“In a land devastated by war and filled with grief, trust is the only thing that keeps our community strong.” spiritual life, we cannot bring a sense of hope or the comfort of Christ to others. For this reason, our timetable includes moments for silence and solitude intended to encourage seminarians to reflect upon and learn to embrace this call. The seminarians are directed also to “set out” and preach the Gospel. They are encouraged to spend their free time, especially on Sundays, collaborating in parishes, teaching catechism and giving instruction to young people. They are requested to participate ardently in various services in their own communities, especially during the summer break and on solemn feasts, such as Christmas and Easter. Each Friday,
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they teach catechism in local parishes and organize youth activities and spiritual gatherings. Some of our seminarians assist members of displaced communities that have been affected by ISIS. We try to nurture in each student the compassion of a good shepherd. This is the ability to assume a conscientious and mature responsibility for the care of souls. This also requires an interior strength and perception that will allow him to evaluate pastoral difficulties and to establish the priorities in his mission. To be blunt: The reality of priesthood in a country racked by persecution may result in
martyrdom. We prepare the seminarians for this possibility through the real-life experiences of our very own priests who have died at the hands of terrorists — Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul and Father Ragheed Ghanni — and others. Both Archbishop Rahho and Father Ghanni were students at our seminary. The situation is still difficult. We remind our seminarians always that being Christian in Iraq means to be ready always to face martyrdom. For this reason, our church is called “the church of martyrs.” Our young people are not afraid. But their families are, fearing their children could be killed if they become priests.
