Posted on 11/16/2009 3:17:25 PM PST by SandRat
Acting Bishop of Basrah, Imad Al Banna, holds a Catholic Mass at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Nov. 7. Banna also had lunch with troops and civilians and was given a Liberty Bell statuette by the 28th Combat Air Brigade, Pennsylvania National Guard. Photo by Sgt. Matthew Jones, 28th Combat Aviation Brigade.
COB ADDER — The acting Bishop of Basrah held Catholic Mass here in honor of the service members and civilians working toward a safer, more secure Iraq, Nov. 7.
Bishop Imad Al Banna, a Chaldean priest, spoke Aramaic, an ancient language spoken in Palestine 2,000 years ago and still spoken in parts of Iraq to this day.
He began his sermon with a message of peaceful co-existence.
"Peace can be achieved only by respecting other people's opinions," said Banna. "All nations who respect themselves take care of all of their citizens. Nations must also learn from each other and work together to achieve peace."
Addressing the military men and women in the congregation, Banna extended his praise and gratitude.
"I would like to say thank you to every person who is assisting and helping," he said. "You have come overseas so we can have a government that can take care of its citizens."
Banna, who is officially recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as acting Bishop of Basrah, said he is concerned with all citizens, not only Christians.
"I try, from my religious position, to help all people of southern Iraq," he said. "The church is very open and has services to help all people."
Spc. Eric Jackson, a chaplain assistant in the 28th Combat Aviation Brigade, Pennsylvania National Guard, especially appreciated the Bishop's message.
"I really like what he had to say. He is a very humble man," said Jackson, an Altoona, Pa., native. "If you don't have humility, you don't have God."
Spc. Brian Vasquez, an avionics system repairman in the 628th Aviation Support Battalion, 28th CAB, was among the non-Catholics who attended the Mass.
"I heard about it a few weeks ago," said Vasquez, a Plainfield, N.J., native. "It was kind of a historical event. I was really looking forward to it."
Following the service, Banna took time to greet people as they filed by him, many exchanging hugs and kisses. With a warm smile, he even posed for pictures.
The bishop also had lunch with dozens of troops and civilians and was given a Liberty Bell statuette by the leaders of the 28th CAB.
Ping this over to NYer. Thanks.:)=^..^=
The bishop’s life is on the line just as much as the soldiers he led at mass.
“an ancient language spoken in Palestine 2,000”
an ancient language spoken in JUDEA 2,000 years ago.
Palestine didnt exist yet
Actually Herodtus (lived 5th Century BCE) refers to people living between Phoenicia and Gaza as Palestinians in the several translations I have seen. In one case he calls them Syrians of Palestine. I would be curious to know why this was the case.
"Before thy malice was laid open: as it is at this time, making thee a reproach of the daughters of Syria, and of all the daughters of Palestine round about thee, that encompass thee on all sides." Ezekiel 16:57
the correct translation is Philistine not Palestine
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