By Marcelle Mansour

Friday evening 31st October 2014, an exciting art exhibition opened at St Charbel’s College Multipurpose Hall which showed various talents of the amazing students in art, music and performing arts.

Under the high patronage of His Beatitude and Eminence, Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal, Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and the entire East.  In attendance of a crowd of community members, many dignitaries, and church leaders including, His Excellency Bishop Antoine–Charbel Tarabay Maronite Bishop of Australia, The Most Reverend Abbot Tannous Nehme Superior General of the Maronite Order, Rev. Fr Joseph Sleiman Superior of St Charbel’s Parish and the Monks of the LMO in Australia. This artistic and cultural event was a part of the schedule on the occasion of His Beatitude Cardinal, Rai’s his first ever visit to Sydney and to St Charbel’s college.

Following the Australian and Lebanese national anthems, The college presented a number of talents including “St Charbel’s College Choir” conducted by Reverend Father Tenuous Ghossein, accompanied by Ms. Trudy Andrews (piano) & Daniella El-Azzi (violin) & coordinated by Mars Marie Sandrussi. “Secondary Students Dabke Group” coordinated by Mr. Melhem Kairouze. Mrs. Jamal Kairouz & Mrs. Rita Boutros. “We Are Australians” presented by year 11 students Andrew Boustani, Eleanora Deeb and Mary Chaghoury accompanied by Mrs. Trudy Andrews…” شو في خلف البحر  “ performed by Antonia Chahine, year 6 accompanied by Mr. Joseph Sarofin. “I Still Call Australia Home” performed by year 10 students, John Saidi and Thea Boutros. And finally “Joined in Communion” performed by St Charbel’s College Coire.

The program was followed by his Beatitude Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros’s delivering an elaborate speech. In his speech, he stressed the need for the common work of (WE) instead of (I) that unites the two, Christians and Muslims at present critical time, he added the two peoples should be strong and enthusiastic to preserve the message of unity, respecting the ‘other’ and living in peace under the guidance of one president to protect the country and to correctly lead the nation of Lebanon.

His Beatitude then addressed the young generations of students and praised their talents and their love and feeling of belonging to their home Australia, reminding them to empower themselves with values and knowledge to overcome difficulties and to keep progressing, he also thanked all the participants for their tireless efforts and great contribution that made the event very successful.

Following the Patriarch’s speech, Mr. Tom J. Mourad presented the Patriarch with a magnificent sculpture of his artwork that is carved of cedar tree wood.

The event ceremony ended with artwork viewing and appreciating.

It was with pride and honour to have received such a historic visit with all warm congratulations to the Maronite Parish on its opening the Art Exhibition for it is an actual contribution to art and culture in the culturally diverse Australia.

By: Marcelle Mansour

I was delighted to attend a very impressive and breathtaking event yesterday evening. It was a historic event for the Australian Coptic Community, where the Australian Coptic Movement Association (ACM) was deeply honoured to host the Prime Minister of Australia the Hon Tony Abbott MP together with Mrs. Margie Abbott, at the Coptic New Year Inaugural Gala Dinner at the Nonvoter Hotel in Sydney. Undoubtedly, it was a thrilling event for the Australian Copts to have the Prime Minister attended such a formal function hosted by ACM. A Considerable number of Federal and State Members, church and political leaders also attended to celebrate the Coptic New Year dinner on October 4, 2014, in Sydney.

The Hon.PM, has acknowledged ACM’s tireless efforts and stated that all individuals and societies of humankind should have equal rights to freely practice their religions and cultural values or ethnic identities, with acceptance and respect to the rights of others.

Senator Deborah O’Neil representing the Hon. Bill Shorten MP, Leader of the Opposition has recognized the significant contribution that the Orthodox Christians of Coptic community has made to Australia.

This was followed by HG Bishop Daniel’s speech, which highlighted the fact that Orthodox Christian Copts are being persecuted by others, and we learnt to adapt three steps to endure the persecution, to pray for the persecutors and to bless them.

