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Welcome to the Sisters from Iraq
Present at the welcome in “The Centre” at our Kedron Convent was Fr Gerry Hefferan who visited Iraq in 2009 to meet with Redemptorist Father Bashar, now Archbishop of Erbil and who was seeking help for the Chaldean community of Iraq which has been subjected to persecution and displacement under the Saddam Hussein regime and following the Iraq war. Present also was Professor Nasir Butrous from ACU’s Brisbane campus who explained the importance of the Holy Spirit-Chaldean Partnership which is a collaboration between the Australian Catholic University, the Holy Spirit Sisters, Catholic Religious Australia (QLD) and the Chaldean Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus’ Sacred Heart. The purpose of bringing these two sisters to Australia to study is the enhancement of educational opportunities for the Chaldean community in Iraq. Sisters Azhar and Samar will return to their community in Erbil to take up leadership roles. Our MFIC Sisters from around Brisbane appreciated the opportunity to hear from the sisters the specific ministry challenges facing the Iraqi church, not only in education, but also in the area of social justice with a particular focus on women who suffer from lack of respect and who, as displaced Iraqui refugees, struggle with poverty and violence. During their time in Australia – possibly three years – Sisters Azhar and Samar will live at Kedron in the Portiuncula community with Sisters Christina Zammit and Josephine Rush who look forward to the cultural exchange and to providing whatever assistance they can.
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© Missionary Franciscan Sisters, Australian Governance Circle |
This month we formally welcomed from Iraq Sisters Azhar Koka and Samar Mikha who will attend the Australian Catholic University for the purpose of undertaking Masters Degrees in Education Leadership.