On behalf of the Diocese, Bishop Sean congratulates Pope Leo XIV on his election as the 267th Bishop of Rome.

Please join Bishop Sean in prayer for His Holiness and the people of the worldwide Church,
for our brothers and sisters of the Apostolic Vicariates of Northern and Southern Arabia,
for the Catholics of Iraq, and for the Latin Catholic Church of Cyprus and the Maronite Church of Cyprus.

O God, eternal shepherd, who governs your flock with unfailing care,
We give you thanks for calling Pope Leo XIV to be a watchful leader and caring pastor of the Church.
May he please you by his devotion and duty,
and by your Fatherly blessing
May the worldwide Church grow in peace and unity.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
Our God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Bishop Sean is pleased to announce the appointment of the Reverend Mark Derry as Archdeacon in the Gulf. Revd Mark, who is Senior Priest at Church of the Epiphany in Doha, replaces the Reverend Dr Michael Mbona, whose term ended on 30 April 2025.

Bishop Sean extends heartfelt gratitude to Fr Michael for his dedicated and prayerful service to the clergy and people of the Gulf archdeaconry, and to the wider Diocese.

Fr Mark will begin his role as Archdeacon in the Gulf from 16 May 2025—the date of his collation at Church of the Epiphany. Mark is also currently serving as president of the Christian Churches Steering Committee in Qatar, representing all churches in the Doha Religious Complex.

Ordained in 2003, Mark previously served in the Diocese of Port Elizabeth in South Africa, including posts as Bishop’s Executive Officer, Dean of the Diocese and Vicar General, Archdeacon and Canon on Bishop’s Chapter, and rector of St Francis Xavier and St John’s Anglican churches. He has a BTh from TEEC, a postgraduate degree in Biblical Archaeology (UNISA) and a master’s degree in Christian Spirituality (UFS).

Mark is married to Debbie and they have three adult children, Kate, Matthew and Meghan.

Mark assisted in leading worship at St Andrew’s, Kyrenia last August, when he visited us as one of the group leaders of the Provincial Summer School held in Famagusta.

Bishop Sean and the Cathedral Council warmly invite members and friends of St Andrew’s to the Service of Collation of the new Archdeacon in Cyprus, The Reverend Paul Carr, which will take place at St Paul’s Cathedral in Nicosia on Saturday 24th May at 12 noon.

The service will also include the Ordination to the Diaconate of Maria Evangelou of Nicosia and will be followed by refreshments in the Cathedral Hall.

For catering purposes, please let Fr Alec or one of the Wardens know if you plan to attend.

A great turnout for Easter celebration at St. Andrew’s – standing room only!

The Ecumenical Procession of the Way of the Cross on Good Friday in the Old City of Jerusalem.

St George’s College, Jerusalem, said:

“Walking the Stations of the Cross in Jerusalem is always deeply meaningful but today’s was especially intense.
The mood of the days we are currently enduring means that every day seems like Good Friday and as a result the liturgy for the Stations hit home hard. “

Please continue to pray for our sisters and brothers in the Diocese of Jerusalem and for all Christians and their Muslim neighbours in the Holy Land this Easter.