Fr. Pierre Toma Konja, ordained to the priesthood today

Fr. Konja was a member of my first philosophy classes when I first came to Detroit to begin teaching at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. That class had a group of Chaldean seminarians who were a close-knit, good-natured, bright and devout subset of philosophy students, who quickly won the respect and love of all those who came to know them including Pierre Konja, Matthew Zetuna, and Paul Karmo -- as well as others who joined them in the years to come, like Bechare Sato, Andrew Seba and Patrick Setto.

Today Fr. Konja was ordained to the priesthood, according to the Chaldean Catholic Rite in the Chaldean Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle, by Bishop Ibrahim, at its Cathedral in Southfield, Michigan. It was a privilege and a joy to witness the ordination of Fr. Konja in today's standing-room only crowd at the cathedral. It was heart-warming also to witness the participation of some of his classmates from the Seminary who helped with the readings, including Matthew Zetuna (in English), and Bechare Sato (in Chaldean). Fr. Konja offered a homily reflecting on the Gospel of the day, but also on some of the influences that lead him to the priesthood. One poignant note was struck by his reference to the martyrs as those who had particularly inspired his faith over the years, an observation made the more touching in view of the martyrdom suffered by so many contemporary Chaldean Catholics in Iraq.

God has blessed the Chaldean community with a new priest, a fact hardly missed by the standing ovation following Fr. Konja's ordination, including wave-upon-wave of the tongue-trilling ululation filling the air (a custom nearly ubiquitous in the Middle East, and parts of Asia and Africa). God has blessed us all with a new priest. Deo gratias! And may God bless you, Fr. Konja, as you begin your priestly duties at St. George Chaldean Catholic Church in Shelby Township, MI.