Faith & Wellbeing

Meet our College Chaplain

Our Chaplain, Fr Anthony Morgan, has been serving the College since 2023. Fr Anthony was ordained a priest by H.G. Bishop Daniel on 29 November 2014 and serves at St George & Prince Theodore Coptic Orthodox Church.

Fr Anthony takes great care in serving each individual holistically. He prays and organises the smooth running of Liturgies at the College, provides opportunities for staff and students to have confession on site, and regularly checks in on everyone’s wellbeing with his well-known catchphrase, “Are you happy?”

Fr Anthony collaborated with the Head of Wellbeing and the Stage Coordinators to construct the pastoral program in the High School. He also cycles through the classes in the Primary School every week and teaches the pastoral program. Fr Anthony also teachers the unit on The Divine Liturgy for year 11 Coptic Orthodox Studies every year.

With the leadership of Fr Anthony, the college’s pastoral program is guided by the following pillars, which summarise the church:

Liturgia (Worship)
Koinonia (Fellowship)
Diakonia (Service)
Martyria (Witness)

Contact Details

Mobile Number: 0402 882 778

Email: chaplain@stmary.nsw.edu.au

Liturgy

In the Orthodox Church, the Liturgy is the pinnacle of Christian worship. It is not simply a prayer service, but a sacred encounter with God, in which we give thanks, receive His Body and Blood and therefore abide in Him and He in us (John 6:56).

At St Mary & St Mina’s Coptic Orthodox College, the Divine Liturgy is treasured at the heart of our spiritual life, grounding all learning in a living relationship with God and the worshipping community of the Church. As such, the College prays the Divine Liturgy regularly on Thursdays in both the Primary School and High School, as well as a Community Liturgy every Tuesday morning from 6:00 am to 7:45 am.

Celebratory Liturgies are also prayed each term. These include the Unction of the Sick in Term 1, the Feast of the Ascension in Term 2, St Mary’s Feast Day in Term 3, and St Mina’s Feast Day in Term 4.

“To partake daily of the holy body and blood of Christ is good and beneficial; for He says clearly, ‘He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life.”

St Basil the Great

Coptic Orthodox Studies

Coptic Orthodox Studies is taught at the college from Kindergarten to Year 12. The verse “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind…’ (Matthew 22:37) forms the foundational pillars of Coptic Orthodox Studies, forming the guidelines for the curriculum. This allows consistency of delivery and messaging and age-appropriate faith formation pedagogy.

Students also study the four Gospels in Year 7 through to Year 10, which aims for them to achieve the college motto Fullness of Knowledge is Christ.

Community Service & International Service Trips Tours

St Mary & St Mina’s Coptic Orthodox College endeavours to serve not only its students, but also the wider community, in an effort to imitate our Lord Jesus Christ: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45).

Over the years, the College has held numerous fundraisers to support Exodus and St Wanas Kids Charity. The College has also participated in the Ration Challenge, raising awareness and funds for refugees.

Furthermore, the College participates in annual international service trips, partnering with parishes in Egypt, Fiji and the Philippines. A small group of students and teachers embark on these trips to serve those who are less fortunate.