The principle reason for our joy and for our hope in a prosperous future is that the blessing for which you have been asking for so long, is now to be realized. It is something to which we have given great effort and is now fulfilled because your number is increasing, your activities are becoming more diversified in this hospitable country and you have now made felt, a strong and active presence in the different states of Australia. Indeed, the churches in your main cities are not enough to accommodate all of you. In order to complete the building up and the reunification of our diversified Australian Church, it is necessary to have a bishop who is able to care for and watch over your needs and thus, maintain your ancient religious inheritance. This rich gift was passed onto yourselves by your forefathers and surely you wish to do the same for your children. Therefore, in this vast continent, you will bear testimony to the Universal Church of that diversity of Rites and variety of cultures, which in the unity of faith, hope and charity, also offers to God, as it were, a beautiful garden with many colors and fragrances.
With the agreement of our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II and with the accord of our brothers, the Bishops of our Holy Melkite Synod, God permitted us the happy task of selecting a most suitable pastor for your dear flock. Our choice has fallen upon Bishop George Riashi, who belongs to the Schweirite Basilian Order, which at the turn of the century had the honour of founding our Church in Australia. Many worthy priests have carried on this good work and because of their charity, dedication and fidelity, deserve our esteem and admiration. These include: Fathers Silvanos Mansour, Nicholas Caba, Malatios Chahoud, Joseph Hallit and Alexis Malouf.
Especially of Father Aftimos Haddad, we cannot remain silent. For almost a quarter of a century he has served you both as Archimandrite and Apostolic Exarch. Preserved by God with good health, clarity of mind and heartfelt compassion, he has desired only to be all things to all people and to bring souls to Christ. We thank him and, begging God to bless him, we ask for him long life as an unfailing support for his brothers of the Basilian Order and his companion in the work of Christ, Bishop George Riashi.
The new bishop who is soon to be among you is blessed with both the strength of youth and the eminence of wisdom. In all the tasks placed upon him, he has ably shown his skills of administration and he has demonstrated these qualities both in his own religious community and in the parishes committed to him. This was particularly true throughout his long service in Detroit, in the U.S.A. It is from there that he departs with an enviable reputation, leaving behind the very greatest influence for good. We have no doubt that, to the older members of your community he will be a loving brother, whilst for our younger ones, a fatherly guide.
Furthermore, we must not neglect to speak with the greatest praise of our sons, those diligent priests who are not of the Schweirite Order and who, with the greatest fidelity and love, continue to watch over your spiritual needs and service. They include: Archi¬mandrite Joseph Awaad, in Melbourne; Archimandrite Lawrence Faisal and Father Terence Baz, in Sydney; and Father Andrew Nahas, in Perth. In the name of the Church we thank them for their labour and we wish them health and success. We are quite confident that they will be, in their own fields, faithful assistants to their new shepherd. As a proof of our affection for you, our beloved sons and daughters, we are sending to you our Patriarchal Auxiliary Archbishop John Mansour, who is responsible for the Church abroad. As Apostolic Visitor, he will be present amongst you on this historical occasion for our Church in Australia. It is he who has prepared the establishment of a new diocese and to whom has fallen the task of completing that work begun almost a century ago by his relative and kinsman Archimandrite Sylvanos Mansour, who founded Saint Michael's at Waterloo, our first parish in Australia.
So, through the involvement of our Patriarchal Delegate, we are present with you during this day of great joy. We also feel that the distance, though great, cannot weaken or break the link that binds us together, wherever you are you remain the deal children of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church and of that Oriental Patriarch, whose lands were blessed by the life of Jesus Christ himself. It is this Patriarchate which is your mother. It is she who nurtures your souls. Dear as you are to her, we know that she is loved by you and we are all bound together, one in Christ. It is our hope that you will embrace your pastor with love and reverence and that he will experience your well known generosity. So, through your mutual co-operation, you will build up a church in Australia and New Zealand, which glorifies God and which will be spoken of for its abundance in goodness, charity and welfare.
Finally, we ask that "the Love of God, the Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit" be with each and every one of you. Particularly, we beg this of Almighty God through the intercession of the Virgin Mary in whose Jubilee Year, this new diocese is established.
MAXIMOS V HAKIM
Patriarch of Antioch, of all the East, of Alexandria and Jerusalem.
Issued from Our Patriarchal Residence in Rabweh,
Lebanon, the 15th. August, 1987,
on the Feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary and her Assumption into Heaven.