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Biennial meetings on biblical and theological issues; spiritual retreats for priests; pastoral education of the clergy through texts and pamphlets; co-ordination between the bishops and the Committee for vocations; spiritual and educational meetings with families and youth on the priesthood issue; re-opening of the minor seminary. These are the main recommendations made at the national priestly meeting in Ankawa (Iraq), which came to a close on April 21. The meeting was 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 was attended by 172 participants who followed the 20 speeches made by bishops, priests, teachers and graduates of Babel College. According to a report by Baghdadhope, among the main themes of the meeting were the priesthood in the Iraqi reality made of violence, migration and attacks on Christian worship places and the need to train priests and support future vocations. The meeting was attended, among others, by Msgr. Mikha P. Maqdassi, bishop of Alqosh, Msgr. Rabban Al Qas, 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.

© SIR - 26 april 2010