The St. Abanoub Church Committee in Sydney, Australia, held its annual celebration last Friday, May 8, under the guidance of the church’s founder, Father Surial Hanna. The event took place in one of the city’s venues and was attended by a number of Australian priests, church committee members, servants, and parishioners, led by His Grace Bishop Joseph, the Archbishop of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, as well as the papal deputy for the Diocese of South Africa and Mozambique. Among the notable attendees was Mr. Edmond Attallah, a member of the New South Wales Parliament and Assistant Minister for Police and Counter-Terrorism.

Bishop Joseph opened the event with a prayer, followed by the church choir performing several spiritual hymns. The church deacons also presented some Coptic melodies while the church youth and Sunday school children showcased a presentation honoring the martyrs and saints. During the celebration, attendees enjoyed a sound and light display outside the hall, which featured a glowing Christian icon against the Australian sky. The church’s priest, Father Surial Hanna, concluded the evening with a spiritual message, expressing gratitude to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, the esteemed bishops, including Bishop Daniel and Bishop Joseph, the attending priests, the church committee, its members, and all supporters who contributed to the success of the event.

It’s worth noting that the temporary church was established in 2023 in the Belmore area, southwest of Sydney. This year has been a joyous one for the congregation of St. Abanoub Church, marking three unforgettable occasions in its history. The first was the celebration of the inaugural Divine Liturgy on Good Friday, April 7. This was followed by the approval from His Holiness Pope Tawadros II for the purchase of a plot of land in a nearby neighborhood, just a few kilometers from the church, in October. Finally, the congregation welcomed His Grace Bishop Daniel, the Bishop of Sydney and its vicariate, during the closing of the feast of St. Abanoub, the church’s patron saint, on Sunday, November 26, where he presided over the Divine Liturgy and ordained 33 new deacons while promoting 40 others to higher ranks.