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June 7, 2009
141 boys & girls receive First
Communion & Reconciliation
His Excellency Bishop Sarhad Yawsip Jammo celebrated two majestic First Communion Masses at St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral 6:30PM Friday June 5th and 9:30AM Saturday June 6th, 2009. Bishop Bawai Soro, Fr. Michael Bazzi, Msgr Paulis Khammi, Fr. Andrew Younan and the Chaldean Sisters, and many deacons and servers also attended both Masses. In honor of this solemn occasion a group of fourth degree Knights of Columbus in their elegant regalia, lead the procession before and after the ceremonies. One hundred and forty one boys and girls (see details below) took the Body of Our Lord for the first time in their lives, a moment that had been greatly anticipated by the children and their families after months of intense preparation and faith formation by Father Michael Bazzi, Sister Margaret and many other helpers. Bishop Sarhad Jammo commented in his sermon on the meaning of the real presence of our Lord in the Eucharist and how the Lord elevates His people spiritually by giving us Himself, body, blood, soul and divinity as a gift in this most sacred sacrament. During his sermon His Excellency called many of the children by him and asked them questions about the Christian Catholic faith which they fully answered correctly, intelligently and courageously to thunderous applause by the church audience who filled the cathedral to the fullest. The bishop asked the children to consider God’s calling to the religious life and asked their parents to be faithful to bringing the children to church every Sunday, to Bible Studies and prayer meetings so they can continue to grow in their faith. What a blessing and graceful occasion it was to witness our little flowers as the Bishop called them, receive the body and blood of the Lord so devoutly and magnificently with their voices echoing through the walls of the Cathedral with the most inspiring prayers and hymns of our liturgy. May the Lord bless our children, their families and all those who spent countless hours preparing them for this most special day in their lives and the life of our church community.
Deacon Keith Esshaki
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