7th January 2020 HG BISHOP DANIEL NEW YEAR MESSAGE Province in ElMenia, and the (Ecclesiastes 1:14) What would enable us, to have the new life in village of Badraman, Der Mouas man benefi t from the wind? Christ, not only in 2020, but also Porvince, again in ElMenia, and Ascetism in everything is the during our entire life, through the in El Warraq. In 2015, there were source of leaving all things for intercessions of the Ever-Virgin our brave heroes the Martyrs in the sake of God. And here, our the All-Holy Theotokos Saint Lybia, at the Botroseya Church teach St. Peter the Apostle said, Mary together with all the choirs in 2016 and in Tanta, Alexandria, “we have left all and followed of the saints, and through the Anba Samuel Monastery and You” (Luke 18:28), to which Christ prayers of the Father of Fathers, Helwan in 2017. After 2017, answered “everyone who has left His Holiness Pope Tawadros the My Dear and beloved children, persecutions have stopped for a for My name’s sake, shall the Reverend fathers the Priests, while, and today, in the beginning receive a hundredfold, Monks, Deacons, Servants, of 2020, The Lord permits that and inherit eternal Nuns, Consecrated Sisters, and I share with you an important life” (Matthew 19:29). all the Congregation of the Lord topic we all have to practice this Christianity is an ascetic loving Diocese of Sydney, grace, year, and all the days of our lives, religion, and should not be blessings, peace, love and which the Lord grants us. How comprehended otherwise, mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ, does our life witness for Christ? and an ascetic person our God and Saviour, to whom Just as our fathers the Martyrs never fears persecution. is due glory, honour, dominion, of this Century have witnessed Thus we have to hold on to power and worship. for Him. what’s above and not cling to anything in this world, I would like to congratulate you Our Church has taught us that no matter what. on the start of the new year 2020, our complete love for God is praying to Our Lord Jesus Christ the fi rst lesson, by which we Here comes the third to support us with His heavenly witness to Jesus Christ our lesson, by which we help for this to be a year full of Lord. As St. Anthony the Great, witness for Christ in the the fruit of the Holy Spirit for father of all Monks and the star start of the new year, which everyone of us. The title of this of the wilderness has said, “if represents the end of the year’s message is “How do we God is yours, you, then, own fi rst one fi fth of the 21st witness for Christ in the new everything, even though you Century, this is bravery and year and all our days?” might be deprived of all things.” daring. We should never Complete love for God means, be ashamed to declare 19 years have passed of the 21st that our love for God conquers our faith of our Lord, God Century and this year, 2020, is our love for the world and our and Saviour Jesus, and witness Second, the Pope of Alexandria the 20th year of this century, by bodies. Ones complete love to the Godly and biblical truth and Patriarch of the See of St which one fi fth of this century for God hopes that one has a all the days of our life. Bravery Mark, we ask the Lord to keep would pass. Days after days and place with God in His Kingdom. demands rock solid faith in Our his life for us for many years and years follow years, time fl ies and Our fathers the Martyrs, in their Lord Jesus Christ, as well as peaceful times. a wise person would redeem the complete love for God, were having the virtue of patience. May the Lord keep you all in His time, for the days are evil. only seeking the better heavenly Our teacher Tertullian said “by Love, may He keep and protect home. For, my beloved, our true the strength of this patience, you in His name to the last In the past 19 years, many events home is in heaven, just as our the patience of the soul and breath. took place, the most signifi cant teacher Paul the Apostle said the patience of the body, Isiah of which is the persecutions “for our citizenship is in heaven”. the prophet was sowed in two, I wish all of you a Happy New faced by our Mother Church Hence, in this year, increase yet he never stopped speaking Year during the past 19 years, which your love for God, and develop about the Lord”. Our righteous were a source of blessing for it with prayer, fasting, reading hero martyrs of Lybia witnessed May you always be true