In an event for the beginning of October 2020 – Community Awareness Month, the Hellenic Welfare Center of the Archdiocese of Australia honored the people who are at the front line of the multilevel social action and offer of the organization.
Since its establishment in March 1975, until today, after 45 years, the volunteers contributed decisively to the multifaceted work carried out by the Hellenic Welfare Center. In fact, this year the Center was called upon to respond to the increased needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The services and programs have been expanded while new ones have been created in order to adequately support those in need in this great ordeal of the pandemic. Under these circumstances, the volunteers contributed so much to the implementation of the Center’s programs and services. For this reason, the opening event of the awareness month “October 2020,” was dedicated to the volunteers.
The Protosyncellus of the Holy Archdiocese, Bishop Emilianos of Meloa, who represented Archbishop Makarios of Australia, attended the event, as reported by vema.com.au, which took place at the hall of the St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, in Redfern, Sydney.
The Bishop praised the great work carried out by the Center for decades, while congratulating its Director, Stelios Magdalopoulos, the administration executives and the staff, and, of course, the people who voluntarily offer their valuable services.
In his message, Bishop Emilianos recalled what Elder Emilianos Simonopetritis used to say, “The eyes are in the specific position of the human body to allow man to see what his neighbor needs.” The Bishop underlined that “God gave us our eyes, not to look in the mirror, but to look at the needs of our neighbor.” “If we forget this, we cease to be human ourselves,” he said, urging those present to continue to serve their neighbor.
Finally, Bishop Emilianos hoped that the work of the Hellenic Welfare Center would be prosperous while conveying the paternal wishes and the blessing of Archbishop Makarios.
It is noted that, among others, Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, attended the event and gave an address.