By Chaldean Patriarchate
5 April 2016
The Chaldean Bishops in Iraq held a meeting chaired
by His Beatitude, Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako in the morning of Tuesday 5
April 2016 at the Patriarchate summer headquarters in Ankawa, Erbil. The
attendees were:
1. Auxiliary
Bishop, Mar Shlemon Warduni
2. Auxiliary
Bishop, Mar Basilios Yaldo
3. Auxiliary
Bishop (retired), Mar Jacques Isaac
4. Bishop of
Alqosh, Mar Mikhael Maqdassi
5. Archbishop
of Erbil, Mar Bashar Warda
6. Archbishop
of Kirkuk and Sulaimanyia, Mar Yousif Toma
7. Archbishop
of Basrah, Mar Habib Al-Nawfali
8. Father
Yushia Lazaar from the Diocese of Zakho and Amedyia representing bishop Rabban
Al-Qas, who is abroad.
9. Father
Kiryakos Mekho from the Diocese of Aqra
The agenda
covered the following subjects that have been discussed thoroughly:
His Beatitude, the Patriarch of the Chaldean Church started the
meeting by welcoming the attendees and stressing the importance of holding
regular meetings between bishops, and the necessity of adopting an appropriate
leadership in their dioceses, especially in Iraq that should go in parallel
with the rapidly changing developments. His Beatitude also reminded
bishops to face problems with courage and clarity without any fears or
hesitation and to be; motivated by faith; inspired by prayers; fed by the word
of God; branded by wisdom and compassion (mercy), and they should not leave
loose ends that may impact the future of the Church. His Beatitude, the
Chaldean Patriarch renewed his call to sustain education and keep up with
developments in society. Afterwards, they discussed security and economic
situation and the significance of dealing with the consequences by cautiousness
and carefulness. His Beatitude also asked the
bishops to be one team and maintain communication with the Patriarchate for
better coordination.
Displaced
People Conditions: The church will continue
doing its’ best to stand by them, support them, raise their spirit (hope) as
well as thinking of dioceses that are not receiving aids on regular basis.
Regarding immigration, Bishops and Priests should be committed to support
people rather than encouraging them to leave, but also to respect their
personal decisions and related responsibilities.
Preparation
of Priests: All the attendees expressed
their regret for what happened in the diocese of Canada: the incident of Father
Amer Saka (gambling), and in Vancouver Parish, it is sad to see some
of the parishioners joining the Anglican Church under the name of Chaldean
Catholic which intersects with the unity and communionship of the church.
They also felt sorry that some priests and monks left their diocese in Iraq to
join others abroad (at the diaspora). They concluded that all this is an
outcome of lacking a well spiritual and theological formation. Therefore, they
agreed to find ways of sustainable formation and will agree on a meeting with
all Iraqi priests later.
His
Beatitude asked all bishops to be committed to the synod decisions.