Project of the Month - March - Support four Monks ministering in Iraq
Once an ancient city, the small town of Karamles (or Karemlesh) is 29 km south-east of Mosul in the Niniveh Plains region of northern Iraq. It is a mainly Christian town, with the majority belonging to the Chaldean Catholic Church. In August 2014, Karamles was overtaken by the fighters of Islamic State and almost all its inhabitants were forced to flee.
Today, the Church of Our Lady in Karamles is in the care of four monks from the congregation of the Brothers of the Holy Cross, which was founded in Lebanon. They live a strict life of radical poverty, in imitation of Christ, trusting completely in divine providence. They support themselves with joinery work and in their local bookshop, where they hope to awaken a love of reading among the people.
Their pastoral work includes comforting the sick, elderly and handicapped and supporting them both spiritually and with practical work they can no longer do themselves. They bring the sacraments to the sick and dying and support them with loving care. They also give spiritual talks to the young people and offer a pastoral outreach to young men.
They have a special love of Eucharistic adoration and strive to foster love of the Eucharist among the faithful. And, of course, they celebrate the Eucharist daily and celebrate the Marian feasts with particular devotion. They also strive to help and counsel people with their various problems and by resolving conflicts.
“We entrust our whole lives into the hands of Jesus and beg Him to grant us the grace to carry out His will, at every time and in every place," Father Adday Babaca tells us.
Our goal is to raise $5,000 for these faithful monks, to support their life and important ministry in northern Iraq.
About the Church of Our Lady, Karamles
After the devastation wrought by Islamic State, ACN provided significant support for the rebuilding of the shattered Christian towns and villages in the Niniveh Plains area, including Karamles. When Pope Francis visited Iraq in March 2021 he celebrated Holy Mass in Erbil, where he blessed a statue of Our Lady, brought from Karamles. This statue had been beheaded by the terrorists and subsequently restored. Following the defeat of Islamic State, it was brought back to the city, followed by many of the Christian families who returned home.