Packed Advent Mass Celebrated in Baghdad

On this second week of Advent, more than 200 Iraqis attended Mass in Baghdad to celebrate the anticipation of Christ's birth with Iraq’s first cardinal and leader of the ancient Chaldean Church, Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly. The 2 hour Mass was broadcast live on Iraqi state television. The Cardinal said,

"We pray today for the sake of each other and to forgive each other, as well to be directed to do good deeds. That is my demand for the Iraqis, moreover I urge the return home for displaced people and immigrants to their ancestral land."

Jassim al-Jazairi. a Shiite imam of a nearby Shiite mosque shook hands with the Catholic Cardinal in the Church's courtyard after Mass and said,

"I came here to show the unity of the Iraqi people."

The Associated Press reported:

The high attendance at the church in mainly Shiite eastern Baghdad was among several recent signs of normalcy in Iraq. Church officials said the weekly afternoon Mass has been more crowded and was extended by an hour as Iraqis are less fearful about being out on the streets late in many areas of the capital.

"We are proud of this," said Hibba Nasser, a 26-year-old housewife. "We came here to this church in order to tell the terrorists that we are not afraid of them."

Incidentally, Cardinal Delly celebrated his first Mass on Friday in Ankawa, Iraq, since elevated to Cardinal by Pope Benedict 3 weeks ago.  Many of you know Johnny (MSG Proctor) and I have a very deep commitment to Iraq's Christians since Johnny's year long deployment to Iraq in 2003-2004.   While serving in Baghdad's poor al-Rashid district, he became quite close to many of the Iraqi Catholic clergy.  Our friend Fr. Bashar is now in Ankawa and since 2003 we've been raising money for the Church in Iraq, about $17,000 to date. 

I'm happy to report that we're raising more support for Christians in Iraq, this time with a Designated Offering from our Ft. Leavenworth parish this coming weekend.  Proceeds will be going to the Chaldean Seminary and Theological University in Ankawa, of which Fr. Bashar is rector and supports 27 seminarians.  100% of the Designated Offering will be funneled through CNEWA, or Catholic Near East Welfare Association to the seminary and Church in Ankawa. Hopefully it'll be a great offering!

That's Fr. Bashar in the first row, far right (2 down from the priest in white), and these are the students of the seminary in Ankawa, Iraq.

OTHERS BLOGGING:  Gateway Pundit 

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