The Iraqi organization Christians in Need said this week that Christians in that country continue to suffer persecution.  According to a report in the Italian news agency SIR, “More than 2,000 families have take refuge in one parish with only the clothes on their backs.  Christians live in terror and are subject to intimidations. They don’t know what awaits them in the future.”

The news agency also reported that a Mass in the Chaldean rite was celebrated recently in London for the repose of Father Ragheed Ganni and three deacons killed June 3 in Iraq.  The Mass was celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Andreas Abouna of Baghdad.

The Chaldean community in London also includes faithful from Ireland, a country beloved by Father Ganni, who spent time there as a seminarian.