In a momentous event for the Maronite Catholic Church in Australia, Deacons Ghassan-Hanna Nakhoul and Sayed Youssef Issac were ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay at Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral in Harris Park on 1 February.
In his homily, Bishop Tarabay, who presided over the ordination ceremony said the occasion reflected the vitality of the Maronite Church in Australia, where the faith continues to flourish and grow.
“It is also a source of great hope for our community,” he added.
“As we celebrate the Jubilee of Hope in 2025, these two new priests will lead us on our spiritual pilgrimage, guiding us with their example of faith and devotion.
“Their journey serves as an inspiration for us all, inviting us to look toward the future with renewed trust in God’s promises and mercy.”
Maronite Catholic tradition permits married men to discern a vocation to priesthood, and both of the new priests are married with children. The bishop spoke of the their unique journeys to the priesthood and their sacred responsibility of guiding and nurturing the faithful.
“Just as Peter was called from his life as a fisherman to become a shepherd of souls, our deacons have been called from their roles as husbands and fathers to embrace the priestly vocation,” he said.
“This is not merely a change in title; it is a transformation in their lives, inviting them to embody Christ’s love in a new and profound way.”
He made special mention of Fr Nakhoul’s son Ghadi Nakhoul, a popular parishioner and youth leader who died in a car crash aged 28 last November.
“One beloved person whom I cannot forget today, and who has prayed for this day to come, joins us from heaven in celebration: Ghadi Nakhoul,” he said.
Bishop Tarabay also expressed gratitude to the families of the priests for their faith and encouragement.
Fr Nakhoul told the congregation his ordination meant the bishop had been inspired by the Holy Spirit to entrust him with “the holiest mission.”
“It also means that Our Lord Jesus Christ, by the merits of his wounds, has wounded my selfishness, given me the courage through the power of his Holy Spirit to say ‘yes’ to him, and made me an instrument of the Father’s mercy for humanity,” he said.
“His mother Mary is now, more than ever, my own mum.”
Fr Issac expressed his sentiments saying, “Ordination is an invitation to be more intimate with God by imitating Christ and aligning my life even more closely with Christ’s example of service, sacrifice, and love.
“As a married priest, this means bringing together two beautiful vocations—marriage and priesthood—both of which call me to lay down my life for others.
“My ordination is not just my journey; it is also the journey of my family, who have walked beside me with faith and love, shaping me into the man I am today.”
Fr Nakhoul will now serve St Rafqa’s Church in Austral, while Fr Issac will be at Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral in Harris Park.