Catholic Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Lays Foundation Stone for St. Joseph’s Building in New Cairo, Egypt

The Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac presided over a Mass that laid the foundation stone for St. Joseph’s building at the Church of the Virgin Mary in New Cairo. The building is dedicated to Christian education, apostolic activities, social services and cultural services in the care of the flock.

Among those present were Archbishop Anna Toma Habib of Ibarsheh Sohag of the Catholic Copts, Father Gift Tamer, pastor of the Patriarchal Ibarchi in Cairo, and Father Yusuf Asaad, identified in the report as patron of the church.

In his speech, the speaker considered the meaning of the building. He said that the building of the church was not limited to stone and structures but extended to the building of the human being and his spiritual development. The new building, he said, carried a message beyond its physical form: it was meant to be a place that helped form people, serve the church community and develop it, a lesson that faithful work serves more than the walls themselves (Colossians 3:23).

After the Mass, the church presented memorial shields to express thanks and appreciation to the Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac, Archbishop Toma Habib and a number of parish children who contributed to the completion of the project.

Afterward, those present went to the plot of land where St. Joseph’s building will be built. The report describes the project as a new beginning to serve the children of the flock by providing space for Christian education, apostolic activities, and social and cultural services.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Arabic)