The Coptic New Year is celebrated on the 1st day of the Coptic month of Tout; it is the Ancient Egyptian calendar which is a continuation of the oldest calendar in the world. It commemorates the sacrifice that Copts’ ancestors made in order to preserve the Christian faith that Copts in Egypt and the Diaspora share today.

It was a wonderful work made by the Australian Coptic Movement indeed and it was a pleasure to join the historical event with my family and to have photos taken with the Prime Minister of Australia the Hon Tony Abbott that is most appreciated.

By Marcelle Mansour

It was indeed a highly successful event by a successful Australian Iraqi Assyrian Author.

“Conversations of a Pen with Reflections on Self and Society” by Rev.Fr Yousif Jazrawy was launched on Friday the 19th September 2014 at St. Mary Assyrian Church of the East Church Hall, under the patronage and blessings of His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand, and Lebanon. The book launch was a huge success with over 500 people attended the literary event. In the presence of His Excellence Consul-General Mr. Bassim Dawood, priests, deacons, nuns, heads of institutions and associations and cultural bodies, writers, poets, artists, journalists from various media of both Australian Iraqi and Arabs and a crowd of prominent personalities and intellectual members of the communities in Sydney.

His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM –in his speech—expressed his pleasure and pride towards the growing culture of the written words and book publications despite the current overwhelming of the online digital media. This is in addition to its association with the combined content of religious and social guidance, with a special attention to both individuals and families within societies that creates balance in the heart of our life.

Marcelle Mansour –the writer of this article— as a visual artist and designer of Fr Jazrawy’s book covers, during my talk, I was able to make a brief summary of the new book, highlighting the meaning of the two paintings that Fr Jazrawy selected, titled “Liberation” and “Metamorphosis” which revolves around diving in the depth of the inner humans through light and perception, in order to rediscover ourselves and the world via revealing the truth that makes the invisible visible. This direct experience is humanly transformative which may create a new vision and make humans rethink reality to change for the better world.

it is not my intention here to summarise the whole book, rather I will briefly sum up its general idea; considering that the writer was born and raised in Iraq; he is self-oppressed, ”as a result of the current social and political conditions in his motherland Baghdad. It is not surprising that this feeling of pain makes him calling the “Arab Spring” “bloody spring”, and Baghdad,” the widow of joy “After it was the cradle of civilizations, the origins of religions and the city of beauty and life.” From his words:”When our conversations will turn from death to life, from the language of war and violence to the language of love and peace?”

The writer begins in the first part of the book describing the tragedy of Iraq, the bustle of war, and what people lack in Iraq, comparing it to the advancement of Western World, Europe and Australia p 91. Then he talks about the “Gardens psychological balance” in the places of the countries he visited, such as Sweden which has more transparency and peacefulness.

In the 2nd part, he moves to the philosophy and self-knowledge, in his own words: “We are good at seeing the world around us, but we do not know how to search for what lies within ourselves,” he tackles the issue of divorce and “opens the wounds of suffering in the cage of marriage life and the struggle of the Iraqi woman under the male-dominated society”p49, defending her rights as dignified human being p105, referring to Holland as the capital of humanity, the Netherlands is where freedom holy and “Sydney, Australia is the nation of human values that builds humanity”. Moreover, analysing the tragedy of our physical world today, where concepts and human values are changed across eras because of the dollar controls the human options p98.

Thinking in the old and new, and the human capacity to innovate, to catch the wheel of development, the writer says: Jesus Christ is the living eternal spirit that renews the image of God in man, and that revelation is constant at all times and creativity is a result of those who preceded us through the inspiration of God. This explains Immanuel Kant’s philosophy of “We begin where others finished,”p84. It also confirms the author’s concept of modernisation and blindly following traditions without thinking about its credibility. The western world is progressed in life because of the ”freedom of opinion, cultural diversity and acceptance of the other.” This is evident in the words of German philosopher Martin Heidegger:”…mankind to prove his existence must have a presence in life.” p118, and also as Socrates said, “Know thyself” p124.

