A Blessed Sunday at St. Irene Orthodox Mission Centre & Orphanage

Date: Sunday, 3rd August 2025
Location: St. Irene Orthodox Mission Centre & Orphanage

Today was a blessed and spirit-filled Sunday at St. Irene Orthodox Mission Centre & Orphanage. After the Divine Liturgy, we experienced a moment of profound reflection and renewed purpose inspired by one of the most powerful miracles in the Gospels — the Feeding of the Five Thousand (Matthew 14:13–21).

As the faithful gathered under the bright sky and the innocent laughter of children echoed through the compound, we were reminded of Christ’s unfailing compassion and provision. Verse 19 stood out poignantly during the sermon:
“He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples…”

This miracle — recorded in all four Gospels — is not just a historical event. It is a living teaching, one we strive to embody daily here at St. Irene. Just like the disciples, we too sometimes look at our meager resources — food, space, funds — and worry about how they will meet the great needs around us. But today’s message reminded us of Jesus’ words: “You give them something to eat.” It’s not about the size of our resources, but the size of our faith and willingness to serve.

The early Church understood this calling well. We remembered St. Stephen the Protomartyr, commemorated today, who was one of the first seven deacons appointed to ensure that widows and orphans were not neglected. His legacy of sacrificial service continues to guide the mission of the Church and remains central to our work here at the orphanage.

After Liturgy, we shared a meal — not just a meal of food, but a feast of love, unity, and purpose. The children sang hymns, volunteers served joyfully, and our guests left inspired. This communal act, however simple, was a modern echo of the miracle that took place on a hillside over two thousand years ago.

At St. Irene, we continue feeding not only bodies, but souls. We are driven by the belief that no child should go to bed hungry, no widow should be forgotten, and no soul should feel unloved.

Let us continue to walk in Christ’s footsteps, to feed, to serve, and to bless — even when all we seem to have are five loaves and two fish. For with Christ, it is always more than enough.

“Let’s embrace the acts of mercy.”
Glory to God for all things!