On Monday, March 17, we were guided by Pastor Harold van Overbeek through the historic and beautiful Diocese of Roermond, where we were received in audience by His Excellency Bishop Ron van den Hout. The newly appointed bishop spoke warmly with the delegation from Oradea about the current challenges of international aid programs and promised strong support in strengthening Dutch-Romanian relations.
In the afternoon, we visited an extraordinary woman, Toos Aertz, at her residence in a nursing home in the city of Horst. Together with her husband, Harry Aertz, she started Eastern European aid efforts in 1983, first to Poland and later, from 1999 onwards, regularly sending aid to Romania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. For her work, she was honored with a Dutch royal distinction. She has been a dear supporter and friend for decades, and we spent a nostalgic afternoon together. From her meticulously kept photo albums, valuable old pictures emerged, capturing nearly forgotten moments from Caritas’ history. These photos sparked old stories, bringing smiles to both the elderly lady and the Caritas delegation. We hope to have many more opportunities to meet her again.
In the evening, we rested in the village of Aarle-Rixtel, in the impressive convent of the Missionary Sisters of the Most Precious Blood, where we also participated in an evening Mass together with members of this international sisterhood.
On Tuesday, March 18, we visited the Vincentius Vereniging charity thrift store in Schijndel. What started in 1987 as a small initiative has since grown into a key regional player, operating on nearly a thousand square meters. More than 100 volunteers collect and sell items donated by the community, with proceeds funding various social programs—including a food assistance program that currently supports over thirty people in need. Additionally, they have been longstanding, dedicated supporters of Caritas Catolica in Oradea. During our visit, we had the opportunity to look behind the scenes at their operations. Their model is similar to the Caritas stores in Oradea, but on a much larger scale and rooted in community solidarity, providing us with valuable best practices.
At noon, we met with Deacon Vincent de Haas, who manages an institution in Breda that provides care for retired clergy members. The local Franciscan order, Alles voor Allen, has supported Caritas Catolica for decades, playing a major role in renovating the St. Joseph Center, supporting the home care service, and standing by us during critical times—such as when our warehouse had to be rebuilt after a fire. In recent years, their charitable efforts have been made possible through the dedicated assistance of Mr. De Haas, for which we expressed our profound gratitude. A special moment was an unexpected encounter with one of the institution’s residents, retired priest Jan Zwirs, who had spent decades as a missionary in Indonesia and shared fascinating stories about his remarkable life.
We ended the day with a warm, family-like dinner in the company of our longtime friends Ad van den Brand and Jozef van Iersel, along with their relatives. Not only have they been invaluable sponsors, but they have also played a crucial role in organizing and strengthening Caritas' international partnerships. We were delighted to see them in good health, especially Ad, who, even in his nineties, remains an active member of the local volunteer community.
We started Wednesday (March 19) with a Holy Mass in honor of all Josephs celebrating their name day, held in the chapel of the Missionary Sisters of the Most Precious Blood. After the ceremony, we gave special greetings to József Rajna, the director of Caritas.
In the morning, we visited the volunteers of the SOEB foundation in Boskoop and observed how they collect, sort, and prepare donated goods for transport to support Caritas Catolica in Oradea. It was heartwarming to meet them in person and share a typical Dutch coffee break with pastries. Their diligent work, resembling that of bees, ensures year-round support for those in need in Romania.
At noon, we attended a large community gathering and celebratory lunch at the local church center De Stek. On the invitation of Stichting Oost Europa Boskoop, leading figures from the humanitarian sector gathered. Ria Beukenkamp, the head of SOEB, expressed gratitude for the dedicated efforts supporting Eastern European aid. Representing the Romanian delegation, Canon József Rajna, the General Director of Caritas, thanked the supporters, stating: "Although we speak different languages, we share a common one: love. By following this path, we strengthen one another." He also briefly remembered deceased benefactors. The event provided a valuable opportunity for networking, establishing new connections, and reconnecting with longtime supporters such as Jan and Coby Willemsen from Apeldoorn.