In the third and final part of the book entitled “Spirituality” the writer confirms that we are living at “the time of the scruffy man, to the extent that humans kill each other in the name of God.”P153. The author here questions if God Himself retires? And immediately provides the clever answer:”to search for God “in the era of globalization that harms spiritual beliefs, human values and ethics. Therefore, the author invites his readers to deeply meditate in silence, revealing to them that God hears us through our meditative silence, where God becomes present in the lives of others around us.

The above was a brief general idea about the book. Fr Jazrawy is considered by many to be one of the insightful and stimulating of Australian Iraqi literary writers, his writings were described by others as interesting and enjoyable, and here I will add that the author with his elegant style was able to touch his reader’s hearts where he extracted and transferred a series of his personal experiences and conversations with his pen, from the depth of his inner feelings and thinking and released them to the public. There is no doubt that Fr Jazrawy is one of the contemporary writers of this generation, where his new book is of a high literary value that embodies ideas and meanings would possibly influence his readers to transform their reality for the better. Congratulations to the Fr Jazrawy with best wishes for more achievements and success.

Rev. Yousif Jazrawy was born in Baghdad city in Iraq in 1978, ordained priest in 2004 in the Church of the East Assyrian. There he holds B.A. degree in Theology from Babel College for Philosophy and Theology in 2005 and Diploma in philosophy, sociology and anthropology, prior to his emigration to Australia in 2009. He also travels intensively to several European countries including Holland where he lived there for a considerable period of time. He has published an impressive number of 25 books and has numerous articles in magazines newspapers, periodicals and electronic publications in both Iraq and Australia. His works tackle various contemporary subjects of spirituality, philosophy, church history and issues related to humankind and society. Rev.Fr Jazrawy was featured on many different kinds of media including Satellite Channels, SBS and various publications by Iraqi and Arab writers and was honored this year by Sawaki Foundation for Culture and Arts headed by Dr. Alaa Alawadi. The book was supported by Sawaki, and half the proceeds from the book will go to help the families affected and displaced into northern Iraq.

Fr Jazrawy said: “It made me very proud, that people are buying, means that people are reading and that makes me happy.”

To obtain a copy of a book, the author and book information as follows:

Reverend Yousif Jazrawy

Saints Peter and Paul Parish Priest (Arabic) – Sydney Australia

Email: revyousif@assyrianchurch.org.au

Office: (02) 9753 4185

Categories: Australian Iraqi and Arabic speaking communities

Personal email and personal phone yousif_jazrawy@yahoo.com  0416 609 667

Book title: “Conversations of a Pen with Reflections on Self and Society”

Author: Rev. Yousif Jazrawy

First edition: 1000 copy, 2014

Book pages: 200 pages,

Book covers: Marcelle Mansour

Printed by R.M. Gregory Printers 2014, in Arabic;

ISBN 978-0-646-92595-0

By Marcelle Mansour

One of the Australian Lebanese and Arabic communities’ best-loved poets, Fouad Neeman El-Khoury, is renowned for his intimate way of visualizing the presence, his beautiful expressions, his visionary intuitions, his use of words and allegories in a delightful manner, his attractive presentation and the way of reading his poems in a passionate way. All these creative talents were sensed and shared in the event.

El-khoury launched his new book Nidr El’ lahfeh, meaning “That Moment’s Vow” on Friday 27 June 2014 held at Our Lady of Lebanon Church Hall, Harris Park, Sydney, in the presence of a number of eminent guests: Mr Tony Issa, OAM MP, Member of Legislative Assembly and Member of Liberal Party, Monsignor Marcellino Joseph representing Bishop Antoine Tarabay, Father Antoine Tohme representing the President of the Monastery of Saint Charbel, Father Joseph Solomon head of the Maronite Center for Studies, Father Tony Moses, Tawfiq Queiroz, head of the Maronite League, Wally Wehbe, head of the gathering of the Christian , Michael Duwaihi, former president of the Australian Lebanese Cultural Association, And a number of representatives of parties and movements and heads of organizations, associations and cultural bodies, journalists of various media, writes, poets, artists, a and a crowd of prominent personalities and members of the communities.

