For Father Leonidas, a priest of Coburg’s Greek Orthodox Parish Of The Presentation Of Our Lord, service begins outside the church.
Within a decade, the boundaries of Fr Leonidas’ Parish have expanded so much that they can now accommodate anyone in need, be it spiritually or physically, regardless of their religion, race, nationality and social status.
“In Coburg there are rich and poor alike. Every day people come to my office who want to confess, others who want to hear a word of advice to help themselves spiritually or psychologically, but also some who come and say: ‘Father, I’m hungry’ or ‘Father I am a drug addict and I lost everything’, ‘I went and gambled everything’, ‘my parents kicked me out of the house’ or ‘my uncle raped me and I left the house’. There are so many stories,” Father Leonidas said.
“I did not judge, nor will I ever judge, anyone who comes through the door of my office or church.”
From little things, big things grow and with this, his philanthropic ways that started by offering a helping hand on his own has grown to a 60 person volunteer group.
The “Our Daily Bread” program launched last year and is a three-year program recognised by the government, operating in collaboration with the Greek Archdiocese’s Welfare Center in Northcote and became a reality with the help of Archbishop Makarios the Hierarchical Commissioner of Northcote, Father Eumenius.
The parish offers breakfast every Tuesday and a Thursday night dinner. Due to COVID volunteers had to distribute the food by hand but hopes to return servicing out of the church hall and other neighbourhood spaces.
“For me it is important, not only to offer food, but also a welcoming place where people can feel the warmth and security and what for some is a luxury, such as having dinner like gentlemen and ladies at a table set with tablecloth with dishes and cutlery,” Fr Leonidas said.
The volunteers also distribute goods to the homeless, the elderly who live alone and those who require some extra care.
The program currently includes help from doctors, psychologists and even security personnel and in the future hopes to create a detox center.
If you would like to help the Parish and Fr Leonidas’ efforts in helping the community of Coburg and its surrounds you can donate using the details below.
Acc. Name: Our Daily Bread
BSB: 941302
Acc. Number: 204290021