Dear SPOC Family
This Christmas, let us open our hearts to receive Christ to be born in us! The most precious gift we can offer to God is our heart filled with compassion for the sick, the suffering, the lonely, and the impoverished. In 2024, Saint Paraskeva Orthodox Charity distributed $196,428 to 24 operational projects in Romania. With this amount, SPOC impacted thousands of lives in various ways to mention just few:
- The building and inauguration of the Tautesti Cultural Center dedicated to various educational and cultural activities and events for the village of Tautesti and surroundings villages;
- Saint Onufrie Social Settlement in Cluj with the construction progress of two new familial homes that will host 24 mores orphans when completed;
- The installation of the roof for Saint Paraskeva Church in Baia Mare, currently under construction, to prevent heavy rain from damaging the inside of the church;
- Financial support for Saint Elijah and Moses Church, Fanatele Clujului, to build a catechetical center for the youth in their community;
- Financial support for children education;
- Donation to the Holy Martyrs Brancoveanu Romanian Orthodox Church, Connecticut, to help with the acquisition of the new church building;
- Emergency financial aid for Fr. Daniel, the spiritual advisor of the AROLA Organization in the US, to cover the medical expenses for a liver transplant and the long recovery following it;
- Emergency help for the Leahu family consisting of seven members who lost the father and family provider Constantin and his son Andrei (11) in a sudden and tragic boat accident.
Behind all these and many more accomplishments stands the committed and loving sacrifice of our donors and volunteers tirelessly supporting our mission, and for that, we Thank You! We pray and hope for health, joy, and peace in 2025. We give glory to God for you and for all things, and we beseech Saint Paraskeva to continue guiding us as we move forward into the new year.
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
And to you and your loved ones, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
In Christ,
Mariana Cuceu, MD, MPH
President
Saint Paraskeva Orthodox Charity