With the blessing of and under the Amphorion of His Eminence Metropolitan Basilios, the first Divine Liturgy of the new mission was celebrated on the 2nd of July 2023 at the Greenvale West Community Centre. The new mission is being established by the Archdiocese to serve the growing pastoral needs of the Antiochian community in Melbourne’s outer north.
The community responded with great joy to the news, with a large number of our children attending the first Liturgy. About 300 faithful filled the hall, the foyer and the entrances to the centre. Community members expressed immense joy at being together for worship and fellowship and expressed gratitude for His Eminence’s care.
In his sermon, Father Stephanos Abu Assali, expressed the blessing and the vision of His Eminence and the ongoing care of the Archdiocese to bring our children and their families together. Fr Stephanos drew on the themes of the Prokeimenon to rejoice in the Lord in being together to worship and the Gospel’s reading in the mercy and love of our Saviour that brings the brothers together.
The new mission will continue to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on the first Sunday of the month at Greenvale West Community Centre with the next Liturgy coinciding with the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Additionally, the community with come together for the Paraklesis service on the 3rd and 10th of August 2023 during the Dormition Fast.
We ask for your continual prayer for this new mission!
