Father Jarjis Robert Sayd & Mar Bawai Soro At The Vatican: Hope, Defiance, Unity

This past Sunday 29 deacons were ordained to the priesthood at Saint Peter’s in Rome by HH Benedict XVI. Among the priests was an Iraqi of the Chaldean Catholic Church - which has suffered in the martyrdom of one archbishop, one priest, and 3 subdeacons in the last 12 months.

Rather a bold move with a bold message by a pope who is developping a reputation for such!  And a clear message at that - Catholics will not be driven underground in fear, Iraq’s Catholic Community is close to the heart of the Holy Father. Public reception of Moslem converts and public support for those who are persecuted my Moslems will be the norm.

Interestingly, among the guests in attendance for the ordination was none other than Assyrian Church of the East bishop Mar Bawai Soro - who has made known his intentions to bring his flock of some 6 priests, 30 deacons and 3,000 faithful in America into the Catholic Church via the Chaldean Catholic Church.

5 bob to American Papist who writes:

My, but doesn’t this picture speak volumes? Here’s the official photo caption:

New ordained priest Jarjis Robert Sayd of Iraq looks on during a ceremony lead by Pope Benedict XVI in which he ordained 29 new priests, in St. Peter Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 27, 2008.

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What also speaks volumes is the presense - along side the Chaldean Catholic bishops at the Mass - of Bishop Mar Bawai Soro. Mar Bawai - a bishop coming out of the Church of the East - had made it known in January of this year that it is his intention - along with the faithful of his diocese - to enter into full communion with the Holy See by way of the Chaldean Catholic Church. Iraqi Christian blogger Baghdadhope righty and interestingly asks:

Equally certainly his very presence in the Vatican and the place of honor reserved to him by the ceremonial could be interpreted as a signal of “unofficial” welcome. Maybe the Holy Church is preparing to welcome among its loving arms a new bishop besides 29 new priests?

Mar Bawai and his faithful - one of whom a proud Cordelia preparing his first post on TBC - have been in my prayers for some time now. I invite all to join me in those prayers that these aspirations for full communion will be achieved.

If you hadn’t heard of this movement before… well you are not alone. Not one other Catholic blogger seems to have embedded the following video as  content.

“Father Samuel Dinkha speaks to the San Jose congregation regarding H.G. Mar Bawai and his supporters “declaration of intent” to pursue full communion with the Catholic Church and unity with the Chaldean Catholic Church of the East.”

Many years to Father Jarjis Robert Sayd, Mar Bawai, and all the newly ordained priests!