Students line up to receive school supplies, toys and treats from U.S. Soldiers during an October 2009 supply delivery to the St. Efram Elementary School in Basrah. Photo by Spc. Stephanie Cassinos

U.S. Soldiers here recently visited students in a unique, multi-cultural learning environment to drop off school supplies, treats and even guitars.

The students of St. Efram Elementary School, eager to make the Soldiers feel at home, performed a couple of classics in English, including “Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” and the English alphabet.

Bishop Imad Al Banna, the acting bishop of Basrah, explained that St. Efram is one of two kindergartens in the country sponsored by the Chaldean Church to combine children of mixed religions in one learning environment.

“They are the future and hope of Iraq,” Banna said of the children. “It’s very important that they grow together with peace, love and good ideas.”

By learning together, children of mixed religions and backgrounds set the groundwork for a generation that is more accepting of its own cultural differences, the bishop explained.

“When you teach children together, they learn to become one nation,” he said. “They learn more about their country and culture and become united. They learn to love and serve by love and not war.”

As Iraq continues to develop and progress in spite of decades of oppression, violence and religious conflict, Banna noted, there is more to building a nation than material endeavors.

“We now understand how to build bridges and hospitals,” he said. “Now, we need to understand how to build the human.”

St. Efram accomplishes this by introducing its culturally diverse students to a variety of subjects, including art, math, science, music, English, Arabic and other languages. The mixed-gender classes include children from Muslim, Christian and Sabean families. Many former students have gone on to pursue college-educated careers, such as medicine and engineering, and now their children are following in their footsteps.

“When they get out, they always have higher grades, because they begin their education early,” Banna said.

Although enrollment is high, St. Efram lacks the classrooms and staff to accommodate all who apply. This year, 250 families wanted to register their children, but the school could admit only 165 students. The other school, Albeshera, has 190 students.

Many impoverished families live in the area and cannot afford to pay tuition, but because some families are able to pay more, the community and church can provide needy children with the opportunity for an early education.

“In the future, when these children know someone cared for them, they will care for others,” Banna said. “It will build the love.”

DVIDS
By Army Spc. Stephanie Cassinos, Multi-National Division – South

During a Catholic Mass, held for service members, Aug. 8, at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Bishop Imad Al Banna raises the host in preparation for Holy Communion. Al Banna, a native of Basra, said he celebrated the Mass in gratitude for contributions made by American Soldiers for peace in his country. Photo by Spc. Darryl L. Montgomery

A Catholic Mass was celebrated in the Chaldean Rite by the acting bishop of Basra Aug. 8 in honor of the Soldiers serving here.

Unlike regular services held for Soldiers here, Bishop Imad Al Banna, a priest and native of Basra, spoke Aramaic, an ancient language spoken in Palestine in the time of Jesus, and still spoken in parts of Iraq.

Al Banna, who visited with Multi-National Division – South leaders in early July, led the Catholic service, hosting nearly 50 people in the small room.

This was a chance for service members to have fellowship with the leader of the local church here and for the bishop to minister to them, said Capt. Kevin Peek, chaplain, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.

“It was a great opportunity to expose our men and women to the local Christian population of Basra Province,” Peek added.

Peek, an Atlanta native, said the conflicts in Iraq have taken a heavy toll on the Christian population here. Before the war began in 2003, there were a total of 1.2 million Christians in Iraq, now, six years later, that number is down to about 600,000.

Christianity has come under persecution throughout these years of violence due to extremist groups targeting them. The Christian population is trying to help make peace throughout the country by helping everyone they can, he said.

“I work for all people in Basra, not only Christians,” said Al Banna. “Our goal is to create a peaceful coexistence among all religions.”

Lt. Col. John Morris, MND–S chaplain, said he commends Al Banna for working through the hardships his religion has faced during the years of Operation Iraqi Freedom. “He is a great example of a good shepherd.”

