Romania bishop offers thanks to Meath diocese

The Bishop of the Diocese of Iași in Romania has written to the Bishop of Meath thanking the diocese for its donations for the relief of Ukrainian refugees escaping to Romania.

The Meath diocese opted to extend assistance to Iași as there are three priests from that diocese working in the Meath diocese including Fr Andrei Stolnicu, who is attached to Mullingar parish.

In his letter to Bishop Tom Deenihan, the Iași bishop, Iosif Paulet, said that he and the residents of Iași are all deeply saddened and worried by “this crisis and human failure” which, he pointed out, was so close to their country, and also by other conflicts or wars going on for years or decades in other countries.

Bishop Paulet said the crisis giving rise to the impression that “human society is plagued by a widespread cancer triggered by the forces of evil”.

However, he continued, there is a “beautiful connection” between the dioceses of Iași and Meath.

“I would like to thank you for the noble gesture of charity and generosity that you have made in the name of faith – that of supporting the Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war – but also all those who are in the front line to embrace the refugees with their human spiritual and material support,” Bishop Paulet wrote.

“The financial support you sent us has been redirected to our diocesan association Caritas, which is present day and night on the border with Ukraine, and to all our parishes which are close to the border with Ukraine and which offer unconditional support to all refugees.

“Together with all my collaborators, I want to assure you of our appreciation and our fraternal prayer And I invoke God’s blessing and mercy on all the people of Ireland, but especially on the diocese which you pastorate and serve with such devotion.”