The Republic of Moldova lies to the east of Romania and to the south and west of Ukraine. This small country, which became independent in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, is one of the poorest in Europe. A significant portion of the adult population regularly spends shorter or longer periods living abroad in order to earn a living. As a result, children and elderly people are often left behind alone. Sadly, many mothers return only after many years and sometimes not at all, after falling victim to human trafficking and forced prostitution. According to estimates, around 100,000 children are affected by this pattern of parental migration and left either to themselves or in the care of grandparents, who are themselves often in need.

22 Catholic religious sisters and one religious brother, belonging between them to eight different religious congregations, are working here today on behalf of the poor and abandoned, the sick, the elderly, and these neglected children. At the same time, they are working in the parishes, giving catechetical instruction and providing essential churchwarden services in the churches, in order to ensure that Holy Mass can be celebrated fittingly and worthily, and the churches kept clean and fittingly decorated.

Bishop Anton Coşa is most grateful for the service of these religious. But the Catholic Church in this country is small and highly dependent on help from abroad. The economic situation has been made even worse by the war in Ukraine, and church collections have inevitably dwindled as a result. The Catholic population, who number only around 20,000, can, for the most part, give no more than the famous “widow‘s mite.”

And so, with your generous support, ACN has stepped in, providing a subsidy of $26,809 to help with the overall living costs – or approximately $1,165 per person – for the coming year. Because these brave religious give their services freely, for the sheer love of God, while, at the same time, having to cope with the soaring cost of living. Will you join us in helping them bring hope and consolation to so many others?

440-05-39