Reports about the projects of the church The church work is not limited to spiritual ministry like guiding people to the life of faith and repentance and the direct relation with God through prayer, meditation and different aspects of worship. The pastoral ministry includes different sides that we like people to get acquainted with it. In this frame, the church founded general bishoprics to cover those sides. The first of which was the bishopric of education whose bishop was asked to supervise Sunday school education, Theological studies and different religious institutes. Then the Bishopric of Public Ecumenical and social services, which covered a big scope of activities, that people need to know. Finally, the bishopric of the Youth was founded to serve the Youth in Egypt and Immigration Countries. We published a lot about its conventions, yet the bishopric held a wide variety of activities that people still lack knowledge of. Therefore, the Patriarchate shall compile various reports from all general bishoprics in order to let people know about it. And we shall publish all of it in El-Keraza Magazine. We say that because many people asked on the occasion of the General Congregational Council elections what is the work of the Congregational Council? It is no doubt that it has many achievements but the problems is the lack of publicity and publications. The Holy Synod as well has many activities including the activities held by the different committees of the Holy Synod especially the Pastoral Care Committee which we published part of it's work yet the achievements are far beyond the published things. The Social Ministry and what the church does in student hostels, orphanages, service of the prisonners and their families, service of the handicapped and disabled. Because of that we find in all dioceses and in many churches a special building for Social Services. What are the work details in each building? That's what we need to inform people about. Many times, we find in the Social Building a Library and Computer Center. Also reinforcement classes for students who cannot afford the heavy financial load of reinforcement classes. Some churches also provide medical care which in many cases lead to building a big hospital with all specialization. Other churches built ateliers where ladies learn sewing and textile and in many cases, the ateliers products including secular and clerical vestments are sold. We shall need more time to talk about the different works performed by monasteries and convents including many products and activities. Besides, the church leads a great ministry through deaconesses' work in many dioceses where they have a life and useful ministry. Among activities, many churches issue newsletters and magazines for children, youngsters and adults beside many other publications. How would people be informed about all that? We wish that all dioceses and churches send to us it's activities which we shall publish under a new section "Those are working indeed!" We wish that the narrative would have photos included. Church News A presidential decree number 56/2001 was issued to build Virgin Mary church El-Mokattam in the governorate of Cairo. We thank the president for this decree which made Copts living on El-Mokattam rejoice. Architect Sami Saad is in charge of all construction works there. On Monday 26 February evening, Pope Shenouda received prof Dr Rasmy Abdel-Malek who presented HH with a tentative selection of the ICS (Institute of Coptic Studies) Governing Board along with the agenda of their first meeting with some recommendations and a Coptology Thesis that should be shortly defended. HE Metropolitan Seraphim informed Pope Shenouda that Her Majesty the Queen of Britain granted a church for prayer in the region of Babingley on the Queen Estate of Sandrigham Norfolk. Abba Seraphim told HH also that the church is now undergoing some restoration work. We greet Metropolitan Seraphim for receiving this church and praying in it. On Friday 23 February, Pope Shenouda received a big number of deaf/mute Copts in Alexandria. They asked for a full time priest to serve them in Alexandria. They nominated one of the church servants in Cairo, yet the Pope preferred that their priest should be living with his family in Alexandria as condition in order not to return back to Cairo after being consecrated. A coming meeting was decided to take a decision for that matter. On Thursday 15 February 2001, Pope Shenouda received HG Bishop Serapion of Los Angeles . HG came to Egypt to have some retreat during Lent and attend the 40days mass of Mr Adel Rophael on 3 March. He shall also attend the Oriental Orthodox Patriarchs meeting on 10 March before returning to USA on 24 March with God's will. Pope Shenouda learned from Bishop Serapion that on 14 January 2001 a new priest (Fr Macarius Shehata) had been ordained to serve Virgin Mary Church (Santa Clarita). HG accompanied by Bishops Youssef of South USA, Angelos of Stevanage England and Bishop David of the Papal Residence of New Jersey headed the ordination offices. The new priest passed the 40 days at St Bishoy Monastery in Egypt before flying on 28 Feb 2001 to begin his ministry. The same ordination day, HG consecrated Arsh-Deacon Mina Gerges to minister at St Mauritius Church Chino Hill beside other churches. Bishop Serapion bought a piece of land in Orange City at the area of 2.7 acres with a church onsite. The church has place for 400 persons with affiliated hall, kindergarten, offices and small hall. The land also has a buliding that can be used to build a Youth Center and church dedicated to St Verena. We congratulate Bishop Serapion for the ordinations and for the new land. On Saturday 17 February 2001, Metropolitan Seraphim of our church for the British