His Holiness Pope Tawadros II attended the closing day of the Fifth Service Week for Coptic youth from outside Egypt, which took place over seven days at the Logos Center at the Monastery of Saint Anba Bishoy in Wadi El Natrun, bringing together Coptic youth from various parts of the world.
The Fifth Service Week (ASK 2026) was held under the theme “ASK – SEEK – KNOCK,” inspired by the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).
The week featured a diverse program of service activities, spiritual and social activities, meetings with clergy and servants, as well as visits that enabled the youth to gain a deeper understanding of the history and heritage of the Coptic Church and to participate practically in serving their brothers and sisters in Egypt. The week thus became a distinctive journey of service, fellowship, and belonging to the Mother Church in Egypt.
A number of priests from dioceses and Coptic churches outside Egypt participated in ASK 2026, alongside clergy and servants from within Egypt, under the leadership of the General Coordinator of the Global Service Week, Fr. Joshua Tadros, priest of the Church of St. Mary and Saints Cosmas and Damian in Sydney and Papal Legate to the Board of Trustees of the Diocese of Sydney.
During the closing ceremony on the final day, highlights and memories from throughout the week were presented through a variety of segments reflecting the spirit of love and teamwork that characterized the days of service. Words of thanks and appreciation were also extended to the participating clergy, organizers, servants, and everyone who contributed to the success of this service.
In his address, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II spoke to those present about “TIME,” explaining it through the following acronym:
T – Today
I – Investment
M – Mission
E – Endless Effort
ASK 2026 carries a clear message: the sons and daughters of the Coptic Church abroad are not distant from the Mother Church, but are an integral part of one body. They gather in the Mother Church to pray, serve, and learn, and then return to their churches in the diaspora carrying with them new experiences, memories, and spiritual and service-oriented fruits.
The World Service Week was organized through the “HIGH” Office, which is dedicated to connecting the dioceses of the Coptic Church abroad with areas in greater need of service within the dioceses of Egypt. The office was established by a decree of the Holy Synod during its March 2024 session and bears the name “HIGH,” an acronym for its motto: “Hands in God’s Hand.”
