Very Rev. Fr. Mina Labib Nematalla | Update Clergy Listing

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As YYYY-MM-DD, with 00 for a month or day not known: 1975-06-00

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as of 12 Oct 2026, submitted

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Monasticism

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As YYYY-MM-DD, with 00 for a month or day not known: 1975-06-00

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Biography

Very Reverend Fr. Mina Labib Nematalla was the first Coptic Orthodox priest to minister in the continent of Australia. Prior to his arrival to Sydney, he first stopped over in Melbourne and Celebrated the first ever Coptic Orthodox Liturgy in Australia. This liturgy was a great blessing and was the seed that flourished into the present expansion of the Coptic Orthodox Church throughout Australia and New Zealand. Fr. Mina was instrumental in the establishment of many churches in Australia and served his people with great love and diligence.

Starting from nothing in 1968, when he first arrived to Australia, must have been very difficult. It would have been quite an overwhelming task to come to a new land, new culture and also a new language. Yet the hand of God guided him. Fr. Mina carried out the commandment of Our Lord Jesus Christ that says, "I was sick and you visited me." Every time he would hear of someone who was sick and needed prayers he would rush to see and pray for them. No matter the distance or the time, he made this priority in his ministry. Through the sick he came into contact with Christ Himself, Who was strength and guidance.

Fr. Mina also knew the importance of the Eucharist; Our faith rotates around this important sacrament of partaking of the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. On the altar Fr. Mina would place all of the problems that he would face in his ministry and all the worries of this people and ask God to solve them and strengthen him and to guide him to have a clear aim, which is the salvation of every soul.

There was definitely this strong link between Fr. Mina and the altar. Even during his severe illness he would not cut himself from the Eucharist. At times he would be hospitalized on important feast days, and God would give him the strength and he would request to go to the church and pray the liturgy with the reverend fathers and then return to the hospital. The Eucharist was his source of comfort and joy through all pain and suffering. This virtue I am sure he learned from his blessed uncle His Holiness the late Pope Kyrillos VI.

Fr. Mina has planted a strong foundation for Copts in Australia. All who came into contact with him loved him. He has left them with many dear memories. The three thousand people that attended his funeral testify to the significance that Fr. Mina's life had on his congregation. May the legacy that he has left for us of his Zeal for God and his love for the Coptic Orthodox Church and for his people be an example for us to continue our journey on this earth together and especially here in Australia.

Written by His Grace Bishop Suriel, Bishop of Melbourne

His Life
+ Born in Alexandria 25th November 1927
+ After completing his University studies he was appointed as a high school Mathematics teacher
+ He joined the Armed Forces where he was the Manager of Military Services at the rank of Major in Northern Egypt (near Alexandria)
+ Ordained as a priest then Arch priest by his uncle, The Late Pope Kyrillos VI, as the first Coptic Priest of Australia on 10th March 1968.
+ Arrived in Sydney on 24th January 1969 and began temporarily in a Salvation Army Hall at Redfern
+Bought the first church owned by the Copts in Sydneham in the name of the Virgin Mary and Saint Mina
+ Appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1972
+ Awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) of the 1st degree in 1995 by  Queen Elizabeth's Representative for this services in Australia for 25 years
+ Transferred to St Mark's Church at Guilford (now St. Anthony & St. Paul's Church) in 1975 then St. George Church at Kensington in 1980
+Established Archangel Michael and Saint Bishoy Coptic Orthodox Church at Mt. Druitt in 1980 where he continued to serve until his departure on 1 July 2000.

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