By Baghdadhope*
Baghdadhope received by Father Salem Saka and Father Bashar Warda CSsR the account of the three days of intense work of the priestly meeting held between April 19 to 21 in Ankawa (Iraq) organized by the Chaldean patriarchal seminary of St. Peter and the Babel College, the only faculty of philosophy and theology in Iraq. Chaired by the patriarch of the Chaldean Church, Cardinal Mar Emmanuel III Delly, the meeting had 172 participants who followed the 20 speeches made by bishops, priests, teachers and graduates of Babel College. The meeting had as main themes the priesthood in the Iraqi reality made of violence, migration and attacks on Christian places of worship and the need for the training of the priests and the support of the future vocations. The meeting was attended, besides the speakers, by Msgr. Mikha P. Maqdassi, Chaldean bishop of Alqosh, Msgr.Rabban Al Qas, Chaldean bishop of Amadhiya and patriarchal administrator of Erbil, Msgr. George Alqas Musa, Syriac Catholic bishop of Mosul and Dr. Abdallah Al Naufali, head of the Government Office for non-Muslim minorities.
The meeting ended with some recommendations:
1. organization of biennial meetings focused on biblical, theological or pastoral issues entrusted to Babel College that will announce them six months in advance and to which are invited all priests following coordination of their pastoral duties with their bishops
2. organization of two spiritual retreats of three days each for all the priests managed by the Chaldean seminar of St. Peter that will be announced six months in advance to give the priests the opportunity to organize their pastoral duties.
3. facilitate the pastoral education of priests through texts and pamphlets. Commitment by the Babel College to announce the new publications.
4. Coordination between the bishops and the Committee for the vocations of St. Peter's Seminary for the organization of spiritual and educational meetings with families and youth on the issue of the priesthood and the consecrated life.
5. training of specialized staff for the management of the priests' education.
6. the necessity to reopen the minor seminary and the preparation of qualified personnel for its management.
7. coordination with the Council of Christian Churches in Iraq for the implementation of the above recommendations that should be extended to all Christian denominations in the country.
Below the list of the speakers:
April 19, 2010
1. Opening ceremony
2. Opening speech by Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly
3. Msgr. Emile Shimoun Nona (Chaldean bishop of Mosul). The priest: a human being
4. Fr. Philippe Khoshaba, OP, Mosul. The priest, an ecumenical servant
5. Inauguration of Christian book fair
6. Sister Anna Shaba, IMF. The priest, teacher of faith
7. Fr. Ghazwan Baho. Jesus Christ, the great pastor
8. Fr. Fadi Lion. The sacrament of the priesthood: towards a renewed theology
April 20, 2010
1. Msgr. Shleimun Warduni. The family: a source of priestly vocation.
2. Fr. Lucien Cop CSsR. The priest, prophet, pastor and king
3. Sister Sanaa Yousif. The priest, servant of the sacraments
4. Fr. Vincent Van Vossel, CSsR. The image of the priest in Ephram and Narsay theology
5. Sister Sanaa Yousif. The priest: mediator between God and Man
6. Fr. Albert Abouna.Towards a priestly spirituality for the Third Millennium
7. Fr. Samir Marogee OP. The priest, a spiritual director
April 21, 2010
1. Msgr Jacques Isaac. The continuous formation of priests
2. Fr. Yousif Toma, OP The challenges of the present situation in Iraq
3. Mrs. Hanna Emanuel The woman and the priest
4. Fr. Rayan P. Atto The priesthood: fears and expectations
5. Fr. Najeeb Mous, OP. The priest and the liturgical celebration.
6. Fr. Salem Saka The power is the service
7. Miss. Mervat Kelly. What people expects from the priests
8. Closing speech: Msgr. Francis A. Chullikat. Apostolic Nuncio in Jordan and Iraq