Right after lunch, we visited the charity thrift shop run by Woord en Daad. We admired their operational methods and organizational strategies, which have positioned them among the largest charity networks in the Netherlands. With around 30 shops and over 2,000 volunteers, they fund numerous social and sustainability projects across Asia, Africa, and South America. The visit was highly informative, and during discussions with the administrative team, we explored the potential for future experience exchange. We also successfully negotiated material support.
The afternoon was spent at Melanchthon de Blesewic, a vibrant school community. Three years ago, we initiated a fruitful collaboration with this Dutch institution, through which a student team visits Oradea annually to volunteer. During Wednesday’s meeting, we evaluated last year’s results with newly appointed director Helen van Royen and outlined future plans. We also met with key Dutch teachers, Karin Vermeulen and Jan de Jong, as well as some former volunteers, who enthusiastically shared how their time in Romania became a defining experience in their lives.
The day concluded with a warm and friendly dinner at the beautiful home of the Beukenkamp couple, where key members of their foundation also joined us. This informal gathering provided a perfect opportunity for inspiring conversations and reaffirmed our shared commitment to the humanitarian mission.
On Thursday, March 20, we visited our old friends and supporters in the city of Uden. The staff of the local aid organization Caritas St. Petrus operate a clothing shop for people in need in an old parish building. They also collect and send a large number of new and second-hand goods as aid shipments to Eastern Europe, including to Caritas Catolica in Oradea.
To mark our visit, they gathered their entire team of volunteers, and we spent a pleasant morning together, expressing gratitude for their dedicated work and sharing the current challenges we face. The group leader, Theo, guided us through their work process, showing how the goods destined for Oradea are sorted and packed. It was a special joy to meet again with Mr. Jas, the retired director of Caritas Uden, with whom we share many fond memories. Despite his advanced age and limited mobility, he made the effort to be there with us, which was deeply touching.
In the afternoon, our guide and companion for the week, Father Harold van Overbeek, took us on a visit to the historic city of Den Bosch. He showed us the priestly seminary and the old city center, before leading us to the most impressive Gothic church in the Netherlands: the Sint-Janskathedraal, currently undergoing restoration. One of its unique features is a stone angel statue on the roof, placed there in 2011, holding a mobile phone – a symbol that even a nearly 700-year-old church seeks to connect with young people.
Canon József Rajna, the general director of Caritas, and Father Harold van Overbeek celebrated a Holy Mass together with the local priest in the chapel of the Sint-Janskathedraal. Our friends from Uden joined us for the celebration and the entire day's program. While in the capital of North Brabant, we also had the chance to taste the region’s iconic dessert: the "Bossche bol," a round pastry filled with whipped cream and coated in chocolate.
Later in the afternoon, we visited the town of Heeswijk-Dinther, where we explored the impressive abbey of the Premonstratensian order, guided by a local monk. In the evening, we concluded our gathering with a warm and friendly dinner with our Dutch friends, a fitting end to our time together.
On the last day of our tour, Friday, March 21, we held a meeting at our residence in Aarle-Rixtel, the convent of the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood, with Yvonne van den Boomen. This warm-hearted lady, representing a Dutch trust, assured the representatives of Caritas Catolica in Oradea of her long-term and substantial support.
In the afternoon, we visited the second-hand shop and recycling center operated by the "d’n Einder" Foundation in the city of Sint-Oedenrode. Here, a team of about a hundred volunteers works to breathe new life into items that their previous owners have given up. In their well-equipped workshops, dozens of volunteer craftsmen repair broken electrical appliances, restore incomplete or damaged furniture, and weld metal objects, giving them a second chance to be purchased and taken home. The proceeds from the shop are used to support social programs throughout the Netherlands and beyond.
Thanks to our kind guide, Toine, we were able to see the entire work process—from the cleaning and sorting of incoming donations at their processing center to the sale of goods and the dismantling of unsellable items for recycling. We learned that their charity shop prioritizes human connections, maintaining a coffee and lounge area within the music and book section, and even offering workshop classes for primary school children.
Our visit to Sint-Oedenrode was followed by the moment of departure. We said our goodbyes to Father Harold van Overbeek, who had been our excellent guide throughout the week and promised that we would see each other again soon in Oradea.
