By Baghdadhope* Source of the data about MOR: ANS
The Salesians in the Middle East Province (MOR) "Gesù Adolescente" welcomed the first Iraqi salesian priest of Chaldean rite during a ceremony in San Antonios church in Damascus (Syria) on August 28.
Fr. Aisen Elia was ordained by Msgr. Antoine Audo, Chaldean bishop of Aleppo, (the only Chaldean bishop in Syria) and present to the ceremony were the the supervisor of MOR, Don Maurizio Spreafico, and Fr. Farid Botros, parish priest of the Chaldean church of Saint Thérése of the Child Jesus.
Fr. Elia was born in Baghdad 33 years ago. His family is from Batnaya in the north of Iraq. In 1989 he entered the minor Chaldean Seminary in Baghdad and subsequently got a degree in Philisophy and Theology at Babel College. He left Iraq in 2004.
The Salesians in the Middle East Province (MOR) was canonically erected in 1946 but it began its works in 1981 thanks to five sisters of the "Daughters of Mary Help of Christians" living in Bethlehem.
In 1913 was created a foundation in Adalia (Turkey) that lasted only two years and that of "Gesù Adolescente" in Damascus.
The Salesians in the Middle East Province (MOR) works in Turkey, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt. It has 100 salesians, 77 priests, 9 assistants and 14 young attending the training in 16 communities.