In his sermon about the Gospel reading for The Fifth Sunday of The Resurrection Bishop Soro focused on the true meaning of “Resurrection” saying “now God is available” for each and every one of us to call upon Him every time we sin as long as we repent with “contrite heart”; God will forgive, help, and guide us in our lives. He also explained how the Church is “The Place of Conversion” and that during Mass as we pray we ought to ask God to forgive and rid us of all sin. As always he reminded us that we ought to love and forgive one another in order to be Christ-like. His Excellency concluded his sermon by delivering best wishes, love, and regards of our, Beloved Bishop, H.E. Mar Sarhad Yawsip Jammo.

At the end of the Mass SMYLE JR. Kids Ministry gave Bishop Soro beautiful flowers as token of their love and appreciation for him and he truly appreciated and thanked them all; they gathered around him as children do around their father. Bishop Soro spent time talking to them and gave them his blessings.

Later on Bishop Soro joined our congregation at the Parish Hall to have a meal together as we celebrated the memorial of St. George that was prepared by Daughters of Mary Ministry. He then had more time to meet and visit with us and offered prayers and blessings to many.

Last Sunday was indeed a very special day for us at St. Matthew Parish. We, as always, keep our pastors and Bishops in our prayers and we ask our Lord to keep them all in His care. We look forward for next visit by Bishop Soro to our Parish.

Your Excellency, we thank you for your visit and for keeping us always in your prayers. God Bless you.

Summary and Photos by: St. Matthew Catholic Church Media Team

The Church was filled with people cheering and joyful smiles. Bishop Sarhad Yawsip Jammo in the presence of Bishop Bawai Soro and Bishop Jibrael Kassab from Australia and clergy from all over came to witness this tremendous event. Ankido Sipo entered seminary on January 3 2010, and Simon Esshaki entered the house of discernment on January 1 2009 which eventually became the Seminary of Mar Abba the Great. These two men recieved their Bachelor of Science in New Evangelization from John Paul the Great Catholic University and are currently studying from the same school to recieve their Master Degree in Biblical Theology. God willing, they will be ordained Chaldean priests in April of 2015. Continue to pray for these two great young men.

Hundreds of family members, friends, school-mates, came to support Ankido and Simon. During the Divine Mysteries, after the Lakhou Mara, the Deaconate Ceremony began. Ankido and Simon stepped towards the altar before the Bishop to recieve the Sacrament of Holy Orders. They kneeled down before the altar and raised their hands to their ears making a gesture of obiedence, as a sign that they would pay very close attention to the word of the Lord. Later they kissed the Gospel and touched it upon their heads. Finally the Rector, Fr. Andrew Younan, took them by the hands and brought them to the altar, where they each bowed before the altar and kissed it.

The Bishop gave a homiliy immediately after the ceremony about the work of the Holy Spirit and how powerful he is acting in our community. Bishop Sarhad Yawsip Jammo proudly announced that two more very suitbale young men, applied to enter the seminary.

After the Divine Mysteries, everyone went into the Hall of the Church to congradulate the two newly ordained Chaldean Deacons, Deacon Ankido Sipo and Deacon Simon Esshaki.

During his homily, Mar Sarhad spoke of the prayer of Christ and how it was prayed for his disciples to be saved from evil. The prayer of Christ for his disciples and for the Church is that we may be holy, that we may be together in love and not alone. He went on to mention the Epistle from Saint Paul as well, “You are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.” St. Paul mentions the Apostles together, not as an individual. At the heart of his sermon, Mar Sarhad spoke of his thankfulness to God for allowing his diocese to unite so beautifully, for as he said, “We are living the prayer of Christ.” Things that are worth much are expensive, and though this diocese has paid much for its unity, it was worth the cost. “I will defend this unity,” the Bishop said, “for all of you, for the clergy and for my dear brother, Mar Bawai Soro.” Though the struggle may take time, it is not something to fear. We will stand with Christ beside us and one another. Mar Sarhad ended by saying that we are all members of the same Body of Christ, “and I will defend you as I would for any other member of it.”

Following Mass, Mar Sarhad blessed a number of the faithful who were recently celebrating anniversaries, as well as others who desired a blessing. Afterward, he went outside to greet the children who were waiting for him to bless the plans for a new Basketball court which will be the newest addition to the St. Matthew’s property.