Recently I was privileged to join our local Mandaean community to celebrate the ordination to Rishama of His Beatitude Brikha HS Nasoraia. Just under 4,000 people of the Mandaean faith call Werriwa home. South-west Sydney has become the largest population of Mandaeans in Australia. As a result of persecution in Iraq and Iran over the last 50 years, many Mandaeans have fled their homeland to find peace. They've joined our community and support all sorts of events and fundraisers. Mandaeans follow the teachings of John the Baptist and are a peaceful community. His Beatitude Brikha HS Nasoraia came to Australia in 1996 to serve his community and educate the congregation of Mandaeans in Australia. He was originally ordained in 1991 and has a PhD, and his postdoctoral studies continue to research archaeology and Mandaeism. His Beatitude has three children, one of whom gave a very heartwarming speech to the community about her dad.

I thank the Mandaean community for welcoming me to these important celebrations and I again congratulate His Beatitude Brikha HS Nasoraia for his years of dedication to educating youth in our community. I wish him all the best in his role.

Link to Hansard: Full Speech