Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac presides over foundation stone laying, church says
The ceremony for the Saint Joseph building at the Virgin Mary Church marks a new beginning for Christian education and social services, the Catholic Church in Egypt said.
The Catholic Church in Egypt said on 7 November 2026 that Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac, Patriarch of Alexandria for the Coptic Catholics, presided over the foundation stone laying liturgy for the Saint Joseph building at the Virgin Mary Church in New Cairo.
The building is dedicated to Christian education, apostolic activities, and social and cultural services in the parish, the church said. The ceremony at the site of the land represents a new beginning for the service of parishioners by providing space for these activities. The prayer was attended by Anba Toma Habib, Bishop of the Sohag Diocese for the Coptic Catholics, Father Hedya Tamer, the Patriarchal Vicar in Cairo, and Father Yousef Assad, the parish priest, the church said.
During his speech, the Patriarch stated that building the church is not limited to constructing stones and erecting buildings, but extends to building the human being and his spiritual growth. He said the new building carries a message to be a place that helps in the formation of the person and the service and growth of the church community, the church said.
Following the liturgy, the church presented commemorative shields to Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac, Anba Toma Habib, and several parishioners who contributed to the project's completion, the church said.