11 May His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos visits Sydney Diocese
His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos arrives in Australia for a first pastoral visit to the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Sydney and Affiliated Regions as Papal Legate of the diocese. The historic week-long visit commenced on Wednesday, 4th May, 2022 and concluded on Wednesday 11th May, 2022.
Wednesday 4th May, 2022
His Eminence was met at Sydney Airport by His Grace Bishop Daniel and diocese clergy, before traveling to St George Church, Kensington, for Vespers and a gathering, alongside congregation.
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- Praying Vespers at St George Church, Kensington on arrival to Sydney.
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- Reading the Gospel at St George Church, Kensington on arrival to Sydney.
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- Addressing the congregation at St George Church, Kensington on arrival to Sydney.
Thursday 5th May, 2022
The day began with Liturgy celebrated with the clergy of the Diocese of Sydney and Affiliated Regions at St Demiana & St Athanasius Church, Punchbowl.
This was followed by lunch and a Diocese Clergy Council meeting with the fathers of the diocese, individual clergy meetings, and meetings with the Clergy Nominations Committee, St Cyril’s Theological College Academic Board, Diocesan Finance Committee and Board of Education, and Board of Trustees.
Diocese of Sydney Clergy Council group photo at St Demiana & St Athanasius Church, Punchbowl.
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- Diocese of Sydney Clergy Council Liturgy at St Demiana & St Athanasius Church, Punchbowl.
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- Diocese of Sydney Clergy Council Meeting at St Demiana & St Athanasius Church, Punchbowl.
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- St Cyrils Theological College Academic Board Meeting.
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- Diocese Finance Committee Meeting with the Diocesan Board of Trustees.
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- Diocesan Board of Education Meeting.
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- Diocesan Board of Trustees Meeting with His Eminence and His Grace Bishop Daniel.
Friday 6th May, 2022
In the morning, His Eminence visited St George & Prince Tadros Church, Liverpool for a tour of the parish as well as discussions on upcoming projects. The afternoon included a site visit to St Mary & St Marina’s Church, Llandilo, to bless the construction of a new building on the property, beside the existing church.
During the day, there were visits St Mark’s College, Wattle Grove – and the new school building development, expected to increase the college’s capacity to 1,000 students – and St Bishoy College, Mt Druitt, with His Eminence spending time with the students, staff and Board members of both colleges.
Joining His Eminence on the visits to the Coptic Colleges was the Diocesan Board of Education, which now includes three new members, Fr Joseph Ghattas, Dr Lydia Moussa and Ross Nassif.
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- Fr Joseph Ghattas, General Chaplain for the Coptic Colleges.
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- Dr Lydia Moussa: change and transformation expert; former St Mark’s College Captain.
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- Ross Nassif has provided almost 20 years of advice and representation to NSW Local Governments.
The night concluded with the first General Youth Meeting of the pastoral visit, a Q&A with His Eminence held at The Apostles & St Abanoub Church, Blacktown.
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- Parish Fathers (front row) and congregation of St George & Prince Tadros Church, Liverpool.
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- St Mark’s College, Wattle Grove School Assembly.
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- St Mark’s College High School Staff, Captains and Board Members.
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- St Mark’s College Primary School Staff.
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- With St Mark’s College Captains and Senior Students.
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- Students of St Bishoy College, Mt Druitt.
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- Blessing the new church building at St Mary & St Marina Church, Llandilo.
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- The interior of the new building at St Mary & St Marina Church, Llandilo.
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- First General Youth Meeting at The Apostles & St Abanoub Church, Blacktown.
First General Youth Meeting at The Apostles & St Abanoub Church, Blacktown.
Saturday 7th May, 2022
Morning Liturgy was celebrated at Archangel Michael & St Bishoy Church, Mt Druitt, before meetings with the Parish Board, Consecrated Sisters and St Maurice Aged Care Board.
In the afternoon and evening His Eminence was at St Anthony & St Paul’s Church, Guildford where he held meetings with the Board of Trustees, Finance, Legal and Property Committees, and with the Parish Board and Clergy, before hosting a General Servants Meeting.
It was also announced that His Eminence will be celebrating Liturgy at St Anthony & St Paul’s Church on Monday 9th May at 7.30am, with all congregation welcome to attend.
