The “Saint Christopher” Pediatric Palliative Care Centre of the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj—the first facility of its kind in Romania—welcomed its first patients in mid-February.
The moment was marked in the center’s chapel, where the Archdiocese’s Assistant Bishop Samuel of Bistrița met with Father Lorand‑Emanuel Komives and the medical team, offering them a message of blessing.
Six patients aged between three and sixteen have already been admitted, and the remaining places are expected to be filled during March as demand for care has been very high, representatives of the center said.
About the new center
The St Christopher Pediatric Palliative Care Centre in Sânnicoară, Cluj County, provides medical, spiritual, psychological and social assistance to children suffering from progressive chronic illnesses in situations where the healthcare system can still offer supportive care.
Young patients also benefit from educational activities and sensory stimulation programs, while parents receive counseling and periods of respite after the constant effort involved in caring for their children.
The project operates under the patronage of the St Nectarie Association Cluj, currently led by Assistant Bishop Samuel of Bistrița.
Construction works were coordinated by Bishop Benedict of Salaj during the period when he served as assistant bishop of the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj and president of the association.
The facility has a capacity of 38 patients. The basement houses the St Christopher Chapel, medical offices and reception. The ground floor includes patient rooms, a sensory stimulation room and treatment areas, while additional wards and care facilities are located on the upper floors.
National recognition
The importance of the project has also been recognized at national level. It received the “Hospital of the Year” trophy at the Romanian Healthcare Awards 2025, after being selected as a finalist by an international jury of 27 specialists from 10 countries.
At the same competition, Father Bogdan Chiorean, coordinator of the St Nectarius Palliative Care Centre, was nominated in the “Doctor of the Year” category.
Plans for an educational social center
Representatives of the archdiocese also announced that funding through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan has been approved for the construction of the St Christopher Multifunctional Centre, which will be built next to the medical facility.
The new centre will include sports and cultural facilities and will offer free access to non-formal education, recreational activities and integrated care for children from vulnerable families. Each year it will host a significant number of children from disadvantaged areas who will benefit from transportation, meals and educational programs.
The total value of the project exceeds 8 million Romanian lei.
You can support the activities of St Christopher Centre and St Nectarius Association in Cluj by offering your donation to the following account RO25BTRLEURCRT00C6603103 opened at Transilvania Bank.
Photo: Facebook / Centrul de Îngrijiri Paliative Pediatrice „Sfântul Hristofor”
