Christians in Iraq Under Fire

Mar Afrem's Chaldean Church in Mosul got bombarded a long with the Nins Monastery

by Muslim Fanatics at New Mosul City on Thaksgiving day Nov 26, 2009

how sad . . .

I have been in this church sevral times to celebrate the Holy Liturgy

Once I remeber I was there for first communion Celebration with my bishop George Garmo

Summer 1998

God Protect Iraqi Christians

@ Pics by Ankawa.com

Summer 2009

Rania & Ayad's Wedding Wedding @ St. Peter's Chaldean Cathedral

Poway's Lent of Nineveh 09- Bautha

For the first time in the history of our mission we have celebrated the Lent of Nineveh, know in Chaldean Language as BAUTHA.
We where unable to celebrate all the 3 days, but we celebrate the last day only, the Wednesday of Bautha.
We had just few people coming that day, to worship and thank God for all his benefits toward Us.
on that day we had Fr. Attisha, 1st Chaldean-Dominican priest to hear confessions on that day. He is here in San Diego to celebrate his 80Th Birthday!! Wow Congratulations..
After the Prayer & the mass who lasted 3.00 hours!!! we where invited over shamasha Edward's house (althogh he was in Washinton DC) for dinner, it was really a nie one with the choir and everyone...

1st Lecture in Poway - Being a Christian Today?!

On Sunday Jan 25, 2009
After celebrating the liturgical Mass in Poway, we headed to the Church Hall where we had a Lecture about "Being a christian Today, What does that mean?" After one hour, we had mutual dinner together with the families of North County, then we had almost another hour encounter, an open discussion with the faithful of Poway, to find a solution for our Mission, finding a building or a house to start our activities... we spread the word, and we will wait for the cultivation...
here are some pictures from the event!!

St. Peter Cathedral Jubilee- Jan 16, 2009

On Friday January 16, 2009 on the feast of Sts. Peter & Paul, according to our Chaldean liturgical calendar, it was the time to celebrate the Silver Jubilee (25 years) of the dedication of St. Peter Chaldean Cathedral at 1983.
Here you see some of my pictures in the event.

GOOD BYE FR. RAGHEED: GOD IS WITH YOU

Photo by Fr. Duoglas Bazzi

The Martyr Fr. Ragheed Ganni
(1972-2007)
IRAQ

Born: Jan 20, 1972 -Karemlash

Education: Engeneering University-Mosul

Entered the Seminary: 1996/Rome

Became Priets: 2003/ Rome

Worked: Chaldean Diocese of Mosul (2003-2007)

Killed: June 03, 2007

Corpus Domini (Christi) Day On June 07, 2007

After the tragedy of last Sunday, on the Holy Trinity feast: June 03, 2007, we have Lost Fr. Ragheed Aziz Ganni, and three of his sub-deacons companions. They were killed with no pity by 6 Muslim Terrorists in the City of Mosul (400km) northern Baghdad-Iraq. Fr. Ganni’s mom is my first cousin, he was my friend since I was 7 years old!

On Thursday, June 07th, the Irish College where fr. Ganni studied for more than 6 years between 1996-2003, invited all Chaldeans to preside the Holy Liturgy for him and his companions the Martyrs. It was a big celebration. The number of attendants was almost 200 clergy, religious and lay people. A significant presence of both religious and civil authorities marked the event. 3 Cardinals of the Catholic church (Card. Dawood prefect of the congregation of Eastern Churches, Card. Law, archpriest of Basilica St. Maria Maggiore and a retired Irish Cardinal), plus 3 ambassadors (of G.B, Ireland and Iraq. And a delegation from the American Embassy toward the Holy See).

Msgr. Philip Najim (the chaldean procurator toward the vatican, and the Apostolic Visitor for Chaldean in Europe) presided the Liturgy, and the funeral prayer. He gave indeed a strong and effective homily, about Fr. Ganni, and the miserable situation in Iraq. He called the international Society to interfere to help the suffering country, and the persecuted Christianity in Iraq sine 2003!

May you soul rest in peace forever father Ragheed with all the Martyrs is the heaven, with Our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

I'll leave you with some pics for the event.

Picnic to Mt. Terminillo on Feb 17, 2007

سفرة مع الكلية الروسية الى جبل قرب روما

ذهبنا البارحة يوم السبت 17 شباط 2007 مع الكلية الحبرية الروسية بروما في نزهة استغرقت يوم واحد الى جبل (تيه-رمينيللو) الذي يبعد ساعتين عن مدينة روما. كان في صحبني سيادة المطران سرهد جمو المتواجد حاليا في روما لالقاء الدروس في الليترحية الكلدانية.

جاء توقيت هذه النزهة بمناسبة انهاء الطلاب لامتحانات الفصل الاول من واستعدادهم للشروع في الفصل الثاني يوم الاثنين القادم.

بدأت الرحلة في حوالي الثامنة صباحا من نهار السبت 17 شباط 2007، وتم الوصول الى الجبل في العاشرة. باشر الكل يومهم بالاحتفال بالقداس الالهي حسب الطقس البيزنطي الكاثوليكي (الملكي) حسب دورهم في التقديس بموجب نظام الكلية. وترأس سيادته رتبة القداس.
الكنيسة مبنية على اسم القديس "فرنسيس الاسيزي" وهي تعتبر احدى اربع كنائس المنطقة التي كان القديس فرنسيس يتردد عليها، اذ ان الجبل لا يبعد كثيرا عن مدينة القديس فرنسيس (اسيزي).

بعد الاحتفال بالقداس اليومي -والذي استمر زهاء ساعة كاملة- في برد قارس (بحيث نسى كاهن الكنيسة فتح التدفئة فيها) توجه الجميع الى صالة الطعام (الباردة ايضا) لتناول وجبة النهار (الفطور والغداء معا) وفي 12.30 خرج الجميع من الكنيسة متوجهين الى الثلج!! حيث بدأوا مشوارهم من الواحدة ظهرا حتى الرابعة عصرا.
انتهز الجميع هذه الفرصة للوصول الى ثلج الجبل باسرع وقت (رغم تواجد الثلج في كل مكان). قضى الجميع اوقاتا طيبة وعادوا الى روما في السادسة عصرا بالضبط.

شارك في هذه النزهة اخوات القلب الاقدس اللواتي تقع عليهن مسؤولية اعداد الطعام لطلاب الكلية وكهنتها والذين يبلغ اجمالي عددهم الاربعين شخصا مع بعض اقربائهن ...

نترككم مع بعض صور هذه النزهة

In St. Francis Church for the Mass

After the Mass Heading to the Bus

Before our Start: Group picture

On our Way, everything is freezing

To the top of Mount Terminillo (1800 m) Altitude

On our way we saw people skiing

On our arriving to the upper Cableway station me and Bish. Jammo

With The View on the Terminillo Town

On the Other Side of the Mount Terminillo


Another View From Mt. Terminillo

Picture to the Valley with people skiing!!

The other Cableway in front of Us on our return way!

See you next timeeeeeee. .. .