The community of Santa Sabina had the honour of receiving the Archbishop elect of Kirkuk, fr Yousif Thomas Mirkis, OP during his recent visit to Rome. While awaiting his episcopal ordination which will come up on the 24th of January 2014, he had a fraternal discussion with some of the brothers on his new appointment and the Archdiocese of Kirkuk of the Chaldeans.
According to him, Kirkuk, a city about 200 kilometres north of Bagdad, has a population of about 10,000 Chaldean Christians all spread out in 6 parishes with 6 priests. Having lived the Dominican life faithfully for 40 years, fr Yousif was surprised by the episcopal appointment. However, as one who has vowed and lived the life of obedience for the same period of time, he is at the service of the Church and seeks only the grace of the office.
There are about 500,000 Christians in Iraq, the rest of them are in the diaspora in different parts of the world, in the USA, Australia and some parts of Europe. Migration has always been a painful experience for Iraqi Christians. It has always been a last resort in the face of violence and persecutions and also a one-way ticket. Although most of them are not happy to leave Iraq, now it is almost impossible for them to return as much as they would want to.
As a country, Iraq is gradually appreciating and maturing in democracy since after the war. The government officially recognizes and encourages the Christians but the diplomatic red tapes and corruption is militating against the efforts. The country is relatively peaceful although there are still pockets of insurgencies and religious fanatism which plays out sometimes in the form of kidnappings and bombings. Unfortunately, Christians are sometimes at the receiving end. This situation has made mission work very difficult in the country. As at now, only very few religious congregations are present in Iraq and the majority of them are women religious.
The Chaldean Church has a Seminary with about 25 Seminarians for all the Chaldean dioceses. This is grossly inadequate to sustain the Church. The strongest desire of Iraqi Christians, according to fr Yousif, is to live and practice their Christian faith in peace.
The Dominicans (brothers and sisters) have a good presence in Iraq compared to other religious congregations. The brothers have two communities in Iraq, one in Bagdad and the other in Mossoul with about eight brother altogether.
We continue to pray for Christians in Iraq and particularly our brother, fr Yousif.
According to him, Kirkuk, a city about 200 kilometres north of Bagdad, has a population of about 10,000 Chaldean Christians all spread out in 6 parishes with 6 priests. Having lived the Dominican life faithfully for 40 years, fr Yousif was surprised by the episcopal appointment. However, as one who has vowed and lived the life of obedience for the same period of time, he is at the service of the Church and seeks only the grace of the office.
There are about 500,000 Christians in Iraq, the rest of them are in the diaspora in different parts of the world, in the USA, Australia and some parts of Europe. Migration has always been a painful experience for Iraqi Christians. It has always been a last resort in the face of violence and persecutions and also a one-way ticket. Although most of them are not happy to leave Iraq, now it is almost impossible for them to return as much as they would want to.
As a country, Iraq is gradually appreciating and maturing in democracy since after the war. The government officially recognizes and encourages the Christians but the diplomatic red tapes and corruption is militating against the efforts. The country is relatively peaceful although there are still pockets of insurgencies and religious fanatism which plays out sometimes in the form of kidnappings and bombings. Unfortunately, Christians are sometimes at the receiving end. This situation has made mission work very difficult in the country. As at now, only very few religious congregations are present in Iraq and the majority of them are women religious.
The Chaldean Church has a Seminary with about 25 Seminarians for all the Chaldean dioceses. This is grossly inadequate to sustain the Church. The strongest desire of Iraqi Christians, according to fr Yousif, is to live and practice their Christian faith in peace.
The Dominicans (brothers and sisters) have a good presence in Iraq compared to other religious congregations. The brothers have two communities in Iraq, one in Bagdad and the other in Mossoul with about eight brother altogether.
We continue to pray for Christians in Iraq and particularly our brother, fr Yousif.
The
community of Santa Sabina had the honour of receiving the Archbishop
elect of Kirkuk, fr Yousif Thomas Mirkis, OP during his recent visit to
Rome. While awaiting his episcopal ordination which will come up on the
24th of January 2014, he had a fraternal discussion with some of the
brothers on his new appointment and the Archdiocese of Kirkuk of the
Chaldeans.
