By Amanda Murthy
The Melkite Greek Catholic community have this year marked their 40-year anniversary of life and contribution in Western Australia with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St Mary’s Cathedral on Friday 23 August.
The Eastern rite Church, which follows the Byzantine Hierarchical Liturgy, was originally dedicated to Saint Andrew, the parish and community are now under the patronage of Our Lady of the Annunciation.
Rich in tradition and symbolism, the community continues to grow in faith and numbers, as well as gratitude for all the blessings they received throughout the years.
Melkite Archbishop Robbert Rabbat thanked the Perth Catholic Archdiocese for their support and for embracing the community with open arms.
“Our Melkite community in Western Australia was doubly blessed in that from the beginning of his ministry as Bishop of Perth, Emeritus Archbishop Barry Hickey, was both a friend and brother. For this I am profoundly grateful,” Archbishop Rabbat said.
“We have been especially fortunate that his successor, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, has been like-minded. Both Archbishops have taken a genuine pastoral interest in our Community in Perth; and for this we are ever in their debt.
“The kindness and fraternal solidarity shown to us by the Roman Catholic Clergy and faithful in Perth over the past 40 years are truly expressions of the love which unites the Eucharistic Community which is the Catholic Church.
“In the Nicaean-Constantinopolitan Creed, the Symbol of Faith, we say “I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.” In Perth, as elsewhere in Australia, we not only say it, but we have experienced the joy of being an integral part of the Household of the Faith,” Archbishop Rabbat concluded.
Did you Know?
There are 5 million Catholics in Australia Eastern Catholic Churches make up a small, but growing percentage of Catholic’s, with the Maronite, Melkite, Ukrainian and Chaldean making up the largest Eastern Churches.
The majority of the Melkite Catholic community are predominantly in New South Wales, with the second largest grouping being in Victoria. With the exception of the Northern Territory and Tasmania, every state has at least one parish community each.
I found my home back in the Catholic Church: Deacon Collin Nunis
Deacon Collin Nunis, 33, intimately shares, how his search for the ‘truth’ as a teenager, took him on a winding but necessary journey through the different Christian denominations, only to lead him back to the Catholic Church, through the Melkite community.
However, unlike the majority of Melkite faithful, who come from a Middle Eastern cultural background, Dcn Collin, a Malaysian-born with mixed heritage speaks about a time when he felt disconnected with the Catholic Church.
“I grew up in Malaysia to a Eurasian-Portuguese father and a Chinese mother. I am married to Agnieszka, who was born in Poland but moved to Australia as a child,” he said.
“Though born into a Roman Catholic family, I had a rather active Church life up until I was 10, I became somewhat detached from my Catholic faith.
Dcn Collin recalled how his move to Western Australia in July 2008 led him to embrace the Melkite Church, which was coincidentally a 15-minute walk from where he lived.
“This became my weekly routine, and eventually, I became a part of the community. In June 2010, I received my canonical transfer from the Latin Catholic Church to the Melkite Catholic Church,” he cited.
“In some sense, my presence was a challenge to their comfort zone. However, in due time, they came to accept me and treated me as one of their own.
“In reciprocation, I did the same – they became my people, and in a sense, their hopes and dreams, joys and fears became mine,” he added.
Dcn Collin who graduated with a Bachelor of Theology with the University of Divinity and is currently completing his Masters in Byzantine Liturgical Theology, shared on some of his roles as an active member of the Eastern Church.
“… they became my people, and in a sense, their hopes and dreams, joys and fears became mine.”
“As a Deacon, within the context of the community, I proclaim the Gospel, administer Holy Communion and spend time “journeying” with many young people who just want to talk about their concerns and hopes by offering a listening ear, and a word of consolation, assuring them that God loves them, before praying for them.
“More importantly, the rich liturgical, theological, and spiritual heritage that the Melkite Church offered me so much consolation, hope, and joy, amidst the challenges we face in the culture and society we live in.
“This is necessary and important – Prayer must be a habit, but prayers should also have some effect on us,” he concluded.
From pages 14 to 15 of Issue 22: ‘The Church in Perth’ of The Record Magazine