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Monthly Newsletter After an absence of more than a year, our monthly newsletter resumes its publication to ensure continuous communication with our Antiochian Churches in Australia & New Zealand, in order to keep in touch with them, follow their progress, and be informed of their activities and projects. Retirement of Father Nicolas Mansour The important event was the retirement of Father Nicolas Mansour from parochial responsibilities after 41 years plus in service uninterrupted to our faithful and to those of other confessions, who migrated to the shores of this country and when they lacked any other support and assistance. Father Nicolas will assist His Eminence in the publication of this newsletter and also in all other matters relating to the needs of the Clergy and the parishes. We pray God to grant him health and strength to keep serving in His vineyard for which He gave and sacrificed His ownself.
Christmas and Epiphany Message by Metropolitan Paul
The celebration of the birth of Christ was introduced in the ecclesiastical calendar at a relatively late date. During the first four centuries, the Church concentrated on Epiphany, the first and glorious manifestation of the Lord, rather than on His birth, an event which seemed somehow, to the faithful, private. We will not underestimate the inspiration by which the Holy Spirit has impelled the whole Christian community to complete Jesus' birth itself and honour it better. We shall strive to receive the message and the grace that Christmas brings with our whole heart. We shall consider the period which lasts from Christmas to Epiphany as an individual feast, of which Christmas is the starting point and Epiphany is the culmination. The prolongation of this celebration offers increased possibility for our conversion to Him who comes. The Orthodox Church thought of Christ in terms of light. He is the Son of God who became a small child laid in a manger. He is above all the incarnate God, the Light who triumphed over darkness. This spiritualization of Christmas evidences a very different state of mind, and finds its perfect formulation in the troparion of the Nativity : Your Nativity, Christ our God, gave rise to the light of knowledge in the world. Those who worshipped the stars learned to worship You, Sun of Justice, and You came Lord from the east of the heavens. Glory to You.
Christmas Services
In a clergy meeting, the Reverend Pastors have asked His Eminence to permit them to start Christmas Eve Service as follows: 9 p.m. =Matins; 10 .m.=Divine Liturgy; as well as the Divine Liturgy on Christmas Day morning. His Eminence obliged.
Archdiocesan Board of Trustees
The quarterly BOT meeting took place at Saint George Cathedral Hall on Friday 28 November till Sunday 30 November. The following items on the agenda were discussed:
1- Theological Students
2- Opening of two schools
3- Nursing Home in Melbourne
4- Financial status of the Archdiocese
5- Local Theological classes
6- Youth programs
7- Financial status of the Archdiocese quarters
New Zealand His Eminence will pay a visit to the sister Churches of New Zealand between the 2 and 5 December 2005. In this visit His Eminence will meet with new converts to study the future of the Antiochian Church in New Zealand.
Application for licences to open schools and nursing homes
Saint George Parish in Melbourne has finalised the preparation of a licence application to open a primary school, and the Archdiocese has applied for a licence to operate a Nursing Home there. It is expected that an answer will be received at the beginning of the year 2006. As for Sydney, the committee established to prepare and instigate an application for a licence to open a primary school in the old Archdiocese Quarters, has nearly completed its task. The application will be submitted before the end of March 2006. Saint Nicholas Punchbowl Parish has purchased three houses aiming at building a Nursing Home in the future on its lands, near the Church. Saint Michael mission in Sylvania is working hard to secure a piece of land to establish a Youth Centre and Primary School.
Theological Classes More than fifteen students have enrolled to attend sessions for three years to enable them to qualify as religious teachers in the Archdiocese Churches. Moreover the theological centre in Melbourne which combines other Orthodox Churches and which is part of Melbourne University, have elected Metropolitan Paul as its president for a period of two years.
Constitution Progress
A committee of lawyers in Sydney have completed the compiling of a constitution for all the Orthodox Churches in NSW. In accordance with this constitution, the Churches will be incorporated associations, and will become eligible to apply for government grants for Youth projects or libraries or services to the Aged and others. To clarify the matter, a meeting was convened in the Old Archdiocese Quarters attended by all the clergy and Parish Councils presidents and others in the presence of the lawyers . The constitution was discussed from all its legal aspects, and all queries were answered concerning the matter. A copy of the new constitution was mailed to all the churches with the application requirements. We are expecting to receive the local churches answers by mid December 2005 at the latest.
Symposium
The annual symposium of clergy was convened in Wollongong on the 9 May 2005, and lasted a full week. The reverend participants studied many various pastoral and cultural subjects, as well attending talks delivered by specialist speakers. The next symposium will take place in Melbourne on 1 May 2006.
Parish News Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5) Please inform us of your parish activities, projects, and undertakings so we may include it in the Archdiocese monthly newsletter. Contact Father Nicolas Mansour at the Archdiocese office, and we will oblige.
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Archdiocesan News 
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