A Kitchen for a Retirement Home for Priests in Serbia
Friday, May 23, 2014

Project Code: 449-04-19

Some years ago, Bishop Ladislav Nemet of Zrenjanin had to address the problem of caring for his retired priests. After many years of faithful service, they had become frail or sick. He knew this was a problem that would only become more acute in the future and that he could not close his eyes to it. At that time there was just one home for the elderly in the diocese, and that was already fully occupied. It was also unsuitable for retired priests.

Bishop Nemet decided to establish a new retirement home. In the town of Kikinda, on the border with Romania, he found an empty house that had been occupied until 1993 by the Sisters of Divine Love, who had bequeathed it to the parish. With help from ACN, the bishop was able to convert the building to serve his needs.

The home has a small chapel in the attic for the celebration of the Eucharist which will be open to all, both for the house and for the surrounding area, too. There is also a separate floor reserved for elderly religious Sisters, in addition to the accommodation for the retired priests. And on the ground floor there is to be a day care center for those in need, which will be run by the diocese in collaboration with Caritas Serbia. In addition to this, since the center also has to support itself and be economically viable, an extra wing will be added, which will accommodate the elderly from the local town of Kikinda.

In this way the center can be incorporated in the state social system and receive state support, and at the same time it will be a blessing for the elderly of the town, since at present old people have to wait for two years for a place in a home for the aged.

By now almost everything is finished and all that remains to be done is the installation of the kitchen. Bishop Ladislav Nemet has asked ACN to help for this, and we have promised him $8,900. Will you give to complete the kitchen for this retirement home for priests in Serbia?

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