Mr MATT KEAN (Hornsby-Parliamentary Secretary) [9.42 p.m.]: I was honoured to join Sydney's Maronite Church and Lebanese community last week for the official visit of His Beatitude and Eminence Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and Maronite Eparchy of Australia.
This was the first time His Beatitude had visited Australia, and his arrival was of great historical significance not just for Australia's Maronite community but for all of us, because at a time of great upheaval in the world the visit of His Beatitude reminds us of the importance of having a voice of peace and unity. His Beatitude provides a voice when others will not. His is a voice that rises above the din to speak out against human atrocities and for the right to religious freedom.
His Eminence was born in Himlaya in the Matn District of Lebanon on 25 February 1940. He attended a Jesuit school in Lebanon and entered the Maronite Order on 31 July 1962. He was ordained as a priest on 3 September 1967. Between 1967 and 1975 he was responsible for the Arabic transmissions of Vatican Radio. In 1975 he received a PhD in canon and civil law and he also studied for three years at the Lateran University in Rome. His Eminence was consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop of Antioch on 12 July 1986, and was later appointed Bishop of Byblos on 9 June 1990.
At 71 he was elected Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East on 15 March 2011, following the resignation of Patriarch Sfeir. The following year His Beatitude was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and was created a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in a consistory on 24 November 2012. Early last year Pope Benedict XVI appointed His Beatitude as a member to serve the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants, and the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. Later that same year Cardinal Patriarch Rai was named a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education by Pope Francis, on Saturday 30 November 2013.
Sydney's Maronite community is a vital part of our diverse multicultural society. The Maronites are known best for their strong faith in God, family values and volunteering work ethic to help those in society who are less fortunate. It is these strong values that have produced some of our great local community leaders such as our very own Liberal Party colleague and member for Granville, Tony Issa.
Like the member for Granville, I have a strong and vibrant Maronite community in my electorate of Hornsby. Hornsby's Maronite community is largely based around St George Maronite Catholic Church in Thornleigh. It is a church with a rich history dating back to the early 1900s, when Lebanese migrants from the northern Lebanese village of Bann and surrounds migrated to Sydney and chose to live in Thornleigh. It is believed these original settlers chose Thornleigh because at that time the bushy landscape of the area reminded them of their hometown in Lebanon.
In 1989, the original church known as St Joachim's was sold to the Diocese of St Maroun. The church was then renamed St George to coincide with the village Church of St George in Lebanon. St George Church was consecrated on 29 October 1989, with the blessing and encouragement of Bishop Abdou Khalifi. Excitement overwhelmed every Lebanese family in the area, as it was a big achievement for them.
Father Hanna Lahoud was appointed the first parish priest to serve in the community, followed by many of the Maronite orders including St Charbel's Monastery, the Congregation of the Lebanese Maronite Missionaries and other diocesan priests. On 22 August 1999 his Grace Joseph Hitti celebrated the last mass. Construction of the new church began in September 1999 under the supervision of Father Badwi Habib from the Lebanese Maronite Missionaries.
The Maronite community rallied to help build our church. The Maronite community came together as one family and built this magnificent church. They generously donated materials, money and their labour and time to ensure that this church would be built. While the church was being constructed, the Maronite mass was still being celebrated for the community at the nearby Seventh-day Adventist Church. The consecration of the new St George Church in Thornleigh was celebrated on Sunday 1 April 2001. On this day St George was officially declared a parish. Today's church in Thornleigh has continued the great work of the Maronite community's ancestors and continues to serve our local community.
Through the hard work of Father Boutros Samia and Deacon Nagi Dimian the church will continue to grow and keep their valuable traditions alive for a new generation so they can enjoy the same spiritual benefits and guidance through life as their ancestors have. Special mention must go to Father Bechara Trad. He is a wonderful parish priest who has the affection of the entire community for his hard work and generous heart. I thank him for his continued leadership of our church.
The story of the Lebanese community in Hornsby is one of the great Australian migrant stories. The community came to this country with very little, yet through sheer hard work they have achieved success in every facet of life in our community. The story of the Lebanese community is one that has been built family by family and one that has greatly enriched our nation. Names like Saliba, Sukari, Tatchi, Kharmis, Anissee, Sarkis, Baynie, Moit, Mait, Zeiter and El Khouri are not just the names of leaders in the Lebanese community; they are leaders in the broader community and have contributed greatly to building our nation. I am proud to call many of these people very dear friends.
In closing I make special mention of St George parish Thornleigh's youth group heads, Clare Simpson and Morris Maklouf. These future leaders of the church do a great job engaging our youth and promoting church activities. I also mention all those involved in organising the visit of His Beatitude to St George parish, in particular the Takchi and the steering committee and parish council.
I also had the privilege of attending the Australian Maronite Youth Festival Night for all the Maronite youth of New South Wales, held at Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral grounds, Harris Park, New South Wales. The festival showcased the charitable, faith and community-building activities of the Maronite youth groups and the MaroniteCare services for the youth. The event was a wonderful occasion to celebrate the Catholic faith and welcome His Beatitude. There were over 3,000 youth in attendance.
The crowd was warmed up by the very impressive Father Rob Galea, the rock star priest. Special congratulations must go to my dear friend Monsignor Shora Maree. Monsignor Shora is a great blessing to all of us who love the Catholic faith, and I acknowledge the amazing work he does inspiring young people and bringing them to Christ. I also acknowledge the hard work of Maroun Draby, President of the Maronite Youth Organisation, Anthony Assaf and Anthony Yacoub. I also acknowledge the extraordinary leadership of his Excellency Antoine Taraby, Maronite Bishop of Australia. The Maronite community is greatly blessed to have such a brilliant leader at the helm. In the short time he has been bishop he has gained a reputation as an outstanding intellect and fine leader.
