Sydney, Middle East Times Int’l -- The Maronite Bishop of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay, has marked the tenth anniversary of his Episcopal ordination.

A Thanksgiving Mass was held at the Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral in Harris Park, NSW, on March 26 in the presence, of His Grace Archbishop Robert Rabbat, Eparch of the Melkite Eparchy of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania and President of the Australian Middle Eastern Churches; Basilios Kodsieh, Metropolite of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Oceania; Reverend Monsignor Basil Sousanian, Head of the Armenian Catholic Church in Australia; and Monsignor Marcelino Youssef Vicar-General of the Eparchy.

Also present were Bishop Tarabay’s family including his mother Mrs Maria Tarabay, from Lebanon.

The congregation comprised of the Superiors of Maronite religious orders in Australia, clergy from across the Eparchy, Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family, representatives of Maronite organisations and faithful from Maronite Parishes across the State.

In his address to them, Bishop Tarabay said, “It is because of the love that emanates from each one of you that we continue to grow as a community, united in our shared mission to proclaim the Good News and to live out the Gospel in our daily lives.”

In 2013, Bishop Tarabay was appointed as Maronite Bishop of Australia by Pope Francis and was ordained by His Beatitude and Eminence Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, on May 25 that year. 

He was formally installed as fourth Bishop of the Maronite Diocese of Australia at St Maroun's Cathedral in Redfern on June 3, 2013. 

Following his ordination, Bishop Tarabay wholeheartedly embraced his role as a leader and servant, under his chosen motto of “Faithfulness and Openness”.

As the first Eastern Catholic Bishop ever to be elected to the Permanent Committee of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference and to the Bishops' Commission for the Plenary Council of Australia, Bishop Tarabay’s leadership was marked by a deep commitment to service and a dedication to the growth of the Maronite community in Australia.

His focus was also on promoting and preserving the Maronite history, heritage and traditions.

During a visit in May 2017, His Eminence Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches spoke of the great richness and treasures of liturgy and spirituality that the Maronite Church, along with other Eastern Churches, brings to Australia, after he had presented Bishop Tarabay with a medal from His Holiness Pope Francis.

Under the leadership of Bishop Tarabay, the Maronite Eparchy has seen seven new parishes flourish around Australia, 20 new priests ordained, two new aged care homes, and the expansion in 2021 of its boundaries to include New Zealand and  Oceania, at the request of the Maronite Synod of Bishops and with the advice of Cardinal Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches.

Bishop Tarabay said: “One of the greatest highlights of my journey has been my connection with the wonderful Maronite youth of our Eparchy, whom I consider the joy of our Church, and celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the official establishment of the Eparchy with all the graces it has already brought and the blessings to come.

“There is still much work to be done, many lives to touch, and many souls to bring closer to God's love. But let us take comfort in knowing that it is through love that we will continue to thrive and make a difference in the world around us.”

Bishop Tarabay's episcopate has truly embodied his motto - Faithfulness and Openness - reflecting his commitment to his ministry and faithfully upholding the living faith, rich heritage, and values of the Maronite community in a diverse land.

Homily by Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay at the 10th Anniversary Episcopal Ordination Thanksgiving Mass on Friday, May 26, 2023, at Our Lady of Lebanon, Harris Park

Thirty years as a priest and 10 years as bishop: I am most grateful to the Lord for all His Goodness to me.

When I grew up in Tannourine, Lebanon (where I was born), there was little to indicate that I would become a Maronite monk and a priest and maybe nothing to indicate that I would one day become a bishop. I wasn’t a particularly spiritual child and I wasn’t the quietest at home. 

In the spirit of the occasion, I know you will allow me to share some precious memories with you this evening. 

My teenage years were marked by rebellion and a calling. A strange and incomprehensible notion came over me that I was being called to go to the monastery to become a monk, like my uncle George who is a priest in the Lebanese Order. 

When I was challenged by him, asking me why I want to become a priest, I said to him: “I want to consecrate my life to Jesus Christ.” 

My uncle was surprised and pleased by my answer. My journey started in 1981 when I was only 14 years old. These words that I said then, when I could not fully understand and explain them, were not mine. I know I was given what to say by the Holy spirit. 

These same words have guided my journey to present my temporary vows in 1987 and perpetual vows in 1991. They led me to become a priest, a mystery that was overwhelming for me.  

I knew that my desire for the priesthood was stronger than my wish for another vocation; such as marriage. 

It was with great joy that on July 11, 1993, I was ordained a priest with another 10 of my brothers in the LMO. I took as my motto: ‘for with you is the fountain of life, and in your light do we see light.’ (Psalm 36:9).

Twenty years after my priestly ordination and the week after Easter in 2013, while I was the Rector of St Charbel’s parish and college in Punchbowl, on Wednesday, April 10, I received a call from the Apostolic Nunciature in Canberra that the Apostolic Nuncio would like to see me as soon as possible.

The very next day I met the Nuncio who informed me that it was the wish of the Holy Father Pope Francis to appoint me Maronite Bishop for the diocese of St Maroun. I was given the freedom to discuss the matter with my confessor or my spiritual director and inform the Nuncio of my decision as soon as possible. 

