Source: Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham
Bishop William Kenney, auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham and Spokesman on European Affairs for the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales is planning to visit Northern Iraq from 11-16 April, writes Peter Jennings.
Bishop Kenney, said on Monday 31 March: “I have visited Iraq on several occasions and plan to visit Arbil (also written Erbil) in Northern Iraq in April at the invitation of the local bishop."
“Bishop Crispian Hollis, Chairman of the Department of International Affairs, is also planning to be there for part of the time. The purposes of our visit to is to show solidarity with local church.”
Arbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Regional Government, lies about fifty miles east of Mosual, and is believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Bishop Kenney explained that during the visit he and Bishop Hollis would meet priests, parishes, religious, seminarians and celebrate Mass for Iraqi Chaldean Catholics.
Bishop Kenney stressed: “Our message to the Christians of Erbil is simple – ‘We have not forgotten you’.”
Bishop Kenney, who is responsible Coventry, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire, emphasised the importance of prayer and encourage Catholics throughout the United Kingdom to prayer for the people of Iraq.
He said: “I urge Catholics, Christians of other traditions, and people of all faiths, please keep the tragic situation in Iraq in your prayers each day.”
Bishop Kenney added: “Please pray in particular for the Iraqi Chaldean Catholics following the sudden death of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul.”
Archbishop Rahho was abducted outside his cathedral in Mosul on February and his kidnappers revealed on 12 March where his body could be found.
Bishop Kenney, C.P., a member of the Passionist Congregation, was an Auxiliary Bishop of Stockholm, Sweden, from 1987 until 17 October 2006, when the Vatican announced his move to the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
Bishop William Kenney, auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham and Spokesman on European Affairs for the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales is planning to visit Northern Iraq from 11-16 April, writes Peter Jennings.
Bishop Kenney, said on Monday 31 March: “I have visited Iraq on several occasions and plan to visit Arbil (also written Erbil) in Northern Iraq in April at the invitation of the local bishop."
“Bishop Crispian Hollis, Chairman of the Department of International Affairs, is also planning to be there for part of the time. The purposes of our visit to is to show solidarity with local church.”
Arbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Regional Government, lies about fifty miles east of Mosual, and is believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Bishop Kenney explained that during the visit he and Bishop Hollis would meet priests, parishes, religious, seminarians and celebrate Mass for Iraqi Chaldean Catholics.
Bishop Kenney stressed: “Our message to the Christians of Erbil is simple – ‘We have not forgotten you’.”
Bishop Kenney, who is responsible Coventry, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire, emphasised the importance of prayer and encourage Catholics throughout the United Kingdom to prayer for the people of Iraq.
He said: “I urge Catholics, Christians of other traditions, and people of all faiths, please keep the tragic situation in Iraq in your prayers each day.”
Bishop Kenney added: “Please pray in particular for the Iraqi Chaldean Catholics following the sudden death of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul.”
Archbishop Rahho was abducted outside his cathedral in Mosul on February and his kidnappers revealed on 12 March where his body could be found.
Bishop Kenney, C.P., a member of the Passionist Congregation, was an Auxiliary Bishop of Stockholm, Sweden, from 1987 until 17 October 2006, when the Vatican announced his move to the Archdiocese of Birmingham.