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- Deacons and Parish Clergy following Liturgy at Archangel Michael & St Bishoy Church, Mt Druitt.
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- Parish Board of Archangel Michael & St Bishoy Church, Mt Druitt.
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- Meeting with the Consecrated Sisters Theotokos & St Demiana House, Mt Druitt.
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- St Maurice Aged Care Board Meeting.
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- Meeting with the Diocesan Board of Trustees, Finance, Legal and Property Committees.
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- Meeting with the Parish Clergy of St Anthony & St Paul’s Church, Guildford.
General Servants Meeting at St Anthony & St Paul’s Church, Guildford.
Sunday 8th May, 2022
Mother’s Day morning Liturgy celebrated at St Mary & St Mina’s Cathedral, Bexley, before a meeting with the Parish Board.
In the evening, His Eminence spoke about how to apply the Resurrection of our Lord in our lives at the second General Youth Meeting of his pastoral visit, held at St Mark’s Church, Arncliffe.
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- Celebrating Liturgy at St Mary & St Mina’s Cathedral, Bexley.
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- St Mary & St Mina’s Cathedral Clergy and Deacons.
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- St Mary & St Mina’s Cathedral Congregation.
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- Parish Board of St Mary & St Mina’s Cathedral, Bexley.
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- Second General Youth Meeting, held at St Mark’s Church, Arncliffe.
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- Second General Youth Meeting, held at St Mark’s Church, Arncliffe.
Monday 9th May, 2022
His Eminence began the day by celebrating morning Liturgy at St Anthony & St Paul’s Church, Guildford, before traveling to Queensland to continue his pastoral visit to our diocese.
In the evening, he discussed the topic “I am the Resurrection” at a congregational meeting held at Virgin Mary Church, Calamvale, before answering some questions from parishioners regarding diocese matters. This was followed by a meeting with the Parish Board to discuss site developments.
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- Liturgy with the Parish Clergy of St Anthony & St Paul’s Church, Guildford.
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- General Congregation Meeting alongside Queensland Clergy at Virgin Mary Church, Calamvale.
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- Parish Board Meeting at Virgin Mary Church, Calamvale.
Tuesday 10th May, 2022
Morning Liturgy was celebrated at St Mina & St Anthony’s Church, Helensvale, with His Eminence also consecrating two Chalice Thrones.
This was followed by a meeting with Queensland Clergy and meetings with the Parish Boards of St Mark & St George, Strathpine, St Mary & St Anthony’s Monastery, Kooralbyn, St Mina & St Anthony Church, Helensvale and St Mary & St Joseph Church, Coopers Plains.
His Eminence concluded his pastoral visit to Queensland with a youth meeting at St Mary & St Joseph Church, Coopers Plains – his first in Queensland since 2015.
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- Morning Liturgy at St Mina & St Anthony’s Church, Helensvale.
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- Queensland Clergy Meeting with His Eminence.
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- Parish Board of St Mark & St George, Strathpine.
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- Parish Board of St Mary & St Anthony’s Monastery, Kooralbyn.
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- Parish Board of St Mina & St Anthony Church, Helensvale.
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- Parish Board of St Mary & St Joseph Church, Coopers Plains.
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- Queensland General Youth Meeting at St Mary & St Joseph Church, Coopers Plains.
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- Queensland General Youth Meeting at St Mary & St Joseph Church, Coopers Plains.
Wednesday 11th May, 2022
After arriving back in Sydney from Brisbane, His Eminence visited St Mary & St Mina’s College, Bexley for morning assembly, while also making a site visit to the in-development Rockdale High School Campus.
In the afternoon was a visit to Exodus Youth Worx, before His Eminence concluded his historic visit as Papal Legate of the Diocese of Sydney with a combined FOCUS Youth Meeting at UTS, discussing how to be Christlike on campus.
We thank His Eminence for a wonderful, blessed and fruitful week with us, pray for his safe return to London, and look forward to him visiting our beloved diocese again very soon.
St Mary & St Mina’s College School Assembly.
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- At the Rockdale High School Campus site.
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- The Staff and Volunteers of Exodus Youth Worx.
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- FOCUS Combined Youth Meeting held at UTS.