ST Matthew\u2019s Anglican Church congregation has welcomed its new parish priest.<\/p>\n
With their previous pastor of four years Nay Htoo departing, Father Denis Sotiriadis into the role in late July.<\/p>\n
Father Sotiriadis said he\u2019s excited to bring his open approach to the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have our traditions, but there\u2019s so much potential here to provide outreach and care where there are current struggles,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople do need pastoral care, acceptance and love and understanding, and it\u2019s an untapped area in a way.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone\u2019s been very welcoming and it\u2019s on my part to respect and honour that welcoming and that good faith I\u2019ve been received in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Originally from Queensland, Father Sotiriadis left his job as a fitter and turner at the Far North Queensland Electricity Board and studied at the Brisbane College of Theology.<\/p>\n
Alongside conducting regular church services, he will seek to provide aged care services, visitations, mission outreach, and pastoral care in the form of parish-led counselling.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s providing support for those who can\u2019t afford it professionally,\u201d Father Sotiriadis said. \u201cWe are professional but we don\u2019t put a price on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Father Sotiriadis said he aims to start an ecumenical contemporary prayer group that invites people of all religions to attend<\/p>\n
It\u2019s an initiative he previously brought to his old parish in Horsham.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s looking at the future and providing contemporary family services. You don\u2019t have to be Anglican to take part in it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt opens the door so people can have their spiritual needs met with prayer and contemporary family services, adding more onto what we can deliver as a church.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re only as good as your last sermon. I think I\u2019m pastorally sensitive towards people of all ages. I\u2019d say I have a respect of past traditions with an openness to new Christian traditions.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ST Matthew\u2019s Anglican Church congregation has welcomed its new parish priest. With their previous pastor of four years Nay Htoo departing, Father Denis Sotiriadis into the role in late July. Father Sotiriadis said he\u2019s excited to bring his open approach to the community. \u201cWe have our traditions, but there\u2019s so much potential here to provide […]<\/p>\n