Last week saw the long-awaited opening of the church of St Peter and St Paul in Pointe Claire in Montreal, Canada.
Anba Boulos, Bishop-General of Africa, cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony on behalf of Pope Tawadros II who had, while on a visit to Canada last September, visited the church which was then undergoing construction work. The Bishop gave a word in which stressed the importance of bonding with the mother Church.
Egypt’s Consul-General in Montreal, Amal Salama, took part in the opening ceremony, and expressed her happiness about opening the church which primarily served the second and third generation of Egyptian Canadians. Ms Salama relayed to the congregation the greetings of President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, and praised the Pointe Claire Coptic congregation for the efforts to have their church see light. The congregation had been through hard negotiations with the city officials regarding zoning regulations till they could finally have their church and community centre built. Both serve all in the district, Copts and non-Copts alike.
Anba Boulos thanked Ms Salama and praised the current Egyptian government for its efforts to foster better relations between all Egyptians of all religions.
Among those who took part in the ceremony was Candice Bergen, the Member of Parliament representing Portage–Lisgar and Minister of State for Social Development, who delivered a speech and paid tribute to the role played by the Canadian community of an Egyptian origin; their contribution to their new home country, and their courage in preserving their religious and cultural identity.
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Watani International
17 May 2015