Australian award to His Grace Archbishop Issam John Darwish
MEMBER (AM) IN THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Australia Day 2017
His Grace the Most Reverend Archbishop Issam John DARWISH,
Saydat Al Najat St, Our Lady of Deliverance Cathedral, Zahle, Lebanon
For significant service to the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Australia, to the promotion of interfaith relations, and to the community
Service includes
National:
· Eparch, Greek Melkite Catholic Church of Australia and New Zealand, 1996- 2011.
· Involved in establishing: The first Melkite Catholic Centre in Australia, including the Bishop's Chancery, Welfare Community Centre and clergy residence, 1997.
· Holy Saviour School Greenacre, 2000.
· Melkite Catholic Welfare Association, Sydney 1998.
· The Melkite Journal, Sydney 2005
· and The Melkite Press, 2000.
International:
· Archbishop, Archdiocese of Fourzol, Zahle, and the Bekaa, Lebanon, since 2011.
· President and Co-founder, Global Melkite Association Inc, 2006.
· Founded and built a number of schools, orphanages, technical schools, centers for peace, associations and cooperatives, in Lebanon, 1983-1996.
· President and Chief Executive Officer, Tel Chiha Hospital (a non-profit hospital).
· Founder, St John the Merciful table (a restaurant that serves free food to 1,000 people on a daily basis).
· President, Catholic Charity Association.
· President and Founder, the Voice of Heaven Christian Radio, 2012.
· Founder of several social organisations.
Inter-faith relations:
· Founder, Australian Christian-Muslim Friendship Society, 2003.
· Member, Bishops Commission of Ecumenism and Inter-religious Relations, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, 2003-2011.
· President, Episcopal Commission for Christian-Muslim Dialogue, Lebanon, since 2011.
· Honorary President, Eastern Club for the Dialogue of Civilization.
Publications:
· Published 'The Statutes of the Eparchy of St Michael of Sydney for Melkite Greek Catholics Australia and New Zealand' in English and Arabic, 2009.
· 'The Priest! Identity and Mission', 2010.
· 'A journey with Saint Paul', 2009.
· 'A Bridge for Unity: the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Australia
· ', 2007.
· 'The Face of Christ - A Vision from the East', 2007.
· Various articles and liturgical books, since 2000.
Awards and recognition includes:
· Recipient, Gibran Khalil Gibran International Award 'for his services to interfaith dialogue'
· Arabic Heritage League Australia, 2011.
· Recipient, Australian Affinity Award for Interfaith Dialogue, Affinity Intercultural Foundation, 2008.
· Recipient, Gold Medal for Services to Education in Lebanon, President of the Republic of Lebanon, His Excellency, the Honorable Elias Harawi, 1989.
· Recipient, Knight Grand Cross in the Companionate of Merit, Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem
MEMBER (AM) IN THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Australia Day 2017
His Grace the Most Reverend Archbishop Issam John DARWISH,
Saydat Al Najat St, Our Lady of Deliverance Cathedral, Zahle, Lebanon
For significant service to the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Australia, to the promotion of interfaith relations, and to the community
Service includes
National:
· Eparch, Greek Melkite Catholic Church of Australia and New Zealand, 1996- 2011.
· Involved in establishing: The first Melkite Catholic Centre in Australia, including the Bishop's Chancery, Welfare Community Centre and clergy residence, 1997.
· Holy Saviour School Greenacre, 2000.
· Melkite Catholic Welfare Association, Sydney 1998.
· The Melkite Journal, Sydney 2005
· and The Melkite Press, 2000.
International:
· Archbishop, Archdiocese of Fourzol, Zahle, and the Bekaa, Lebanon, since 2011.
· President and Co-founder, Global Melkite Association Inc, 2006.
· Founded and built a number of schools, orphanages, technical schools, centers for peace, associations and cooperatives, in Lebanon, 1983-1996.
· President and Chief Executive Officer, Tel Chiha Hospital (a non-profit hospital).
· Founder, St John the Merciful table (a restaurant that serves free food to 1,000 people on a daily basis).
· President, Catholic Charity Association.
· President and Founder, the Voice of Heaven Christian Radio, 2012.
· Founder of several social organisations.
Inter-faith relations:
· Founder, Australian Christian-Muslim Friendship Society, 2003.
· Member, Bishops Commission of Ecumenism and Inter-religious Relations, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, 2003-2011.
· President, Episcopal Commission for Christian-Muslim Dialogue, Lebanon, since 2011.
· Honorary President, Eastern Club for the Dialogue of Civilization.
Publications:
· Published 'The Statutes of the Eparchy of St Michael of Sydney for Melkite Greek Catholics Australia and New Zealand' in English and Arabic, 2009.
· 'The Priest! Identity and Mission', 2010.
· 'A journey with Saint Paul', 2009.
· 'A Bridge for Unity: the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Australia
· ', 2007.
· 'The Face of Christ - A Vision from the East', 2007.
· Various articles and liturgical books, since 2000.
Awards and recognition includes:
· Recipient, Gibran Khalil Gibran International Award 'for his services to interfaith dialogue'
· Arabic Heritage League Australia, 2011.
· Recipient, Australian Affinity Award for Interfaith Dialogue, Affinity Intercultural Foundation, 2008.
· Recipient, Gold Medal for Services to Education in Lebanon, President of the Republic of Lebanon, His Excellency, the Honorable Elias Harawi, 1989.
· Recipient, Knight Grand Cross in the Companionate of Merit, Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem
