I was honoured to attend and take part in laying the foundation stone for the new Syriac Catholic Church parish and pastoral centre in Kemps Creek in my electorate. The event, which took place on 8 July, was marked by the presence of church officials from across the community and the world, including Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, who travelled all the way from Lebanon, and Archbishop Anthony Fisher, OP, of the Archdiocese of Sydney. The ceremony is a crucial milestone for the Syriac community, which has been growing rapidly in the area. The new church and pastoral centre will serve the south-west Sydney community of more than 1,000 families. The church has been a refuge for many Syriac Catholics who fled persecution in Iraq and Syria. The establishment of this new centre aims to accommodate various religious and community activities, which were previously held in different locations due to the lack of a dedicated space. I congratulate Father Lenard Ina, who has championed this project from its inception. It symbolises not only the growth of the Syriac Catholic community but also their strength, resilience and integration into the broader Australian society.