The Maronite Eparchy of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania gathered to celebrate the Feast of Saint Maroun at St Maroun’s Cathedral, Redfern, and to formally launch the Year of Prayer for Peace.
Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay presided over the Solemn Mass, marking a significant moment for the Maronite community.
Bishop Tarabay reflected on the life of Saint Maroun, describing him as “a lighthouse, guiding others to God.” He highlighted the saint’s pastoral wisdom and relevance today:
“He received the wisdom of the Church and the saints and adapted it with great pastoral sensitivity to the needs of his time. He spoke to the people where they were, and he led them where God was calling them to be,” Bishop Tarabay said.
During the celebration, Bishop Tarabay formally announced that 2026 will be observed as the Year of Prayer for Peace across the Eparchy, under the theme: “My peace I give to you” (John 14:27).
He recalled Pope Leo XIV’s recent prayer for peace at the tomb of Saint Charbel in Annaya, Lebanon, “For the world, we ask for peace… We especially implore it for Lebanon and for the entire Levant. But we know well, there is no peace without conversion of hearts.”
Bishop Tarabay said the Year of Prayer for Peace “is not simply an initiative”, rather it is a “call to holiness”.
He also addressed the need for unity in Australia, drawing on the spirituality of St Maroun, saying, “It is a spirituality that rejects antisemitism, hate speech, and all forms of division. The answer does not begin with strategies or programs, but with reconciliation, unity, and a renewed commitment to the common good of our nation.”
After the Mass, representatives from Maronite parishes and colleges across Australia and New Zealand received commemorative candles blessed by Bishop Tarabay.
These candles will be placed in communities from Western Australia to Auckland, symbolising a shared commitment to prayer for peace throughout 2026.
Bishop Tarabay also shared two significant developments for the Eparchy: the opening of the Transformation Centre in Dooralong, NSW, on March 2, which will be a “place of hope for those suffering from addiction”; and the opening of St Rita’s Church in Guildford, NSW. later this year.
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Solemn Mass marks the Feast of Saint Maroun and launches the 2026 Year of Prayer for Peace (Maronite Eparchy)
