"An orphan in every sense": A Priest’s Journey of Grief, Faith after a Wedding Tragedy

Qaraqosh, 22 November, 2023 / 11:23 AM

In the aftermath of a catastrophic fire in Qaraqosh, Iraq, which claimed the lives of approximately 140 people and injured around 250, the community is still grappling with the enormity of the loss. 

Fr. Peter Sheeto, the pastor of St. Jacob Syriac Catholic Church, shared his heart-wrenching story with ACI MENA in the wake of the tragic event in the historically Christian town — also known as Bakhdida — in the Nineveh Governorate of Iraq. 

Fr. Sheeto lost 10 of his loved ones in the blaze at the Al Haytham Wedding Hall on September 26, including his parents, two sisters, and the spouses of both his brothers along with their children. His grief and loss is profound: "I still miss my father’s laughs, my mother’s tenderness, and the innocent faces of my nieces and nephews."

Meditating on the Book of Job

The Catholic Priest told ACI MENA: "I’m living through my own personal calvary. I am bearing a heavy cross and I need a Simon of Cyrene to alleviate my pain.”

The wedding hall in Baghdida where the fire broke out. Credit : Manuel Banna  

Despite his role as a Catholic Priest, he emphasized the human aspect of his grief: “I couldn’t get over the tragedy. A priest expresses normal human emotions when faced with catastrophe and temptation.” 

Fr. Sheeto said he turned to Holy Scripture for solace, contemplating the Book of Job — but also recognized he “could not find a similar case” to his in the Bible. 

Weeping Like Jesus

Expressing a sorrow akin to that of Jesus weeping over Lazarus's death, Fr. Sheeto lamented the loss of his family. 

The Catholic Priest expressed disappointment with the Vatican's response to the tragedy, noting a perceived lack of support in highlighting the plight of his community on the international stage. 

“Unlike in the past, the Vatican did not highlight our plight nor the deaths of our loved ones. We live in a country that sees us as lambs for slaughter, where our lives and dignity are disregarded,” he said.

Families of the victims of Bakhdida’s tragic blaze mourning the dead. Credit : Manuel Banna

Despite his immense grief, Fr. Sheeto told ACI MENA he had not lost hope. The tragedy, surpassing his emotional capacity, has led him to pray for the Light of the Resurrection for his surviving family members. 

“Prayer affirms we are God’s children and entrust our lives to Him. Inner peace is essential, because without it, life loses meaning, as do prayers,” he affirmed. 

In a concluding message to all those suffering similar hardships, Fr. Sheeto expressed his abiding Christian faith in the afterlife: “After becoming an orphan in every sense, I pray for Mary, my loving mother. I firmly believe my family rests with the angels and saints in God’s Heavenly Kingdom.”

This story was first published by ACI MENA, ACI Africa’s sister news agency.