2023 is the fifth year of the annual HSC commemoration event for the Antiochian Archdiocese of Australia, NZ & Philippines. The event was bigger and better this year with 42 students in attendance and their siblings and parents. It was held on Friday 17th February 2023 at the St Nicholas Parish church and hall, for all students who completed their HSC in 2022. Several students gave their accounts of the struggles they faced during their HSC year and how their faith in Christ got them through it all. Solomon Khoury, Justin Mantoufeh and Luna Esber each spoke about their HSC journey highlighting that the greatest lesson they learnt was learning to put God first and He will take care of the rest. ACOY members were present and gave a talk to the HSC recipients and joined the fellowship in the hall following the ceremony.
His Eminence Metropolitan Basilios gave the students an inspiring talk about the importance of making time in their future plans to serve in the church in some capacity. The students had a chance to express their HSC struggles and detail their future plans. The 2022 HSC students received a gift from His Eminence Basilios, which included an icon of Christ the Teacher, an ACOY mug, an Archdiocese pen and a small compline prayer book. The families enjoyed a light meal, cake, and refreshments following the ceremony to celebrate the HSC accomplishments. This year the HSC students were divided into groups to meet others planning to study at the same educational institutions. It was a beautiful evening, and the parents were overjoyed that the Archdiocese showed love and support to their children. Congratulations HSC students of 2022! We wish you every success and happiness in the future.
