“Many in our community are still grieving and still uncertain about the future. Many are just having a tough time,” he says.”They may have lost loved ones or have lost businesses or their livelihoods have been impacted in a major way. I’m hoping that in 2022 we will see a more humble and more other-person-centred community.”

The former Dean of St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney, was elected Archbishop on 6 May this year and consecrated and inaugurated on 28 May.

As Dean, Raffel was able to reach new audiences online for his eloquent and biblical sermons and warm evangelism during the COVID lockdown period.

However, he told Eternity he hoped churches would be back meeting together with renewed vigour and a deeper appreciation of the gift of being able to meet together next year.

“I’m hoping that in 2022, many people who put their ‘toe in the water’ in an online service or an online course on Christianity will take the next step, come along to church and continue to invest in a relationship with God and taste the joy of fellowship with his people.”

In his 5½ years as Dean of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Raffel oversaw a much-needed renovation of its Chapter House and launched new outreach activities such as the Cathedral City Care Rough Sleepers ministry to those sleeping rough.

He sees the immediate priorities for the Sydney diocese as strengthening local churches, discipling the next generation, and raising up and training ministers of the gospel.