AUGUST 2019

event
Presbyteral Ordination
PHOTOS BY JONATHON FRANCIS
Members of the community
gathered at St. Thomas on
Saturday, July 6 to witness
the Presbyteral Ordination of Deacons
Perrin Atisha, 26, and Rodney
Abasso, 28.
The St. Thomas Chaldean
Catholic Diocese shared brief backgrounds
on both priests before leading
up to the ordination.
Before entering the seminary,
Atisha, the son of Steve and Ibtihal
Atisha, was studying Psychology at
Wayne State University and assisting
in his father’s store with things
like bill payments, Western Unions,
and check cashing. Through this all,
he was also quite active within the
church.
He was very involved at St.
Thomas serving Masses, teaching
Catechism, and leading the CLC
youth group.
The idea of becoming a priest was
not a new one, but rather one Atisha
had given thought to from an
early age. As an altar boy, he thought
about priesthood as young boy.
He began serving as an altar boy
at Mother of God Church when he
was just 5 years old. Fr. Boji and Fr.
Frank were the priests at the time.
A year later, Atisha approached his
mother, telling her he wanted to do
what the priest was doing.
Throughout his childhood Atisha
recalls wanting to become a priest.
When Atisha made the decision
to enter the seminary and pursue
priesthood, he was met with love and
support from his family. Entering the
seminary did not come without its
hardships, though.
Overall, Atisha’s family was supportive
of his decision to enter the
seminary. His mother, however, took
this the hardest.
Despite this, though, through
the last seven years, Atisha has had
nothing but love and support from
his family.
While the newly ordained priest
will miss the seminary and his brother
seminarians, he is excited to love
and serve God’s people.
Before entering the seminary,
Abasso, the son of Saad and Fatin
Abasso, was also in college. Attending
Oakland University, he was
studying psychology and pre-law
while also assisting with his family’s
business.
It was during his time at Oakland
University that Abasso began to seriously
consider becoming a priest. It
was not until his last year in college
that he decided to seriously begin
pursuing the call to priesthood.
While the initial reaction from
his family was not so great, Abasso’s
family were front and center to watch
their son being ordained as a priest.
Leaving the seminary to serve
the community, Abasso says he will
miss the immense beauty of the main
chapel and the time he spent there
in prayer.
Nevertheless, the newly ordained
priest is looking forward to offering
the sacraments, particularly the sacrament
of confession.
Taking on their new roles, Fr. Perrin
Atisha has been assigned to St.
George in Shelby Township and Fr.
Rodney Abasso has been assigned to
St. Thomas in West Bloomfield.
46 CHALDEAN NEWS AUGUST 2019