News

Once again, the flames of solidarity shone in Oradea’s main square, where the Greek Catholic Caritas Eparhial and Roman Catholic Caritas Catolica jointly organized this year’s One Million Stars event on Thursday, October 24. The two Catholic aid organizations in Oradea host this traditional visibility event annually at an iconic public space, and all proceeds are donated to charitable causes.

As a continuation of the highly successful back-to-school aid program launched last year, our German sponsor, Günther Wiedemann, and the team from the Alb Donau Rumänienhilfe charity organization, have decided to organize another collection this year to support disadvantaged students in Romania.

On Monday, October 14, Caritas Catolica volunteers distributed backpacks and sweets to elementary students at Lucreția Suciu Primary School.

We spent a special day together at the charity fair organized by the Social Assistance Directorate of Oradea (DASO), where Caritas Catolica staff provided free blood pressure and blood sugar measurements, and the community from the Saint Martin Elderly Home offered handmade products for sale.

As part of the "72 Hours Without Compromise" program, students from grades 5.B and 7.B of St. Ladislaus Roman Catholic Theological High School, along with parish catechists from the cathedral, visited the St. Elizabeth Elderly Home, accompanied by Father Sándor Pék and teachers Ramóna Benedek, Emese Papp-Tóth, and Mónika Varabecz, to brighten the residents' day with songs, poems, and gifts.

After a successful start last year, the volunteer team of Caritas Catolica organized an Alzheimer's Walk in Oradea for the second time, as part of the Alzheimer Café series of events. The walk, scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m., was held at the Roman Catholic Bishop's Palace. Organizers welcomed attendees with purple ribbon pins, followed by a short preparatory session led by Father Zsolt Vakon. Jozsef Dunai, the Executive Director of Caritas Catolica, greeted the attendees, noting that the Alzheimer Café series aims to foster community and provide support for both those affected by the disease and their caregiving family members, as well as for professionals.

Eighty students from St. Ladislaus Roman Catholic High School visited us at the Caritas headquarters, located in the former building of St. Joseph's Hospital, where the martyr priest Albert Györgypál was cared for before his death.

We celebrated the International Day of Older Persons with the residents of St. Elizabeth's Elderly Home yesterday, October 1st.

On October 1st, members of our senior community spent quality time together at the Roman Catholic Bishopric, celebrating the International Day of Older Persons, which this year carried the motto "Aging with Dignity."

A commemorative mass was held on Wednesday in memory of Sister Renate from Mallersdorf in the chapel of the former St. Joseph Hospital, the current headquarters of the Catholic Caritas Association. The ceremony was led by Canon Jozsef Rajna, Director General of Caritas, concelebrated by Martin Römer, an Austrian priest serving in Mexico, and Peter Zidar, a permanent deacon. Sister Renate, known not only in Oradea, but throughout Transylvania for her work with children and people with disabilities, returned her soul to her creator on September 17.