According to him, Kirkuk, a city about 200
kilometres north of Bagdad, has a population of about 10,000 Chaldean
Christians all spread out in 6 parishes with 6 priests. Having lived the
Dominican life faithfully for 40 years, fr Yousif was surprised by the
episcopal appointment. However, as one who has vowed and lived the life
of obedience for the same period of time, he is at the service of the
Church and seeks only the grace of the office.
There are about 500,000 Christians in Iraq, the
rest of them are in the diaspora in different parts of the world, in the
USA, Australia and some parts of Europe. Migration has always been a
painful experience for Iraqi Christians. It has always been a last
resort in the face of violence and persecutions and also a one-way
ticket. Although most of them are not happy to leave Iraq, now it is
almost impossible for them to return as much as they would want to.
As a country, Iraq is gradually appreciating and
maturing in democracy since after the war. The government officially
recognizes and encourages the Christians but the diplomatic red tapes
and corruption is militating against the efforts. The country is
relatively peaceful although there are still pockets of insurgencies and
religious fanatism which plays out sometimes in the form of kidnappings
and bombings. Unfortunately, Christians are sometimes at the receiving
end. This situation has made mission work very difficult in the country.
As at now, only very few religious congregations are present in Iraq
and the majority of them are women religious.
The Chaldean Church has a Seminary with about 25
Seminarians for all the Chaldean dioceses. This is grossly inadequate to
sustain the Church. The strongest desire of Iraqi Christians, according
to fr Yousif, is to live and practice their Christian faith in peace.
The Dominicans (brothers and sisters) have a good
presence in Iraq compared to other religious congregations. The brothers
have two communities in Iraq, one in Bagdad and the other in Mossoul
with about eight brother altogether.
We continue to pray for Christians in Iraq and particularly our brother, fr Yousif.
- See more at: http://www.op.org/en/content/msgr-yousif-mirkis-op-speaks-chaldean-church#sthash.HqpP5WNz.dpuf
The
community of Santa Sabina had the honour of receiving the Archbishop
elect of Kirkuk, fr Yousif Thomas Mirkis, OP during his recent visit to
Rome. While awaiting his episcopal ordination which will come up on the
24th of January 2014, he had a fraternal discussion with some of the
brothers on his new appointment and the Archdiocese of Kirkuk of the
Chaldeans.
According to him, Kirkuk, a city about 200
kilometres north of Bagdad, has a population of about 10,000 Chaldean
Christians all spread out in 6 parishes with 6 priests. Having lived the
Dominican life faithfully for 40 years, fr Yousif was surprised by the
episcopal appointment. However, as one who has vowed and lived the life
of obedience for the same period of time, he is at the service of the
Church and seeks only the grace of the office.
There are about 500,000 Christians in Iraq, the
rest of them are in the diaspora in different parts of the world, in the
USA, Australia and some parts of Europe. Migration has always been a
painful experience for Iraqi Christians. It has always been a last
resort in the face of violence and persecutions and also a one-way
ticket. Although most of them are not happy to leave Iraq, now it is
almost impossible for them to return as much as they would want to.
As a country, Iraq is gradually appreciating and
maturing in democracy since after the war. The government officially
recognizes and encourages the Christians but the diplomatic red tapes
and corruption is militating against the efforts. The country is
relatively peaceful although there are still pockets of insurgencies and
religious fanatism which plays out sometimes in the form of kidnappings
and bombings. Unfortunately, Christians are sometimes at the receiving
end. This situation has made mission work very difficult in the country.
As at now, only very few religious congregations are present in Iraq
and the majority of them are women religious.
The Chaldean Church has a Seminary with about 25
Seminarians for all the Chaldean dioceses. This is grossly inadequate to
sustain the Church. The strongest desire of Iraqi Christians, according
to fr Yousif, is to live and practice their Christian faith in peace.
The Dominicans (brothers and sisters) have a good
presence in Iraq compared to other religious congregations. The brothers
have two communities in Iraq, one in Bagdad and the other in Mossoul
with about eight brother altogether.
We continue to pray for Christians in Iraq and particularly our brother, fr Yousif.
- See more at: http://www.op.org/en/content/msgr-yousif-mirkis-op-speaks-chaldean-church#sthash.HqpP5WNz.dpuf
Msgr
Yousif Mirkis, OP Speaks on the Chaldean Church - See more at:
http://www.op.org/en/content/msgr-yousif-mirkis-op-speaks-chaldean-church#sthash.HqpP5WNz.dpuf