Orthodox arrived Cairo in a visit to the mother church. He visited many of our monasteries as well as St Catherine Monastery in Sinai. He was accompanied by Deacon Shenouda Mamdouh. On Wednesday 21 February evening, Pope Shenouda received HE. The meeting was also attended by the deacon of HE as well as Mr Mamdouh Abdou and his family. On Saturday 24 February 2001, Metropolitan Seraphim returned to his diocese. During his meeting with Pope Shenouda, HG Abba Angelos the general bishop presented HH with a full report about the ministry in Stevanage. A new organization was founded in the name "JYC" aiming to coordinate between churches in London for the ministry of the youth. It issues also a monthly newsletter beginning this March along with publishing on the Internet. Ministry of the youth extended also to reach universities: a regular meeting was set for youngsters at Kingston and London universities and servants are being formed to minister the youth. Besides a series of booklets are being published. A general meeting for priests was held concerning Youth Ministry and preparation to compile Modules for the training of Youth Church Servants. It is worth to note that Bishop Angelos is coordinating with different churches in the services of the Youth. Ten years after the foundation of the First Coptic Church in Immigration Countries by Hegumen Tadros Sharobim ON February 1991, Pope Shenouda inaugurated Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox College in Melbourne Australia. This being the first Coptic College to be instituted abroad in the immigration countries. All began on a very humble scale. The number of students hardly exceeded 60 student distributed on 3 classes in Primary education ranging from Kindergarten to 4th grade. By the end of the year 2000, the students in the college reached 600 male and female students distributed on 24 classes between Kindergarten and high school. Two years graduated already from the school. By the grace of God, the intercessions of Virgin Mary the Patron saint of the school and the blessings and advise of HH Pope Shenouda and his continuous support and encouragement, the school reached this standard in no time. Ten years is a very short time in the years of schools. The school may be described as follows: 1- The school has currently 600 male and female students (350 in primary education and 250 in preparatory and secondary education). Their ages vary from 5 years (kindergarten and preschool) to 17 years (high school). Forty teachers are teaching at the school hired by the administration of the school according to criteria set by the Australian Ministry of Education. Most of the students are Copts living in different suburbs in Melbourne and the school uses 20 buses to transport the students from and to their houses. The students pay fees that cover only 25% of the school costs and the ministry of Education cover 65% while the remaining amounts are collected through donations and activities. 2- The school teaches all curricula set by the ministry of education beside a special religion curriculum according to the teachings of the Coptic Orthodox Church as well as Arabic as second language. Coptic and hymns are taught as part of the Religion curriculum. Syriac is taught to Syrian students. For secondary education students, the school offers a variety of topics to study with new topics being added each year. 3- The college which was bought from the ministry of education is built on a piece of land and building which previously served as Primary Education Governmental School. The administration of the school developped those buildings and made many additions and affiliated buildings including: * 25 Class for Primary and secondary education * 2 modern laboratory for science equipped with the most modern educational tools and materials * Computer lab having 30 Computer machine which is also part of the College Ethernet having 60 computer machine. The lab has a leased line connection to the internet * A new library including more than 8,000 books which shall be enlarged to 20,000 books during the coming 2 years after the building of the new library which shall begin operating this year. * Play grounds for major games * Additional rooms for arts and hobbies including carpentry and steelwork. * The college is surrendered by beautiful gardens that won many prizes in the last few years. It is worth to note that the college received a grant from the government (AU$ 500,000) to build a new library and develop the administration buildings. This project costs 1 million AU$ and the construction works are beginning this year. The college installed a strict modern policy to care for the students. A spiritual, scientific and social atmosphere that is adequate to the traditions and teachings of our church surrenders them. It prepares the students to deal efficiently with the Australian society where they are living. Beside Religion classes, the college holds a daily morning meeting where students are invited to begin their day with prayers and chanting and a short lesson provided by a priest, the bishop or a visitor priest to the college that day. Bishop Suriel of Melbourne is giving special care and attention to the college. He spends one or two days in the college on a semi-monthly basis and supervises it's activities and administration. Ten years after its inauguration, we are still looking forward for more development and improvement and more Coptic schools in order to fulfil the needs of our children in immigration countries. May the Lord, who assisted us in the past, support us and gives us success through the intercessions of our beloved father who is never discourged to encourage us, our father Pope Shenouda and his partner in apostolic ministry our bishop Abba Suriel.