq to the United States in 1987, describes his journey through seminary in Mosul and Baghdad. The interview, part of a broader effort to document the experiences of Chaldean Catholics, highlights personal memories that reflect a culture at risk of fading.

The Chaldean Catholic Church, a sect of Christianity with a history spanning nearly 2,000 years, has faced significant challenges in the Middle East. Violence over the past 13 years has displaced millions, including many Chaldean Catholics and other Eastern Christians. In Iraq, the Christian population has declined from 1.4 million in 2003 to fewer than 500,000 today. In the United States, many Chaldean Catholics have settled in Detroit suburbs, where they are navigating the loss of traditions and the neo-Aramaic language.

Robin Darling Young and a team from Catholic University of America are working to preserve the history of Chaldean Catholics. Equipped with video cameras and interview questions, they have partnered with the St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Diocese in Detroit. Since last year, they have conducted over 33 video interviews in both Arabic and English with long-time residents and recent refugees. The project aims to create an online library of photos and video interviews, capturing hundreds of personal stories and memories.

Young emphasizes the urgency of documenting these experiences. She believes the project, available online at ccmideast.org, will be valuable for Christian scholars and historians. The initiative seeks to preserve the rich history of a community that has endured significant upheaval. Through these interviews, the Chaldean Catholic Church’s legacy is being safeguarded for future generations.

The effort reflects a commitment to remembering the past and passing on the faith, as seen in the biblical theme of preserving history for future generations. By collecting memories, the project honors the resilience and cultural depth of the Chaldean Catholic community.

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