Iraqi Dominicans attacked

Dear readers - This note came in through the Dominican Leadership Conference e-mail system, and I thought I'd share it with you. It is a short message from a community of Dominican sisters working in Iraq. It brings the war in Iraq closer to home for me. Sadly, given the number of American men and women killed and wounded in that troubled nation, the war's getting a lot closer for many of us.

"On Monday at 9.30 a.m. a booby-trapped GMC car exploded next door our convent in Telskouf and very close to our kindergarten. The target was the Kurdistan center. Two Christian women, a man were killed, two kids from a primary school which is in the area were torn into pieces and their flesh scattered in the street they could not be distinguished. Three of our sisters: Sr. Mary Dominic, Sr. Mary Alfons were wounded in the head and Sr. Nour was injured in her leg. Many of our kindergarten kids were wounded, some of them are in awkward condition. The convent was turned into a mess: no doors, no windows and no fence. This event means a lot for Christian population. It means that even our Christian villages are no longer safe. As a result everybody's life is in danger. Dear sisters, kindly increase your prayers which will help us to persevere these hardships.”

I do not have the competence or information to know what the solution to the problems in Iraq are. I do know we need all need to be more aware of the fear, heartache, and day-to-day suffering that many ordinary Iraqis are enduring. That has to be a part of the discussion when we talk about what is to be done there.

Please pray for peace in Iraq, for the safety of innocents there, and for a safe return for our military personnel who are risking their lives each day. Let's not forget the families and friends who mourn the tragic loss of life Monday morning.