Minutes of Meeting for Saint Thomas Parish (Chicago)

 

Your Grace,

 

On Thursday, January 24, 2008, a joint meeting of Mar Toma's Board of Advisers and the Executive committee was held. The meeting started at 7:45PM. The meeting was attended by:-

 

• Father Zaia Marano
• Deacon Dibato
• Deacon Alan Joseph

 

Advisers

 

• George Rasho, Chairman
• Ashur Solomon
• George Gewargis
• Charles  Al-Bazi
• Ben Toma
• Paul Shiba
• David Antar
• Sargon Marano
• Steve Youkhana was absent. But he was personally briefed on this matter and had the opportunity to read the text of the press release. He is in full support of it.

 

Executive Committee

 

• Martin Mirza, President
• Edward Danavi, VP
• Mike Michael, Finance
• Jany Mirza, Special events
• Nahrain Rasho, Youth activities
• Glades Shamoon, Daughters of the Church
• Eklila Shlimon, Secretary and Membership
• Fredrick Shamoon, Media
• John Nissan, Ushers & Visitations
• Youth Ministry
• Yubert Shlimon

 

I called the meeting to order and asked Father Zaia Marano to lead us in the lord's prayer. After welcoming all of the members of both committees, I read the e-mail that you have sent me, which included the press release. We deliberated among ourselves in a spirit of brotherhood. It was clear among all of us at the meeting that we are fulfilling our Lord's prayer for his Holy church " That they all may be one". (John 17:21).

 

The floor was open for comments. I would like to summarize some as follows:-

 

• There is a redundancy in the press release  by saying "enter in full communion with the Catholic Church" then restating " to resume unity with the Chaldean Church". The two could have been combined to lesson the confusion that some might thing that we are becoming Roman Catholics.   (Mike Michael).
• This is a very happy day for me. My heart is full of Joy and I am very relieved. Our first happiness was when His Grace was disengaged from the ACOE, and today is the second occasion for happiness, His Grace is joining an infrastructure that truly adheres to accountability, reform and unity. (Jany Mirza).
• We as Assyrians have always lived in fear of taking brave actions. As long as we are uniting in Christ, then we must not fear. Let's take this brave step, because we are making God happy, and that is important. God bless this step. (Ashur Solomon).
• All of us were waiting for this day, deep inside we knew that this was the only salvation to our mission. Let's move forward. (Ben Toma).
• His Grace must explain to us what is next and try to relay the message to the people ASAP. We need His Grace here now.  I am very happy for this move. (Ed Danavi).
• I am fully convinced that we are truly bringing Christ among us. I am at ease, because I know that God is with us. Let's move forward. (Hanna Nissan).
• We are fulfilling god's wish by becoming one. It is the happiest day for me. (George Rasho).
• We need Mar Bawai to come to Chicago and meet with the members. (Most of the attendees). 
• This is a dcision that was long overdue and we need to move forward. (Sargon Marano).
• At the conclusion of this deliberation, I asked the committees for a show of hands to acknowledge their support. They unanimously supported the decision made by your grace and the clergy with you.

 

We all stood up and prayed together thanking God for giving us this opportunity to unite with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

At the conclusion of the meeting it was decided that a joint letter of endorsement will be written on behalf of the board of advisers and the executive committee and signed by the chairpersons of both committees. It will be sent to you hopefully tonight.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30PM.

 

 

God Bless You

Martin Mirza