Assyrian Church News Official News Site of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East

Telkepe Chapter of the Assyrian Democratic Movement received His Beatitude AMar Gewargis Sliwa Metropolitan of Iraq, Iran and Russia to the Assyrian Church of the East, accompanied by Reverend Yousef Benjamin, and Reverend Matti Bayto. This delegation was welcomed by Mr. Dawod Shabu: Deputy Director of Sennacherib Branch, Mr. Fouad Masoud: Telkepe Chapter Director, Mr. Andrius Nisan: Batnaya Chapter Director and a number of cadres of the Movement and a large gathering of our people in the region. This visit took place on Monday December 28th, 2009. Also on Sunday December 27th, 2009 a delegation from the Sennacherib Branch, which included Mr. Dawod Shabu and a number of staff and cadres, attended the ceremony of ordaining Father Yousef Benjamin to the priest-Khuri level by His Eminence Archbishop Mar Kourkis Slewa in Mart Shmoni Church of the Assyrian Church of the East in Telkepe. [nggallery id=65]

His Grace Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of the Assyrian Church of the East for the Diocese of California (USA), attended the ‘Second Symposium Syriacum’ in Vienna, held under the patronage of the Pro Oriente Foundation, from November 4 to 6, 2009. Accompanying His Grace, was Cor-bishop Auchana Kanoun, priest of Mar Gewargis Parish, Ceres, California. With its studies in the Syriac tradition, the PRO-ORIENTE FOUNDATION of Vienna, Austria, intended to facilitate mutual understanding and exchange as well as to promote the common heritage of the various churches belonging to the historical Syriac Tradition. In continuation of its former “Syriac Dialogue” (1994-2005), the PRO-ORIENTE, fourth Forum Syriacum was held in Vienna from November 2-7, 2009. Under the auspices of the Forum Syriacum, the “Second Symposium Syriacum” was held at the Palottihaus, Vienna. The theme this year dealt with the contributions of Syriac Christianity in the Middle East and India, and the challenges it faces in the same areas. The following were the invited experts and Church representatives: A.  Expert Scholars from the Churches of Syriac Tradition:- 1. Mar Boulos Matar, Archbishop, Beirut, Lebanon (Maronite Catholic Church) 2. Mar Joseph Powathil, Metropolitan, Changanassery, India (Syro-Malabar Catholic Church) 3. Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim, …

“… Lest we forget” On Saturday 31st October 2009, approximately 250 proud Assyrians gathered in Fairfield’s Ulverstone Street Park in Sydney, NSW to witness the Unveiling of a memorial park in honour of the Assyrian Levies. Mr Gaby Kiwarkis of the Assyrian Levies Association welcomed all at 10:00 am followed by a prayer by His Beatitude Archbishop Mar Meelis Zaia, Metropolitan of the Assyrian Church of the East, Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand. Guest speakers on the day were Lieutenant Steve Zakaria RAN, Assyrian Australian Association; Mr. Andy Rohan, Assyrian Sports and Cultural Club; Mr. Joseph Adams, Assyrian Bawar Association, Fairfield Councilor Zaia Tooma, Mr. John Savige – Lt General Sir S. Savige, Mr. Lindsay Grigg – Captain Nicol MC Rep. New Zealand Defense Force, Hon. Charlie Lynn MLC. Prior to the unveiling of the plaque, His Beatitude the Metropolitan lead all into a prayer of commemoration followed by the official unveiling by His Beatitude and the laying of the first wreath. Wreaths were also laid by the Colonel, then the Levies, then MP Charlie Lynn then Assyrian Sports and Cultural Club, followed by the Scouts. [nggallery id=34]

