Jacques Hamel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Servant of God Jacques Hamel |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Church | Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of Rouen |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 30 June 1958 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 November 1930 Darnétal, Seine-Maritime, France |
| Died | 26 July 2016 (aged 85) Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, France |
| Buried | Basilica of Notre-Dame de Bonsecours 49°25′18″N 1°07′23″E / 49.4215304°N 1.1229655°E |
| Nationality | French |
| Denomination | Roman Catholicism |
Jacques Hamel (born November 30, 1930 – died July 26, 2016) was a kind French Catholic priest. He served his community in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, France. Father Hamel was known for his deep faith and his efforts to bring people together.
Contents
Early Life of Father Hamel
Jacques Hamel was born on November 30, 1930, in Darnétal, France. When he was six years old, he became a choirboy. He sang in the choir at St. Paul's Church in Rouen. At age 14, he decided to study to become a priest. He joined a special school called a minor seminary.
He also served in the military for 18 months in Algeria. He chose not to become an officer. This was because he did not want to give orders to other soldiers to kill.
Father Hamel's Service as a Priest
Jacques Hamel became a priest on June 30, 1958. He worked in several churches over the years. From 1958, he was an assistant priest at St. Antoine church. Later, he served at Notre-Dame de Lourdes church starting in 1967.
He became a parish priest in Saint-Pierre-lès-Elbeuf in 1975. Then, he moved to Cléon in 1988. In the year 2000, he joined the church in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray. He officially retired in 2005 when he was 75. However, he continued to serve as an assistant priest in the parish.
His Work for Peace and Understanding
Father Hamel was dedicated to building bridges between different faiths. He worked closely with Mohammed Karabila, a local imam. An imam is a Muslim religious leader. Mr. Karabila was also the president of Normandy's regional council of Muslims.
Since early 2015, they both served on an interfaith committee. This committee helped people of different religions understand each other better. After Father Hamel's death, Mohammed Karabila called him his friend. He said Father Hamel was someone who gave his life for others.
Remembering Father Jacques Hamel
On July 26, 2016, Father Hamel was serving Mass in his church. During the service, he was tragically killed. This event deeply saddened people around the world.
Honoring His Memory
Many people honored Father Hamel after his death. A special Mass was held for him at Notre Dame de Paris on July 27, 2016. Important leaders attended this service. These included the French president, prime minister, and other government officials. Former presidents also came to show their respect.
His funeral Mass took place at Rouen Cathedral on August 2, 2016. Thousands of people gathered to pay their respects. Senior church leaders and government ministers were also present. Pope Francis asked that pictures of Father Hamel be placed in all local churches. This was to remember his dedication.
In August 2016, a Catholic charity decided to help train new priests. They announced they would support 1,000 new priests in various countries. This was done in response to Father Hamel's death. His story also inspired the French singer-songwriter Vianney Bureau. He wrote a song called "L'homme et l'âme" about Father Hamel.
Steps Toward Sainthood
Many Christians believe Father Hamel was a martyr. A martyr is someone who dies for their faith. Pope Francis and others have called him a martyr. Soon after his death, people began asking for him to be declared a saint.
The process to declare him a saint officially began in April 2017. This happened because Pope Francis decided to waive the usual five-year waiting period. This means the process could start sooner. The first part of this process, called the diocesan inquiry, finished on March 9, 2019.
See Also
In Spanish: Jacques Hamel para niños
- List of terrorist incidents in July 2016
- Paulos Faraj Rahho
- Frans van der Lugt
- Andrea Santoro
- Luigi Padovese
