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Watani
13-07-2025
- General
- Watani
Bishop Boulos liturgy on feast of St Peter and St Paul in Pointe-Claire, Canada
On Saturday 12 July 2025, His Grace Bishop Boulos, Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Ottawa, Montreal, and Eastern Canada, presided over the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Apostles at St Peter and St Paul Coptic Orthodox Church in Pointe-Claire, Quebec. He was joined in the celebration by the beloved parish priest Fr Peter Saad, in the presence of a large congregation from Montreal and neighboring cities including Laval, Sainte-Thérèse, Brossard, Saint-Hubert, and the West Island. The day began with Matins Prayers, followed by the Prayer of Lakan (Blessing of the Water). In a beautiful act of humility and spiritual fatherhood, Bishop Boulos sat on the ground and, made the sign of the cross with the blessed water on legs of all the men. Simultaneously, Father Peter Saad anointed the women with the same blessed water, drawing the sign of the cross. His Grace also ordained three new deacons. The moment was filled with spiritual warmth, profound joy, and a deep sense of unity. The deacon choir, led with devotion and precision by deacon Eng. Peter Hanna, head of the deacons at St Peter and St Paul church, added to the atmosphere of reverence and celebration, their harmonious chanting of Coptic hymns drawing praise and admiration from all present. Watani International 13 July 2025 Comments comments
Watani
13-07-2025
- General
- Watani
In pictures: Bishop Boulos places Bible and prayers of congregation in foundation of Sts Peter and Paul church
Following the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Apostles on Saturday 12 July 2025, His Grace Bishop Boulos of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Ottawa, Montreal, and Eastern Canada, laid the Holy Bible and the written prayers and petitions of the congregation with the foundation stone of the new church of St Peter and St Paul in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada. The construction of the ground floor is already nearing completion. Joining Bishop Boulos were Fr monk Or El-Baramosy, a visiting monk-priest from the monastery of the Holy Virgin al-Baramous in Egypt, and Fr Peter Saad, priest of the church. Bishop Boulos inscribed the date on the Holy Bible as a blessed remembrance of this spiritual milestone. Together with the clergy, he led a special prayer service to bless the foundations of the new church building. The new development will include a chapel, a parking structure, Sunday School classrooms, and a spacious gymnasium designed for multiple sports. In adherence to construction safety protocols, the congregation surrounded the building site from the outside, following along in prayer as Bishop Boulos and Fr Peter led the liturgy. The event was marked by great joy, ululations , and a celebratory spirit fitting for the feast of Sts Peter and Paul. Several members of the church council also participated, including Adel Boulos and Shahir Guindi. Bishop Boulos took time to explain each step of the ceremony to the people, emphasising the significance of placing the Bible and the people's petitions in the church's foundation—a cherished tradition in the Coptic Orthodox Church. This act, he explained, stresses that the building is not merely a structure but a dwelling place for God among His people. The moment was filled with spiritual meaning, collective joy, and the deep unity of a community coming together to witness the birth of a new sacred collective joy, a community coming together to witness the birth of a new holy space. Watani International 13 July 2025 Comments comments
Watani
28-06-2025
- General
- Watani
In pictures: New Coptic Orthodox church opens in Fort Worth, Texas
On the evening of 21 June, Anba Youssef, Metropolitan of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Texas, Florida, and Southern United States presided over the opening and consecration of the Church of Mar-Mina in Fort Worth, Texas. The joyful event was attended by Bishops-General Basil and Gregory, also by the priests of the church and a large congregation. The celebration began with Bishop Youssef cutting the ribbon to officially open the new church, amid scenes of great spiritual joy and thanksgiving. Following the inauguration, the Metropolitan led the consecration ritual which was followed by a night of prayer, readings, and hymns that extended through the night, and concluded with celebration of the Divine Liturgy on the morning of Sunday 22 June which coincided with the feast of Mar-Mina. Watani International Comments comments Tags: Ashraf HelmyTags: New Coptic church in Fort Worth Texas
Watani
09-06-2025
- General
- Watani
Pope Tawadros II receives HOPE servants
Pope Tawadros II received on 7 June 2025 the servants of the HOPE Organization at the Papal Residence in Cairo, who are on service week in Egypt. The Pope spoke to them about the depth of spiritual service, the blessing it bestows on the soul, and its lasting impact on the life of the servant. He presented each servant with a HIGH Office Passport. At the end of the meeting, commemorative photos were taken with joy in front of Saint Mark's Cathedral in Abbassia. The meeting was attended by Metropolitan Youssef of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Southern United States of America, along with Bishop Basil and Bishop Gregory, general bishops of the same diocese. He gifted each of them with a HIGH Office Shield. The service visit by HOPE Organization to Egypt was coordinated with the HIGH Office, which is responsible for facilitating communication between Coptic Church dioceses outside Egypt and the areas most in need of service within the dioceses of Egypt. The office was established by a decision of the Holy Synod in March 2024. The name 'HIGH' is an acronym for 'Hands in God's Hand'. H.O.P.E. is the social services arm of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Southern US. Established under the auspices of Bishop Youssef, H.O.P.E. serves Christians in need around the world. The service is financed purely by donations, and all services are performed by volunteer workers so that 100 per cent of each donation goes towards helping those in need. Services in Egypt include aid for underserved Egyptian families, adult education and literacy classes, aiding couples planning marriage with their new homes, and helping the elderly. In Sudan, three buses were operated to evacuate people outside the war-torn country; in Botswana, families were provided with bathrooms; addicts were helped rehabilitate; and persons with disability were cared for. In Ethiopia Kenya and other places such as Syria, Thailand, and Lebanon, food was distributed in disaster ares and orphans were given much needed care. Comments comments Tags: Basma NasserPope Tawadros HOPE organization