The Assyrian Church of the East Youth Association of Sydney sacrificed a night’s sleep and became stars on Saturday 12th of September to help raise money for two main causes: the Starlight Children’s foundation, doing their part to help bring magic and laughter into the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children and their families and secondly to the newly founded organization ACERO (Assyrian Church of the East Relief Organisation) to help and support Christian children and their families in war torn Iraq and its neighbouring countries. Youth Association held the tiring Wake-A-Thon with over 100 participants from the Assyrian community at Edessa Reception Hall (behind St Hurmizd’s Cathedral) in Greenfield Park. Chor-Bishop Father Ashur Lazar officially marked the beginning of the Wake-A-Thon with a prayer at 7pm. Over 500 people attended the dinner party. Participants danced and partied throughout the night till 2am, entertained by ten famous and beloved singers of the Assyrian community in Sydney who also donated their time and service for this worthy cause. When party was concluded at 2am the 100 participants with the sponsorship form stayed back to sacrifice their sleep to raise funds. A breakfast and various games were organised in order to …

The Ss. Peter & Paul Parish – Assyrian Church of the East of Australia, held its first ever charity fundraising bazaar on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd of August 2009 at the Assyrian Australian Social Centre. During the 2 days, merchandise which was donated by the Church faithful was sold at a charitable price in anticipation of raising funds for the building of the proposed Ss. Peter & Paul Parish Church premises in Cecil Park. Stalls were hired out by individuals who were granted the opportunity to present and sell their goods. The expertise of the Ss. Peter and Paul Parish hospitality committee assisted by the 
St Mary’s Parish ladies committee and other faithful of the Church; provided food, sweets and refreshments which were enjoyed by the attendants of the bazaar. Reverend Genard Lazar, Parish Priest; extended his welcome and gratitude on behalf of the Parish to all those who organised, donated, helped and s upported this cause in anyway. Mr. Chris Goffett, parish president, also spoke of the joy of the parish committee in organising such an event. May our gracious Lord God continue to bless and guard our Holy Church and Assyrian nation through His Son Jesus Christ …

Recently a delegation representing the Australian Federal and State Governments, members of the Department of Housing, visited the Senior Accommodation Living Projects initiated by the “Assyrian Church of the East Retirement villages Australia Ltd” a branch of the Trust of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand, to observe the progress and the resent development. H.B Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of the Church greeted the delegation and took them for a tour of the project and presented a brief on the latest progress achieved by the Church in providing the local senior community with a better accommodation. H.B explained of how the Church is eager to find solutions to the local tenancy problem facing this sector of the community who find it difficult to face the rising cost of tenancy in the Fairfield area.

The delegation consisted of the following members:

Sally Trovena (FaHCSIA), Sue Finnegan (FaHCSIA), John Paszek (HNSW), Helen O`loughlin (HNSW), Gallna Laurie (HNSW), Vivian Hanich (HNSW),Chrisina Foran (HNSW), Tanya Fichmond (HNSW), Nancy Tan (HNSW) and Julian Noylan (HNSW).

The delegation commended the Church and H.B for the project and praised the Assyrian Community for consistently endeavoring to find solution for the …

Qasha Shaju Paulose arrived in Australia at the end of June. He is currently visiting Australia from New Zealand to fulfil the Priestly duties in place of Reverend Genard Lazar who is currently in California of United States for the 23rd Annual Holy Apostolic Assyrian Church of the East Youth Conference. He has been offering the Holy Eucharist in St Hurmizd Cathedral, and St Johns Park High School hall, with his last service to be conducted on the 19th July. The Ss Peter and Paul Parish parishioners have also been blessed with some personally challenging sermons on Friday night preaching at St Marys church. We would like to thank him for his caretaking role with the Ss Peter and Paul Parish and wish him a safe trip home for his return flight as he will be returning to New Zealand. [nggallery id=40]

On Sunday, May 24, 2009, Feast of the Pentecost, His Grace Mar Awa Royel conducted the ordinations to minor orders of four readers and one sub-deacon at Mar Zaia Cathedral, Modesto, California. Those ordained were: Robert Malkopour to the order of sub-deacon; Michael Barsom, Brainer Gewargis; Onel Barcham and Zaia Merza to the order of reader. Assisting the bishop were Rev. Shamlee Tamras, parish priest of Mar Zaia Cathedral, and numerous other deacons. [nggallery id=46]