The evening began with a video presentation titled “Rachael El-Mahabbah” which was specially organised and made for the event by Mrs Leila El-Koury. The video featured a number of the poet’s fans and friends from Australia and Lebanon who expressed their appreciation towards El-Koury’s amazing poetry.

Claudine Mansour Germanos the MC presented the event and guest speakers included: John Bechara, Sylva Mezher (SBS Arabic Radio), Anis Ghanem (An-Nahar Arabic Newspaper), Sayed Mikhael (National News Agency, Australian Middle East Media), George Mansour the poet, Yves El-Khoury (Gibran Khalil Gibran Cultural Heritage). And not to forget the beautiful song of “My Faith Shining” poem, page 114 from the book which was specially composed and sung for the event by the composer and singer Fouad Harraka.

The event was culminated with an inspiring poetry reading by El-Koury including his new poems. The event concluded with the cake cutting, cocktail and book signing.

El-Koury’s work is so exquisite that has a beauty which springs from within the soul. His poetry reads the poetic Arabic words of the Lebanese dialect. At the same time it is a great reflection of the Australian migrants’ feelings of alienations, suffering, and happiness, for he experiences a life of alienation and integration in the Diaspora world at one time. His poems are often full of images that are captured in a few words which give rise to a striking thought. For those new to El-Khoury’s work as well as his many fans, “Nidr El’ lahfeh’s” poetry proved to be a real joy.

By Marcelle Mansour

A splendid evening of rich literary reading and prize-winning was celebrated by the Australian Arabic Cultural Centre, Peter Indari Forum. The event marked the second annual anniversary to commemorate the late Boutros Indari on May 20, 2014, at Kafr Hilda Reception Centre, Lakemba.

The MC presenter was Mr. Michael Risk, the pioneer in promoting trade and cultural links between Australia and Lebanon. Mr. George Hasham was the speaker on the occasion of the commemoration of two years on the absence of the late Peter Indari who was renowned for his contribution to the Australian Arabic journalism, and to convey the message of the significance, and the purpose of the event.

It was indeed a pleasant cultural evening where the three pioneer poets participated: Fouad Neman El-Khoury, George Mansour, and Charbel Baini.

Both very popular poets George Mansour and Fouad Neeman El-Khoury took part in a poetry reading in front of a large number of attendees. Each created and read a poem inspired by and in tribute to the 2nd anniversary of the late Boutros Indari where their verses came overflowing with powerful feelings. Charbel Baini, the poet, and author of many books read short pieces of his creative prose describing some of the funny situations derived from his past friendship with the late Peter Indari. His writings and readings are, I suppose, autobiographical, funny, have a lot of sense of humour and are direct reports on the experience. The reading described, are dense with the humor comments and entertainment words.

The portrait of the late Peter Indari (Abou Ziad), painted by the writer of these words, artist Marcelle Mansour, was displayed in the middle of the stage of the premises celebrating his life (1938-2012) and reminding the audience of his charismatic popular personality.

Various books for local Australian Arabic authors including poets, writers, and novelists, were also on display which added more wealth of literary tradition to the event.

Dr. Emil Chdiac introduced the young students from various high schools of Sydney and Melbourne who won the literary competition in both languages of Arabic and English. Prizes were bestowed upon six students, and certificate of achievements for four students, by Mr. Joseph Rizk, the Managing Director and CEO of Arab Bank who in turn received a trophy as a token of appreciation by Dr. Mustapha Alamedin on behalf of the committee members of Inari’s forum. Mr. George Hasham also received an award for his long contribution n the field of teaching in Australia.

The event concluded with having light refreshments and networking, with all attendees enjoying the distinctive cultural atmosphere and expressing a desire to regularly share this important annual occasion.