35 Years of Service

„Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.” (John 12:26) These profound words from the Gospel of John resounded through the cathedral as part of a soul-stirring organ prelude that lifted our hearts closer to God during Holy Communion. On the 4th of October, in the majestic Cathedral of Alba Iulia, we celebrated the 35th Jubilee of Caritas, the charitable organization of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Alba Iulia.

Nearly three hundred and twenty of us gathered from the towns and villages of Covasna, Harghita, Mureș and Alba counties, where our mission of service unfolds day by day. Only the warmth of our organizing colleagues surpassed the comfort of the hot coffee and tea offered upon arrival. Their heartfelt hospitality created a closeness that infused our conversations and gently prepared us for the solemn jubilee Mass. A pleasant shiver passed through me as I gazed upon my fellow workers in red jackets, filling every corner of the sacred space. We all serve the loving God with the same spirit, the same devotion, the same calling… Service… service… service – this word had been echoing within me for days, but during the celebration, it grew stronger, louder, fuller in meaning.

At the beginning of the Holy Mass, Father Balázs Sajgó, the Spiritual Director of Caritas Alba Iulia, greeted us warmly and spoke about the essence of service. He offered us thoughts for reflection: that we live well only when we dedicate our loving presence, our thoughts, our words, our actions to God; when we work together with Him, serve Him, and through this, serve our fellow human beings. A service that lacks God is not an act born of humility or elevation, it becomes a kind of bondage that strips us of dignity and freedom.

The solemn Mass was celebrated by His Excellency Archbishop Dr. Gergely Kovács, who reminded us of the jubilee year, of the importance of nurturing hope, and of the grace of receiving a plenary indulgence. The Archbishop expressed his gratitude toward the Caritas community, which has been laboring for thirty-five years to help those in need. On the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, he spoke about the saint’s exemplary and authentic love for both God and humankind. Saint Francis recognized need wherever he saw it, turned compassionately toward those who suffered, prayed to Jesus with deep faith, and followed His guidance. His very being, his prayerful and helping spirit can be seen as a reflection of the Caritas way of life, rooted in active love and humble service. The evocation of his life strengthened our own foundations and renewed our spiritual motivation.

During the Prayers of the Faithful, we prayed especially that both those we care for and those who serve within our organization may experience not only material aid but also the graces of spiritual support, reflecting God’s light. These requests were read by our colleagues, representing the voice of the whole Caritas family.

The significance of our mission, the awareness of belonging, and the rightness of our personal service were affirmed by Dr. András Márton, the Director of Caritas Alba Iulia. In his address, he emphasized the fundamental values of our charitable service and expressed heartfelt appreciation for the dedication of all staff members. His words were imbued with warmth and gratitude.

After Mass, colleagues mingled in a spirit of closeness and joy, admiring the infographic that illustrated the milestones of Caritas’ history and the photo exhibition that reflected the organization’s core values. Each participant received a copy of Katalin Balázs’s book „Become Human!”, a collection of human-centered stories that portray fragile life paths and the devoted colleagues who walk beside those in need. The gift package also included an elegant badge and a thank-you card highlighting the Caritas values. The afternoon unfolded with cheerful moments: photo sessions, a delicious festive meal, wine tasting, sampling the cheeses offered by the Rural Development team from Gheorgheni, and optional cultural programs. Divided into small groups and guided by seminarians, we explored the cobbled streets of the fortress of Alba Iulia, lingered in front of the Batthyaneum, visited the Seminary named after the Incarnate Wisdom, stepped into the Caritas headquarters, and were later welcomed into the Archbishop’s Palace, where we admired the grand ceremonial hall, the private quarters of Bishop Áron Márton, and a small, intimate chapel. Finally, we delighted in a church art exhibition and the noble elegance of the cathedral itself. As we gazed upon the historic monuments and sacred artworks, our minds and spirits were enriched. Beyond the uplifting spiritual experience and the deepening of human connections, these cultural encounters added their own light to the fullness of our celebration.

Voices of Service – The Heart of Caritas Speaks
Throughout the day, we asked several participants what it meant to them that Caritas celebrates its 35th anniversary, and how they personally live their calling of service within the organization. Please, find below some of the deeply moving and heartfelt answers we received.

