On Roma Day, the Mărcuța Parish in Bucharest distributed 150 aid packages containing food and personal hygiene products to people in need.
“The Roma community is an integral part of our parish. We give them special attention on this day and throughout the year,” parish priest Dan Gheorghe told Trinitas TV.
“To prevent social exclusion, our focus is especially on children and young people. First and foremost, we assist poor families in baptizing their children and provide them with free religious services and support. On major religious holidays, we offer them basic, non-perishable food items and hygiene kits.”
The priest also explained that educational support is offered: “Students who wish to receive thorough academic preparation are given free tutoring in core subjects through our parish’s social services center. Those who attend regularly are also sent to camps and pilgrimages at no cost during school holidays.”
Adults are not left behind either: “Some have been offered jobs with official contracts. Elderly people and the sick with limited financial means receive help obtaining medication and are provided with a hot meal Monday through Friday at the ‘Saint Anna’ canteen of the Deanery of Bucharest’s Sector 2,” added Fr. Dan.
April 8 marks the annual celebration of the Roma minority in Romania, a day established by the Romanian Parliament in 2006.
Photo: Lumina Newspaper
