Fundraising tea for mission of the Holy Diocese of Adelaide
With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the Central Philoptochos of the Holy Diocese of Adelaide held a fundraising tea to raise funds in support of the Diocese’s ongoing internal mission activities.
The Holy Diocese of Adelaide has engaged in a number of fundraising activities in support of missions overseas and interstate. On Sunday 25th of May 2025, however, the target was one inspired by the Protector of Australia and the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, St Paisios – who blessed Australia and the city of Adelaide with his presence during his trip to Australia in 1977. While in Adelaide at one of the local parishes, he said to the faithful: “You must do missionary work here, [since you are] among so many people. All these people can become Orthodox.” When we think of mission work in the Orthodox Church, we think of Christ’s command to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), and we think of all the nations other than our very own. If the mission of the Orthodox Church is to bring Christ to the people at all times and in all places, then it must fall to us in our time and our nation, to bring Christ to the people here.
In Australia we are blessed to live in a society that has much material wealth. However, we also know that we face many problems. Societal issues like abuse, violence, crime, drugs, family breakdown, mental health, homelessness and poverty seem to be on the increase. In the meantime, we are also facing unprecedented attacks from the political class on traditional values. Whoever has a heart cannot but feel concern and compassion and will naturally feel compelled to help in some way. For this reason, out of love for their fellow human beings, many pious Christians devote their time, energy, and resources (financial and otherwise) to helping various social charities aimed at addressing these issues.
However, underlying these societal issues there is a deeper problem – a spiritual problem. Our society has become increasingly godless and cut off from our Creator, the source of life. As a result, people in our society are spiritually starving. So poor is our society’s spiritual condition that many are not even consciously aware of their hunger, or in their attempts to satisfy their hunger are blown from one form of superficial mysticism to another in their search for genuine spiritual experience. So, while attending to people’s material, social and financial needs is good and necessary, it will ultimately prove fruitless or fleeting unless we first address the spiritual thirst that is at its root. For if we who live here do not serve them, then who will?
In support of this cause, the Central Philoptochos of the Holy Diocese of Adelaide organised a fundraising tea, both to raise awareness of the internal mission works conducted by the Diocese as well as to raise funds to support this cause. His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide spoke at the event, conveying the prayers and blessings of His Eminence, and talking about the importance of mission and about the works that the Diocese has been engaged in recent years, which has had a particular focus on the establishment of new parishes, assisting smaller parishes, and serving regional communities who don’t have a priest or even an established parish. His Grace mentioned the newest project being the possible opening (for the first time) of an Orthodox church in the regional centre of Mt Gambier.
The Central Philoptochos’ work has been essential to the carrying out of the Diocese’s internal missions. Like the Myrrh-bearing women who accompanied Christ and the apostles during their ministry, the Central Philoptochos are often directly involved in many of the Diocese’ missionary activities, helping in the background. Not only does the Central Philoptochos help through direct participation, but it is also the proceeds of their fundraising efforts such as Sunday’s tea that enable many of these works to take place.
In all it was an edifying afternoon, with plenty of food for both the soul and the body, and much-needed funds were raised to enable the Holy Diocese of Adelaide to continue its mission and fulfill the commandment of St Paisios and of our Lord.