I had travelled to Canberra that same day. At the chapel in the nunciature, after spending time in prayer with a lot of emotion and tears, I called my spiritual director and told him of my decision. I also returned to the Nuncio, to say; I am the servant of the Lord, let it be as per the wish of the Holy father.  

Today, in my heart, I hear again those words that speak to the mystery of the calling: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet.” (Jer 1:4). 

Certainly, God’s call is a great privilege but also a mystery. Before I was born, He knew I would become a priest but I didn’t know until my ordination at the age of 26. He knew that I would become a bishop, but I didn’t know until I served as a priest for 20 years. 

I didn’t know much about what the council of priests and the chancery staff had prepared as a celebration for me until now but the Lord knew that too. I am indeed very grateful to all of them especially to Fr Danny Nouh who co-ordinated this event with a lot of love and care. 

I must confess that God has been good to me and He has chosen me to serve His Flock.  It is a great privilege to be chosen by the Lord to serve His church; as a priest and as a Bishop, as a successor of the apostles. Certainly I do not deserve it, certainly no one is deserving, but it is only through His love and His mercy that we are able to do it. 

It is His grace that enables us to distribute the holy sacraments and preach the divine word.  In this instance I would like to go back to my episcopal ordination motto that is always inspiring my journey: ‘What shall I return to the Lord for all His goodness to me’ (Psalm 116:12). 

For the last 10 years as your bishop, I have celebrated with you all the highlights: We have seen seven new parishes flourish around Australia. I was privileged to celebrate the ordinations of 20 new priests to serve in our Eparchy and for religious orders here and in Lebanon.

I also made it a priority to focus on the social needs of our community; build aged care homes for our elderly, reactivate the Work of Maronite care, and provide more childcare for the children.  One of the greatest highlights of my journey was my connection with the wonderful youth of our eparchy, whom I consider the joy of our Church. 

We are also very pleased and grateful to our community for their magnificent response to charity, through Maronites on Mission and the Lebanese Family Appeal.

We have also been together facing the challenging issues such as; same sex marriage, COVID-19, gender ideology and inaccurate media reporting. I was especially challenged and extremely saddened by the closure of the churches during lockdown. I hope that this well never happen again.  

Tonight I stand before you as a changed man, though I’m still not what I want to be. I want to love God more. I want to make sure that the flock entrusted to me is spiritually nurtured by the holy bread and the words of life, and I am aware that I haven’t been able to reach out to everyone - yet.

I want to accompany more my brothers and sisters, the clergy and religious serving in this Eparchy. I am all too conscious of the needs to do more for them as well.

As I stand before you tonight, my heart is filled with immense gratitude. I am grateful to God for His guidance, strength, and unwavering love throughout these ten years. I am grateful for the continued growth and vibrancy of our Maronite community, which is a testament to the dedication and faith of each and every one of you.

Thank you to his grace Bishop Robert Rabbat who was and continues to be a good brother bishop and a caring friend during all these years. I also thank you, Msgr Susanian, for joining us tonight. 

I take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation of the clergy and religious sisters who serve tirelessly in our eparchy, especially the Maronite sisters of the Holy family who have been true collaborators in the establishment and growth of the Maronite Eparchy here in Australia. 

It is because of the commitment of our clergy and religious to love – embodying Christ’s two great commandments – that our community thrives and experiences the love of God.

Allow me also to take this opportunity to thank someone who was with me from day one as bishop. Msgr Marcelino Youssef the VG, I cannot thank you enough for your dedication, your care and your friendship. 

I am very pleased to see many parishioners from different parishes here tonight: from St Maroun, OLOL, St Charbel’s, St Joseph, St George, St John the beloved, St Rafqa, Christ the Redeemer Parish, St Raymond, and especially OLOL Wollongong….and allow me to express my gratitude, for your prayers and support in the last decade.

I am also grateful to the parishes in Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Western Australia for their prayers and making sure to uphold the Maronite identity and heritage.  

I am also grateful to the different boards, organisations and committees in the Eparchy, your goodwill and dedication, is a testament to your faith and love for the Church.  

Special thanks to the media representatives, councillors and Lebanese political parties present with us here tonight. 

I cannot conclude without saying big and a heartfelt thank you to two people who have travelled the journey of 10 years with me with a lot of commitment, hard work and understanding. My assistants Elise Gharrach and Ray Chahine, thank you so much for being always there for me. Certainly without you it would have been very difficult to make it. 

It is because of the love that emanates from each one of you that we continue to grow as a community, united in our shared mission to proclaim the Good News and to live out the Gospel in our daily lives.

As we celebrate this milestone, let us remember that our journey as a community is not complete. There is still much work to be done, many lives to touch, and many souls to bring closer to God's love. But let us take comfort in knowing that it is through love that we will continue to thrive and make a difference in the world around us.

And now I close by entrusting again my journey into the intercession of Saint Charbel, my patron Saint, and to the care of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, praying to her and asking her humbly to hold my hand, especially in challenging times and to help me to do whatever her son Jesus-Christ is asking of me.  Amen.