Dear Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of Melbourne,
Over the past two weeks we have been mourning and in pain due to the massacre of 23 Copts and the injury of 80 more in the bomb attack in Alexandria and also the criminal attack against innocent Copts in a train in Minya that killed a 71 year old Copt and injured 5 more by an Egyptian deputy police officer. Despite our suffering, we also feel and understand the suffering that our fellow Australians in Queensland and NSW are passing through due to the natural disaster that has befallen them.
In the past week Queensland in particular and also NSW have faced an enormous natural disaster and the worst floods to hit Australia in the past 118 years. Due to these floods 15 Australians have lost their lives and 55 others are still missing. These floods have also caused horrific damage that will cost over $16 billion to repair.
On behalf of the Coptic Orthodox community of the Diocese of Melbourne and its affiliated regions, I wish to extend my heartfelt sympathy and prayers for those who have lost loved ones and for all of the thousands of Australians whose homes and businesses have been destroyed.
The generosity of Australians is needed at this time to support flood-affected communities in Queensland and NSW. Hence I call upon Coptic Australians in our Diocese to donate what they can to assist in alleviating some of the pain and suffering that our fellow Australians are facing.
I request from all the parishes within the diocese to make a special collection for the flood victims over the next two Sundays. May the Lord reward you all for your generosity and deep love for those who are suffering. As Saint Paul teaches us to, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15)
Donations can be deposited in the following account and marked “Flood Assistance”:
Coptic Charity Account
Commonwealth Bank
BSB: 063 159
Acc.: 1024 6268
Suriel
Bishop of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions
Download as PDF English Arabic
No comments:
Post a Comment