QARAQOSH (RVA News): The Church in Iraq is rejoiced over the First Holy Communion of 172 children in the formerly ISIS-controlled city of Qaraqosh on June 3.
“One hundred and seventy-two of our children, 99 boys and 73 girls, received First Holy Communion in Baghdida, Qaraqosh,” Chaldean Father Karam Shamasha posted on Twitter, adding that “the region that was heavily attacked by Isis militants a few years ago to exterminate Christians, scream out loud today: Our Faith and our Cross have won.”
From August 2014 to October 2016 the city was under ISIS occupation and many Christians were forced to flee, though some of the families have returned following the defeat of the terrorist organisation.
Rebuilding efforts have been going on in Qaraqosh with the help of the global community and Pope Francis visited the city to meet the faithful during his apostolic journey in March 2021 [Sunday Examiner, 14 March 2021].
