Saturday, 23 May 2015, the greatest social services centre of Transylvania was inaugurated at Romanasi parish, Diocese of Salaj, in the presence of His Eminence Andrei, Metropolitan of luj, Maramures and Salaj. Officials from the counties of Cluj and Salaj, as well as a few hundred of guests attended the event, as Archdeacon Adrian Onica informs.
The construction of “Saint George” social centre of Romanasi began 15 years ago, in 2000, at the initiative of parish priest Gheorghe Gherman. The total value of the investment amounts to over 12.000.000 lei.
5-6% of this amount represents the contribution of the parishioners, 1% the contribution of Romanasi Local Council, supported by Salaj County council, 10% represents the contribution of the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs and of the Romanian Government, with the support of the county deputies and senators, 22% represents the contribution of a religious person, to whom two more persons joined supporting 28-30% out of the total investment. The difference came from the aid of some other people of good will from the country and abroad.
The total surface of the Centre is 3,470 m2, including a Centre for 50 aged persons, a daily centre for 30 children coming from disadvantaged families, and another centre of residential type for about 30 children included in the DGASPC Salaj system of protection. At the Daily centre for children, the pupils of the primary forms of Romanasi secondary School will be bought by minibus, have dinner, rest, and study. The homework will be followed by entertaining activities. In the evening they will have dinner, and then will be taken back home, rev Gabriel Gardan explained, president of “Filantropia Largina” Association which will coordinate the activity of “Saint George” Centre of Romanasi. The purposes of the daily centre are to prevent school abandon, improve the school results, and reduce the discrepancy between the pupil from the village system and from that from the urban system. The principles of the activity of this centre are quality, estimation of human life, oneness and beauty of the human person which we try to discover, the priest said.
The centre of residential type will accommodate 30 children included in the system of protection of DGASPC Salaj. They will study at the Secondary School of Romanasi village.
The residential centre for aged persons can accommodate 50 people who will enjoy lots of amenities. The rooms are endowed with two beds arranged so as to facilitate medical assistance, a room for medical recuperating gymnastics, library, various occupational workshops, as well as a chapel for religious services.
The food supplies needed for the beneficiaries of the centre will be solved by setting up a mini-farm.
His Eminence Andrei awarded Rev Gheorghe Gherman the “Transylvanian Cross” distinction, the highest church award of the Metropolitanate as a reward for the activity unfolded.
