The Catholic Weekly 9 May 2021

catholicweekly.com.au 2 NEWS 9, May, 2021 POPE FRANCIS has decided to extend the boundaries for the Maronite Eparchy of Saint Maroun of Sydney to include Australia, New Zealand and Oceania. A 30 April statement from the eparchy said that the pa- pal decree comes in response to the increasing numbers of Maronites in these countries and the need to reach out to them, to cater for their pasto- ral and spiritual needs, and reconnect them with their spiritual heritage and liturgi- cal traditions. “This decree opens a new and bright chapter in the history of our Eparchy,” the statement said. The decision was made on 29 March when Cardinal Sandri, Prefect of the Congre- gation for Oriental Churches, met with the Pope. The Cardinal informed the Holy Father of the increasing number of Maronites who had settled or were spending significant amounts of time in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands including Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Solomon Is- lands and Vanuatu. The Pope has placed Ma- ronites in these countries un- der the jurisdiction of Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay. “It is an opportunity that opens new horizons to em- brace our Maronite brothers and sisters in New Zealand and the Islands of Oceania and this is a sign that our Ma- ronite identity is now becom- ing more international. “It does also reveal a feel- ing that we are part of a glob- al Maronite Church, which finds its heart and centre in the Maronite Patriarchate in Lebanon, under the leader- ship of His Beatitude and Em- inence, Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Rai,” he said. “This is wonderful news for the glob- Eparchy expands to cover Oceania al Maronite Church, and is further evidence of the con- fidence which the Apostolic See has in its mission.” An official announce- ment will be made at a Mass Maronite Catholics gather to mark Palm Sunday.The Maronite Eparchy, led by BishopAntoine Tarabay, below, has grown to cover New Zealand and Oceania. PHOTO:ABOVE: GIOVANNI PORTELLI; BELOW: SUPPLIED of Thanksgiving at Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral in Harris Park on Tuesday 25 May at 6pm. Bishop Tarabay asked all Maronites to keep the Church in their prayers, “especially in Lebanon during these very challenging and critical times, as well as here in our Eparchy, now to be- come the Maronite Eparchy of Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania”. “May the global Maronite Church grow in the certainty of faith, the strength of hope, and the unity of love,” the bishop said. I n this edition Our story begins in 1839 with the Australasian Chronicle, continuing with the Freeman’s Journal in 1850. Level 13, Polding Centre, 133 Liverpool Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. Phone (02) 9390 5400 | Vol 73, No 5183. The Catholic Weekly is published by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney ABN 60 471 267 587 and is printed by ACM Australian Community Media, 159 Bells Line of Road, North Richmond NSW, 2754. News Movies, books Archbishop’s homily Editorial & Letters 1-7,10-13 8-9 20-21 24-25 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Kenny (02) 9390 5348 EDITOR Peter Rosengren (02) 9390 5400 REPORTERS Marilyn Rodrigues (02) 9390 5410 Debbie Cramsie (02) 9390 5396 SUBSCRIPTIONS Rita Ng (02) 9390 5411 ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Steve Richards (02) 9390 5404 Katie Clarke (02) 9390 5402 DESIGNERS Renate Cassis Mathew De Sousa Faith in the trajectory of life catch it now at: thiscatholiclife.com.au LEAVE A GIFT Archdiocese of Sydney Catholic CHARITIES Order your FREE Wills and Bequests Guide today 1800 753 959 or [email protected] myWill SUPPORTINGTHE MINISTRIES OF THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY Leaving a gift in a Call 02 9649 6423 or visit www.catholiccemeteries.com.au Consecrated lawns and chapels Sydney’s only Catholic crematorium Monthly mass for the Repose of Souls Funeral directors available for a Catholic service Bereavement pastoral care Serving the Catholic community for over 150 years It is an opportunity that opens new horizons to embrace our Maronite broth- ers and sisters in New Zealand and the Islands of Oceania ...” Statement from the Maronite Eparchy