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Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - "The Lord calls me, in my vocation to the priesthood and to the fraternal Franciscan life, to serve as Custos of the 'Mariam Siddeeqa Capuchin Custody' in Pakistan. It is a blessing from God. I would like to remember the beloved former Custos, Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap, who left us, and wish to continue the mission he started": with these words, in a message sent to Agenzia Fides, Fr. Khalid Rehmat OFM Cap, welcomed the election as new Custos of the Capuchins in Pakistan. For the first time, due to the pandemic, elections were held online and the Capuchin friars sent their preferences by e-mail to the headquarters in Belgium, the Franciscan Province to which the Custody in Pakistan is linked.
Fr. Khalid Rehmat OFM Cap. takes charge of the role of Custos after the unexpected death of Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap (see Fides, 4/7/2020), a Franciscan friar known in Pakistan for the fruits obtained in interreligious dialogue and in the field of interreligious harmony in Pakistan. Fr. Khalid Rehmat defines Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap "a great teacher, brother and mentor, a wonderful leader, father figure for me and for all our Capuchin friars in Pakistan. His work will be a precious source of inspiration".
Since November 2014, Fr. Khalid Rehmat served as parish priest in the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Sialkot, in the Archdiocese of Lahore. At the same time he had been editor of the Catholic bimonthly magazine "Naqeeb" for eight years.
Fr. Khalid Rehmat states: "Communication is also a mission, through which to announce the Gospel. Now my mission is to take care of my brother priests and the Capuchin missions in Pakistan. As I was present to accompany the spiritual needs of my parishioners, I would like to do the same for the friars". Over the past six years, Fr. Rehmat has built nine Catholic chapels in the parish of Sialkot, part of the Archdiocese of Lahore, and three houses for catechists. His desire and commitment to evangelization will also be expressed in following and promoting missionary works.
Fr. Khalid Rehmat OFM Cap made his solemn profession in the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor in December 2007 and was ordained a priest in 2008 in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Lahore. Immediately after his ordination, he was involved in the editorial board of the Catholic bimonthly magazine "Naqeeb". He has been a member of the Superior Council of the Order of the Capuchins since 2014.
(AG-PA) (Agenzia Fides, 19/11/2020)
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