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The
Maronite Heritage Centre seeks to open a door onto the historical and the religious
life of the Maronite community. It endeavours to demonstrate the strength of identity
and culture, of richness and diversity, and to be a source of education and inspiration
to all those who visit. Its mission is to preserve, explore and celebrate the history
of the Maronites.
The centre shall display artefacts from
Lebanonand shall also highlight the experiences of the Australian Maronite Lebanese and
the rich tapestry that they have weaved in
Australia
. It also intends to play an interactive role with the community, especially its
younger members.
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Visitors Comments
I hope this exhibition will deepen the pride
of all the Australian Maronites in their Heritage. A great idea, beautifully executed.
(+ Cardinal George Pell)
A heritage to be treasured.
(Tony Burke, MP)
Outstanding
( Peter Debnam MP)
Congratulations and best wishes to all Lebanese
for this fantastic effort. This is the first step in recognising the enormous contribution
Australian Maronite Lebanese continue to make to
Australia
. Long may the centre grow.
(Anthony and Nabiha Khouri, consul general
of
Bangladesh
)
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�......The Heritage Centre will unravel the journey of Yesterday,
invigorate our knowledge of today and build faith, hope and light for tomorrow.
It will enable us, Australian, Lebanese , Maronites, to explore our past , explicated
through the History of Lebanon, the History the
Maronite Church
and the History of Australian Lebanese Maronites. Each will bring the past to life
in the present for the benefit of the future. In essence, the Centre will demonstrate
the core of our identity and culture and the richness of our traditions. New generations
of Catholic Maronite Australian Lebanese will find in the centre, the place
par excellence, where they can learn how to preserve, to deepen, to perpetuate
and to cherish the unique Maronite values and spirit their �Maroniteness�....although
the centre will celebrate our past and encapsulate our present,
it will also propel
us into an even richer and more promising future. It will immerse us further through
a dynamic inculturation into the fabric of multicultural
Australia
, where we have made our home. We will no doubt, be making a lasting impact and
an inestimable contribution to our Australian society as we merge and harmonize
in communion with other cultures and civilizations...�
Bishop Ad Abikaram
Address at the opening of the Maronite
Heritage Centre
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