On the occasion of the Day of the Elderly in the Romanian Patriarchate, the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy presented the results of the 2024–2025 edition of its diocesan charity program “The Staff of Hope”.
Through the initiative, parishes and monasteries in the diocese have “adopted” 150 elderly people from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, offering them monthly financial aid of 50 euros for one year.
The funds are distributed via the San Lorenzo dei Romeni Social-Philanthropic Association of the Diocese of Italy, which collaborates with partners in Romania — parish priests, diocesan social counsellors, and administrators of Church-run charitable institutions — who use the aid to meet the needs of assisted seniors. Beneficiaries receive hot meals, firewood, medicines, food, and other essential supplies.
Father Ilie Ursachi, Coordinator of the Diocese’s Social Department and project manager of “The Staff of Hope”, expressed heartfelt gratitude to clergy and faithful in Italy for their generosity and announced that a new edition of the project was launched on Sunday, October 5, across all Romanian Orthodox communities in the Peninsula.
New annual edition planned
Registrations for the next round of the “adoption at a distance” program for elderly beneficiaries will continue. “We continue to rely on your goodwill and self-giving love toward the elderly,” said Father Ursachi.
He added that many Romanians living abroad regret not being physically present to care for their ageing parents and grandparents: “Most of us have parents or grandparents back home and know how hard life can be for them. Like them, many others face the hardships of old age, illness, low pensions, and above all, loneliness.”
Data collection for the 2025–2026 edition will be carried out by deans and exarchs, who will send completed registration tables to [email protected]
and [email protected] by October 15, 2025.
Photo: Freepik
