Condolence
Messages for Fr. Ragheed Ganni
Just a short mail to express my condolences to the college community, and
through you to the community of the Chaldaen Church in Rome, Iraq and
elsewhere, upon the death of Ragheed. I have just received the news, which
is making its away around the college alumni. It really saddens me greatly.
He was a very gentle and noble man; a man of real courage, and a true
shepherd to his flock. Of all the recent alumni, he has fulfilled the spirit
and purpose of the college in imitation of the first young men who returned
to an uncertain land of certain persecution and strife, to be with the flock
of Christ and to offer the Mass. He could so easily have chosen an easier
route, but he gave his life to Christ in the Church and stayed with its
weakest members. Surely he must be regarded a martyr? Not only has the
Church lost a good and noble priest, a true man of God, but his benighted
country has been robbed of just the kind of person it so greatly needs to
rise from its
suffering and despair. May he intercede from them and for all of us
in the high place the Lord will surely grant him in Heaven. It was a
privilege to offer Mass for him this evening knowing that he lived the words
of the Latin Rite of Ordination, 'Model your life on the mystery of the
Lord's Cross'. May he rest in peace.
Sincerely and with heartfelt condolences,
Kevin Gillespie, Co. Dhú na nGall
Oggi ho ricevuto la
tragica notizia di assasino di nosto amico Padre Ragheed Ganni.
Per me era un vero cristiano con cuore aperto per Cristo e per
noi tutti. Ho letto sou discorso a Bari nel mese di Maggio 2005
sul Eucaristia e altre notizie da Iraq da lui.
Ieri sera (nella festa di
Santa Trinita) Ragheed e andato veramete a Padre Celeste.
Eppure sono triste di sua
scoparsa.
Grazie a Pontificio
Collegio Irlandese a Roma che ho potuto conoscere caro Ragheed
un vero "Habibi".
Con saluti
P. Ludovico Frindt,
Slovacchia
I have just read in Asianews about the murder
of Fr Ragheed Ganni and his companions. I remember meeting him at the Irish
College, so you must surely be very sad at this news. I join you in prayer
at this sorrowful time for their families and particularly for Iraq as it
goes through this nightmare.
God bless,
Elizabeth Hawkins, Youth Section, Pontifical
Council for the Laity, Vatican City
The Sisters of the Mater
Dei Community of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God send their
deepest sympathy and prayers on the tragic death of Rev. A. Ragheed. We
have prayed for the repose of his priestly soul and also for his three
companions deacons. May his death bring peace and reconciliation to the
people of Iraq for whom he gave his life. Our sincere sympathy goes
also to his beloved family who mourn his death. May the good Lord
comfort and console all of them. Our sympathy to the rector and all at
the Irish College who lived and shared his life for many years.
Please God we will be
present for the requiem Mass on Thursday 7th June 2007.
Srs. Teresa, Sarah and
Mary, smgs.
I was shocked to hear of the
terrible and tragic death of Dr. Ragheed and the three deacons; please pass
on my very sincere condolences to their friends and family.
May they rest in peace.
My thoughts are with
Dr.Ragheed's family and the families of the deacons.
Liz O'Keeffe
I am so sorry to
hear about the death of Ragheed. I remember him well from his first
days in Rome. I remember the quiet way he endured great difficulties
and suffering on account of his faith and commitment to Christ. I am
with you in spirit and will join you in prayer on Thursday for this
gentle and courageous martyr. I’ll never forget him.
Phelim O’Hare
Earlier today, I visited
the college website and noticed mention of the death of a former
student. To my shame, I hadn't heard the news and only when I
followed up on it did I learn of the deaths of Father Ragheed Ganni
and deacons Basman Yousit , Bassam and Ghassan. Today I celebrated
Mass in memory of Boniface, Bishop and Martyr. How easily we let
that word "martyr" roll off the tongue. It seems a word from a
bygone age but of course, as is so tragically revealed, in these
senseless deaths, the role and place of the martyr is ever present.
In October 2001, I
had the great pleasure of spending some few days with the students
of the Irish College in Rome while conducting a retreat. It was
just about a week before he was ordained so I'm inclined to think he
wasn't there. Just as well maybe as some of my words might have
sounded shallow. The priesthood I spoke from is a more settled
affair than he could have anticipated or experienced in the strife
of his homeland. Had he been among that group, thankfully I now know
I wished him well and prayed with and for him in the closing session
of that retreat .... I still do and with all right-minded people
condemn his killing and commit myself to praying for those all too
often and easily forgotten people who suffer simply because they
have the courage to believe.
May they rest in
peace.
Vincent Sherlock, Co. Roscommon
I wish to send the
condolences of my wife, family and myself on hearing about the death of
Father Raheed. We met with Fatherr Raheed in I think 1998 when we
stayed at the college on holiday. A lovely person you could not find.
Obviously God has chosen one of his best workers to be by his side. We
pray for Father Raheed and all at the college at this time.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a
Anam.
Pól Sharon Mag Aoidh and
Family
While on a short
break in Rome in March of 2002, i visited the Irish College
and was invited to stay for dinner. Myself and my friend
were a little nervous and we were seated at a table with Fr.
Ragheed. I have never forgotton him. He was a person
filled with goodness, and joy and love of God and he left a
deep impression on me. My sympathies to his family and
friends and parishioners. May he rest in peace.
I would like
to express my condolences for the untimely death of Fr. Ragheed.
It is always a tragic thing in life to lose a good priest, and
particularly in this way.
I will be
going to Loreto later in the week and will light a special candle
for his soul.
With
respectful wishes
Breda Ennis
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If you wish
to send a message of condolence please email
reception@irishcollege.org
