Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon

Sydney’s Iraqi Council Mr. Mohsen Al-Samarrai has highlighted plans to reduce violence against Christians in Iraq, during a visit to His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia, Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon.

Following a year of many accomplishments, Sydney's St Hurmizd Assyrian Primary School and Mar Narsai College students have graduated with marvelous results in comparison to the state.

Representatives of Immigration New Zealand have met with the nation's Assyrian Church of the East clergy in a show of commitment to resolving the ongoing issue of displaced Christian families in the Middle East.

The birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has been acknowledged and glorified as the true purpose of Christmas celebrations, through songs of praise at the annual Carols by Candlelight event organised by Ss. Peter & Paul Parish, Sydney.

The murder and uprooting suffered by Christians in the Middle East has been highlighted as a topic of concern by the Secretary General of the National Council of Churches in Australia.

The Assyrian Church of the East’s clergy in Sydney visited the Imam Mahdi Centre after receiving a formal invitation in order to congratulate them on the festival of Eid Ghadir Khum for the Muslim community in Sydney.

The 41st anniversary of the Assyrian Australian Association's founding was celebrated with a special ceremony highlighting its past, present and future roles in fulfilling the social, cultural and educational needs of Assyrian Australians.

The US has now acknowledged the financial plight of persecuted Christian communities and is willing to make available financial assistance, according to the International Director of the Barnabas Fund, Reverend Canon Dr Patrick Sookhdeo.

Protection for Iraq’s Christian and non-Christian citizens will be achieved through a collaborative effort to assist the Iraqi Government, in taking direct responsibility for security, His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM Assyrian Church News.

An Australian representative of the Consulate General of the Republic of Iraq has visited the Church in Sydney, offering the Iraqi Government's sincere condolences for the martyrdom of the faithful.

Unity in the Australian community's cultural diversity was celebrated at Multicultural Day, held by St Hurmizd Assyrian Primary School (SHAPS), Sydney.

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." Ephesians 5:31

Committed and zealous members of Ss Peter & Parish, Sydney, have enjoyed learning the significance of serving the Lord with humility, love and joy at the church's recently held spiritual retreat.

The album, Hymns of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East contains seven hymns sung by Reverend Genard Lazar. Feel free to download the hymns and burn them to CD. We encourage all people to share these hymns with family and friends. 01 – O The Fiery Beings (How D’nuraneh) 02 – Tell Me O Church (Emar Li Edtha) 03 – Father Of Truth (Awa D’qushta) 04 – We Have Hope And Trust (Itlan Sawra O’tookhlana) 05 – Until When? (Khen Hal Eeman) 06 – Blessed Is Christ Our Saviour (Breekhoo Msheekha Paroqan) 07 – Fallen In The World (Npeela Ewin B’ulma)

In a show of faithfulness to the Assyrian Church of the East, more than 300 church members took part in a physical and spiritual walk to raise more than $22,000 for the building of two new churches for the Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon. The 2010 Walkathon encouraged the young, old, fit and fighting to power-walk, trek and stroll their way through the scenic 10km route from the future site of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Kosovich Place in Cecil Park, to St Hurmizd Cathedral in Greenfield Park. A sea of green-shirted participants was visible from afar, proudly displaying motivational words from the Epistle of Paul to the Philippians, 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The annual marathon fundraiser was organised by the Youth Association of the ACOE alongside Ss. Peter and Paul Parish committee members, with the aim of raising donations for the building of Ss. Peter and Paul and St George Parishes. Officially opening the 2010 Walkathon with a prayer, Reverend John Kushaba, priest at Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, said partial fundraising was to be donated to the Starlight Foundation of Australia. “It is encouraging to know that while …