Archbishop of Australia: “The measure of a parish’s success is the lives it transforms”

“The achievements of a Parish are not measured exclusively by its property, the extent of its activities, or the number of people who participate in its events. The true measure of its success is the lives it transforms, the hearts it brings closer to Christ, the families it strengthens, and the practical love it offers to those in need.”

Emphasising the primarily spiritual character of the mission of every Parish, Archbishop Makarios of Australia expressed his paternal satisfaction with the manner in which the Parish of Saint Therapon, in Thornleigh, Sydney, has served its mission throughout its twenty years of existence and witness, which are being completed this year.

The Archbishop had the joy of meeting with his spiritual children from Thornleigh on Saturday, 31 October, and celebrating with them the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Parish of Saint Therapon, during the official dinner held at the Miramare Gardens function venue in Terrey Hills.

During his address, he focused on the remarkable progress of the Parish over the course of the previous two decades, observing that “what began with meagre resources developed into a spiritual home for many people,…