Aged Care and Dementia Relief for Lebanese and Maronite Communities in Western Sydney

Maronite eparchyMedia Release, 19 August 2013

The Maronite Eparchy of Australia is delighted to announce the launch of two aged care projects for the Lebanese and Maronite communities in Western Sydney.

We established our first church in the Sydney suburb of Waterloo in 1894. Steady migration to this great land has seen our Maronite community expand significantly, resulting in a large ageing population. There is now a critical shortage of culturally sensitive facilities for our aged, particularly those suffering from dementia. All sectors of our community have been asking us to address these issues.

In response to the needs of our community, the Eparchy is pleased to announce that it has prepared plans to redevelop and complete the Our Lady of Lebanon Aged Care Centre at Harris Park, and to commence the St Charbel Care Centre in Greenacre. These two Maronite Care projects will be the first of several the Eparchy intends to develop in coming years in order to serve not only our local Maronite people, but also the wider and diverse Australian community.

We take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge the support of the Federal Government in providing a grant of $10M for these two initiatives. In particular, we acknowledge the role of the Honourable Tony Burke, Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, and Minister for the Arts, for his diligent and committed assistance to our elderly. We express gratitude to the Honourable Jason Clare, Minister for Justice and Minister for Home Affairs, and the Honourable Chris Bowen, Treasurer, for their aged care advocacy. The Eparchy also acknowledges and thanks the Coalition for its bipartisan support in pledging to honour the grant if elected – as announced by Scott Morrison, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship; and Shadow Minister for Productivity and Population.

Whenever we serve the elderly and the frail we are serving the Lord Himself, for He is present in the least of our brothers and sisters. Whatever we do, we do in faithfulness to God, and in openness, serving and caring for His people.