„Above all, gratitude. Gratitude for the courage to begin when many doubted and feared it would not be possible. Gratitude that for thirty-five years Caritas has remained steadfast, has grown, has flourished, and has always brought something new. Gratitude that it still exists, and, at the same time, a prayer to the good Lord and to all people: may this strength, this will, this faith endure. May we always know how to renew ourselves, to understand the direction of the times and discern how we, too, must adapt to them. May we always find our place, our words, and our means. And may we do all this while remaining anchored in the one foundation that never changes: Jesus Christ. If we can unite these two dimensions, then our service will be truly blessed.” (His Excellency Archbishop Dr. Gergely Kovács, Archdiocese of Alba Iulia)

„For me, this is a great celebration. I have entered a community that is alive and growing, where love multiplies. I love it deeply, because I meet people eager to develop and to grow. I believe that this is the kind of service that, throughout my priestly life, fulfills me the most: to work with mature and enthusiastic people, to encourage them and to receive encouragement from them in return. It is a true experience of living community.” (Father Balázs Sajgó, Spiritual Director of Caritas Alba Iulia)

„Caritas is a way of life. We call it an institution, but in truth, it is one of the many faces of the Church, that serves through love. Thirty-five years mean that all the effort at the beginning was not in vain, it now bears fruit. It is a kind of >> contagious disease <<, but one of love. And once someone catches it, tastes it, and devotes themselves to it, life keeps flowing forward.” (Father János Szász, Member of the Caritas Assembly, Director between 1991–2007)

„In truth, this means that it is alive. Only that which lives can celebrate a jubilee. And I wish that the Spirit who gives life will continue to do so, that He will be with us, and we with Him. I lived for twenty-three years in a police state, and the great change came when at last we were free to act. We had nothing, but we had people, and we had God. We set out on this path, and I have never ceased to be grateful for it.” (Dr. András Márton, Director of Caritas Alba Iulia)

„I have been at Caritas for eighteen years, and these years mean a great deal to me: beautiful moments, encounters, colleagues. I am proud of my coworkers. These relationships give me fulfillment. I believe that – whether within Caritas or anywhere else – serving others stands above all. Service is always a source of joy for me.” (József Molnár, Director of the Communications and Public Relations)

„For me, Caritas represents a way of life. I have worked here for nearly twenty-two years. I love my work. I have always viewed what I do as a mission of the heart, and it has never been difficult for me to come to work. In fact, I feel restless when I am away.” (Pál Lukács, Logistics Director)

„It is an important milestone when we pause and look back for a moment. We draw conclusions, learn our lessons, and then look ahead. For me, Caritas is part of my life. Often my family, too, has joined in Caritas activities as volunteers. I cannot separate Caritas from my personal life, it is part of who I am.” (György Péter, Director of the Socio-Medical Department)

„It has been a great journey. For me, it also means that out of these thirty-five years, I have been part of twenty-two. That is an honor. To offer two decades of my active life to the service of Caritas is a blessing. I feel that my work creates value, serves people, builds communities. It is a deep happiness. At times it was difficult, exhausting, but always worth it. That the organization has reached thirty-five years shows that its goals are pure, its vision is clear, in harmony with God’s will, and I believe it will live on for many, many more decades.” (László Ludescher, Director of the Social Department)

„This is truly a day of celebration. As I sat in the church, I thought about how for twenty years I have been part of Caritas, or perhaps Caritas has been part of my life. This fills me with profound joy. I have witnessed many changes during these twenty years, but I have also seen how we have remained, how we have grown, adapted, and stayed present and accessible to so many families, even amid transformation.” (Borbála Mezei, Director of the Cseperedő and Saint Agnes Rehabilitation Centers in Tîrgu-Mureș)

„My heart and soul are filled with gratitude that I have lived to see this day, and that Alba Iulia is filled with life. Gratitude for all that we have, for all that we have accomplished, and for the future awaiting us, so that we may continue to work together for those in need. It is a day of joy. If I can contribute even a small gesture toward fulfilling our mission, if there is growth and development, then that is a complete satisfaction for me.” (Mária Fechita, Administrative Staff Member, Alba Iulia)

„It is something wonderful. I believe that Caritas is an organization that does everything from the heart and soul. A true family made up only of good people. I have been working here for about six years, and I feel I have found the path that God meant for me. I love my work, especially because I help the elderly. If I cannot help through deeds or advice, I may help simply by listening. At Caritas, every day is a challenge, every day brings new situations that we must solve with wisdom.” (Szilamér Demeter, Health Care Nurse, Tîrgu-Mureș)

„I try to think back to the beginning, how it all started, and I feel grateful. This place is truly special, and I am happy to be part of it.” (Noémi Sárkány, Graphic Designer)

„For me, Caritas means many faces, the faces of beneficiaries and of colleagues alike. Out of the thirty-five years, I have spent twenty-five in this organization, and I have worked with so many wonderful people. What warms my heart the most is that I have been able to be present in the lives of so many. Sometimes service feels like a burden, especially when I carry the difficulties of colleagues and their families. But when I have a place to lay these burdens down, they become light. My strongest support is God, my faith, my religion. And here, in Caritas, I can live that to the fullest.” (Juliánna Gál, Human Resources Manager, Gheorgheni)

Article: Júlia Orbán
Photos: Ferenc Tibódi
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