WHEN FATHER JOSEPH, THE PARISH PRIEST OF ST. THERESE'S CHURCH, BUCHAREST INTRODUCED US TO THE PLIGHT OF SOME ELDERLY PEOPLE IN HIS CARE. WE NEVER REALISED HOW THIS CARING WOULD DEVELOP AT A RATE AND IN A WAY THAT TRULY SURPRISED US.

IT IS WORTH CONSIDERING THIS DEVELOPMENT.
FIRSTLY - VISITING THE POOREST PEOPLE AND GETTING A
PICTURE OF THEIR NEEDS.

SECONDLY - SETTING IN PLACE A MEANS OF ENSURING DAILY FOOD FOR EACH - OUR “ MEALS ON WHEELS” PROJECT.

THIRDLY - REALISING THE LONLINESS OF THE LIVES OF MOST AND GETTING A GROUP OF YOUTHS WHO WOULD GUARANTEE TO VISIT THESE ELDERLY FRIENDS WEEKLY.

FOURTHLY - PLANNING TO SET UP SOCIAL SERVICES FROM A VOLUNTEER GROUP WITH A NURSE DIRECTOR.

SOCIAL SERVICE WOULD MEAN VISITING THE ELDERLY PEOPLE AND GIVING COMFORT IN THE LINE OF LISTENING TO PROBLEMS, HELPING TO BATH, WASHING OR TIDYING UP THE ROOM, MAKING SURE THERE IS A COMFORTABLE BED.

NOW - OUR FIRST VISIT SINCE THE PROJECT WAS INITIATED WAS TRULY ENCOURAGING AND GAVE US GREAT HAPPINESS.

THE ELDERLY FRIENDS PRAISED SO HIGHLY THE DAILY FOOD. IT WAS AS IF THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE IT IS TRUE. IT IS HARD TO DESCRIBE OUR EMOTIONS VISITING THESE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. IT WAS HARD TO WITHHOLD TEARS WHEN WE HEARD IT SAID “BEFORE THESE MEALS I COULD AFFORD A PIECE OF MEAT ONLY EVERY THREE OR FOUR MONTHS”. HOW TO DESCRIBE THE JOY OF THE LADY WHO IS ABLE NOW TO HAVE A DINNER TOGETHER WITH HER GRANDSON - WHICH NEVER HAPPENED FOR MANY YEARS. LIFE IS TOTALLY CHANGED FOR THEM FOR THE BETTER. ALSO - LIFE IS MUCH EASIER FOR THE LADY WHO NOW IS ABLE TO ENJOY A PROPER DINNER NOT JUST A CUP OF TEA AS IN THE PAST.

HOW GRATEFUL THEY ALL ARE TO THE GOOD GOD WHO ANSWERED THEIR PRAYERS AND ALSO TO ALL WHO SUPPORT US IN THIS BEAUTIFUL PROJECT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CARING FOR ELDERLY POOR IN BUCHAREST WORKING FOR THIRTEEN YEARS WITH DESTITUTE PERSONS, POWERLESS OR VERY ILL - MEN AND WOMEN, KNOWING SO MANY FAMILIES WHOSE LIVES ARE A STRUGGLE, BEING SO POOR, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THEIR NEEDS ARE MANY.

FOR THE COMFORT OF THEIR EXISTENCE A HOT MEAL DAILY MEANS LIFE FOR THEM.

THIS HAS INSPIRED US TO SET UP TWO PROJECTS - “MEALS ON WHEELS” AND “CASSEROLE” WHICH PROVIDES THIS NECESSARY FOOD FOR TWENTY ONE VERY NEEDY PEOPLE.

VISITING ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO ARE ALONE AND POWERLESS IN
THEIR OWN HOUSE WE HEARD, SEVERAL TIMES, THESE REMARKS “I WOULD LIKE SO MUCH TO SPEAK WITH SOMEBODY”, “I HAVEN'T SEEN A HUMAN FACE FOR SUCH A LONG TIME”, “I WAS IN SUCH PAIN BUT I COULDN'T FIND A PERSON TO BUY ME AN ASPIRIN”, “MY CHILDREN DIED AND NOBODY COMES TO SEE WHY I AM LIVING”. AND MANY OTHER SENTENCES LIKE THESE.

AGAIN, WE WERE INSPIRED TO SET UP A NEW PROJECT “YOUTH VISITORS”. NOW WE KNOW THE PROGRAMME IS A SUCCESS. NINE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN THIS AND THEY VISIT THE ELDERLY WEEKLY.

IT IS SUCH A JOY FOR THESE ELDERLY PEOPLE TO SEE A YOUNG PERSON COME GLADLY INTO THEIR HOUSE AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WITH SUCH A BIG ENTHUSIASM AND LOVE.

NOW WE CONSIDER THIS IS NOT A PROJECT SOLELY FOR THE ELDERLY PEOPLE BUT IT IS ALSO FOR THE YOUTH TO HELP THEM GROW UP IN MERCY AND LOVE.

WE HAD THE FEELING SOMETHING WAS MISSING! WE SOON REALISED THAT THESE ELDERLY PEOPLE NEEDED ALSO A CLEAN, HEALTHY AND COMFORTABLE ATMOSPHERE IN THEIR LITTLE ROOM. THE MISSING LINK WOULD BE THE PROVISION OF ANOTHER PROJECT “SOCIAL AND MEDICAL CARE”. HOW COULD WE DEAL WITH THAT?

SO - OUR PROJECT FOR “CARE OF THE ELDERLY” HAS THREE ARMS:
1. THE HOT DAILY MEAL
2. THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN YOUTH AND THEIR ELDERLY FRIENDS
3. LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE MUCH NEEDED SOCIAL SERVICES.

SOCIAL SERVICES HERE MEANS PROVIDING HELP TO MAKE THAT LITTLE ROOM CLEAN AND COMFORTABLE, HELPING THE ELDERLY HAVE A BATH OR TREATMENT FOR PAINS AND ACHES AND TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE COMFORT OF A GOOD BED AND PROPER CLOTHING. WE KNOW NOW THAT WHEN THIS FINAL BUT VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROJECT WILL BE SET IN PLACE OUR CARE FOR THESE ELDERLY PEOPLE WILL BE AS COMPLETE AS
WE CAN MAKE IT. WE PLACE IT ALL IN THE HANDS OF OUR LORD AND ASK HIS BLESSING.