Condolence Messages for Fr. Ragheed Ganni

 

It was with sadness that we heard of the tragic deaths of Father Ragheed Ganni and deacons Basman Yousit , Bassam and Ghassan.
This news has travelled to Ireland and no words can describe the purpose of this act .  Our condolences and prayers especially for the families of these men .

Greg O'Donoghue  , Ireland

Shocking new about the pass away of Fr. Raghid.

 

I got to know Father Raghid while he was studying in Rome and I can not forget his enthusiasm  and his love  for his people.

My Sincere condolences go to his  family and to the Pontifical Irish College

May his soul rest in eternal peace

 

Dima Al-Baqain

 

I was in the Irish College during one year, 1997-1998. I remember Ragheed very well! We all use to speak and talk with him. I do pray for him, for his family, for Iraq, for his fellows, for the Irish College Thank you, God Bless you all

Dominique Rimaz, Switzerland

I was shocked and saddened to hear of Ragheed's senseless killing along with his three colleagues in Mossul.  I have many fond memories of Ragheed from student days in the college.  I remember him as someone with a great love of the gospel and a great love for his ancient and proud country.  I pray that he can now interceed for his country which is currently benighted through terrible violence and murder.  He is surely one of those who has washed his robes in the blood of the lamb and is now blessed in his presence.  May he and all those so unjustly deprived of life rest in peace.

Fr. Enda Murphy, Clifferna, Co Cavan

I wish to express my condolence and sympathy upon hearing of the murder of Ragheed and his three deacons.

I worked on the summer programme in the Irish College in 1999 and Ragheed worked in the college during that summer, I found him to be a great friend and a very spiritual man. I am humbled and blessed to have known a man who was a martyr for his faith; I extend my sympathy to his family and the Christian people of Mosul. 

I offer my prayers for his soul and that of his fellow victims, and to Christians persecuted throughout the world.

God bless, 

Mark J Mulholland, Belfast City Council

I would like to rlay just how gutted I am on hearing of the tragic deaths of Fr. Ragheed Ganni and the three deacons. I worked with Ragheed on Lough derg for several seasons. It just highlights how awful the situation in Iraq is.

God rest him. Please pass on my sympathies to the proper channels. Thank you.

Fr. John Chester, St. Macartan's College, Monaghan, Ireland.

College Community and Staff,

Please accept my sympathy on this tragic loss. I remember meeting him a number of times during my visits to the College. May his soul rest in peace, and may those who knew and loved him be comforted by the hope that his death is not in vain.

RIP.

Cait O'Dwyer rsm, Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, Dublin

Hello, I was fortunate enough to work in the Irish College in the summer of 1999, and got to know Ragheed quite well. Just last Friday, four of us from that summer gathered for a small reunion and reminisced about our wonderful time there, and of course about Ragheed and Monsignor Fleming and the great friendships that developed. We are all shaken by this awful news - horrible and cruel. It is his endearing smile that will stay with me most of all, broad and constant. The bravery of the man in providing for his flock is typical. May he rest in the sort of peace that is being so tragically denied his country.

Thank you, Davin O'Dwyer, Dublin.

 

A Cairde,

It was with great sorrow that I heard the news yesterday about Ragheed. I was one of the hundreds of Irish people who met Ragheed initially at the Irish College and one of the thousands whose life he touched. I would like to pass on my condolences to all the staff and students at the Irish College. He was such a part of the college for so many years that I know there are many there who feel so bereft this week.

I was working in the college in August 1999 and remember being given the warmest of welcomes by Ragheed who was the only remaining seminarian there that summer. To say I was surprised to meet an Iraqui seminarian in Rome who had been to my hometown of Omagh and even to Lough Derg is an understatement. He was a racontuer par excellence and a font of knowledge  - we discussed everything and anything from the metaphysical to the trivial. A young and gauche student at the time I learnt about Iraq and about theology; about the workings of the college in the summer and the best places to eat pizza. I was amazed at his command of English and Italian and his perennial good spirits and big smile - he was and will always be an inspiration.

I returned to Ireland but we stayed in touch regularly; I always marvelled at how he ever managed to keep in contact with all his legions of friends. I subsequently returned to live in Rome and Ragheed continued to be a valued friend. I left Rome and Ragheed did too but we continued to keep in touch.

That he died so violently and in his prime is a tragedy. He touched the lives of so many and I feel immensely priveleged to have known and learnt from him. He loved his country and I pray that his legacy there will never be forgotten there and that peace will come.

Gan dabt ar bith, bhi eisean an fear as fearr (bhi rud beag Gaeilge aige agus bhi an phrasa seo an t-aon is fearr!) Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis -go deimhin ni bheadh a leithead aris ann.

Is mise le meas agus faoi bhron,

Catherine Fahy

It was with profound sadness I heard of the shocking and brutual death of Ragheed. It is a privilege to have known him at the Irish College in the overlapping years of our studies in Rome. No-one could be untouched by his cheerful and sunny personality, his captivating

smile and self-effacing manner. Reading his reports about the plight of Christians in Iraq to Asia News I was struck with the hope and complete trust in God that radiated through his reports of the darkest and dispairing circumstances he and his community found themselves. There is no doubt that his name is enscribed on the roll of martyrs.

My sympathy to you and his extended adopted family at the Irish College where he found a home away from home. Many here share in your great sorrow. Although his life was short in human eyes its true measure is in the generosity in which he gave his life for his people, his country and God. While the Irish College, and you personally and all at the College, mourn a dear friend and former student, it must be a source of quiet joy, if it is permissible to say so, in having had so great a hand in the formation and story of a truly powerful witness and martyr of God and of the faith. I will join the community of the Irish College in spirit on Thursday - The Third Day - by offering Mass for the respose of his soul, consolation for his family and friends in Iraq, at the Irish College and around the world.

With great sorrow,

Michael Mullaney, St Patrick's College, Maynooth,

I heard today of Ragheed Ganni's death, very sad news indeed. It was mentioned on today's Irish Times and there was a report on the 9 o clock news along with the Mass today at the Irish College, which you appeared also. Like yourself, I have fond memories of him during his formation years with us in Rome, a kind gentle young man...may he rest in peace...I will offer Mass for him this weekend.

Arnold

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