her. At the beginning of this God’s Word, and taking part in for the Lord Jesus, through witnesses of Christ and may the century, we saw the martyrs of the Holy Mysteries, and don’t let their strong faith, and patience, Grace of God be with all of us. the service in Samalout in 2004, anyone or anything, whatsoever, they were brave, and didn’t fear only four years after the start of to separate you from the Love of death by the sword. Yes, they Keep me in your prayers. the 21st Century. Persecutions God. were beheaded, but with their surfaced again in 2010 at Nagaa complete love for God, and their The Servant of the Lord Jesus Hammadi, Omraneya, the Church Our Church had also taught us asceticism in this world, as well Christ of the Saints (El Kidisseen) in a second very important lesson, as their bravery, they became Sidi Bishr, Alexandria. In 2011 at by which we can witness for great martyrs who witnessed to Mansheyet Nasser and Maspiro. Christ, which is ascetism, which Christ in the whole world during In 2012 in the villages of Touh, is a product of our complete love this Century. and Faroufi ah in Samlaout – for God. My beloved, we all have Bishop Daniel ElMenia. And again in 2013 at to understand that “all is vanity I wish you all, a happy New Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese the village of Delga, Der Mouas and grasping for the wind” Year 2020, full of grace, that of Sydney & Affi liated Regions 2 [email protected] 28th Kiahk 1736 Copts’ News ST POPE KYRILLOS VI & ST HABIB GIRGIS THE ARCHDEACON CHURCH PRESENTS Australia Day Cup 2020 ANNUAL YOUTH SOCCER COMPETITION When: Sunday 26 January 2020 Women:1:00pm - Men:3:00pm Where: 119 Barton St, Monterey NSW 2217 What: 5 a side + Subs futsal competition, Sausage sizzle, Drinks & Snacks Price: $100 per Team Register a team by 19/01/2020 & more info At: australia-day-cup-2020.eventbrite.com.au Published by the Diocese of Sydney & its Affiliated Regions 3 7th January 2020 ST PAUL’S MISSION CHRISTMAS PARTY A STUNNING SUCCESS By Andrew Hanna “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” Hebrews 13:2 With Christmas just around less fortunate brothers and as buses came in fi lled with Fr Yousef in the Church. the corner, many of us are sisters on a weekly basis. In fact, dozens of homeless people • A nicely prepared very fortunate to celebrate every Wednesday night St Paul’s from diff erent areas of the CBD Christmas Hamper fi lled with a this occasion with a wonderful Mission serves the homeless being warmly welcomed by an handful of useful gifts to remind banquet of food alongside our across diff erent locations in entourage of volunteers who them of this wonderful event. friends and family. Unfortunately, Sydney’s CBD: Wynyard Park, were ready to be their hosts for however, not everyone has this Woolloomooloo, Martin Place, this special night. same privilege; some people do and Ward Park. On Wednesday The homeless were really not have a table and furniture the 18th of December 2019, The Christmas party had plenty appreciative of the talk given by to host such a banquet, some however, St Paul’s Mission did to off er our beloved guests, Father Yousef Fanous along with might not have enough food, not go and serve in the CBD, but which included: all the eff orts of the volunteers and some do not even have rather it brought our brothers • An amazing banquet of who hosted the Christmas a roof over their heads this and Sisters in Christ to St Pope food, drinks, dessert, and hot Party - you all helped make this Christmas! Sadly, the problem Kyrillos VI and St Habib Girgis drinks. Christmas Party a wonderful and is getting worse as the number Church Monterey to serve them • Uplifting live successful night! We strongly of homeless people in Australia there. The event truly brings out performances by The Coptic encourage the youth of Sydney has increased by 13% in the past the best in both the volunteers Diocese Choir Sydney who to attend St Paul’s Mission, 5 years to a total of over 116,000 and our beloved guests as we performed a lovely assortment we meet at 7:30pm every people (2016 ABS Census). As are all made to feel that we are of Christmas Carols. Wednesday night at St Pope such, now more than ever there one big family celebrating this • Free clothes display Kyrillos VI and St Habib Girgis is a greater need to help our less wonderful occasion together which was set up on the Church Church, 119 Barton St Monterey.