Iraqi children receive first Communion amid sounds of gunshots, bombs

Published: 2006-08-08

ROME (CNS) -- The children of Holy Spirit Parish in Mosul, Iraq, received their first Communion Aug. 4 to the sounds of gunshots and bomb blasts. Father Ragheed Ganni, pastor of the Chaldean Catholic parish, told the Rome-based AsiaNews that the day was marked by "immense joy" that 80 children had completed their preparation for the sacrament, but also "terrible panic" over renewed fighting in their neighborhood. The priest said the celebration began at 7:30 a.m. and the church was packed. "Suddenly we heard explosions and shots close to the church," he said. "Although people are used to it and remained reasonably calm, they started to wonder whether they were going to make it back to their homes or not. I was aware of the immense joy of the 80 children receiving their first Communion, so I turned the subject into a joke and said to them, 'Do not panic, these are fireworks. The city is celebrating with us,'" the priest told AsiaNews in the Aug. 7 interview.

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