2022 Nominees

St Mary Coptic Orthodox church Kensington 2022 Board of Deacons nominees Gerges Mina I work as an IT project Director. With God's grace and support.

Been serving at St Mary's Church for more than 20 years. Across multiple services.

Started at primary Sunday school, then secondary school. Currently looking after the discipleship class.

Established the choir service since 1994 with primary choir. We now have four choirs with more than 10 servants.

Established the Sunday school audio visual service more than 20 years ago. Well known to the community and support other services such as family meeting hymns service, fete and deacons.

When I was in Egypt, I served in the ministry under the direction of HG bishop Mosses. I believe we need everyone in the community to participate in the service to support each other so it does not rely on a group of people or individuals. Looking forward serving our community more through the board of deacons.

Robear Hanna My name is Robear, I’m 45 and work as IT Principal Consultant for more than 20 years. I’ve got the great blessing to serve in the Diocese of Melbourne and particularly at St. Mary’s Church for the last 14 years till date across multiple services: Sunday school service, Member of the church superintendent group, Family meeting and excursions, Fundraising committee, Deaconship school, Former secretary of the church board of deacons and Member of the diocese of Melbourne summer festival leadership committee. I’ll get the blessing to serve the congregation of St. Mary’s Church through this BOD elections.

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Remone Tawadros It is a privilege to be nominated to serve at our beautiful St Mary’s Church. St. Mary’s Church has a strong connection to me as I was baptized, ordained as a deacon, married and had my children baptized there also. I was blessed to have been enthusiastically involved in the organization of all papal visits to Melbourne, served in various church and monastery projects, church fetes and actively involved for the past 35 years in organizing palms for St Mary’s Church. Professionally I’m an Online Consultant and have a business in Building and Maintenance. I look forward to serving at St Mary’s Church in the capacity of a committee member if elected – it would be an honor, but nothing will stop me in serving our church.

Anthony Sedrak My name is Anthony Sedrak, my parents migrated to Australia in the early 70’s and as such I have been a parishioner at St Marys Church since birth, growing up in Sunday School, youth and deacon service and have been part of the church community my whole life. I am married with 3 boys all who have been baptized at St Mary’s Church and part of the church life.

I’m currently blessed to serve on the Coptic Hope Charity committee and serve the Junior Youth group serving year 11.

Mina Narouz I am Mina Narouz, I migrated to Australia in 2009 and have attended and served at St Mary’s church since then. I graduated high school from St Mary’s Coptic Orthodox College, studied at RMIT and now work as a radiographer. This year I am serving in year 7 Sunday school and the youth library/bookshop (Anba Epiphanius). I hope to serve in the board of deacons to help voice the views of our young church members and advocate for their needs in the service. I look forward to the opening of our new church building and I am very exciting about all the new services and opportunities the new facilities will allow for.

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George Ibrahim My name is George Ibrahim and I am an active member of St. Mary’s youth. As someone who was born in Australia to parents who have been going to this church for over 40 years, I understand the value of our Holy Church and the importance it’s history holds. I also look forward to the newer generations coming and currently have the blessing of serving our lovely Year 7 children in Sunday School. I hope with a position on the board of deacons, I can best support our community to participate in koinonia together.

Kerillos Danial My name is Kerillos Danial. I am an Accountant ,graduated from Alexandria University May 1995. My family and I have been attending St Mary’s Church for the last 14years.

I have been blessed to serve St Mary’s Church as a treasurer for the past 3 years and willing in God’s name to serve the next 3 years in same capacity if I am elected.

Before God, I look forward to giving this role my full commitment and dedication.

Yostus Hanna My name is Yostus, and I have been very blessed to have been a member of St Mary's since my birth, under the guidance of our very reverend Fathers. Both my father and mother, Maher and Viola, brought my brother and I up in St Mary's and it is very much an integral part of our lives. I hope that Patricia and I can instil this in our children, Jeremiah and Leah, so that they can also grow up with this strong sense of connection to our church and our community. I've also been very blessed to have served in our Junior Youth service, and have been extremely fortunate to have learnt much from both the servants and our amazing junior youth.

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Foaud Habashy My name is Foaud Habashy, married to Renata and father of Nathan, Noah and Gabriella. I’ve now lived in Melbourne for over 34 years.

I started attending St Mary’s church as a young youth and have always been actively involved in our church activities. In my younger years, I was blessed to serve as a Sunday school teacher, a youth servant, have been actively involved in the organisation of all the Papal visits to Melbourne, our church fetes and church maintenance, and over the last few years have been serving in St Anthony’s Monastery and now also Archangel Michael Monastery. I have also had the blessing of serving in St Mary’s bookshop for 17 years.

We are blessed at St Mary’s church to have our 5 dedicated and active fathers who encourage and motivate us to serve. I would be honoured and blessed to continue to serve St Mary’s church in the capacity as a committee member.

Gergis Rizkalla My name is Gergis Rizkalla.

I’m married and I have two children, Mariz and Jonathan. They are both servants in Sunday school. I have a Batchelor of commerce from Egypt. I came to Australia in 2009 and have always lived in Melbourne.

Since we came we have been going to St Mary’s Church, we love St Mary and serving in the church. I have been helping in the annual fetes held by the church. Some of my other services include, assisting in making the Orban and recently I have been helping the treasurer in the church.

Fady Ilias I'm a servant at St Mary church since a young age and a current member of the Board of Deacons. My time serving the BoD has been nothing short of an incredibly blessing in my life.

I've been supported by the Board to work closely with other amazing servants to manage and contribute to numerous projects and services at our church, including online communications, IT (app and website), fundraising for the New Building Project and the care package project.

I've been incredibly lucky to work closely, learn from, and be guided by my blessed fathers and servants older and wiser than me, especially our priest in heaven, Fr Macarius Wahba, and be part such a beautiful community.

Please continue to keep the church and its community in your prayers.

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