As the service concluded, Al Banna opened himself to the crowd by offering to help with anything he could, just as he does for the people of Basra. For more than an hour after the liturgy, he sat with Soldiers sharing food and posing for pictures.

He also said he was grateful to be able to be with the American Soldiers for the Mass and thanked them for what they are doing for his country.

“We Catholics believe that the Last Supper was the first Mass and that every Mass that has followed is a reenactment of that first one,” said Sgt. Neil McCabe, field historian, 311th Military History Detachment, MND-S. “Tonight, we heard a Mass celebrated in the same language that Jesus used in that first Mass. How cool is that?”

“I will never forget this day,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Ulmen, mortuary affairs non-commissioned officer, 34th Infantry Division, and resident of Madelia, Minn. “It was an incredible experience to attend a Mass conducted by an Iraqi bishop, definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

DVIDS
Story by Spc. Darryl L. Montgomery

Chaplain (Major) Henry T. Vakoc has passed away. We first covered the story of this holy man on May 20, 2005.

The Rev. Timothy Vakoc was remembered Friday as a man who went to war to bring peace to his fellow soldiers, and somehow managed to continue his ministry after returning home with devastating injuries.

Fellow priests and military chaplains were among hundreds of people who turned out for Vakoc’s funeral at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Father Tim, as he was known, died last Saturday at age 49 after an unidentified injury at St. Therese nursing home in New Hope, where he was living.

Star Tribune

The United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., sent one of its own, a Catholic priest, to the front lines to minister to the border-watching Long Knife Brigade.

Chaplain (Capt.) Timothy Valentine is the only Catholic priest assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division to provide spiritual fitness to Soldiers at the many bases and outposts in the tri-province areas of Dhi Qar, Maysan and Muthanna.

“I have a great relationship with the chaplains out here,” Valentine said. “The [battalion-level] chaplains have to be all things to all people. They take care of not only their [denomination] but all other denominations.”

Forward-deployed battalion chaplains provide religious services, which are open to troopers and civilians of all denominations. However, when Valentine is expected to arrive, the word is quickly spread throughout the remote bases because he conducts a bi-weekly Mass for Soldiers.

Valentine commonly encounters a familiar face during his visits. He worked at West Point while 2nd Lt. Walter Gradzik was a student there, and was happy to see his old friend at the forward outpost.

“I was wondering what services I could get out here,” explained Gradzik, new platoon leader of B Troop, 1st Sqdn., 9th Cav. Regt. “It was extremely refreshing for me to see him.”

DVIDS
Story by Spc. Creighton Holub

The ruckus over the kidnapped Eucharist at the University of Central Florida continues. Now the admitted kidnapped has filed hazing charges against the Campus Ministries religious group. The University bans forced eating or drinking as hazing. The kidnapper maintains that being told to consume the Eucharist at Mass and not to leave with it constitutes hazing.

WFTV Channel 9

Cook said his hazing complaint cited a UCF anti-hazing policy banning the forced consumption of any food in which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with a University of Central Florida organization may be directly or indirectly conditioned.

The rule, presumably, was intended to prevent fraternities from force-feeding pledges disgusting food. But Cook said the rule is clear and applies to all UCF clubs, including the Catholic Campus Ministries religious group. He insists the group is guilty because members ordered him to consume the Eucharist to remain at Mass.

The Diocese of Orlando declined to comment about the charges.

“Appropriate officials of the University of Central Florida are investigating the matter and due process is occurring,” said a spokesperson.

Nearly two weeks after the incident, UCF spokesman Grant Heston confirmed the school was still reviewing the charges and had not yet decided whether they would be dismissed or brought through a formal trial conducted by administrators with UCF’s Office of Student Conduct.

As tasteless as this episode is, we must remember that nothing can hurt the Body of Christ. All this young man has done is added to his sins on Judgment Day. As for the University taking two weeks to review the charges, it must have occurred to them that this mess is not going away by now. Toss out the hazing charge and charge the kidnapper for his disruption of a sanctioned event.