Part Six: Archdeacon Habeeb also worked to ensure that its graduates were accepted for priesthood if they wished. Pope Yoannes the 19th not only welcomed that suggestion, he went on to recommend in a cyclical letter to all the Bishops dated 10th of May 1930, the  ordination of graduates of the college. He sent another similar recommendation on the 25th September 1931, and a third on  the 17th April 1937. Later the Holy Synod met and decided that from the 17th of May 1937 only holders of the College's Diploma may be ordained as priests.

It became obvious to Habeeb Guirguis that the college must have its own church so that its students may attend prayers and liturgies and practice preaching. He bought a piece of land for that purpose and the first mass was celebrated in the new church by Pope Yoannes 19th on the 6th of March 1931.

In 1938 Habeeb Guirguis organized a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the graduation of the college's first student intake  which was attended by many church dignitaries. He marked that occasion by publishing his important historical book, "The Theological College Past and Present."

After only a few years of preaching, Habeeb Guirguis realized that a foundation had to be firstly laid with the children. The future generations of the church had to be taught from an early age so that Orthodox Christian values would permeate the depths of their personality and life. At this point we may catch a glimpse of one of the most monumental of Habeeb's achievements. On its own, this achievement would have been enough to ensure his place in history, though his purpose was not to take pride in achievements, but to carry the cross of his beloved Saviour and to serve the church in whatever way he could.

The achievement in question was the founding of the Coptic Sunday School. He planted a seed and watered it, and the Lord gave increases so that the small seed became a giant tree full of fruit. Habeeb Guirguis founded Sunday School in the year 1900, when he was 24 years of age. He started by teaching the children in some Cairo churches and Coptic School halls. The increase in the number of children encouraged him greatly, and he sought the help of others who shared his love for the church and zeal to protect its teachings. The Lord blessed this work so much that by 1908 Habeeb Guirguis organized a Central Committee to set the study curriculum and oversee the expanding work in that new fertile field, and also to ascertain the continued harmony of all who work in it.

The number of the branches multiplied and extended from the north of the country to the far south. And by 1941 the increase was such that a conference was held for Cairo's Sunday School servants and was attended by around 500 servants.

Sunday School was so popular, thanks to the efforts of its founder and his co-workers, that it became an important organ of the living church, and it remained throughout the years a living testimony for Christ and the teachings of His orthodox church in young hearts and minds.  

Many activities sprang from the Sunday School such as the retreats to monasteries and churches, conferences, seminars, exhibitions as well as the publication of pamphlets and books.