1   New Iconographer

His Eminence has announced a new iconographer has just joined our Archdiocese.

Any clergy and faithful who wishes to donate an icon or have one for their home, is invited to contact:
Mr Ousama Khouri
9 Acland St
Guildford  NSW 2161
Phone 9632 4296
Mobile 0411 703658
Creative designs - Illustrative abilities, oil and water painting, Mosaic art, sculpture, glass painting, wall painting, are all available from Mr Khouri.

His Eminence encourages our faithful to give Mr Khouri an opportunity to show his abilities.

2 Welcome to subdeacon Rafic Al Baba

A new subdeacon has arrived from Lebanon and joined our Archdiocese. Rafic, a fine Byzantine Music Chanter, has been appointed Archbishop's Subdeacon to His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul Saliba.

3 Hramul Bisericii Buna-Vestire

At Saint Nicholas Church Bankstown (above), on Saturday 25 March 2006, His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul Saliba concelebrated Holy and Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Annunciation with the community of the Buna-Vestire Romanian-speaking Parish . Assisting him were six of his Sydney region priests and his subdeacon [shown below left to right].

A Sfanta Nikolas Bankstown, preotii care au participat la Sfanta Slujba a Hramului Bisericii noastre sunt: [sub sin a dext]

Rev Fr George Saad - St Mary Mays Hill (libanez) [out of photo]
Rev Fr Petru-Ilie Petre - Buna-Vestire Bankstown (romanian)
Rev Fr Michal Zghaib - St Elias Wollongong (sirian)
Server Zhivko - St Nikolai Bankstown (makedonian) [in doorway]
Rev Fr Antonious Gindi - St Michael Sylvania Heights (egiptean)
His Eminence Metropolitan Paul Saliba Archbishop of Antiochian Orthodox Church of Australia, New Zealand, & Sud Asia (libanez)
Very Rev Archpriest Fr Nicolas Mansour - St George Cathedral Redfern (libanez)
Rev Fr Aziz Abwi - St Peter and Paul - Rooty Hill (palestinian)
Subdeacon Chris Gain - St Nicholas College Mayfield (australian)

Deci am fost un mitropolit, 5 preoti si un ipodiacon incerc sa va trimit pozele dupa aparatul meu, Fr Petru.

4   1st to 5th April 2006 - International Youth Conference in Jordan

Reader Sam Fadel was delegated to represent the Archdiocese at the International Arab Youth Conference held from 1st to 5th April 2006. This is the first time our Archdiocese has taken part in such an international gathering. No agreement was reached on any issues at the Conference.

5    Sunday 2nd April 2006 - 7.30pm - Punchbowl Youth Fellowship Night - Bowling Night

Location: Enfield Bowling, Hume Highway, Enfield.
Contact Information: Karl 0413 802 364 or www.antiochian.org.au/SaintNicholasPunchbowl

6    Saturday 08 April 2006 - Saint Mary of Egypt

On Sunday 9th April, the churches of our Archdiocese celebrated the feast of Saint Mary of Egypt.  In all our churches, this Sunday is dedicated to honouring the ladies and mothers of our Archdiocese who work quietly and zealously towards the glory of the Church of our Lord Jesus.

The service (pictured above) commemorating Saint Mary of Egypt  was held for all Melbourne region churches at Saint Mary, Kingsville, on Saturday 8th April 2006 at 6pm. His Eminence presided.

7    Sunday 09 April 2006 - Saint Mary of Egypt

The service commemorating Saint Mary of Egypt was held for all Sydney region churches at Saint George Cathedral, Redfern, on Sunday 9th April 2006 at 7pm. Dean of the Cathedral, Father Nabil presided.

8   Sunday 09 April 2006 - Ordination of Fr Paul El'Hage to priest

At Saint George Thornbury, Victoria on Sunday 9th April 2006 His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul ordained Father Paul El'Hage priest. Fr Paul will continue to assist Fr George Nasr at Saint George Thornbury.

Fr Paul had been assisting Fr Paul for a couple of years at Saint George Thornbury, and had been serving there as a deacon for 14 months.

9   Sunday 9th April 2006 - Greenacre Nursing Home Visit

Youth of Saint Nicholas Punchbowl and friends, visited Amity nursing home at Greenacre (pictured above) at 1pm. As always, the elderly were happy to see them and help them express the Easter spirit for those who need it the most.

Location: Amity at Greenacre, 285 Hume Hwy, Greenacre.

Contact Information Wendy 0414 396 666

More pictures.

10   Friday 14th April 2006 - Monastery Visit, Mangrove Mountain 

About 40 Sydney region youth, led by Saint Nicholas Punchbowl youth, visited Holy Cross Monastery at Holy Cross Road, Mangrove Mountain, near Gosford north of Sydney. Travel was by car pooling. The sisters of Holy Cross Monastery were very helpful, chanting the Akathist Service for all present in their delightful chapel, and even singing parts of it in English.  Organiser was: Michleen 0405 494 058.

11   Friday 14th April 2006 - Musical Concert, Mays Hill

A highly successful night of music was held at Saint Mary Mays Hill on Friday 14 April 2006 beginning at 7:00 pm. All attending were uplifted by the ecclesiastical music presented by choirs from two churches.

12  Monday 24 April 2006 - Eastern Hierarchs Ecumenical Service

A prayerful, peaceful, service in the spirit of Christ's love for all was held at 7pm on Monday 24 April 2006, at Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church Punchbowl.

This Eastern Hierarchs Ecumenical Service was held to commemorate Christ's suffering and death on the cross, his descent into the underworld, and his rising from the dead on the third day, which we all believe in and model our lives upon.

Present were 8 nuns, and 38 clergy including Metropolitan Archbishop Paul, bishops, archimandrites, archpriests, protopresbyters, priests, hieromonks, archdeacons, hierodeacons, deacons, and subdeacons. They were from the Alexandrian Orthodox Church, Antiochian Orthodox Church, Church of Cyprus, Coptic Orthodox Church, Greek Orthodox Church, Maronite Catholic Church, Melkite Catholic Church, Romanian Orthodox Church, Russian Orthodox Church, and Syriac Orthodox  Church.

In attendance, singing together, and singing separately were the Sydney Antiochian Choir, Sydney Coptic Orthodox Choir, Sydney Maronite Nuns Choir, and Sydney Melkite Clergy Choir. 

Those in attendance represented a wide variety of countries including Great Britain, France, Italy, Serbia, Macedonia, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Kuwait, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Kenya, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Australia, Brazil, and the USA.

Eastern Hierarchs is a friendly, effective organisation, working for the love of God spreading throughout the whole mystery of His Church. It succeeds because of its spirit of Christ-like co-operation, without accusation, judgment, condemnation, or lust for power.

The Eastern Hierarchs Ecumenical Service is held annually.

13  Sunday 30 April 2006 - Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Punchbowl

Saint Nicholas Church Punchbowl celebrated the 25th anniversary of priesthood of Father Elias Khoury, on Sunday 30 April 2006. His Eminence presided at the hierarchical divine liturgy.

More information: Mrs Caroline Daoud president of the Ladies Society.